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We all want to leave a lighter mark on the planet, so when we see products advertised as "biodegradable," it's natural to assume they're a greener choice. After all, who wouldn't want a product to degrade back into the planet from which it came? But thanks to the garbage collection system in the U.S., in which 55 percent of all our garbage winds up in landfills, "biodegradable" could actually be a bad thing, according to a new study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
The details
As things like food waste, yard clippings, paper and other purportedly "biodegradable" goods break down in oxygen-deprived landfills, they release two potent greenhouse gases: methane and carbon dioxide. While the carbon dioxide doesn't escape (it usually stays underground and is stored in the landfill), methane escapes into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. In fact, landfills are the third-largest source of man-made methane emissions in the U.S.
A third of the garbage we toss goes to landfills that collect that methane and convert it to energy, and the authors wanted to know whether the garbage in those landfills was degrading slowly enough for the gas to be converted to energy, mitigating its global warming effects, says James W. Levis, a PhD candidate in the department of civil, construction and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University. "And what our study shows is, no," he says.
Using computer modeling, the researchers studied how various materials would decompose under different landfill conditions. Specifically, they looked at food waste, standard solid waste, newsprint, office paper and a new biodegradable plastic polymer called PHBO that's usually created from plant sugars or starches (this type of plastic is different from corn-based plastics and is made by Proctor & Gamble, which provided funding for the study) to see how much methane gas each generated as it decomposed.
In the average landfill, biodegradable plastic generated the most methane, followed by office paper, food waste, newspaper and other forms of solid waste. Collection efficiencies for all the methane produced (the amount of methane collected that was converted into usable energy) didn't exceed 57 percent. Because the items decomposed at different rates — food waste degrades faster than biodegradable plastics, which degrade faster than office paper and newsprint — they released methane at different rates and times making it difficult to capture all the methane.
What it means
The word "biodegradable" may sound eco-friendly, but the fact that some products release greenhouse gases if they decompose in a landfill could make it a bad thing. "If something just sat in a landfill and never degraded at all, that would be optimal from a greenhouse-gas standpoint," says Levis. Some landfills attempt to collect the methane that's released, but it's easier said than done. "It takes a couple of years to get gas collection," Levis says. It can take 16 years before the systems collect all the gas that's being generated.
"You could use the results of this study as a good argument for growing composting infrastructure," Levis adds. In compost heaps, where lots of oxygen is present, food waste, paper and even biodegradable plastics don't generate methane. Yet very few cities offer municipal composting. "And there are lots of greenhouse-gas benefits to recycling," he adds.
The bottom line
Don't buy into the biodegradable hype. "The Federal Trade Commission's definition of what's biodegradable is very vague," he says. So while some biodegradable products may be ideal for the oxygen-deprived conditions of a landfill, where they degrade slowly enough for methane gas collection systems to convert them to energy, others aren't — and there's no way for a consumer to know the difference.
The best solution is to look at your own personal waste-disposal habits, and reducing, reusing and recycling before opting for supposedly green biodegradable items. And if your city doesn't offer municipal composting, start a compost pile in your back yard. Let oxygen and healthy bacteria convert your food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer that you can spread on your lawn. And if you do wind up with biodegradable plastics, Levis says you can cut them up into strips before adding them to your pile so they decompose faster.


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Monday, August 15
'Rapid Rewards' for Keegan Bradley at PGA Championship
PGA TOUR ROOKIE KEEGAN BRADLEY won the 93rd PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club in his first appearance in a major.
Back in a moment.
Did you know that FedEx will ship your golf clubs to most any destination? We understand. Nothing's more important than your clubs.
Bradley, who earlier this year won the HP Byron Nelson Championship, birdied two of the last three holes after carding a disastrous triple bogey on the par-3 15th to force a playoff with front-runner Jason Dufner. Dufner stumbled on the closing four-hole stretch, making three consecutive bogeys.
Stay tuned.
Are you … ? Yeah, in about 15 years. Hey, where are you going? Back to first class. We can afford it now. Lincoln Financial. Hello future.
On the first hole of the three-hole aggregate playoff, Dufner nearly holed his approach shot.
Welcome to the Ultra life, where you never have to settle for less. With 95 calories, 2.6 carbs and one exceptionally smooth taste, Micehlob Ultra is perfectly balanced for your life. Live life to the Ultra.
"I'm disappointed now," Dufner said, "but there's a lot of good things to take from this week."
Don't go away.
That airline is going to nail that frequent flier with restrictions. That's a lot of red tape. Step on it! I can't escape the red tape. Now you can with Rapid Rewards. C'mon! Join Rapid Rewards and enjoy unlimited reward seats, no blackout dates and no red tape.
"I just kept telling myself, 'Don't let that [15th] hole define this whole tournament,'" said Bradley, the nephew of LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley.
A quick timeout.
Is Low T making you feel like a shadow of your former self? Talk to your doctor and ask if you should be tested for Low T. Yoplait Light has 28 flavors at only 100 calories.
Bradley won the three-hole aggregate playoff by one stroke to win the year's final major, "Glory's Last Shot."
Back to wrap up after this.
It's Bridgestone or nothing.
"Oh, it feels unbelievable," Bradley said.
That's it until next time.
−The Armchair Golfer
3 comments:
- Jordan J. Caron said...
You forgot the Cialis ad!
Thank god for the DVR.
- The Armchair Golfer said...
Yeah, left that one out.
- Beginners Golf said...
To come back from that disastrous 15th hole was something quite special it shows he has guts, because it would have been quite easy for him just to give up at that point.
I heard he could quadruple his endorsement money. Nothin like winning a major to kickstart your career or end it possibly. I mean look what happened to Michael Campbell!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Watchuseek Blog
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Big time: TimeCrafters Luxury Watch Exhibition opens in New York
In what is only its second anniversary, TimeCrafters has lined up a stellar array of watch making brands to participate in the second annual watch exhibition to the public at the Park Avenue Armory from September 14th-15th.
The first edition in 2011 was an undoubted success. Now TimeCrafters are determined to wow the public with a dazzling selection of both new and iconic timepieces from the world's finest watchmakers; top names such as A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Blancpain, Breguet, Bulgari Horlogerie SA, Chopard, De Bethune, Dior Timepieces, Frédérique Constant, Girard-Perregaux, Glashütte Original, Harry Winston, Hublot, Omega, Oris, Parmigiani Fleurier, Ralph Lauren, Richard Mille, TAG-Heuer and Zenith. In short, a haute horology dream team.
The exhibition promises the opportunity to see new and rare pieces at close quarters from a galaxy of iconic brands as well as one-on-one time with some of the world's most famous watchmakers in the inspiring ambience of the Park Avenue Armory.
What to look for
There are some sensational displays to be enjoyed, one of which is the Swatch Blum Collection; one of the most complete collections of Swatch watches in the world. This exceptional 239-piece collection includes a large number of prototypes, hybrids and production variants never before seen. Among the most interesting and sought-after by collectors are a number of prototypes designed by the late American graffiti artist Keith Haring and artists Mimmo Paladino, Alfred Hofkunst and Sam Francis.
Going a little more upscale there's the Sotheby's Diamonds Collection, an exhibition of rare, extraordinary diamonds in a host of shapes and design-driven settings, displayed in a painter's palette of hues ranging from colorless to yellow, blue and pink.
In a first for the USA, iconic brand Hublot will showcase their astounding "Levitation" display case – a star attraction of Baselworld 2012. Also, on display will be the Hublot Ferrari Pacer car, as Hublot and Ferrari team up to celebrate their recent alliance. Hublot will present its first Hublot Ferrari timepieces to the public at TimeCrafters.
Look out for some of the most skilled watchmakers as they demonstrate their skills and techniques. The list includes Dominique Loiseau of Girard-Perregaux, Emmanuel Bouchet of Harry Winston, Sébastien Buliard of Zenith, Gary Cruz of Audemars Piguet, and Marcos Fernandez of Bulgari.
Baume & Mercier have raided their archives to present historic museum pieces never before seen in the United States for an in-depth retrospective of the brand. Pieces dating back to 1915 and the art deco era, as well as a host of century old watchmaking tools will be on display.
Not to be outshone, Audemars Piguet, will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the famed Royal Oak Collection, presenting eight new models all complying with the original Gérald Genta design codes of the original 1972 collection.
And top US brand Harry Winston will display the newest Harry Winston Opus 12 – a watch said to defy all conventional rules of watchmaking. Designed in partnership with Emmanuel Bouchet, this mechanical masterpiece, has a 607-part movement, inspired by the Copernican revolution, wherein the earth rotates around the sun and itself.
Who should attend
Watch connoisseurs and collectors and anyone who is crazy about chronology. There's never been a watch exhibition quite like it in New York.
Posted by Michael West at 10:18 AM
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Millions of tons of copy paper are used annually that is harmful to the environment. Fortunately, there are many steps that businesses can take to save trees and our environment.
In an article in epa.gov "The average office worker in the US uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. Office workers in the US generate approximately two pounds of paper and paperboard products every day."
CredNet has joined the force of businesses that are caring for our planet and taking the following steps to protect Mother Earth by using sound environmental practices such as minimizing waste and reducing harmful air emissions.
CredNet owner Ryan McElveen said, "The efficiencies of being a greener company will help CredNet grow and add value to our relationships with current/future customers and affiliates, making these green initiatives a win-win for all."
Credit repair paper work is easy and stress free because all forms are done online and conversations are by phone. The credit repair specialists help clients remotely, reducing travel--saving gas and preventing pollution by document scanning.
CredNet has scanned over 90% of the company's files into electronic format and has created an encrypted digital filing system, eliminating paper folders and files helping their administrative functions become more efficient.
Another article in epa.gov said, "vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60% of all carbon monoxide emissions nationwide and up to 95 percent in cities. Sadly, this is what we breath in everyday.
Other green methods CredNet is taking is having the cliet use electronic signatures. This allows the client the convenience of electronically signing their documents saving valuable time and preventing pollution. Furthermore, clients receive real-time notifications via email and through an online portal. If you don't open your e-mail, they will resend another e-mail or call you to ensure you get the information you need to take the next steps into your credit repair.
CredNet has a strong commitment in achieving cleaner air to protect the earth by reducing its impact on the environment and offering low rates to clients. This is a win-win for everyone.
Click here to read how CredNet can help you repair your bad credit.


