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Ando Hiroshige and L.S. Lowry: images of majesty and realism
Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858) and L.S. Lowry (1887- 1976) come from different worlds and their styles and creativity are a million miles away. Hiroshige is internationally famous and Lowry sits rightly within his northern English roots which influenced him so much. However, Lowry is acclaimed in his own right and both artists were blessed with fine qualities and have left a rich legacy.
Lowry commented that "If people call me a Sunday painter I'm a Sunday painter who paints every day of the week!" This comment says much about his roots because pride, confidence and rebuttal, is part of a common language which seeks neither confirmation nor seeks weakness.
Lowry studied at the Manchester Academy of Fine Art and at Salford Royal Technical College. His knowledge of French Impressionism and the influence of Ford Madox Brown and Rossetti on his thinking played an important role. However, Lowry was not interested in following or painting within constraints, therefore, he created a style which was unique and the subject matter of his famous art is a reminder of the real England.
Hiroshige was born in Japan and despite his paintings contrasting greatly with Lowry both artists did share common themes because neither was born into real privilege. Also, both artists painted striking images despite the subject theme being very different.
In an earlier article I comment that "Ando Hiroshige is deemed to be one of the finest artists to bless the country of Japan and his art influenced famous artists like Van Gogh. Hiroshige leaves a lasting impression on the imagination and Katsushika Hokusai clearly influenced Hiroshige and was an inspirational figure even if from afar."
"Within the visions of serenity, sublime nature and stunning landscapes you have multi-dimensional realities which may clash in other cultures, irrespective if "Eastern" or "Western" thought patterns; however, open sexuality and conservatism within the same "inner-self" is based on thought patterns that are difficult to grasp from a non-Japanese point of view."
Therefore, just like Hiroshige and other ukiyo-e artists who depicted stunning nature and tranquility alongside shunga and explicit sexual images, which renders confusion within the thought patterns of famous Western artists. Images by Lowry can lead to confusion for people outside of a working class environment and who don't understand the real power and energy of industrial landscapes.
Also, just like Hiroshige had many dimensions to his art the same applies to Lowry but from afar both artists are known for a particular style. However, this is misleading because Hiroshige and Lowry had many styles and while art lovers will know about this the general public may be surprised by the diversity of both artists.
Lowry and the power of the industrial theme really hit home because he states that "One day I missed a train from Pendlebury – (a place) I had ignored for seven years – and as I left the station I saw the Acme Spinning Company's mill … The huge black framework of rows of yellow-lit windows standing up against the sad, damp charged afternoon sky. The mill was turning out… I watched this scene – which I'd looked at many times without seeing – with rapture…"
If we compare this statement by Lowry with the importance of time, space, nature, color schemes and symbolism for Hiroshige, then it is abundantly clear that their passion and influence was extremely different. In part, Lowry stands out because of what made him tick but Hiroshige followed a traditional route and his themes were not unique when compared with the style of Lowry who was truly independent.
This does not negate anything about Hiroshige because cultural factors, environment and other aspects of both cultures are bound to clash and in truth Lowry had a distinctive style which would render other artists less unique. However, being unique by itself means little if the art form can't reach the soul and express something deep or attract based on countless factors.
Hiroshige is one of the finest artists to grace Japan but the overwhelming majority of British people would not put Lowry on the same pedestal which regards to being amongst the crème de la crème of British art.
The Fifty-three Stages of the Tokaido Road, the Eight Views of Lake Biwa, and the Hundred Views of Edo are not only reminders of the genius of Hiroshige but many images are known throughout the world. On the other hand, Lowry used basic colors and he commented that "I am a simple man, and I use simple materials: ivory, black, vermilion (red), Prussian blue, yellow ochre, flake white and no medium (e.g. linseed oil). That's all I've ever used in my paintings. I like oils… I like a medium you can work into over a period of time."
Lowry also felt a deep connection with solitary figures and people who struggled to cope with life. He stated that "I feel more strongly about these people than I ever did about the industrial scene. They are real people, sad people. I'm attracted to sadness and there are some very sad things. I feel like them."
Hiroshige and Lowry have both left deep impressions on countless numbers of people and it matters not whose legacy is the richest or who impacted the most. After all, art is not constrained by thought patterns, style, meaning or anything. Therefore, Hiroshige and Lowry will mean many things to different people who love art.
However, both individuals blessed the art world and their power remains potent in the modern period and long may it continue to do so because Hiroshige and Lowry shared their gifts and their artistic talents.


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This was posted by one of the 'Anonymous' guys, so I don't know who the
'guy who runs the 605 game …' is, but it is the same response
received here when Rich Estrella was contacted, and he's as close to the
game as anyone.
'Every year (I go back over 20 years with this game) we have players who didn't get selected to play in the 605 game, who just show up with gear, hoping to "tryout" to make the team. If you saw players just signing up, that's "Roll Call." There are no try outs, never have been any tryouts, never will be any tryouts. Anyone who says they have seen what you saw is just misunderstood. ALL PLAYERS ARE NOMINATED BY THEIR COACHES. Not all make it. If a team is short a position like offensive line and all you have left from your nominees is running backs and DB types, then we reach outside the nominees back to the 605 member schools and get one. That is the only way to get on the squad without a nomination.'
One last Grigsby item from my source:
His name, as well as no other California HS players', was never given
the selection committee for consideration. More important, even if he
was cleared to play, it wouldn't be with the West team. Period.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, BioWare invites you to learn more about Nihlus Kryik, one of the Citadel Council's most decorated Spectre agents. Check out the latest new screenshots as well as his character bio below.
Nihlus Kryik is one of the Citadel Council's most decorated Spectre agents. Born in a small mercenary outpost outside Hierarchy space, he learned the hard way to fight for anything he wanted. His father died when he was 16, and his mother forced him to join the turian military. His outsider status made life difficult; though he was always at the top of his class, his superiors and peers never truly accepted him.
As a soldier, Nihlus' skills were unquestionable. His attitude, however, often got him in trouble. On several occasions, he disobeyed direct orders to do what he thought was best. Although his instincts were usually proven right, his notoriety grew. Even when he single-handedly routed an enemy patrol, and saved his squad from ambush, his commanding officers berated him for his recklessness. His military career seemed to stall before it even began.
After being reassigned to a new squad for the third time, Nihlus was introduced to Saren Arterius, a fellow turian and a Spectre. Saren was impressed with the young soldier. He befriended Nihlus and offered to mentor him. Within a year of meeting Saren, Nihlus was asked to join the Spectres.
Free from the restrictions of military procedure, Nihlus excelled in his new role. He quickly stepped from his mentor's shadow and established himself as one of the Council's top agents. Since then, Nihlus has completed countless missions as a Spectre, each one more difficult and dangerous than the last.
Cool under pressure, Nihlus has an uncanny ability to find an enemy's weakness and exploit it. Though his methods aren't as brutal as Saren's, he will not hesitate to efficiently and thoroughly eradicate anything or anyone that stands in his way.


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They say never to mix business with pleasure, but it's hard not to in Massachusetts, where each of the four distinct seasons provides a unique backdrop for meetings and events. Have a meeting or conference to plan? Consider one of Massachusetts' many hotels, function facilities, and attractions that cater specifically to small meetings (fewer than 500 attendees), team-building, and incentive planning. When it's time to get down to business, this is the place to find the perfect meeting venues from Boston to Worcester and everywhere in between. And don't forget the "all work and no play" rule; come early or stay late to enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer.
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Foodie Finds: It's all Here
Looking for fun things to do and see in Massachusetts?
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Looking for fun things to do and see in Massachusetts?