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This manufacturer offers infinite-position power recline on most models of recliner. Customized motion means that you can find the position that best suits you, whether you need to soothe back pain or relax and watch TV. This gentle motion is suitable for all levels of mobility, and is as easy to use as a single touch.
Make your recliner less cumbersome by removing the back when you are moving in or out of your home. Locking brackets safely join recliner and back, ensuring your chair will be stable when you use it.
Get any style of recliner, from plush and cozy to sophisticated and traditional, for a low price tag when buying from this manufacturer.
Unlike recliners that are built with a two- or three-piece seat and leg rest cushion, this recliner has a single chaise cushion that extends from the seat to the feet. This style offers a fuller comfort and support for your legs, as well as eliminating the open gap that toddlers can get fingers or toys stuck in.
A rounded silhouette emanates plush, relaxing comfort. This rocker recliner is covered in a stylish faux leather upholstery fabric that is decorated with detailed stitching. The power reclining mechanism makes reclining effortless for ample comfort. All these elements along with a chaise style footrest this chair carries a contemporary style to easily be incorporated into a variety of spaces.
The Rotation - Smoke Contemporary Power Rocker Recliner with Pillow Arms by Signature Design by Ashley at Wayside Furniture in the Akron, Cleveland, Canton, Medina, Youngstown, Ohio area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Thick padded arms and uniquely divided back cushions enhances any living room with both relaxing comfort and a contemporary style. Pieces are covered with a faux leather upholstery fabric that is beautifully adorned with decorative stitched detailing. Available with either power or manual reclining mechanisms you will surely find something to fit your preferences.
The Rotation - Smoke collection is a great option if you are looking for Transitional furniture in the Akron, Cleveland, Canton, Medina, Youngstown, Ohio area.
These images are representative of this group as a whole and may differ from this item.
Browse other items in the Rotation - Smoke collection from Wayside Furniture in the Akron, Cleveland, Canton, Medina, Youngstown, Ohio area.
This item has been tagged as: Recliner, Reclining Chair, Glider Rocker Recliner, Rocking Recliner, High Leg Reclining Chair, Lift Recliner, Pop - Up Recliner, Reclining Chair and Ottoman, Motion Recliner, Standard Recliner, No - Rock Recliners, Wall Recliners, Easy Chair, Living Room Chair, Living Room Furniture, TV Chair, Chair Recliner, Massage Chair, Massage Recliner, Swivel Rocker Recliner, Massaging Recliner
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


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- 1 Active Directory Tutorial, A Quick Start Set Up Guide
- 2 Windows Server 2003 Group Policy Enhancements, Part IV
- 3 Examining Windows Server 2003 Group Policy Enhancements, Part III
- 4 Examining Windows Server 2003 Group Policy Enhancements
- 5 Examining Windows Server 2003 Group Policy Enhancements
- 6 70-240 in 15 minutes a week: Windows 2000 Server Networking Services
- 7 70-240 in 15 minutes a week: Windows 2000 ICS, NAT and IAS
- 8 Learn AD in 15 Minutes a Week: Windows 2000 Network Environment Overview
- 9 Learn AD in 15 Minutes a Week: Windows 2000 Network Environment Overview
- 10 Set Server Roles in Windows Server 2003
- 11 Apply Group Policies to Groups
- 12 Apply Group Policies to Groups
Examining Windows 2003 Server Group Policy Enhancements, Part II
Download the authoritative guide: Data Center Guide: Optimizing Your Data Center Strategy
Download the authoritative guide: Cloud Computing: Using the Cloud for Competitive Advantage
In the first article of this series, I presented new and enhanced features of Windows 2003 Group Policy Objects. However, Group Policy improvements introduced in the new operating-system platform are not limited to functionality covered by GPO entries -- they also include ability to apply them with much higher degree of granularity (via WMI Filters), easier design and troubleshooting (via Resultant Set of Policies), and better manageability (with Group Policy Management Console). The focus of this article will be use of WMI Filters. We continue our look at Windows 2003 Group Policy Objects by examining WMI Filters, which offer a higher degree of granularity than previous Windows servers.
WMI, the Windows Management Instrumentation, is a set of technologies for managing Windows0based environments. Its popularity, which increased drastically over the last few years, is best exemplified by the fact that starting with Windows 2000 WMI became an integral part of every operating system developed by Microsoft. WMI provides access to properties of practically every hardware and software object in the computing environment (such as a list of Windows Installer applications installed on a computer, free disk space on all its drives, amount of physical memory it has, maximum speed of its modem, profile settings of currently logged on user, and so on).
Before we take a closer look into how WMI can help us with Group Policy Object filtering, let's first discuss its implementation. Each of the software and hardware components manageable through WMI is represented by a class. For example, Win32_LogicalDisk class represents logical disks, Win32_PhysicalMemory class represents the computer's memory, and Win32_Share is a list of all file shares on a target computer. As you can imagine, the number of all available classes is enormous. In order to provide some kind of ordering, speed up searches, and prevent accidental name conflicts, classes are organized into a hierarchy of namespaces, starting at the one called root. The majority of the classes that Windows administrators deal with reside in the namespace called root/Cimv2.
The real-life representation of a class is its instance (also referred to as its object). For example, the Win32_LogicalDisk class can have multiple instances, each corresponding to a single logical disk on a computer. The size of a disk, amount of available space, its type, status, etc. are described using Win32_LogicalDisk class properties. There are different ways of extracting values of these properties. One of them, which you need to get familiar with in order to fully understand WMI Filtering, is called WMI Query Language (or WQL in short). WQL is similar to (although more limited than) Structured Query Language, used to query information stored in relational databases. For example, in order to determine how much free disk space is available on a local C: drive, you could query value of FreeSpace property of "C:" instance of the Win32_LogicalDisk class. This would take the following form:
SELECT FreeSpace FROM Win32_LogicalDisk WHERE DeviceID = "C:" AND Description = "Local Fixed Disk"
If you want to find out the computer name, service pack level, and location of the Windows directory of a target computer running Windows XP Professional, you can simply check the values of CSName, CSDVersion, and WindowsDirectory of Win32_OperatingSystem class instance with the Caption value of "Microsoft Windows XP Professional". You could do this by running the following query:
SELECT CSName, CSDVersion, WindowsDirectory FROM Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE Caption = "Microsoft Windows XP Professional"
Although these two examples are very simple, they should give you some idea about enormous capabilities of WMI. These capabilities can be used when determining the scope of Group Policy.
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Storm® ARASHI™ Rattling Square 3 & 5
Description: If looking to catch bass, look no further than the Storm® ARASHI™ Rattling Square 3 & 5 to find your new favorite lures. Based on the super-crankin' ARASHI Silent Square, these baits are equipped with a loud internal multi-ball rattle system that replicates the sound of baitfish feeding in the shallows – a virtual siren song for behemoth Bass. The Ratting Square 3 & 5 run at 3-feet and 5-feet respectively and swim with a lively rolling action and pronounced tail kick that drive lunkers loony. Designed with features previously only found on expensive, custom lures – such as a durable circuit board style lip, self-tuning line tie system and rotated hook hangers – each lures' square lip and buoyant body combines perfectly for triggering reactive bites as the bait cranks into and off of structure. Available in 12 enticing color patterns, the ARASHI Rattling Square 3 & 5 are ready to make some serious noise.
Price: $8.99 to $9.99


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Having been an infant massage instructor for the last 2 ½ years I have been privileged to meet many parents and their babies. I feel touched to witness such an intimate bond and see parents from all walks of life learning this skill to take forward well into their little one's.
As a parent myself I have attended my fair share of baby groups. In fact, with my first daughter I went to at least 6 a week. They were my salvation but also the place I would compare notes, establish if what my daughter was doing was 'normal' and a place to meet other mothers. However, they were also a place where, unwittingly, we would all compare.
Myself included. Asking one another if our babies were rolling/ clapping/ crawling/ smiling/babbling yet. And mostly if they were sleeping. The groups that offered me so much in one way were also a place where I often felt alone if my baby was the only one not doing any of these things. Another thing I noticed as my daughter grew was that there were hundreds of ways people chose to parent, and whilst at first these were discussion points, for example, "oh you don't breastfeed?" or "you put your baby to bed at 9pm". They also became judgements. I too was guilty of this. Imaging those who made different decisions to me to be ill informed or plain wrong. Sometimes these different approaches seemed insurmountable and almost like a barrier to friendships.
However, this was a stark contrast to massage classes. In these classes there are of course different approaches. Some mothers co-sleep, whilst others had babies in their own room from 2 months. Some mums breastfed on demand, others fed to a schedule. Some believed that cuddling a baby may spoil them, others felt that you cannot spoil a baby and chose to use baby wearing as a way of constantly having contact. Continue reading Massaging Away The Differences


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Original 5-19-10
Larry is home.
I brought Larry home from the hospital Sunday night. He is still in a lot of pain from his open heart surgery and is retaining a lot of fluid and very swollen as you can see in his picture.
He has untill June 3rd before I have to throw him out to satisfy Judge Lauren Parish's ruling in the law suite filed against me by Gilmer Boating and Fishing Club in which all there witnesses committed perjury. Judge Lauren Parish is still sitting on my request for new trial base on new found evidence that will prove that all witnesses for Gilmer Boating and Fishing Club committed perjury in her court.
We still have not found Larry a place to live. If anyone has any suggestions please comment or email me. We really need help.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Thanks Readers