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Compare cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu
When is the cheapest time to fly to Kota Kinabalu?
What to do in Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Malaysia's Sabah. This modern Asian city is a fantastic destination for its tropical islands, lush rain forests, parks, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Kinabalu. If you want adventure, Kota Kinabalu is perfect for you.
Stop by the Atkinson Clock Tower and the Double Six Monument. Culture vultures should visit the Museum of Islamic Civilisation and the Borneo Art Gallery. Then combine your love for history, science, and art at the Sabah State Museum.
Bring your camera to the Sabah State Mosque. See the towering Che Sui Khor Chinese Temple and Puh Toh Tze Chinese Temple. Get your postcard perfect photo of the gorgeous Kota Kinabalu City Mosque. And for a great view of the city centre, go on to Signal Hill Observatory.
Are you looking for some time under the sun? Check out the popular Tanjung Aru Beach. Enjoy the view at Likas Bay Beach. Hop on a boat to reach Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, where you can see swim with undersea creatures. You can also go diving and snorkelling at Usukan Bay and Palau Tiga. If you're up for more water adventures, have a go at white water rafting at Kiulu River and the heart pumping Padas River.
If you head back to the city, you can visit the Green Connection Aquatica Aquarium with your family. Greet tigers, monkeys, elephants, and land animals next at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.
See Kota Kinabalu's green side at the beautiful City Park. Reach the top of Kokol Hill for the best view of Kota Kinabalu. And for the daredevils, you can't miss paragliding here too.
Visit the botanical gardens of Kinabalu National Park. Then conquer the mighty Mount Kinabalu and achieve one of the greatest travel goals in the world.
Get on and plan your next trip with this Kota Kinabalu travel guide now.
When to visit Kota Kinabalu
The best time to visit Kota Kinabalu is from January to March, so you can enjoy great weather during your trip. Save more money on airfare and book your flights for July because it's the cheapest time to fly to Kota Kinabalu.
Australian tourists don't need a visa to fly to Malaysia and travel to Kota Kinabalu for up to three months. For more travel info, just visit the High Commission of Malaysia in Canberra and Smartraveller too.
Travelling to and around Kota Kinabalu
After landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, you can take a taxi to reach the city. You can travel around Kota Kinabalu on foot or by riding a taxi, bus, train, and boat.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags now and go book your Kota Kinabalu flights with Skiddoo today!
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Look to the Word
Here are some corrections to the article [News, "Barnhill lives," July 3] (http://www.readthehook.com/93681/news-barnhill-lives-prosecute-me-not-my...) of which you should be aware.
Catherine maintains a legal residence in Michigan.
The charges after the stop in May were a) a violation of child restraint; b) "obstructing official business" for allegedly refusing to provide identification (that was, in fact, provided); c) "no valid license," for showing something other than a driver's license as identification.
The child restraint is void because Ohio law says to look to the state of residence if one is not from Ohio, and MCL 257.710d(2) says that the child restraint law of Michigan "does not apply to a child being nursed." Ohio calls this charge a "minor misdemeanor," which means that one must provide only "satisfactory proof of identity," not a driver's license.
Almost a full month later in June, Sean Scahill, the assistant prosecutor, brought a charge of endangering children when ORC 4511.81(D) says that you cannot use a violation of the child restraint law as evidence of negligence (of any kind), and "failure to comply" (fleeing) when the video and audio from the stop show the troopers saying they are not going to charge her with fleeing.
This is intimidation, because a good faith plea bargain does not mean instituting new charges that the officers themselves would not have brought.
Furthermore, leaving $150 of the fine and 90 days in jail suspended– so that the next time they catch her doing something they can impose the suspended fine and toss her in the can– is not much of a deal. The prosecutor wanted her to plead to something that she had not done, and folks like us call that bearing false witness.
The purpose of my ministry is to help people understand the relationship between themselves, their Creator, and these mere "fictions of law" that presume to govern us. What standing will such fictions as the "United States" or the "Commonwealth of Virginia" have when the Redeemer comes the second time? Do you think He will care about statutes that violate Free Exercise, or will he care about the keeping of The Word?
Decisional law shows that if we make a prima facie case showing that there is a substantial burden on our Free Exercise, then the state must show our Free Exercise constitutes a "clear and present danger to the public."
Otherwise, they have to find the "least restrictive means" to accommodate it.
Brad Barnhill


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Types of Brain Cancer
Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain.
- Although such growths are popularly called brain tumors, not all brain tumors are cancer. Cancer is a term reserved for malignant tumors.
- Malignant tumors can grow and spread aggressively, overpowering healthy cells by taking their space, blood, and nutrients. They can also spread to distant parts of the body. Like all cells of the body, tumor cells need blood and nutrients to survive.
- Tumors that do not invade nearby tissue or spread to distant areas are called benign.
- In general, a benign tumor is less serious than a malignant tumor. But a benign tumor can still cause many problems in the brain by pressing on nearby tissue.
In the U.S., brain or nervous system tumors affect about 6 of every 1,000 people.
Primary Brain Cancers
The brain is made up of many different types of cells.
- Some brain cancers occur when one type of cell transforms from its normal characteristics. Once transformed, the cells grow and multiply in abnormal ways.
- As these abnormal cells grow, they become a mass, or tumor.
- The brain tumors that result are called primary brain tumors because they originate in the brain.
- The most common primary brain tumors are gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, vestibular schwannomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (medulloblastomas). The term glioma includes glioblastomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas.
- Most of these are named after the part of the brain or the type of brain cell from which they arise.
Metastatic Brain Cancer
Metastatic brain tumors are made of cancerous cells from a tumor elsewhere in the body. The cells spread to the brain from another tumor in a process called metastasis. This is the most common type of brain tumor.
Causes of Brain Cancer
As with tumors elsewhere in the body, the exact cause of most brain cancer is unknown. Genetic factors, various environmental toxins, radiation to the head, HIV infection, and cigarette smoking have all been linked to cancers of the brain. In most cases, no clear cause can be shown.
Brain Cancer Scans
MRI Brain Cancer Picture: Side view section through the brain of a young girl. The white arrow shows a brain tumor that involves the brainstem.
MRI Brain Cancer Picture: Cross-section (image taken from the top of the head down) of a brain tumor in a young girl. The white arrow shows the tumor.