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TONGA'S King Tupou VI inherits the only kingdom in the Pacific at a time when its deeply conservative society gradually turns towards greater political freedoms.
Early this year Tongans elected fierce pro-democracy campaigner 'Akilisi Pohiva to the position of Prime Minister.
For more than 40 years Pohiva criticised the monarchy – in particular the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV – over allegations of corruption, questionable policies, mismanagement of funds and human rights abuse.
"I have a deep respect for the monarchy and our traditional systems," Pohiva told Islands Business before the election, "but when the systems fail to work we must speak out."
"We need to build a Tonga in which there is respect for the king and nobles but also in which the people are treated fairly and justly."
Late last year Tongan civil servants threatened to quit over the government's failure to increase salaries. The public service association made claims of misuse of funds and breach of trust against the nobility-controlled cabinet.
Common Tongans have also seen successive, spectacular failures of passport sales schemes, ownership of satellites and a national airline which went into tailspin even before its first flight.
.....to read more buy your personal copy at
by Netani Rika


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kaip jos mokė S. N. Goenka
pagal Sayagyi U Ba Khino tradiciją
Vipasanos Meditacija
kaip jos mokė S. N. Goenka
pagal Sayagyi U Ba Khino tradiciją
Mini Anapana Meditation - An Introductory Session by Mr. S.N. Goenka
- A Mini Anapana session should be conducted in a quiet hall or room suitable for meditation
- Participants must listen and practice carefully, sitting with their backs straight while maintaining complete silence through out the entire session
- Neither the person hosting the session nor anyone else should give any other instructions, live or recorded; the only instructions given should be that of Mr. Goenka's Mini Anapana recording
- There should be no charge whatsoever for attending a Mini Anapana session
Note: Participants who attend Mini Anapana sessions will not be considered as "Old Students" in this tradition. They can not participate in any programs designated as "For Old Students only".
- Part 1: Introduction by Mr. S.N. Goenka (15 mins - video)
- Part 2: Practice Session (10 mins - audio only)
- Part 1 & Part 2 combined: Introduction and Practice Session (25 mins - audio only)
- Left click on the link to play the video/audio. Right click to download from the menu.
- It is recommended to sit for Parts 1 and 2 in one 25 min sequence the first time. Thereafter, Part 2 audio (PRACTICE SESSION) can be used for regular practice.


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um yep this is a seriously good salad. i was on my way to the park for playgroup today and thought i would stop and grab and apple pecan chicken salad from wendys ( which by the way is amazing too)
when i pulled up i saw a pretty new looking salad on the menu... the berry almond chicken salad. i got the half size so i could eat it with a piece of white chocolate pecan bread from harmons ( bread from heaven i think!) it was more than enough salad and was so good!
i only used less than half of the pecans and dressing packet. everything was fresh and delish and it sure did not taste like a fast food salad. at only 270 calories and a pretty good protein to carb ration ( almost even) i can see this salad as a go to when i have to pick up something quick.


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Amateur Bra Pics
Amateur bra pics! Lacy, silky, see through, push up… bras are a beautiful thing. They gently cradle and reveal or conceal, they can be fetish gear or simple and sweet. The best bra pics of all, of course, are amateur porn pics. Real women and girls next door, proudly or shyly showing off their titties in an infinite variety of bras. Big boobs or small, teen titties or mature MILF racks, we've got them all, as long as they're amateurs and they're wearing a bra. Don't wait, click today, and you'll have access to thousands of pics, with new ones constantly added!...see more


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High indignation
Charlottesville School Board candidate Vance High wants the head of Electoral Board Vice Chair Joanie Schatzman, who told DP reporter Sarah Barry that she was "repelled by Vance" after a candidate's forum March 18.
He's sent out a press release and a copy of the grievance letter he sent to the State Electoral Board denouncing Schatzman's "lack of impartiality" and demanding that she retract her comment, apologize and resign.
At the end of his release, High adds, "School board elections are about students and Charlottesville has 34% dropout rate for Afro-American students. This is where public attention should be focused."
1 comment
awesome, Vance! don't mess around with disrespectful people.......
keep fighting the good fight as I know that's the only thing you're capable of. America's most livable city has an African-American drop-out rate of 34%? I didn't know until now. Who's trying to do something about this? In my community the illiteracy rate is 47% (even among adults), and it makes for a droll community. Can America's most livable city afford a 34% drop-out rate amongst a core ethnicity of her population? Probably not a good idea to sweep this under the rug, that's for sure. Go get 'em, Vance!


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Today, August 26th, marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th amendment becoming law, giving women in the United States the right to vote. What might Iowa State have had to do with women gaining the right to vote back in 1920? Carrie Chapman Catt graduated from Iowa State in 1880 at the top of her class. Catt worked diligently for woman's suffrage both in the United States and internationally, and was the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) when the 19th amendment was passed. In fact, she was president of NAWSA for many years and came back to the presidency in 1915 to reorganize and strengthen the association. After the 19th amendment became law, she then helped organize the League of Women Voters.
Several archives hold the papers of Carrie Chapman Catt, including ISU and the Library of Congress. Microfilmed versions of some of these collections are held in the library's Media Center and can be found by searching the library's catalog. The Library of Congress also has some of her papers online. We also have a collection of her papers, and the finding aid for her collection is online. Below are some of the highlights from her collection here at ISU, which contains some materials from when she was a student here as well as when she was working for woman's suffrage.
Pictured here are a couple images from Catt's botany notebook, which contain careful notes and illustrations in her very neat handwriting.
In 1921, Catt became the first woman to deliver a commencement address at Iowa State. The collection contains a newspaper article announcing Catt's visit to Iowa State, and also a copy of her address which was published in The Alumnus. The news clippings also reveal that Catt maintained ties to Iowa State, visiting her alma mater at least once during the fight for suffrage in 1917.
In addition to the materials in Catt's Papers, we also have a number of artifacts which Catt once owned. Most of these are suffrage buttons and pins, a few of which are pictured below.
If you would like to learn more about Carrie Chapman Catt, please visit our finding aid and the Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home and Museum website, which also contains links to other collections of Carrie Chapman Catt materials and an interactive time line. There are quite a number of online resources related to the suffrage movement, including a fun online scrapbook which contains articles, letters and editorials from The New York Times about the women who fought for and against suffrage here in the United States.


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Have a Hoot
Celebrate the owl with a spooky Halloween bash
Harry Potter has one. So did Hecate, goddess of the underworld. With that kind of pedigree, it's time the owl got some of the spotlight. So forget about ghosts and goblins-this year, throw an owl-themed Halloween party with all-ages appeal.
Before trick-or-treaters head into the night, invite parents and kids over for a casual buffet that's perfect for the season. Offer spinach salad laced with ribbons of raw pumpkin and a bruschetta bar with a trio of savory toppings on crisp toasts. There's hot cider for all (grown-ups can spike the brew with pumpkin- and spice-infused vodka). Set out a platter of owl-shaped cookies with candy-corn beaks. And send guests home with owl goodie bags to start the night on just the right hoot.
Owl masks. Before the kids arrive, use a craft knife to cut out mask pieces from thin foam paper (available from Michaels, www.michaels.com or 800/642-4235 for store locations). While the adults mingle, let the younger set glue the pieces together. Use a large needle to thread thin elastic through the mask, knotting elastic at each end to create a band.
Spooooky buffet
Most of this menu can be prepared in advance. The bruschetta bar serves 12; you'll probably have leftover toppings.
• 4 days ahead (or up to 3 months before Halloween): Start infusing the vodka.
• 2 days before the party: Make the cookies.
• 1 day in advance: Prepare toppings for the bruschetta bar.
• 4 hours before guests arrive: Slice and toast baguettes.
• 1 hour before guests arrive: Set out refrigerated mushroom pâté and sweet onions and peppers (keep chicken-cress salad refrigerated until ready to serve), and prepare spinach and pumpkin salad. Start cider; as it's heating, plate cookies and set out toasted baguettes.
Bruschetta Bar
Arrange sweet onions and peppers, chicken-cress salad, and mushroom pâté (recipes follow), plus bowls of peanut butter, whipped cream cheese, and jam, on buffet alongside toasted baguette slices (you'll need about 3 baguettes).
Mushroom Pâté
40 minutes
MAKES: About 2 cups
NOTES: You can make the pâté up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Let come to room temperature to serve.
1. Rinse and trim discolored ends from 2 pounds crimini, oyster, or common mushrooms (or a mixture) and coarsely chop.
2. In a 6-quart pan over high heat, melt ½ cup (¼ lb.) butter. Add mushrooms, 1 cup chopped shallots, 4 peeled and minced cloves garlic, and 11⁄2 teaspoons each ground cumin and ground coriander. Cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and mixture is lightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
3. In a food processor, whirl mushroom mixture until smooth. Mix in salt and pepper to taste. Mound in a bowl. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Per 2 tablespoons: 72 cal., 72% (52 cal.) from fat; 1.7 g protein; 5.8 g fat (3.6 g sat.); 4.2 g carbo (0.4 g fiber); 63 mg sodium; 16 mg chol.
Chicken-Cress Salad
PREP TIME: About 15 minutes
MAKES: About 3½ cups
NOTES: You can make salad up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill.
1. In a bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried thyme), and ¼ teaspoon fresh-ground pepper.
2. Add 3 cups shredded cold cooked chicken, ¾ cup chopped watercress or Italian parsley, and 2 tablespoons chopped shallots. Stir in salt to taste.
Per 2 tablespoons: 40 cal., 53% (21 cal.) from fat; 4.4 g protein; 2.3 g fat (0.5 g sat.); 0.2 g carbo (0 g fiber); 35 mg sodium; 14 mg chol.
Sweet Onions and Peppers
PREP AND COOK TIME: 1 hour
MAKES: About 3 cups
NOTES: You can make this topping up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Let come to room temperature to serve.
1. Peel 4 onions (8 oz. each) and sliver lengthwise. Rinse, stem, and seed 2 red bell peppers (1 lb. total); sliver lengthwise.
2. In a 6-quart pan over medium-high heat, mix 3 tablespoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons caraway seeds with onions, bell peppers, and 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are limp, 12 to 15 minutes.
3. Uncover and stir often over medium heat until liquid has evaporated and vegetables begin to brown and taste sweet, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
Per 2 tablespoons: 33 cal., 48% (16 cal.) from fat; 0.6 g protein; 1.8 g fat (0.2 g sat.); 4 g carbo (0.9 g fiber); 1.4 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.
Spinach and Pumpkin Salad
PREP TIME: About 25 minutes
MAKES: About 12 servings
NOTES: We adapted this recipe from Cetrella Bistro and Café in Half Moon Bay, California, where executive chef Lewis Rossman adds shavings of raw pumpkin to spinach salad for his special October menu. Look for toasted pumpkin-seed oil at natural- and specialty-food stores.
½ cup pomegranate juice
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup toasted pumpkin-seed oil or extra-virgin olive oil
6 to 8 ounces pumpkin, such as Sugar Pie, or banana squash
6 quarts baby spinach leaves (1 lb.), rinsed and crisped
Salt and pepper
½ cup salted, roasted shelled pumpkin seeds
1. In a large serving bowl, whisk together pomegranate juice, vinegar, and oil.
2. Peel pumpkin. With a vegetable peeler, cut raw pumpkin into paper-thin 1- by 3-inch strips; you'll need about 2 ½ cups. Add pumpkin shavings to pomegranate vinaigrette and mix gently.
3. Add spinach and mix to coat; add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
Per serving: 117 cal., 67% (78 cal.) from fat; 4.1 g protein; 8.7 g fat (1.4 g sat.); 8.3 g carbo (2.6 g fiber); 126 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.
Sleepy Hollow Cider
PREP AND COOK TIME: 15 minutes
MAKES: About 16 cups; 12 to 16 servings
NOTES: This recipe is from the Luna Park restaurants in Los Angeles and San Francisco, where chefs add pumpkin- and vanilla bean-infused vodka to spiced cider. Serve the cider hot, and let guests add the vodka to taste.
2 bottles (64 oz. each) apple cider or juice
2 cinnamon sticks (3 in.)
¾ teaspoon whole cloves
½ of a whole nutmeg
Pumpkin spice-infused vodka (recipe follows; optional) In a 5- to 6-quart pan, combine apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Cook, covered, over medium-high heat until steaming, about 14 minutes. Reduce heat to low to keep hot. Set pan on a tabletop burner or warming tray. Or pour into a thermos or insulated pitcher. Ladle or pour into cups and add vodka to taste (if desired).
Per serving: 118 cal., 2.3% (2.7 cal.) from fat; 0.1 g protein; 0.3 g fat (0.1 g sat.); 29 g carbo (0.2 g fiber); 7.7 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.
Pumpkin spice-infused vodka. Cut 1 vanilla bean (6 in.) in half lengthwise. With a vegetable peeler, shave 12 thin ribbons (4 to 6 in. long and about 1 in. wide) off a rinsed piece of pumpkin or banana squash. In a 1- to 1½-quart jar, combine vanilla, pumpkin, ½ of a whole nutmeg, and 1 bottle (750 ml. or 1 qt.) vodka. Seal jar and let stand at least 4 days or up to 3 months. The flavor intensifies the longer it stands; remove flavorings once vodka tastes as strong as you like.
Owl Cookies
PREP AND COOK TIME: 1½ hours, plus at least 45 minutes to chill
MAKES: About 33 cookies
NOTES: Trace an owl-shaped pattern (for a template, see www. sunset.com/owl) on heavy paper or lightweight cardboard, or use cookie cutters in any shape. You can make the cookies up to 2 days ahead; store airtight.
1 1⁄3 cups butter, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
Icing (recipe follows)
Candy corn
Miniature chocolate chips
1. Preheat oven to 350° (325° if using convection heat).
2. In a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until blended, then beat on high speed until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; beat on low speed until combined, then on medium speed until well blended. Divide dough into three portions.
3. Place each portion between two sheets of floured plastic wrap. Roll dough evenly into flat rounds about ¼ inch thick. Stack rounds on a baking sheet and chill until firm, at least 45 minutes, or up to 2 days.
4. Working with one portion of dough at a time (keep remaining chilled), peel off top sheet of plastic wrap. Set floured pattern (see notes) on dough and cut around edges. Or with floured round cookie cutters (3-in. diameter), cut out cookies, placing cutters as close together as possible. Transfer to cooking parchment-lined or ungreased baking sheets, placing cookies about 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough rounds. Gather up scraps and press together into a ball. If dough is still cold, roll and cut out remaining cookies. If it's soft and sticky, repeat step 3.
5. Bake cookies until firm to touch and slightly darker brown around edges, 8 or 9 minutes; if baking more than one sheet at a time in one oven, switch positions halfway through baking. Slide parchment with cookies off sheets onto racks or counter to cool, then remove from parchment. Or cool on pans about 1 minute and then transfer to racks to cool completely. If not using cooking parchment, wipe off baking sheets after each batch. Cool sheets before filling with more cookies.
6. Spread icing over cookies and decorate with candies, using candy corn for a beak and chocolate chips for eyes (see photograph on page 147). Let stand until icing is firm, about 5 minutes.
Per cookie: 185 cal., 38% (71 cal.) from fat; 1.8 g protein; 7.9 g fat (4.8 g sat.); 27 g carbo (0.4 g fiber); 147 mg sodium; 33 mg chol.
Icing. In a small bowl, stir together 2 cups powdered sugar and just enough milk (about 3 tablespoons) to make a spreadable icing. If desired, tint with food coloring. If icing thickens as it stands, stir in a few more drops of milk.


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This Blog focuses on Ancestor Stories, both the stories themselves about my family's ancestors and discussions of where they come from and how to prepare and share them. These stories may be non-fiction or fiction – we will always tell which is which, of course. Also see my KINNICK blog and The HOMEPLACE Series Blog, left sidebar, scroll down.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Madness Monday - SIMMONS
Her parents were George SIMMONS (b. abt 1815 in PA) and Mary Elizabeth LEE (b. abt 1825, KY).
Mary and Walter are my 2nd great grandparents. I know most of the families in my ancestry at this level... but not this one.
I want to identify Mary Estelle's brothers and sisters and their descendants. I have been able to discover very little about this family. They may have moved to Nebraska, but I know little more. Any suggestions or contacts would be welcomed.
Families are forever! ;-)
2 comments:
Have you noticed the George Simmons entry in the 1850 U.S. Census at Bureau Co. Illinois? It straddles two pages. One the second page, one family away is the family of Senica Simmons b. New York, aged 57, wife Nancy, b. Penn., aged 51, with children: Mary, Martha, Charles, and Rachel. Note that your George Simmons has children named Mary, James, Charles, and Rachel. Dollars to doughnuts says that Senica is the father of George. In any case, starting with that census, just go forward.ReplyDelete
Thank you very much! That is certainly a good place to check. I appreciate the help! ;-)ReplyDelete


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How does this so-called recovery lag compared to others, and when did things really start going downhill economically in the US. Was it after a peak of good times for America in the late 50s to mid 60s, with the 1959 cadillac a relic of a bygone era? We are not just talking about its iconic tail fins, but of the decent standard of living for Americans that it represents -- one that was NOT built on unsustainable debt supplanting stagnant wages. Or was what sealed America's fate the 1971 closing of the gold window by Richard Nixon? We will talk to Doug Casey, bestselling author and founder and publisher of Casey Research, for his thoughts.
Also, Spain has, for the first time, conceded it may need a full EU IMF bailout, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Spanish unemployment has hit the highest level since its transition to democracy post-Franco. We will take stock of the Eurozone crisis with the man who literally wrote the book on Crisis Investing, Doug Casey.
Finally, our own Demetri Kofinas will debrief us on Agora Financial's "Innovate or Die" conference, which is wrapping up today in Vancouver. Demetri will hopefully tell us how to avoid death, no pun intended. Source


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Multiple sources on Capitol Hill and in key special-interest groups involved in national security issues say they have been told to be prepared for a Chuck Hagel nomination for Defense Secretary, either as early as Monday or perhaps more likely Tuesday of next week.
Related: Former Sen. Chuck Hagel apologizes for gay comment
While it's still possible for the president to have a change of heart, all signs are pointing to a Hagel nomination.
When President Barack Obama returns to Washington this weekend, he will still have two big cabinet posts to fill and the current favorite for Secretary of Defense – Chuck Hagel – is taking heat on a range of issues. Obama 2012 traveling press secretary Jen Pskai and former RNC Chairman Michael Steele discuss.
That said, a White House spokesperson tells NBC News pretty emphatically that the president has not made a final decision and does not expect the president to make a final decision until he gets back from Hawaii.
The White House spokesperson adds, the "chatter" about Hagel-as-the-pick in the national-security and Capitol Hill communities is "premature." That said this spokesperson acknowledged Hagel is a "leading contender."
For what it's worth, the reason a lot of outside sources are being given a heads up on Hagel is that the White House knows if Hagel is indeed the president's choice, it's going to be a real fight.
President Obama responds to criticism of Chuck Hagel as a potential replacement for Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Hagel's 2008 statement that "the Jewish lobby" intimidates many lawmakers has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, and some have painted him as weak on defense issues. Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York, a top-ranking Jewish senator, passed on the opportunity to offer an endorsement for Hagel during an appearance on Meet the Press, while Republican Sen. John Cornyn called his positions on Iran and nuclear weapons "unacceptable."
Hagel also recently apologized for his 1998 opposition to an ambassadorial nominee whom he described as "openly, aggressively gay."
There are as many as 10 Democratic senators who could vote no, Capitol Hill sources say. But Hagel has some big backers besides the president who would become the key point people in getting Hagel over the finish line – Vice President Joe Biden and Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, both of whom are huge proponents of Hagel.
Asked on MSNBC's Morning Joe about the opposition to Hagel, Obama political adviser David Axelrod defended the former Republican Nebraska senator.
"It speaks to the larger problem that we're talking about, which is, we have to get the point, where, first of all, independence is admired and not discouraged, and we can disagree on some things and still work together on others," Axelrod said. "And the notion that we demonize people because of a position that they've taken and disqualify them on that basis is what's destroying the ability to get things done in this town."
Dave Kaup / Reuters
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) leaves a news conference in Omaha, Nebraska in this March 12, 2007, file photo.
Bottom line: It appears to be Hagel, but the White House says no final decision has been made.
News of the expected nomination was first reported by Foreign Policy magazine's The Cable blog.