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This week we will be featuring chosen posts by those who shared projects from our Skillshare class Why We Letter.
Why We Letter
Posted December 8th, 2014
Mom & Pop Shops
Support your local small shops this (and every) holiday season.
Good Times
rolling At-At-signs
Here comes the cold.
Tell Yo Kids
Digitized & Drawn by Erik Marinovich
Here's lettering created for a recent Facebook event that I was lucky enough to work on with the talented Tim Belonax.
11-12-05…. 11-12-13
Posted November 12th, 2014
Almanac Beer Co.
Over the last year I've had the pleasure of working with Damian and Jesse of Alamanc Beer Company. They go to great lengths to make quality beer you never knew you wanted to try. Which is apparent in everything they do, from the way they create the beer to how they approach the package design. Here are the 3 labels I've created for their 22 oz line up.
Posted November 5th, 2014
Have fun and be careful among all the goblins and ghouls tonight.
SF07: Battle of the Bats
Not sure the last time I watched a World Series that was so evenly matched. Both teams brought everything to the mount and hitters box. It was definitely one for the record books!
Posted October 31st, 2014
SF06: Battle of the Bats
Game 7 is finally here! What an incredible series it's been. The best part of all this is walking around San Francisco and seeing everyone dressed in orange and black from head to toe. This town has a lot of pride for this team. No matter who wins tonight just remind yourself that it's good being GIANT!
Posted October 29th, 2014
KC07: Battle of the Bats
This is it. The last hurrah, the final chapter, the end of the line. It doesn't get any better than a game 7 in the World Series. No doubt this is going to be a true BATTLE ROYALE and us boys in blue are bringing our big bats. Let's take that crown KC.
Posted October 29th, 2014
KC06: Battle of the bats
Games 04 and 05 did not goes as planed for my Royals. But a little adversity never stopped this team. Alone the Royals players are noting to be scared of, but as a team, working TOGETHER they can be special. That starts tonight.
Posted October 28th, 2014
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Cyssero - Remember Me [In Studio Performance]
Cyssero in the studio making his new single Remember me produced by Dilemma & Cardiak
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Update: A big thanks to Russ Cam TV from Component One for providing these pictures.
Update 2: The recorded session has posted. You can find it at http://dotnetrocks.com/default.aspx?showNum=823
No Disney World, but still a magical trip!
I just returned from Orlando, Florida where I was a guest start on the .NET Rocks! Road Show. I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity by Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell. As you are probably well aware, they set the standard when it comes to Technical podcasts. But unless you've presented with them, you may not know how easy they make it on their guests, it feels more like a conversation than presenting.
The conversations continued outside of the event as well. Carl shared his guitar skills by giving me an impromptu lesson. Richard gave me an hour-long education on the Scotch making process after I naively asked if Scotch is only made in Scotland. We took a short ride in the RV, turns out parking that thing can be quite the experience. And we visited the Microsoft Store so Carl could purchase a Surface. I offered him $20 to ask an employee "Do you know who I am!?" but he wouldn't go for it.
All in all, it was a great experience and one I will remember for a long time. It got me thinking about the path that lead to me here, my involvement in the technical community and what it means to me.
From Session 1 to Session 100
Heading to Orlando last week, I realized that this would be my 100th presentation which was pretty humbling for me. Since my first presentation five years ago I've reached many of my goals and dreams. I've been on .Net Rocks! four times now, I received the Microsoft MVP award three years running, I spoke at a national conference, DevConnections, and reached a true dream of mine by being selected to speak at TechEd North America in 2011.
The last time I was in Orlando was for Teched in June of 2007. I had just started listening to .Net Rocks! a few months before and actually getting to see Carl and Richard record a session while I was there was very inspiring for me.
While at Teched back in 2007 I started writing my very first technical presentation for the San Luis Obisbo .Net User Group which had just started earlier that year. Little did I know that this would spark a new passion in my life.
While in the taxi heading to the hotel from the airport I realized that I started this 100 show journey right where it was ending, with thanks to the guys who helped inspire me to get it started. My journey really has come full circle.
Why Community Rocks
The reason that I continue to engage in the technical community and have come to love it is that it accommodates everyone. From those who have made speaking a full-time job as trainers or promoting new technologies, to those who do a few sessions a year and those who may never present, but attend sessions regularly and have learned a ton by doing so. Each and every one of us gets exactly what we want out of it. No matter where you land on the spectrum there are countless ways to benefit from the community. A few of the most impactful for me have been:
The personal connections that I have made from all of the community events I have attended. If I need help with SQL I have half a dozen phone numbers I can call. WCF issue? Another handful of contacts. The list goes on and on. And in turn I get phone calls from others asking me to weigh in on issues they are having. Knowing I have that "bench" I can turn to is invaluable to me professionally. Not to mention the friendships I have made along the way as well.
Deep technical conversations with experts from all walks of life. Whether at a speaker dinner or attendee party, or just during lunch, I find that sitting down with people who work in various areas of the technological world inspires conversations and ideas that don't normally happen anywhere else. The company you work for may have a SQL DBA, a developer, IT Pro, a designer, etc. but they are all working on the same problems. When you sit down at a table with people in various roles but from all different companies with different problem sets and you find that the conversation turns to a solution for a problem you did not even know you had. Or to one you may encounter in the future.
I learn more presenting than I do attending sessions. When you present a session you really need to do your research. You have to imagine different scenarios and get your hands dirty. You have to get in there and figure things out, and that challenges me to learn new things. I'm envious of those that can attend a session and really understand the technology afterwards. I am in the 'learn by doing' camp. And I learn from preparing as well as interacting with my audience
Looking forward
In January I will continue my journey by presenting session number 101 back in San Luis Obispo at the .Net user group. I no longer live in the area but it just seems appropriate for me to go back there to kick off my next 100.
There are more people than I could possibly list who have supported me and helped to push me along on this journey. From fellow presenters to conference organizers, to the countless attendees I have crossed paths with along the way, I extend a heartfelt thank you. I am looking forward to the next 100!


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Home > Health Care > Stress Reduction > Anxiety Relief
Anxiety Relief
Anxiety Relief
Item #: 64152
Size: 120 Sublingual Tablets
Single Price: $18.95
Anxiety Relief
For the symptomatic relief of occasional minor anxiety, fear, anguish, apprehension, stress and worry associated with the ups and downs of everyday life. Conquer Anxiety naturally, without side effects. More than 30 million people in America experience some form of anxiety each year. Women are twice as likely as men to develop anxious or stressful feelings which typically strike in young adulthood. The median age of daily anxiety onset occurs at 24 years of age, but children and adolescents can also experience daily anxiety.
Anxiety is not fun for the millions of people who experience it. For some it can be a sense of apprehensive or uneasiness of mind - or worrisome thoughts and tension (and sometimes panicky feelings) about the ordinary stress associated with everyday routine life events and activities. For others it may be an undesired sense of uneasiness that may be accompanied with self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with life. An anxiety sufferer may anticipate something worse even though there is little reason to expect it.
Anxiety Relief is an advanced, safe and natural medicine that has been successfully used by thousands of people. It brings prompt symptomatic relief of occasional minor anxiety, fear, worry, panicky feelings and apprehension associated with everyday life without synthetic drugs or side effects. And doesn't require a prescription. It begins to work right away, and contains only safe, 100% natural ingredients - powerful homeopathic remedies made from natural herbs and minerals.
This all-natural formula manufactured in strict compliance with the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States. Homeopathic medicines have demonstrated unsurpassed safety for nearly 200 years. There are NO synthetic drugs, function impairment, side-effects, or lactose. Homeopathy is a scientific system of health care that is among the safest remedies known to modern medical science. Homeopathic medicines work gently with the body by activating the body's own defense system.
Suggested Use: Use only as directed.
HPUS indicates ingredient is officially listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States.
Active Ingredients:
Other ingredients:
No Lactose, No Side Effects, No function Impairment, Non-Addictive