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Another good place to find Japanese imports if you're local (Utah).
Fabric Cuteness Overload
Another good place to find Japanese imports if you're local (Utah).
29 Comments
angelaApril 14, 2010 at 6:48 am
LOVE all those prints! That was some fun shopping 🙂 When I first saw that cheater print I thought – wow, her seams are so flat!

Fun day at the shop with the boys, huh? My local shop has a little bin in the corner with some books, dominoes and a puzzle. Luckily becket loves to set up the dominoes and happily plays in one spot for now!
mascanlonApril 14, 2010 at 6:50 am
All that cuteness and I was sitting here on my hands trying not to online shop. You did me in!
pauletteApril 14, 2010 at 6:59 am
Loved the cute fabric!!
Someday your 'adventure' in the QS will be a silly story to tell their wives when they are going crazy with their own children!! :o) got to love it!! (except for the rotary cutter!!)
Paulette
pauletteApril 14, 2010 at 7:00 am
Loved the cute fabric!!
Someday your 'adventure' in the QS will be a silly story to tell their wives when they are going crazy with their own children!! :o) got to love it!! (except for the rotary cutter!!)
Paulette
KatyApril 14, 2010 at 7:02 am
oh no – waaaaaaay too much gorgeous stuff there!!!!

Your boys are clearing trying to get their own way – no more fabric store please, Mummy. Don't give in, just tape their arms to their sides before you go into the store, et voila, damage limitation 😉
Funky KimApril 14, 2010 at 7:10 am
I adore Pine Needles! Last time I was in there I had to pretend I had blinders on because I truly couldn't spend any money on fabric or something bad would happen! LOL
Dresden QuilterApril 14, 2010 at 7:23 am
The fabric is too cute! My kids have been to quilt stores and quilt shows ever since they were born too and there have been many times where I have cringed.
LeslieApril 14, 2010 at 7:40 am
you are not kidding..i am about to die from all the cuteness. these fabrics are amazing. i love the cheaters you got!!! and the story about your son….i was laughing but if it was me i would likely have had a heart attack.
gingerApril 14, 2010 at 7:41 am
Gorgeous fabrics. That cheater cloth looks especially fun, and I love the top quilt you made.
A.April 14, 2010 at 8:02 am
*shudder* fabric stores with children. It's like they have a radar for it & the second you walk through the doors it's freak-out time. Nice new additions to your stash, though! And I love the "saving money" reasoning. Ha, ha.
live a colorful lifeApril 14, 2010 at 8:12 am
I have a little of the Japanese fabric–wow, they make some cute stuff. I hadn't been on the toadstool band wagon yet, but I'm thinking of jumping on.
Laurie, the girls and ScottApril 14, 2010 at 8:27 am
Oh yes, I've seen the hedgehogs – and I heart them along with the rest (but especially the toadstools).
MelissaApril 14, 2010 at 8:55 am
I feel your pain and you're not alone. The last time I took my 2.5 year old into a quilt shop she ran through one aisle like some kind of delinquent punk deliberately headbutting (and thus knocking over) a couple of the artfully placed fabric bolts, she dumped over baskets of perfectly arranged jelly rolls and charm packs, and then she picked up another basket and carried it around hiding
John'aLeeApril 14, 2010 at 9:06 am
Such a happy quilt at the top of your blog post. Lecien fabrics are hard to beat.
I'm proud of you for being a stay at home mom and yet finding a way to keep creative! You go girl!
SherriApril 14, 2010 at 9:06 am
Love all of these fabrics…especially Charlotte from Carmel Town…I'm going to have to look for that one!
Mary on Lake PulaskiApril 14, 2010 at 9:26 am
Cute, cute, cute stuff Amy! Love all your purchase and remember well shopping with the kids – enjoy – it won't last long!
MaryApril 14, 2010 at 9:35 am
I love those cheater prints! I have one in my stash and I just love it. The double wedding ring cheater print is so cool – I've never seen that one before!
RachellaBellaApril 14, 2010 at 12:03 pm
LOVE the fabric! and I so understand about little boys and fabric shops and the dangers lurking in every little nook…
Laurie AnneApril 14, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Loving the shrooms fabrics and those hedgehogs are just darling!
MelissaApril 14, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I just bought some of those Leicen prints too! I can't decide what to do with them… but they are cute to look at!… I had to get them online.
I'm headed to Utah in June, Pine Needles is always a stop for me.. I've never been to the other 2 stores, I'll have to add them to my list!
Melissa
thetallgrlApril 14, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Okay, I simply heart fabric, too. Thank you for sharing your sweets with us! What is it about fabric that is just so … addicting? The feel? The color? The prints? All of the above? My hubby doesn't get it. Too bad for him.

My daughter once threw a gigantic tantrum in a quilt shop once. All because I (trying to distract her) asked her opinion on some fabric and ended up
PattyApril 14, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Love the cute fabric. Boys gotta love them. My son once through a tantrum in CVS when I was trying to but a cardand hit a many right in the family jewels I was mortified, needless to say that was the end of the store visit.
NedraApril 14, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Such beautiful Japanese fabrics to share. Delightful.
Sorry that the kidlets were such a handful. They will grow and learn (eventually).
madebymumApril 15, 2010 at 7:03 am
I love your choices.
firefaeryApril 16, 2010 at 7:14 am
I have a whole Michael Miller Hedgehogs and Big E half yard package coming to me as we speak! I'm so excited!!! So very adorable. I will use it in a quilting bee, to make a baby blanket 🙂
AlbaApril 17, 2010 at 3:12 am
I'm so jealous! We don't get anything like the fantastic choice of fabrics you guys have over there. I went to my local fabric store last weekend and the shelves are full of dull, dingy colours at $20 a metre – I want some zingy, spring fabrics!!
Make Do & MendApril 18, 2010 at 4:31 am
Love your quilt-store-kids story! I am feeling the pain, mine are 6,5 and 18 months – they definately know when we've been in!
Nanette Merrill and daughtersApril 20, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Being a parent and a quilter at the same time is NOT easy. I have lots of the same fabrics. So fun. And yes, I'm not sure what I'll do with some of them. But that ALexander Henry print I've gotta get!
AshleeJune 1, 2010 at 6:22 pm
This is GREAT to know. I used to live in Japan and I miss there fabic. I'll have to go check it out!


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Beardy folky hipster, Kanye West's favourite sidekick, alt-rock's best falsetto or reclusive log cabin fan.
Who, exactly, is Justin Vernon?
It doesn't matter, because you won't properly understand the Wisconsin singer until you see him, and his eight-piece band, live.
Bon Iver proved to be louder, more grandiose and far more epic live than they are on record at their first New Zealand show, one of the many musical coups scored by this year's International Arts Festival.
Anticipation for the event was so high, tickets were going for up to five times their face value on TradeMe, and the Wellington Town Hall was packed well before the 8pm start time.
It was easy to understand the hype once they kicked off: With two drummers, a horn section and several multi-instrumentalists on stage, Bon Iver build Vernon's minimalist folky ballads into surprisingly chaotic - and at times, unhinged - symphonies.
Their widescreen ambitions were a perfect fit on a vastly reworked Creature Fear, as Bon Iver's drummers hammered the song into a wonky electronic close, while Blood Bank heaved in a similarly freaky fashion.
Anyone wondering why hip-hop star Kanye West loves them so much found out why on ballads Wash and Calgary. The artists share a love for stirring, off-kilter orchestral arrangements, and they perfectly match Vernon's startling falsetto.
The show came to a head on a rare solo version of re: Stacks, a song from 2008's heartbreaking album For Emma, Forever Ago that was so emotionally charged, Vernon had the crowd eating out his hand. You could have heard a pin drop.
But the biggest screams of all were saved for shouty standout Skinny Love and an encore of The Wolves (Act I and II), as Vernon and the raucous crowd soared together through the "what might have been lost" cresendo.
It was an effort that had band and fans giving each other a standing ovation, and inspired an obviously elated Vernon to declare: "We will never forget this show".
For just a minute, his mile-wide smile belied his image as an angsty troubadour. It's unlikely anyone else will forget this show either.
What: Bon Iver
Where: Wellington Town Hall
When: Monday, February 27
* Bon Iver also play the Wellington Town Hall on Tuesday night.


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) -- Shares of bond insurer
(MBI) - Get Report
jumped 5% following a landmark ruling that may give the company an upper hand in its long-running dispute with
Bank of America
(BAC) - Get Report
over failed mortgage-backed securities.
Judge Jed Rakoff on Tuesday ordered
Flagstar Bancorp
(FBC) - Get Report
to pay bond insurer
Assured Guaranty
(AGO) - Get Report
$90.1 million in damages in a dispute over souring mortgage-backed securities valued at more than $900 million.
Assured Guaranty, which provides lenders insurance against defaults, had sued Flagstar over two securitizations, alleging the bank had misrepresented the quality of the loans underlying the mortgage-backed securities.
Assured claimed it was entitled to be reimbursed for the payment of the insurance claims that arose when the loans defaulted.
The case is similar to those filed by other bond guarantors including MBIA and
against banks such as Bank of America,
JPMorgan Chase
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Credit Suisse
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Rakoff ruled that Flagstar had breached its representations and warranties. He also dismissed arguments that the loans would have defaulted anyway or that the defects were immaterial, an argument often used by banks in defense against similar cases filed by investors and bond insurers.
"It is irrelevant to the court's determination of material breach what Flagstar believes ultimately caused the loans to default, whether it is a life event or if the underwriting defects could be deemed 'immaterial' based on 12 months of payment. Risk of loss can be realized or not; it is the fact that Assured faced a greater risk than was warranted that is at issue for the question of breach," the judge said in his
While the ruling is an obvious win for Assured Guaranty -- its stock is up 5.3% Wednesday -- the case has important implications for MBIA.
For one, the insurer also has a case against Flagstar over mortgage-backed securities of an underlying value of $165 million. Flagstar might be liable to pay claims under that case too.
But the ruling might also set a precedent for MBIA's case against Bank of America, which has turned out to be a
MBIA has sued Bank of America, arguing the bank's Countrywide unit made false representations in mortgages it sold and MBIA agreed to insure. Meanwhile, Bank of America has challenged the insurer's separation into two legal entities in an attempt to protect its municipal-insurance business from mortgage-related liability.
MBIA bulls, including investment manager Bruce Berkowitz, expect Bank of America to settle the case, which could result in an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion check.
This ruling could further weaken Bank of America's case and nudge it toward a settlement.
For more on what this means for Flagstar, read
Flagstar's Stock, Punished This Year, Could Rebound Big.
-- Written by Shanthi Bharatwaj in New York
For more on Bank of America's fight with MBIA, read
MBIA Bulls Differ on Bank of America Life or Death Deal
Disclosure: TheStreet's editorial policy prohibits staff editors and reporters from holding positions in any individual stocks.


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Grbggrl necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 83 diseños de 7 diseñadores freelance.
With An Accent
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Even though the content will be primarily British and American, we'll be addressing anything else worldwide that takes our fancy.
Beyond just promoting our subjects in order to introduce them to the wider audience we think they deserve, we also want to get the outsiders point of view, to catch things that someone in the audience that creates it might overlook and take for granted. To get a discussion going about different cultures and the things that make them different and what unites us. When we say all forms of media we mean it. We'll be discussing film, television, music, literature and theatre. So feel free to work anything those subjects bring to mind into the logo. Most of all, our aim is to have fun and share the things we love with as many people as possible. So we hope you have fun designing a logo that just might be chosen to represent us!
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Florence Man Charged With Sexual Abuse of Children and Possession of Child Pornography [AUDIO] [DOCUMENT]
A Florence man, Matthew Ray Tack, 29, was charged in Missoula Justice Court on Monday, November 4, with sexual abuse of children and possession of child pornography, after dozens of explicit images and videos of a 13 year-old girl were found on his computer.
Detective Chris Shermer with the Missoula Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said that Tack lent his computer to a friend who found the images and contacted the police department.
"A mother on Missoula's south side found the images on Mr. Tack's computer," Shermer said. "Those images were of a young female that was naked. The images included about 10 videos and nearly 50 photographs. In one of the photos, the young girl was wearing a sweatshirt from a middle school out of Kentucky, so I was able to contact a police officer in Kentucky who actually put me in contact with the young girl and her parents. This is extremely rare, because most of the time we don't find out who these girls are."
Shermer outlined the charges against Tack, who allegedly contacted the young girl via social media.
"He's being charged with sexual abuse of children, which is kind of a catch-all for numerous kinds of internet crimes," Shermer said. "It is basically possession of child pornography, and he could also be charged with making child pornography because he asked the young girl to make these videos."
Shermer said Tack could be facing dozens of felony charges.
"Mr. Tack could be facing charges for up to 10 videos and up to 50 images," Shermer said. "However, there are instances where individuals possess thousands of images. It's up to the county attorney and Mr. Tack's attorney to decide what the charges will be."
Detective Chris Shermer:
Deputy Missoula County Attorney Shawn Thomas asked Judge Karen Orzech for a high bail, considering the serious nature of the charges.
"The state is requesting $50,000 bail," Thomas said. "Basically, his phone and Facebook records show he's been in contact with multiple underage girls, asking for sexually explicit pictures, and he even talked about meeting one of them, so we believe he does present a danger to the community."
Judge Orzech set Tack's bail at $50,000 and remanded him back to the Missoula County Jail.


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Vatican City, Jan 27, 2014 / 06:52 am MT ().- In his daily Mass, Pope Francis reflected on the significance of the special anointing given to priests and bishops, emphasizing that it marks their role of service to the Church, which we should be grateful for.
"Today, thinking about this anointing of David, it will do us good to think of our brave, holy, good, faithful bishops and priests, and pray for them. We are here today thanks to them," the Pope stated in his Jan. 27 homily.
Addressing those present for his Mass in the Vatican's Saint Martha guesthouse, Pope Francis began his homily by drawing attention to the day' first reading, taken from the Second Book of Samuel, in which the tribes of Israel anoint David as their king.
"Without this anointing, David would have been only the head" of a "company" or a "political society, which was the Kingdom of Israel," observed the pontiff, explaining that David would have been a mere "political organizer."
However, "after the anointing, the Spirit of the Lord" descends upon David and remains with him, the Pope stated recalled, adding that "This is precisely the difference anointing makes."
Explaining that the one who is anointed is chosen by the Lord, Pope Francis expressed that it is also the same with bishops and priests, and that "the bishops are elected not only to conduct an organization, which is called the particular Church…they are anointed."
"They have the anointing and the Spirit of the Lord is with them," he noted, highlighting that "all the bishops are sinners, every one;" but "still, we are anointed."
"We all want to be more holy every day, more faithful to this anointing," the Pope continued, adding that "the person of the bishop is the thing that (constitutes) a Church (as such), in the name of Jesus Christ – because he is anointed, not because he was voted by the majority."
"It is in this anointing that a particular Church has its strength. Because they take part (in the bishop's mission of service) priests are anointed, as well," the Pope explained.
Pope Francis observed that anointing brings bishops and priests closer to the Lord, and gives them the strength "to carry (their) people forward, to help (their) people, to live in the service of (their) people."
It also gives them the joy of feeling "chosen by the Lord, watched by the Lord, with that love with which the Lord looks upon all of us," said the Pope, and therefore "when we think of bishops and priests, we must think of them in this way: (as) anointed ones."
"On the contrary," he said, "it is impossible to understand – not only – it is impossible to explain how the Church could continue under merely human strength," but "this diocese goes forward because it has a holy people…and also an anointed one who leads, who helps it to grow."
Looking to history, the Pope explained that we only know "a small part" of "how many holy bishops, how many priests, how many holy priests have given their lives in the service of the diocese, the parish."
"How many people have received the power of faith, the power of love, hope (itself) from these anonymous pastors?" he asked, emphasizing that "We do not know: there are so many."
"The parish priests of the country or the city, who, with their anointing have given strength the people, who have passed on the teaching of the faith, have given the sacraments: (in a word), holiness."
Pope Francis then drew attention to those who are often critical of priests, and who say things such as "'But, Father, I have read in a newspaper that a bishop has done such a thing, or a priest who has done this thing.'"
"Oh yes, I read it, too," he explained, but "tell me, though: do the papers carry news of what great charity so many priests, so many priests in so many parishes of the city and the countryside, perform? Of the great work they do in carrying their people forward? No?"
"This is not news," observed the Pope, noting that "it is the same as always: a single falling tree makes more noise than a forest that grows."
However, the pontiff concluded by encouraging those present to think "about this anointing," and to pray and give thanks for "our brave, holy, good, faithful bishops and priests."
Tags: Pope, Priesthood, Holiness, Bishops
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College Baseball Player's Disastrous Hot Dog Eating Contest Performance Lands Him in Hospital
Brian Read is no Joey Chestnut.
Read, a 19-year-old student playing for the Seacoast Mavericks in the collegiate Futures Collegiate Baseball League, had to undergo surgery after competing in a hot dog eating contest held during the seventh inning stretch of a game last week.
Read, who attends Jefferson College in Mississippi, was among the field to see who could eat one hot dog and bun the fastest without the aid of water.
Read, who wound up finishing dead last, decided to skip the whole chewing thing in order to pick up some time. He said, "I started swallowing really prematurely. I didn't chew my food very well."
Immediately after the contest, Read threw up and continued to do so until the next morning. He also couldn't eat or drink.
He decided to go to the hospital, where doctors gave him some pills in the hopes of dislodging whatever was blocking his throat. When that didn't work, medics discovered a one-and-a-half-inch long piece of frankfurter was trapped between his stomach and esophagus. He underwent surgery to remove the food.
When Read woke up, he enjoyed drinks and ice cream and was back to normal. By Tuesday, he went out for lunch, but made sure to avoid hot dogs – instead, he had a cheeseburger.
Which we're sure he ate nice and slow.