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Summary and Keywords
Black beauty culture developed in the context of widespread disparagement of black men and women in images produced by whites, and black women's exclusion from mainstream cultural institutions, such as beauty contests, which defined beauty standards on a national scale. Though mainstream media rarely represented black women as beautiful, black women's beauty was valued within black communities. Moreover many black women used cosmetics, hair products and styling, and clothing to meet their communities' standards for feminine appearance. At the beginning of the 20th century, the black press, which included newspapers, general magazines, and women's magazines, showcased the beauty of black women. As early as the 1890s, black communities organized beauty contests that celebrated black women's beauty and served as fora for debating definitions of black beauty. Still, generally, but not always, the black press and black women's beauty pageants favored women with lighter skin tones, and many cosmetics firms that marketed to black women sold skin lighteners. The favoring of light skin was nonetheless debated and contested within black communities, especially during periods of heightened black political activism. In the 1910s and 1920s and later in the 1960s and 1970s, social movements fostered critiques of black aesthetics and beauty practices deemed Eurocentric. One focus of criticism was the widespread black practice of hair straightening—a critique that has produced an enduring association between hairstyles perceived as natural and racial pride. In the last decades of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, African migration and the transnational dissemination of information via the internet contributed to a creative proliferation of African American hairstyles. While such styles display hair textures associated with African American hair, and are celebrated as natural hairstyles, they generally require the use of hair products and may incorporate synthetic hair extensions.
Beauty culture provided an important vehicle for African American entrepreneurship at a time when racial discrimination barred black women from other opportunities and most national cosmetics companies ignored black women. Black women's beauty-culture business activities included beauticians who provided hair care in home settings and the extremely successful nationwide and international brand of hair- and skin-care products developed in the first two decades of the 20th century by Madam C. J. Walker. Hair-care shops provided important places for sharing information and community organizing. By the end of the 20th century, a few black-owned hair-care and cosmetics companies achieved broad markets and substantial profitability, but most declined or disappeared as they faced increased competition from or were purchased by larger white-owned corporations.
Keywords: beauty, beautician, black, braids, African American, afro, hair care, cosmetics, beauty contests, entrepreneurs
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The Jacksonville Jaguars are so enamored of rookie Denard Robinson that they've created a new position for him: offensive weapon.
Aside from the unfortunate terminology, the Jaguars have generated some intrigue. So here's a Pick 6 of candidates for OWs in the NFL - and six potential DWs on the other side of the ball, too.
DENARD ROBINSON, Jaguars: The former Michigan quarterback who dabbled at other spots in college simply is too talented overall to classify. His skills might not lend themselves to being a pro QB, but Robinson has the speed, moves and moxie to be used as a running back, receiver and special-teamer. Plus, he can occasionally pass the ball.
Of course, he has to cure his fumbling problems to see much time on the field - somewhere.
TRAVIS BENJAMIN, Browns: A wide receiver who will handle punt and probably kickoff returns, Benjamin could ably replace Browns' previous OW, Josh Cribbs, the NFL's career leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns.
"I feel like with my speed and my talent, either in special teams or whenever I get on the field, I can make a difference," Benjamin said.
RANDALL COBB, Packers: He could wind up as their No. 1 receiver, which would limit the opportunities to use him elsewhere. But he has game-breaking talent as a kick returner and on reverses, and Cobb played some quarterback at Kentucky.
MOHAMED SANU, Bengals: The 2012 third-round pick from Rutgers broke a bone in his left foot in late November, ending his season after nine games. Before that, he took a snap in the wildcat and threw a 73-yard TD pass to A.J. Green, and had 16 catches for 154 yards and four TDs.
MARCEL REECE, Raiders: On what could be one of the NFL's worst offenses, the fullback who was a college wide receiver could be dangerous. A decent lead blocker, Reece can line up outside as a receiver to get mismatches on linebackers. He even had a 103-yard rushing game last season against New Orleans when the other backs were hurt.
JOE WEBB, Vikings: If he sticks with Minnesota or winds up elsewhere, the former backup QB and now a receiver has good hands, terrific athletic ability and enough fearlessness to return kicks - and work as a gunner on coverage unit.
ERIC BERRY, Chiefs: A Pro Bowl safety, who in new coordinator Bob Sutton's defense will be used in some packages as a linebacker, Berry could be a threat on the blitz as well as a solid option in coverage. He already plays the run well.
KENNY VACCARO, Saints: The first-round pick out of Texas can play both safety positions as well as nickel back. Because he might not be a starter right away, Vaccaro could be used in a variety of ways.SClB"I'm starting from the bottom. I'm the freshman on campus," he said. "I'm just trying to compete."
KYLE WILSON, Jets: A 2010 first-rounder who has been inconsistent as a cornerback, Wilson is being spotted on the corner, at nickel back and against slot receivers. Maybe even a little safety in Rex Ryan's complex defense. Oh, and returning kicks.
GREG HARDY, Panthers: A good pass rusher as an end (11 sacks last season), Hardy can drop in coverage and use his athleticism to make plays. He also can block passes at 6-foot-4, and he's been used as a gunner in kick coverages.
AKEEM AYERS, Titans: This might be more wishful thinking, but the Titans believe the linebacker in his third season can play on the line, too - especially in passing situations. But they need to be sure he will provide some consistency, something Ayers hasn't done quite yet. The raw skills are there to be a DW.
ANTREL ROLLE, Giants: The eight-year veteran and glue of New York's secondary actually moves up from safety to be a quasi-linebacker in passing situations. Smart, instinctive and aggressive, Rolle can be slotted at either safety spot, cornerback or outside LB. Now that's a DW, for sure.
- By Barry Wilner, AP


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By Axel Merk |
Tuesday, 25 September 2007 03:01 PM
In our assessment, the Federal Reserve's (Fed's) interest rate cut was wrong. Forget about the "moral hazard" of whether the cut would plant the seeds for further bubbles. Lowering interest rates is wrong because it will do few any good but cause many a lot of harm. As the most imminent result, the U.S. dollar has accelerated its decline versus hard currencies. When a country's central bank cuts interest rates, it is rare that the currency reacts in textbook fashion and declines more than a token amount versus other currencies; that's because, amongst others, lower interest rates may boost growth and make the currency more attractive for investments.
Not so this time with the Fed's cut: lower interest rates are unlikely to boost economic growth. The reason? The markets are facing a valuation problem, not a liquidity problem. Will a subprime borrower be helped by the cut in interest rates? Will his or her adjustable rate mortgage that is about to reset to a much higher rate suddenly become affordable? Will mortgage derivatives suddenly become tradable? Or will these illiquid derivatives be accepted as collateral once again for speculators to borrow money?
We believe the answer is a clear NO because the problems are prices, not access to money. To heal the excesses of the housing bubble, we need lower home prices; subprime borrowers are best helped by downsizing, not by receiving subsidies. There is no shortage of consumers to borrow; there is a shortage of lenders to lend. Conversely, there is plenty of cash around; it's just that those who have cash are not willing to pay the prices demanded.
The Fed's grave mistake was to lose control of money supply during the credit driven expansion. As volatility, risk and fear are returning to and are priced back into markets, we are facing a market-induced credit contraction. As investors pare down their leverage and demand higher yields to be compensated for risk, the Fed is nothing but a small, and in this case almost irrelevant, participant in the markets. It's in this context that former Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan is correct when he laments in his memoirs that central banking is becoming less important.
The markets are facing a major challenge, though, if acting central bankers, including Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, believe they are stronger than the markets. Pushing liquidity at any cost when the markets demand a contraction is what gold bugs have been waiting for; that's a positive way of saying Bernanke may live up to his "Helicopter Ben" reputation, flood the market with fiat money and risk further destroying the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar.
The problem gets more severe as many U.S. policy makers believe a weak dollar may actually be good for Americans. Bernanke, in his academic work before becoming Fed Chairman, has expressed that had the U.S. veered away from the gold standard during the Great Depression, it would have alleviated the hardship on the people. In his book "Essays on The Great Depression", Bernanke values this reprieve higher than preserving the purchasing power of the dollar. In the past, only the Treasury Secretary talked in public about the U.S. dollar. Bernanke, however, has made the U.S. dollar a focus of his decision making process. By considering the U.S. dollar a valve to alleviate hardship, he throws the baby out with the bathwater.
We are not in the Great Depression. Importantly, because of significant current account and budget deficits, our position versus our trading partners is far weaker than during the 1930s. If we make the U.S. dollar less attractive, foreigners may well demand to be compensated through higher interest rates.
Incidentally, in a recent speech in Germany, Bernanke pointed out that long-term interest rates are likely to move higher. He thinks that we may see higher long-term interest rates within the next decade. In our opinion, we might be faced with higher long-term borrowing costs much sooner.
Bernanke seems to subscribe to the view that borrowing costs will be contained because it is in no one's interest for the dollar to plunge and for foreigners to refrain from purchasing U.S. debt. He is right that in particular Asian economies are highly dependent on selling to American consumers; in our assessment, much of Asia rather destroy their own currencies than to allow the dollar to fall too much, as it would throw their domestic economies into turmoil.
But that does not mean one can turn good policy upside down and force foreigners to invest in the U.S. This is where academically-trained central bankers looking at econometric models of past behavior are playing with fire. At the end of the day, market forces are stronger than central bankers, and bad policy will cost dearly.
The major downside risk of a weaker dollar is inflation. Consumers see it best at the price at the gas pump. But as foreigners may reduce their appetite for U.S. debt, and as the market as risk continues to be priced back into markets, credit will continue to be tight. Tight credit means less economic activity, a recession. Central bankers ought to take away the punch ball when the economy gets too hot; instead, the current breed at the Fed seems to believe recession is a four-letter word.
Does anyone benefit from the lowering of interest rates in this environment? In conjunction with higher long-term rates, it steepens the yield curve. Banks tend to have short-term deposits (the short end of the yield curve) and lend money for longer-term projects (the long end of the yield curve). The Fed's policies are thus aimed at restoring profitability at banks.
The challenge for the Fed, of course, is that it is difficult to help both mortgage holders (and with it consumer spending) and banks at the same time, as the policies required to assist each group are diametrically opposed. The Fed may be better off getting out of subsidizing the pockets of the economy and instead focus on what ought to be its mandate, to preserve price stability.
The Fed's efforts to boost liquidity in an environment when market forces call for a recession will cause commodity prices to continue to be at elevated levels. It is not surprising that the Canadian dollar has reached parity versus the U.S. dollar: Canada is a resource dependent economy that has its fiscal house in order. The major downside risk for Canada, their dependence on the U.S. economy, is mitigated by the Fed's determination to keep at least resource utilization at high levels.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has so far recognized the distinction between the varying challenges the markets face. By keeping interest rates high, they acknowledge that inflationary risks are real. Switzerland just raised rates, also acting prudently.
There has been a lot of criticism of the Bank of England's (BoE) flip-flopping. While we share much of the criticism, we have called the BoE a yoyo-central bank for some time and are not surprised by their actions: of the Western central banks, the BoE has the most volatile policy, reversing course on policy decisions rather frequently; the Brits wouldn't want to live without this "flexibility"; on a more serious note, this behavior is well priced into the British pound.
A weak dollar may boost the earnings of a couple of multi-nationals based in the U.S.; but it will weaken the competitive position of the U.S., planting seeds for more protectionist policies in the future. And a country dependent on the mercy of foreign creditors can ill afford protectionism. Rather than protectionism, the solution is to cut spending, for the government to live within its means.
In the more likely event that the government will not drastically reduce its spending in the wake of a slowing economy, investors may want to consider how to navigate through what the future bears. We believe that risk continues to be under-priced, and that the credit contraction will not only continue for much longer, but that it will further spread to overall corporate and consumer activity.
Budgets for 2008 are decided upon now; many companies prefer to err on the side of caution in the wake of the recent turmoil. For Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to turn negative, we only need to have much of corporate America institute marginal cutbacks.
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text:
Penn Township police have identified the drivers of a three-vehicle crash this morning on Route 8 near the Hardwood Cafe.
Two of the drivers - Ariana Espien, 19, of Pittsburgh; and Denise Freehling, 57, of Kittanning - were taken by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital following the crash about 8:40 a.m.
Police said Espien was headed south in the left lane when she apparently fell asleep.
She told police that she had just finished a class at nearby Butler County Community College after working all night and was headed home, said officer Dennis Crawford.
Her Honda sedan veered across the center turning lane and struck Freehling's Buick Envision, which was traveling north in the left lane.
The Honda continued into the side of a tri-axle trunk that was northbound in the right lane.
The truck driver, Jeff Mowen, 66, of Valencia, was not injured.
Espien suffered unknown injuries that were not believed to be serious. Freehling had what appeared to be minor injuries.
All three drivers were wearing seat belts and both cars' airbags deployed.
Both cars were severely damaged and had to be towed. The truck, owned by William J. Brown Trucking of Valencia, had minor damage and was driven from the scene.
"For the extent of damage to the vehicles," Crawford said, "we're thankful there weren't more serious injuries."
A full story will appear in Butler Eagle tomorrow.