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Summer stars
Knee-deep mud, pulsating beats and pure euphoria. Musicians probably know best which festivals tick all the boxes. We asked eight top acts for a personal recommendation.
No. 1
Glastonbury, Pilton, England
June 21-25
"As a child I would watch all the Glastonbury performances that were transmitted live on TV, so actually playing there myself was totally mind blowing! This festival is ideal for everyone who wants to experience something fun and new and doesn't mind walking for miles and miles through mud!"
Dua Lipa
The eponymous debut album by British dance-pop singer Dua Lipa comes out this month
No. 2
Pukkelpop, Hasselt, Belgium
August 16-19
"At Pukkelpop, a super-chilled festival, I experienced a really special moment. I was performing and some girls from the crowd came up and joined me on stage. We ended up dancing together and it felt absolutely free and very liberating. Sometimes I feel alone on stage and it was really nice to have people up there sharing the limelight with me."
Izzy Bizu
Londoner Izzy Bizu gets the party going with songs like "White Tiger" or "Talking To You"
No. 3
Exit, Novi Sad, Serbia
July 6-9
"Exit is like its own, unique world. It takes place in a fortress and despite its size – it attracts 200 000 visitors – has a really intimate atmosphere. Last year, I played in an old amphitheater until sunrise, which was an incredibly emotional experience. The program is very varied, and there's something for everyone, no matter if you prefer bands or electronic music."
This DJ is the uncontested ruler of the night and the stage at big festivals
No. 4
Kosmonaut, Chemnitz, Germany
June 16-17
"We launched Kosmonaut festival in our hometown in 2013. In the first year, the stage was on a truck trailer; now, it attracts 15 000 people. The festival takes place right next to a reservoir, so you can swim and watch the action on stage at the same time. We always have a secret headliner and there are lots of advance bets on their identity."
"Keine Nacht für Niemand", the German band's third album, is due out this month
No. 5
Sziget, Budapest, Hungary
August 9-16
"Sziget is a giant party on a Danube island in the middle of Budapest, and it features a fabulous mix of big names and exciting newcomers. A few years ago, we were on our way home in the tour bus but decided spontaneously to stop off at the festival. Wow! It was unforgettable!"
Mando Diao
This summer, the Swedish rock band is on tour with their eighth album, Good Times
No. 6
Wacken Festival, Germany
August 3-5
"We played Wacken for the first time in 1996, back when it was still fairly small. Now, it is one of the biggest heavy metal festivals in the world. The connection between the audience and the bands is unique, almost magical. It is the ideal festival for hardcore metal fans, but it's also a brilliant way of immersing yourself in metal and it has an atmosphere a bit like a giant fair."
The current album by the German metal band is called "Gods of Violence"
No. 7
Montreaux Jazz, Switzerland
June 30 – July 15
"This jazz festival is a music lovers' festival run by music lovers. I feel very happy when I think about playing there. Last time I flew to Geneva, I saw a huge banner in the arrivals hall celebrating the festival, and it had a photo of me performing my first concert there. What an amazing welcome!"
Amy MacDonald
Her latest album, Under Stars, is the perfect soundtrack for balmy nights
No. 8
Pop-Kultur, Berlin, Germany
August 23-25
"Everyone will find their own special gems here and can put together their own program. First a pop concert, perhaps, then a jazz artist or a rock band. Two years ago as part of the festival, I performed at the techno club Berghain, which was a fabulous experience because instead of singing, I read my unpublished poetry."
The German singer explores everyday life on her latest album
Mimi Stave
Our reporter really enjoyed researching the festival story. Here's why: "I listened to the music of each of the artists I talked to, and now I've got a new playlist and plans for nest summer!"


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Engineered systems:Let's start with giving examples from the mechanical world. I will try to give examples for three increasingly-superior levels of reliability: robust-yet-fragile < resilient < antifragile.
Robust-yet-fragile. A good example here is the glass. Glass (think of automobile glasses or gorilla glass) is actually very tough/robust material. You can throw pebbles, and even bigger rocks at it, and it won't break or scratch, well, up to a point that is. The glass is very robust to the anticipated faults (stressor) up to a point. But, exceed that point, and then the glass is in shambles. That shows an unanticipated stressor (a black swan event in Taleb's jargon) for the glass: a ninja stone. The ninja stone is basically a piece of ceramic that you take from the spark plug, and is denser than glass. So if you gently throw this very little piece of ceramic to your car window, it breaks in shambles. This is a well-known trick to break into cars.
This is called a robust-yet-fragile structure, and this is actually why we had the Titanic disaster. Titanic, the ship, had very robust panels, but again upto a point. When Titanic exceeded that point a little bit (with the iceberg hitting it), the panels broke into shambles, very much like the glass meeting ninja stone. Modern ships after Titanic, went for resilient, instead of robust (yet fragile) panels. The resilient panels bend easier, but they don't break as miserably. They still hold together to the face of an extreme stressor. Think of plastic; it is less robust but more resilient than glass.
The robust-yet-fragile effect is also known as highly optimized tolerance. If you optimize tolerance for one anticipated stressor, you become very vulnerable to another unanticipated fault. (Much like the closed Australian ecosystem.) There is some literature on robust yet fragile systems.
Resilient. Robust systems mask stressors (upto a point), and they optimize for certain anticipated stressors and fail miserably for unanticipated stressors. The resilient system approach is the opposite. It prescribes not to mask stressors; the stressors perturb the system somewhat, but you eventually recover from them. A good slogan for resilience is robust-yet-flexible. These systems stretch somewhat with the stressor, but not fail completely or discretely.
Engineers embrace resilience today. We can see this idea in construction, in bridges, skycrapers, which are built in a flexible way to sway somewhat with wind and earthquakes but not fail completely. In fact, by flexing/stretching a bit with stressors, these systems remain unharmed and last longer, as they tolerate the shocks by rolling with them instead of absorbing the shocks fully.
Today, it is more or less established that systems should aim to expose stressors/faults/problems in some suitable manner, rather than hide them. Even as a system masks problems, it should at least report/log them. Otherwise your system will die slowly and you won't know (such accounts are more common than you would imagine).
Antifragility in mechanical systems. Taleb emphasizes repeatedly that the antifragility idea is not robust and not just resilient. An antifragile system thrives under failures, not just tolerate it. Resilient is better than robust(-yet-fragile), and antifragile is better than resilience in this respect.
Taleb says in the book that one of the few examples of antifragile materials he knows is carbon nanotubes, which gets stronger when faced with a stressor. Here is another antifragile material, a non-newtonian fluid.
There are not many antifragility examples to mechanical systems. In fact, Taleb gives the washing machine versus the cat section in the book to illustrate this point. The cat (living organism) is antifragile. The cat becomes stronger with stressors: It is use it or lose it for the cat, as her muscles would atrophy in the absence of use. So living organisms benefit from stressors. But for the washing machine (mechanical system) it is use it and lose it, as there is wear and tear associated with usage. A mechanical system does not gain much from stressors. (Actually my old car sitting in the garage disagrees. When a car is not used, it starts developing some problems, and you can say that the car benefits to a degree from being used and stressors. This is similar to the state of a vacant house versus an occupied house.)
For engineering of mechanical systems, maybe antifragility is not that applicable. With the wisdom of hundreds of thousands of man-years in engineering (practical systems and technology), why aren't we already seeing examples of antifragility?
Antifragility is not well formalized in the book, especially from the engineering perspective. So, there is some gray area for which systems we can categorize as antifragile. Does antifragility involve effects of randomization, white-noise effects? If that is the case, you can say that engineered systems benefit from some randomness. It was found that Norbert Weiner's mechanical target-tracking calculators/computers performed better in the plane (with noise from vibration) than on the ground (with no noise). There is this thing called stochastic resonance, which has been harvested to achieve some gains in practice. These are sort of white noise asyncronized noise to the systems. On the other hand, it is also well-known that synchronized resonance (an army marching in unison) can bring down bridges. Maybe by harvesting resonance and learning to use it, antifragile mechanical systems can be engineered. Unfortunately I don't know much about this domain, and I am not sure if there are some good progress and results in this domain.
Antifragility in cyber worldAntifragility is actually all about environment actions and reaction by the system. An antifragile system reacts to environment actions to keep a utility function high, and sometimes achieve a very high utility function (this is when stressors help to improve the system). This is called the barbell strategy in the book: Be safe with the utility function, and sometimes improve it drastically.
Then we can define antifragility as the ability to improve the utility function to the face of "bad" environment actions. But what is bad? One man's food can be another man's poison. Bad can be defined with respect to (comparative to) other systems: When other systems are badly affected by the environment actions, if you are gaining then you are antifragile. (This also implies that for zero-sum environments, you are being antifragile to the expense of the fragility of others.)
Probabilistic algorithms. The CS literature is full of examples of probabilistic algorithms that do much better than any deterministic algorithm. The impossibility results (such as FLP and attacking generals) are circumscribed by probabilistic algorithms. Some algorithms specifically benefit from the randomness: the random the process the better they fare. A nice book has been written by Rajiv Motwani and Prabhakar Raghawan on randomized algorithms.
Randomness is especially great for breaking ties, and used in networking and distributed systems literature for that. For example, in the ethernet and wifi protocols, random backoffs are used so that communication over a shared medium is possible at all. Do these examples count as antifragility?
This also reminds me of an example from the Sync book by Strogatz (which is an excellent book about research, read it if you haven't already). Strogatz has formulated a sync problem for runners on a running track. "Each runner has his own speed, which is analogous to the frequency of an oscillator, and all the runners shout at and are heard by every other runner, which is analogous to the coupling between the oscillators. Depending on the initial conditions and the setup of the coupling, a group of runners may synchronize into a single block all running at the same speed, fall into chaos everybody running on her own, or anything in between." It was found that when the runners (speeds and positions) are not very uniform but rather somewhat random, synchronization was possible and achieved faster. It was also found that there is a sudden phase transition non-sync and sync outcomes. I don't know what (if anything) this implies for antifragility.
BitTorrent example. For an antifragile system, the more you try to stress the system, the stronger it grows. A great example is bittorrent. In bittorrent, the more a file becomes traffic hotspot, the faster it gets to download it. Bittorrent streams gains from hotspots and contention by exploiting the Network effect to provide scaling. If a file is popular for downloads, then its parts are available from more peers, so it will be faster to download it from many peers available.
Fault-tolerant computing angleSelf-stabilization. In the fault-tolerant computing domain, self-stabilization comes to mind immediately as an example of resiliency. Self-stabilization, first proposed by Dijkstra in 1970s, calls for not categorizing faults but instead to design tolerance for anticipated faults. Treat all faults uniformly as a perturbation to the system, and design your system to be tolerant to perturbation. So regardless of faults or combinations of faults, your system is going to recover. This is the self-stabilization view. There has been a lot of work on self-stabilizing computer systems in the literature. The trivial kinds of stabilizing systems are soft-state systems, and restartable systems.
Self-stabilization does not fit the antifragility definition. Since the state corruption abstraction is too abstract and well-defined, the "corruption helps" becomes an oxymoron. Corruption is pre-defined to be the bad thing, so it is hard to play that game. Maybe you have zones of perturbation, and the further you are perturbed away, the faster you recover from it. But, if you have a fast recovery method why not use it for the other regions as well?
Self-adaptive systems, a more recent concept can fit the antifragility idea. But self-adaptive systems are not well defined/formalized, and I am not aware of any big success stories from that line of thinking yet. And I guess the philosophical difference between self-adaptive versus antifragile systems is that, you can still have a predefined/constant antifragile system that is not self-adaptive. You can have an antifragile system that uses the barbell idea, and does not do bad in any input, but does great in some inputs. That system is not adaptive, but it is still antifragile.
Software rejuvenation. Software rejuvenation can be an example of antifragility in the fault-tolerant computing domain. The software rejuvenation idea is to reset the software occassionally to get rid of memory leaks, unoptimal or incorrect bugs. The antifragility angle is that, if the number of faults increase, you start a software rejuvenation. So the increased number of faults helps for faster recovery/rejuvenation of the software. Specifically the Microsoft bug reporting paper comes to my mind, which is a really interesting piece of work that appeared in SOSP 2009. The idea is that if a bug is more prevalent, it is reported more automatically and is fixed first.