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QUESTION OF THE WEEK- If you were heading the Morgan Harrington investigation, what would you do?
Jenny Mikulski: "I would remind people that blaming the victim is never helpful."
Sean Patrick: "Increased visibility of who she is and where she might be located or anybody's leads."
Nathan Huffman: "I would track every major event, where they'd be held. I would check highways, byways, rivers. I would check every spot I could imagine."
1 comment
I would disclose as much information as possible. It seems the authorities are withholding a bunch of information and only releasing it as needed. No matter it shine the victim, friends, family, strangers, etc in a positive or negative light we should know as much as possible so we can do our best to find her. If she was high or drunk let us know. If her friends have told information they are withholding let us know. Release the details of the last text messages / calls recovered from the phone. What exactly has been found or is known. 2 months have passed with information slowly being released on a "need to know" timeline and she has yet to be found or any clues to her disappearance. How can she have not been spoted on any cameras @ JPJ (inside or out)? The public should know every detail so we can help find her!


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text: Our friend Chris the Carpenter has finally launched his own robot shop, Rocket Brand Studios, with some awesome Arduino and Picaxe based kits and components! He has been a driving force among robot hobbyists and the LMR community, and we're eager to see what sort of products pop up from his creative mind. We have already picked up a few of his items, so keep your eyes peeled for some new items from Rocket Brand Studios!


text:
Quote:I compete in [and judge at] competitions fought under a form of semi-contact continuous rules. The actual level of contact can vary a fair bit between weight categories. We wear shoes, and fairly minimal protective gear, so controlled contact can still sting a bit. I find that's about as hard a level of contact as I'd want to participate in regularly. As a super-heavyweight 'controlled' contact works out as 'contact hard enough to leave pretty nasty bruises but unlikely to do serious injury', and that's fine for me. I've done a little full-contact sparring in the past [boxing], and while it was fine as an occasional thing, I wouldn't want to be doing it regularly. I don't really see what competing full-contact would really add for me. Or at least I can't see the benefits being great enough to persuade me to do it regularly.
Variety of stun gun devices for your protection
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Accurate information on the ancient martial traditions of the Japanese
Protect yourself and loved ones from CRIME with the latest C2 Taser
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Somewhere in Spain, taken from the top of a mountain. I would like to know where is this place.
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Stay up to date:
Insert your email here and we'll get in touch with you as soon as the location is found!
Using description:
If you think you know this place drag the pin to the right location and save the marker afterwards.
Please provide further explanations in the comments to the right. You are able to insert links to prove your suggestion, e.g. with Google Street View.
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Anonymous 2 months ago


text:
Salaam and Greetings of Peace:
"For a moment ponder the Lord's subtleties and kindnesses and the traces of the divine solicitude and care that have arranged this handful of earth. Look at the different kinds of honor and the special privileges of nearness that He has placed within human beings. For He created the whole cosmos, but He looked not upon a single creature with the eye of love, He sent not a single messenger to any existent thing, He sent no message to any creature. When the turn of the children of Adam arrived, He pulled them up through gentleness and caressed them through bounty and quarries of light. He made their inmost mystery the place of His own glance, He sent them messengers, He set angels over them as guardians, He placed the fire of love in their hearts, and He sent them continuous incitements to yearning and motives for desire.
The purpose of all these words and allusions is to show that a human being is a handful of earth. Whatever ennoblement and honor people have received derives from the gentleness and care of the holy Lord. When He gives, He gives because of His own generosity, not because of your worthiness. He gives because of His magnanimity, not because of your prostration. He gives through His bounty, not because of your good works…"
– From the Kashf al-asrar wa 'uddat al-abrar (Unveiling of Mysteries and Provision of the Righteous), by Rashid al-Din Maybudi, a Sufi Persian commentary, or tasfir, on the Noble Qur'an. The Kashf al-asrar is based on, and probably embodies, the only surviving text of an earlier Qur'an commentary by the famous Hanbali mystic, 'Abd Allah al-Ansari. Click HERE for more information.
With thanks and gratitude to the Journey to the Garden blog for pointing the way.
Ya Haqq!


text:
bevane necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 96 diseños de 18 diseñadores freelance.
AAPC (http://www.aapc.com)
AAPC provides education and professional certification to physician-based medical coders and elevates the standards of medical coding by providing student training, certification, ongoing education, networking and job opportunities. Currently, AAPC has a membership base of 94,000.
This conference will be marketed to our membership base. Most of our members are women, ages 25-44.
Conference Invitation Excerpt:
Come join us at Regional Conference this year for first-rate coding education and superb networking opportunities, all set amidst the beautiful fall foliage of Springfield, Massachusetts. This two-day regional conference provides the same high quality coding education as our larger national conference, but in a more intimate setting. This smaller conference format makes it the perfect opportunity to take a weekend away and quickly brush up on coding skills.
We need a graphic for our small regional conference. The conference is in Springfield, MA, October 7-9. It will be displayed on banners and marketing for the conference.
The graphic should contain these words:
- 2010 AAPC Regional Conference
- Springfield, MA (or Springfield, Massachusetts)
- Fall Into Coding (italicized font?)
The dates could also be incorporated (October 7-9) into the design, but not required.
Our theme will be: "Fall into Coding" and we would like a graphical treatment with something with falling leaves or leaves changing color. This is playing on the attraction of seeing the Fall leaves in the Northeast.
As such, orange might be a great secondary color to the AAPC blue in our logo. Please refer to our new site design at:
http://www.aapc.com/homepage.jpg (for colors)
Also, check out: http://www.aapc.com/logos.pdf for examples of logos/graphics from our larger National conferences.
Finally, I uploaded a quick mockup I did of all the elements in illustrator (aapc-regional-2010.eps). As it stands, I like my mockup (from a layout standpoint) better than any of the submitted designs. Hopefully it can help as a starting point that a designer can improve upon.


text:
Two weeks from today, voters in Michigan will hit the polls for the state's Republican presidential primary, where native son and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — once thought of as the GOP's inevitable nominee — is now trailing former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Romney's father, George Romney, is a former governor of Michigan and was the CEO of the now-defunct American Motor Company, a Detroit-based automaker that was once one of the biggest in the world.
Romney has often played up those ties on the campaign trail — he won Michigan's primary in 2008 — and attempted to use them to his advantage three years ago when he penned a New York Times editorial titled, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." The editorial was a response to President Obama's plan to rescue the American auto industry, and as evidence has emerged that Obama's rescue plan worked, Romney had attempted to claim that he came up with the idea first.
Ahead of the primary, though, Romney published another editorial on the rescue, this time in the Detroit News, in which he renewed the "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" call he first made in 2009:
My view at the time — and I set it out plainly in an op-ed in the New York Times — was that "the American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. Instead of a bailout, I favored "managed bankruptcy" as the way forward.
Managed bankruptcy may sound like a death knell. But in fact, it is a way for a troubled company to restructure itself rapidly, entering and leaving the courtroom sometimes in weeks or months instead of years, and then returning to profitable operation. […]
By the spring of 2009, instead of the free market doing what it does best, we got a major taste of crony capitalism, Obama-style.
In the editorial, Romney, whose former company profited from a government bailout, called on the government to sell its shares in GM and return the profits to taxpayers. In other words, Romney is fine with destroying the company when it isn't succeeding, but then wants to seize its profits if it turns around.
Meanwhile, he continues to ignore the success of the rescue plan he criticizes. Chrysler posted its first profit more than a decade in last year and expects those profits to continue growing in 2012. It has added 9,400 jobs since its rescue and plans to add 1,600 more at a plant in Illinois this year, and the success of Chrysler and General Motors has helped American automakers control more than half of the industry's market share. The industry has hired enough workers to make up for all those laid off during the recession, and American and foreign automakers plan to add 167,000 jobs at American plants this year.
Romney isn't just ignoring facts — he's also ignoring a Republican who is close to the situation. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has warned candidates against criticizing the bailout and touted its success. "I would have had some differences on how they did it, but I'm not going to second-guess it," Snyder told the New York Times. "The more important thing is the results. And the auto industry is doing very well today."


text:
South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority acknowledged Thursday that the timing of attempted murder charges against a policeman leading the investigation into Oscar Pistorius was "totally weird" and that the policeman should be dropped from the case against the world-famous athlete.
Bulewa Makeke, spokeswoman for the NPA, said it was a decision for police and not prosecutors whether to take detective Hilton Botha off the case that has riveted the world's attention and is bringing scrutiny on South Africa's justice system. Botha testified on Wednesday in the case, acknowledging that nothing in Pistorius' account of the fatal Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend contradicted what police had discovered. That testimony in the double amputee's bail hearing marked a setback for the prosecution.
Botha was summoned by the magistrate on Thursday after police said charges have been reinstated against him in connection with a 2011 shooting incident in which he and two other officers allegedly fired at a minibus.
"Is he going to be dropped from the case? I don't know. I think the right thing would be for him to be dropped," Makeke said outside Pretoria Magistrate's Court shortly before Pistorius' bail hearing went into a third day. "Obviously there will be consultations between the two (police and prosecutors) to determine what is the best course of action."
Magistrate Desmond Nair questioned Botha over delays in processing records from phones found in Pistorius' house following the killing of 29--year-old Reeva Steenkamp. Prosecutors have charged Pistorius, a Paralympian who also competed in the London games last year, with premeditated murder. Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.
Botha also testified Thursday that he had investigated a 2009 complaint against Pistorius by a woman who claimed the athlete had assaulted her. He said that Pistorius had not hurt her and that the woman had actually injured herself when she kicked a door at Pistorius' home.
The chief prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, said in court Thursday that they were not aware that the charges against Botha had been recently reinstated when he testified against Pistorius. Police say that Botha and two other police officers fired at a minibus they were trying to stop and will appear in court in May to face seven counts of attempted murder.
Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend.
Pistorius' defense team on Thursday began to pick apart the state's case against him.
"The poor quality of the evidence offered by investigative officer Botha exposed the disastrous shortcomings of the state's case," Roux said Thursday as Pistorius sat calmly in the dock looking down at his hands.
AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray in Johannesburg contributed to this report.