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Ross rejoices over Kentucky's Final Four run
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Rangers pitcher Robbie Ross is battling a cold and sore throat. But that hasn't kept him from rejoicing over the Kentucky Wildcats great run in the NCAA basketball tournament.
Ross is from Lexington, Ky. And a huge Wildcat fan. He had a baseball scholarship to Kentucky before being selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Ross didn't sign until Aug. 15, but said there was little doubt he was going to sign with the Rangers.
"It was not that close," Ross said. "I hadn't even started signing up for classes. They told me they wanted to sign some of the lower round guys and then they would get around to me and Justin Smoak."
Now Ross has a chance to win the Rangers annual college basketball pool. He turned in five different brackets and one had Kentucky going all the way. It's down to him and team photographer Kelly Gavin. If Kentucky wins on Monday, Ross takes the pool. Gavin wins if it's Connecticut.
"Tell Kelly Gavin she has no chance winning this bracket," Ross said.


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From a fast day to a festival, Thanksgiving's unusual journey
Holiday was restored to national status by President Lincoln in 1863
Macy's is pushing its 86th annual parade extravaganza, entrepreneurs have made a Black Friday smartphone app to find the best shopping deals on the day after, and the Food Network has been serving up Thanksgiving menu proposals all month.
Would Sarah Josepha Hale be horrified or gratified?
Hale campaigned for 23 years in the mid-19th century to turn what had been a rather somber remembrance of America's beginnings into a joyous, uniquely American celebration that began lighting up this dark season of the year during the depths of the Civil War.
"Thanksgiving was, for centuries, a very solemn day in New England," says David Hackett Fischer, university professor and Earl Warren Professor of history. "It was to be a day of deep reflection and great seriousness."
In the beginning, Thanksgiving could be either a feast or a fast day -- sometimes a feast to celebrate a blessing, sometimes a fast to seek guidance in a time of difficulty. There were sometimes numerous such days in a year. The first Thanksgivings did, as legend holds, involve both English settlers and Native Americans.
In his book "Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday," James W. Baker writes the historical birth of the American Thanksgiving holiday took place in Plymouth in the fall of 1621.
According to Plimoth.org, a Smithsonian Institution affiliations program in Plymouth, Mass., the Continental Congress proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving, in 1777. Presidents Washington, Adams and Monroe also proclaimed national Thanksgivings, but that tradition faded by 1815 and the holiday was left to individual states to observe.
Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book, began a campaign to reinstate the holiday in 1827, petitioning several presidents. She finally succeeded in 1863, when she was able to convince President Lincoln that a national Thanksgiving might serve to unite a war-torn country.
Lincoln declared two national Thanksgivings that year, one for August 6 celebrating the victory at Gettysburg and a second for the last Thursday in November.
In the late 19th century, says Fischer, New England the towns began holding their climactic football games on Thanksgiving. By the 1920s merchants began to take a hand, and in 1924 the Macy's parade was born.
Franklin Roosevelt, with some urging from Macy's retailing legend Fred Lazarus, moved the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November to stretch out the Christmas season in hopes that this would help the national economy. After much debate, Congress agreed, in 1941, to retain that timing.
Nowadays, Americans of all national origins celebrate Thanksgiving, many incorporating food and customs from their home countries into the melting pot.
"If my family were around I'd be looking forward to stuffing," says Young Tae Seo '15, who hails from Korea. "But this year, I'm going to be cooking for myself and friends who are on campus so that we can have our own little dinner." Young will be cooking kimchi stew among other Korean treats.
Fischer says a student from Alabama once told him that an important tradition for her family was to have a bowl of magnolia blossoms on the table. One of his Jewish students shared that his family always served kugel as part of their Thanksgiving ritual.
"My family is German Lutheran," says Fischer. Because of that, and in line with tradition in Maryland, his native state, " sauerkraut is part of the day as well."
For many Native Americans, however, Thanksgiving is a much more complicated day: a time to reflect upon the violence of colonial history, and on centuries of dispossession from land, language and culture. The holiday first came under sustained public attack by Native American activists in 1970. State officials vetted the text of an oration that Frank B. James, a Wampanoag leader, was slated to deliver at a banquet celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Mayflower's landing.
"Deeming James's impassioned narrative of stolen lands and broken promises off-key for the occasion," writes Jane Kamensky, the Harry S. Truman Professor of American Civilization, in an article she published in Common-Place, the state leaders "promptly rescinded their invitation to break bread with him, thus inverting the very mythic, ancestral feast they were gathered to commemorate."
James and other indigenous leaders staged a ritual of their own, covering Plymouth Rock with sand on what became the first National Day of Mourning.
Decades later, this annual commemoration of "un-Thanksgiving" continues on Cole's Hill, above Plymouth Rock. It is organized by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE).
Such struggles over the holiday are hardly new, Kamensky notes. "Politics has always marched in the Columbus Day parade and taken a place on the Thanksgiving menu alongside the turkey, the stuffing, the kimchi, the kugel and more."
Categories: General


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This kid is so impressive, you're liable to lose sight of how adorable she is. Watch as Stella, a four-year-old dinosaur expert, goes through a list of why the toy in her hand is not a Triceratops, but a Styracosaurus.
According to Dinosaur Tracking's Brian Switek, she even touches on three hallmark differences in the species' skull anatomy: "Triceratops had a shorter nasal horn, longer brow horns and smaller, triangular bones around the border of the frill."
We can only assume that when she says she's going to go "check out the others," Stella is, in fact, setting off to assess the anatomical correctness of the remaining dinosaur toys. Almost makes you wonder if she's friends with Riley.
[Spotted on Dinosaur Tracking]


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In this presentation, Dr. Gade introduces the Qur'an as experienced in diverse Muslim lifeworlds through systems of reading. Explaining how Muslims describe the structure and style of the Arabic Qur'an to be "multifaceted," we begin to explore how sound and meaning are multilayered intellectually, emotionally, and in embodied religious modes. Key examples come from aestheticized performance (recitation), expert practice (memorization), and theology, law and politics (in the form of recent ecological "readings" of the Qur'an).
Dr. Gade holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School (1999). She is author of the books, Perfection Makes Practice: Learning, Emotion and the Recited Qur'an in Indonesia (Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2004) and The Qur'an: An Introduction (Oxford, U.K.: Oneworld Publications, 2010). She has been teaching a university-level introduction to the Qur'an since 1997. Her current research explores global Muslim religious responses to environmental change (www.vimeo.com/hijau).
"The Qur'an in the World: The Qur'an in Historical Context and Qur'an and Community in the Modern World" lecture series is sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Institute for the Humanities, International Institute, and LSA.
This lecture is cosponsored by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.


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For the week ending 18 November 2006 / 27 Heshvan 5767
Never Too Late
A holiday visit from a former student brought tears to the eyes of his teacher.
Brought up in a very secular home the visitor courageously returned to his Jewish roots, studied at Ohr Somayach and settled in Israel. His father came to Israel this past Succot to visit his son and grandchildren. As he entered their beautiful succah he was filled with emotion. For this ninety-year old American Jew this was the first time in his life that he ever sat in a succah.
This was not his only first. The son introduced his father to the mishna dealing with the laws of succah, blending the theoretical and practical in a way that brought true joy to the heart of an old man.
Which once again proves that it's never too late to learn and to do.