text:
We are all the products of a past in which we played no part. Because of who our ancestors were and what they did, we exist at this time and this place. Our physical assets and flaws, our personality quirks, our inborn genetic inheritance–our very existences –are determined by millions of people since time immemorial. No matter how long our traceable lineage may be–whether it ends with our grandparents or stretches back 100 generations–we will only discover the tiniest fraction of our ancestors. Yet, despite the fact that we will never know them, they are all a part of us, hidden in our DNA; in both the physical and metaphysical sense, they are the essence of us. Who do you think you are? You are the sum of your ancestors.
Is it any wonder that we want to think the very best of the people who made us? That we can feel so intimately involved with their stories even if a minute before we never knew they existed? Unlike the relatives we grew up with and whom we learn to see as fully formed human beings with both flaws and virtues, our ancestors are mythic figures. Unless history tells us unequivocally they were evil (e.g., Josef Stalin), it is very easy to shield ourselves from what reality shows.
Looking for the bright side in the face of stark reality was an unintended theme in tonight's fascinating episode of Who Do You Think You Are. I am generally unfamiliar with Blair Underwood's work, save for his brief appearances on Sex and the City (making this season the third with a Sex and the City connection, although Underwood's connection is tenuous and Kim Cattrall's episode was filmed for the British series). Nevertheless, the episode itself was riveting; the best thus far of the season.
When faced with disturbing evidence of his maternal great-great-great-grandfather Sawney Early (demeaningly labeled a "pestiferous darkey" by one newspaper account), Underwood whitewashed the history. In the 1900 Census, Early resided in a mental hospital for black patients. Tracing him back through the 1880 and 1870 Censuses (the loss in a fire of the 1890 Census is the great tragedy of American genealogy), Underwood discovered that Early, once a highly skilled blacksmith became a farm laborer. Digging further, Underwood uncovered news articles about Early's quarrels with neighbors over cattle and timber which ended violently; between the two incidents, Early was shot four times (including once in the face). He survived.
Not that Early was an innocent. He was belligerent, possibly delusional, and prone to violence. The show's researcher told Underwood that Early, who was most likely a slave prior to the Civil War, may have been a conjuror, which from the description sounded akin to a shaman or a witch doctor. Underwood eagerly accepted this explanation and extrapolated that Early (like Underwood) was a performer of sorts; a strong man who thought he could survive anything–and with good reason.
And there is good reason for this interpretation. The shadow of racism looms large over the story of Sawney Early. Early, a former slave, depended on the land to survive. White neighbors moved in next to him and one neighbor's cattle threatened Early's crops and by extension Early's family's survival. When he, a black former slave, took action, the law was clearly not on his side (a possible reason Early ended up imprisoned in a mental hospital). Underwood saw Early's actions as heroic.
But I also had a different take. Early's behavior sounded less like heroism and more like schizophrenia. Mental illness and mystical, magical, quasi-religious behavior and not mutually exclusive, especially in an era when such illnesses were little understood. Given that Early ended his days in a mental hospital, schizophrenia or a related mental illness seems an equally plausible option for his behavior–one that (tellingly) neither the show nor Underwood suggested. Because Underwood so desperately wanted his ancestor to be a hero, the model of the strong black man who Underwood is himself, he failed to explore less heroic explanations.
Underwood's quest led him to discover another maternal great-great-great-grandfather Delaware Scott. Unlike Early, Scott appears up in the 1860 Census, indicating that he was free. Not only was Scott free, it turned out his parents Samuel and Judith Scott were also free. Judith, the daughter of Amy Humbles, was (like her son) born free in 1792.
That Samuel and Judith Scott were free in the 1790's was extremely important. A law passed in Virginia in 1806 allowed for slave owners to free their slaves, but all subsequently freed slaves had to leave the state lest they be sold back into slavery. Only those free blacks who could prove they were free before the law's passage were allowed to stay. The Scotts were able to provide such evidence, and in 1815, Samuel Scott bought a 200-acre property. By the late 1830's, he even owned two slaves.
Because the early censuses never named slaves, it is difficult or, in most cases, impossible to know more about their identities. It's the impenetrable wall, and given how recent 1860 is, it makes the idea of an ended search all the more frustrating. The fact that Underwood was able to trace his family as far back to his 5th great-grandmother Amy Humbles is practically a miracle (and I am jealous; the farthest back I can trace any of my lines is to 4th great-grandparents).
The absence of personal information about Samuel Scott's slaves however did mean an absence of information. In the 1840 Census, Samuel Scott owned one slave, a man who was over 55-years-old. The other slave had died either that year or the previous one. In all likelihood, those slaves were Samuel Scott's parents whom he brought to live with him rather than work for him. What initially seemed like a perpetuation of cruelty in fact turned out to be filial piety. Had Samuel Scott's parents been freed, they would have had to leave Virginia (as it was after 1806); an elderly couple who had been slaves most, if not all, of their lives would have had no chance of survival. By keeping them as his nominal slaves, Samuel Scott ensured their security.
Up until now, all of Underwood's research had been about his mother's line. Prior to the show, Underwood's brother had actually done genealogical research on their father's side. Where the show aided Underwood's paternal search was with his deep ancestry. Where did Underwood's family really come from? More specifically, where in Africa?
Who Do You Think You Are has used DNA testing before; Emmitt Smith also went to Africa on his search. Ancestry.com, the show's sponsor, has been trying to gain a foothold in the genetic genealogy business, but has thus far lacked the name and the impact of genetic genealogy-specific companies such as Family Tree DNA and 23andMe. Ancestry is trying to rectify that, and the final segment of tonight's episode was a far more effective product placement than the blatant Ancestry plug that came halfway through the episode.
Underwood discovered that he is 26% Caucasian (mainly French, Swiss, and German) and 74% African (primarily from the Bamoun, Brong, Yoruba, and Igbo tribes). Apparently that is a pretty standard ratio for African-Americans. I admit those pie charts always make me a little bit skeptical; it's just too neat. Underwood discovered a genetic match with a man named Eric Sonjowoh who lives in Cameroon and is apparently a 10th cousin. The "or so" that should have been attached to that relationship prediction, was not shown.
Thus Blair Underwood and his father went to Cameroon. The show made a big deal about "going home" yet it is unclear to me that this was home. Yes, 27% of his DNA matched the Bamoun people of Cameroon, but 47% matched people who are from tribes found primarily in Nigeria and Ghana. There are likely thousands of genetic matches for Blair Underwood all over Western Africa (and also probably in Cape Verde, Brazil, the West Indies, and other places where the slave trade was rampant), what made Cameroon "home" was that a distantly-related Cameroonian kindly donated his DNA to Ancestry's registry.
I got that sense that Eric Sonjowoh was a little uncomfortable by the whole experience. Perhaps it was the cameras. I can't related what was in his head, but his body language suggested unease at meeting his new "family" who, for their part, treated him like a long-lost cousin. There was a celebration with unexplained rituals, and then Underwood father and son went home.
I am no expert at genetic genealogy. If you are interested, I would suggest going to one of the websites of one of the companies I mentioned above or better yet, The Genetic Genealogist. Having tested my DNA, I have been underwhelmed thus far with the results. It is expensive and overly technical, especially for the novice. Moreover, the cheaper tests tell you almost nothing, which means to get any kind of definitive information you have to keep spending. In fairness though, genetic genealogy is a relatively new frontier bound to be full of fits and starts. As it gets more popular, as more people get tested, and as more companies get involved, I imagine that there will be more benefit.
I bring this up because the show, despite the massive product placement, was actually very skimpy on the details of the testing. If you are interested in the specifics of how Underwood was tested, start your search here. It appears that Underwood used Ancestry's new autosomal DNA test (autosomes are chromosomes that do not determine gender), which Ancestry has not yet released. Given that Underwood tested himself rather than his father, it is odd that he used an autosomal test; unlike the Y-Chromosome which is inherited only through the father's direct male line, autosomal DNA is inherited from both parents. In other words, how did Ancestry distinguish Underwood's mother's DNA from his father's? Moreover, I was under the impression that beyond 3rd cousins or so it is very difficult to determine relationships using autosomal DNA testing. Perhaps Ancestry has perfected its testing above what other companies can do, but I got the sense that much vital information was left out for the sake of a sales pitch and a happy ending. Caveat emptor.
I love Who Do You Think You Are, and the past two weeks have been really strong episodes. However, this season, and tonight's episode in particular, have really underscored the reality that we are actually watching a 45-minute advertisement. As such, harsh truths are smoothed over. People are not always good, even if they are our ancestors. DNA tests alone do not establish that a certain city thousands of miles away is home. Who Do You Think You Are wildly succeeds as intelligent, feel-good television but as good history it leaves much to be desired. History is often ambiguous, and I wished Ancestry and NBC trusted the show's audience enough to let them confront that ambiguity.


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Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose work had a far-reaching influence on 20th century art for its vivid colors and emotional impact.
Little appreciated during his lifetime, his fame grew in the years after his death. Today, he is widely regarded as one of history's greatest painters and an important contributor to the foundations of modern art. Van Gogh did not begin painting until his late twenties, and most of his best-known works were produced during his final two years. He produced more than 2,000 artworks, consisting of around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches. Although he was little known during his lifetime, his work was a strong influence on the Modernist art that followed. Today many of his pieces—including his numerous self portraits, landscapes, portraits and sunflowers—are among the world's most recognizable and expensive works of art.
Retrieved 3.2.2010 from http://en.wikiped


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With Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton's recent diagnosis of ocular keratitis due to excessive caffeine, coffee's most famous chemical compound has come into the spotlight yet once again. With study after study being published about the health effects of caffeine — and the new attention in relation to vision issues — when all is said and done, is coffee your friend or foe?
Coffee's reputation took a severe beating in the 1980s when it was connected to pancreatic cancer, yet more recent studies have not found the same link, according to the American Cancer Society.
But for many, coffee retains an aura of unhealthiness. It's a vice, something that people seem to be constantly trying to "give up." But is it really bad for us?
The answer varies. According to the Mayo Clinic, moderate coffee intake isn't likely to cause harm, but too much — more than 500 to 600 milligrams a day — may cause insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stomach upset, fast heartbeat and muscle tremors. Individual sensitivity to caffeine varies from person to person. And for some people, it just isn't a good fit.
But that said, coffee continues to surprise with the array of health benefits it can deliver. Here's what the studies say:
Although there are higher specific antioxidant levels in fruits and vegetables, a 2005 study found that Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than anywhere else.
- Scientists at Harvard University examined data from 67,470 middle-aged women who were followed for about 26 years. When compared to women who drank little or no coffee, the ones who drank four or more cups per day had a 25 percent lower risk of developing endometrial cancer. Those who drank two or three cups per day had a 7 percent lower risk.
- According to a 2009 meta-analysis, at least fourteen out of eighteen cohort studies revealed a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus with frequent coffee intake, and that the risk of type 2 diabetes goes down with each cup of coffee consumed daily.
- Studies have demonstrated that those who use caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. The latest study examining the connection found that caffeine can also help with movement symptoms for people who already have the disease.
- The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that found that increased coffee consumption is linked to longer a longer life. Coffee drinkers didn't die as early from heart or respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, injuries, accidents or infections, and in fact, they decreased their risk of death from these factors by 10 to 16 percent.
- According to a meta-analysis published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Heart Failure, coffee drinkers who consume two 8-ounce cups a day appear to have an 11 percent lower risk of developing heart failure compared to those who don't drink coffee at all.
- Researchers looking at data from the Nurses' Health Study (Harvard's broad and long-running study on women's health) found that a lower risk of developing basal cell carcinoma was linked to consumption of caffeinated coffee (in addition to caffeine from tea, cola and chocolate). Decaffeinated coffee did not prove to have the same effect.
- A 2007 meta-analysis of nine studies found that an increase in consumption of 2 cups of coffee per day was associated with a 43 percent reduced risk of liver cancer.
- The Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study which concluded that women who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression over a 10-year period compared to those who drank one cup of coffee or less per week.
A study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that women who drink five or more cups of coffee a day are 57 percent less likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer than women who drink less than a cup of coffee a day.
- At high levels (more than 744 milligrams/day), caffeine may increase calcium and magnesium loss in urine. But recent studies suggest it does not increase your risk for bone loss, especially if you get enough calcium.
And what about that ocular keratitis? Most studies and medical literature don't list caffeine as a common cause, so it's probably not much to worry about.
If you are very sensitive to caffeine or are prone to anxiety or panic attacks, limiting your caffeine intake may be prudent.
But above all, just be careful about how you consume your caffeine. Coffee may have a great array of health benefits, but it often comes packaged in horrendously unhealthy concoctions. For example, Cold Stone Creamery's Caramel Latte comes with a whopping 1,790 calories and 90 grams of fat — clearly not a friend to good health.
More coffee stories on MNN:
MNN tease photo of coffee: Shutterstock


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from a paper by manuel eisner entitled "Modernization, Self‐Control and Lethal Violence" about how the homicide rate has been steadily dropping in europe since at least the middle ages:
"[T]he data suggest that the secular trajectories of low homicide rates differ among large geographic areas. It appears that English homicide rates were already considerably lower in the late sixteenth century than during the late Middle Ages and that they declined continuously along a log-linear trend over several centuries. Extant estimates for the Netherlands and Belgium suggest a very similar structure trend in these areas. In the Scandinavian countries, the transistion to the decreasing trend occurs notably later, namely in the first decades after 1600. Despite huge gaps in the data, the German-speaking areas may also be assumed to have joined the declining trend from the early seventeenth century onwards. For Italy, however, all the available data indicate that acts of individual-level lethal violence remained very frequent until the early nineteenth century. It is not until the mid-nineteenth century that the rate begins to decline, but then very steeply."
hmmmm. now where have i heard a pattern like this before? england, the netherlands, germans earliest in something … scandinavians later … italians last. (~_^)
let's look at eisner's charts first (logarithmic scales):
"In the thirteenth and fourteenth century, the mean of almost 40 different estimates lies around 24 homicides per 100,000. The average homicide rates are higher for the late fourteenth century than for the thirteenth century, but it seems impossible to say whether this is due to the difference of the sources used or reflects a real increase related to the social and economic crises in the late Middle Ages. When estimate start again after a gap of some 150 years, the average calculated homicide rates are considerably lower with typical values of between 3-9 per 100,000. From then onwards, the data for Kent line up with surprising precision along a straight line that implies a long-term declining trend for more than 350 years." [pg. 622]
"When plotted on a graph, the respective secular trends are very similar to those found for England. During the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, counts of murder and manslaughter cases in cities like Antwerp, Leuwen, Utrecht or Amsterdam consistently result in estimated homicide rates of between 30 and 60 cases per 100,000. Spierenburg presents a series of estimates for Amsterdam between the sixteenth and the early nineteenth centuries based on autopsy reports. He finds somewhat lower levels of about 20 per 100,000 in sixteenth-century Amsterdam…. Seventeenth-century homicide rates in both Amsterdam and Brussels are considerably lower and range between four and 11 per 100,000." [pg. 623]
"In total, I found more than 30 estimates referring to various cities in the thirteenth and fourteenth century. They range between approximately eight and 80 homicides per 100,000, with an overall mean of 35…. Schwerhoff and Eibach present homicide rates based on convictions in the city of Francfourt am Main between the sixteenth and the late eighteenth centuries. A cluster of estimates around 1600 yields an average homicide rate of about 10 per 100,000." [pg. 625]
"[The figure] suggests first that homicide rates typically ranged from 10 to 60 cases per 100,000 between the mid-fifteenth and the mid-seventeenth centuries and that the average rate may have been at about 25. Strikingly, the Scandinavian evidence shows no sign of declining homicide rates until about 1600. Yet by 1740, when the first Swedish national vital statistics are available, homicide rates are already below 1 per 100,000. The data thus suggest a spectacular decline of lethal personal violence by a factor of at least 10:1 within a period of only 150 years." [pg. 624]
(just how fast can selection for certain traits happen?)
"The secular pattern in Italy … diverges decisively from the trend found for norther Europe. There exist isolated estimates for a number of Italian cities, such as Bologna, Florence, Mantova and Venice, whereby Florence shows the absolute highest homicide rate with 150 homicides per population of 100,000 in the fourteenth century. Blastenbrei provides homicide rates of 30 to 80 per 100,000 for Rome in the sixteenth century…. [T]he exant estimates do indicate that for a long period between the high Middle Ages and the seventeenth century in Italy, there was a slight decline in the frequency of homicides. However, Italy may be a particularly problematic case because of the vast differences between different areas. For example, Doneddu gives a homicide rate of 22 for late eighteenth-century Sardegna, while the data presented by Sardi for the duchy of Tuscany yield a rate of 4-5 per 100,000. Starting from 1881 … [t]he rate begins at about 8 per 100,000 and then — with the exception of higher rates during the final years of both world wars — falls steeply up to the mid 1960s." [pgs. 626-27]
furthermore: "Durkheim showed that in the late nineteenth century an arc of high murder rates ranging from Ireland over Spain, Italy, Austria, and Hungary encircled a zone of low homicide rates." [pg. 631]
eisner comes a hair's breadth away from a good sociobiological explanation for why all of this happened, but he missed it (prolly 'cause he's a criminologist and not a biologist — not that there's anything wrong with that!):
"[T]he work of Norbert Elias probably forms the most prominent theoretical framework discussed by those historians of crime who are interested in explaining this long-term trend. Elias's well-known theoretical model of the 'civilizing process' embraces long-term social dynamics at a macro level as well as changes in typical psychological traits and the developments in characteristic modes of behaviour. In a nutshell, the theory of the civilizing process holds that over a period of several centuries a type of personality has come to prevail that is characterized by increasing affect control, decreasing impulsivity, and a rationalized manner of living — in brief: high levels of self-control. Higher levels of self-control imply, in turn, the gradual pacification of everyday interactions, which becomes manifest by lower levels of violent behaviour…. [pg. 619]
all of these traits, like impulse control (deferred gratification), are undoubtedly at least partly rooted in our natures. i think it's likely that what happened over time in europe (and elsewhere?) is that greater impulse control, etc., etc., was selected for in the population — but i'm a reductionist (hey, i'm in good company!), so you knew i'd say that. (~_^)
eisner offers up one of the standard explanations for the decrease of violence over time and that's the role of the state. the state took over as the executor of revenge (we call it justice now) so individuals/families no longer had to mete it out — AND the state really, really discouraged violence in general — if you were violent, you'd go to jail or maybe be executed. i think the idea that the state has played a big role in the reduction of violence over time makes a lot sense, 'cause these things that the state started doing sure sound like selection pressures — clearly the second one is especially if you execute violent criminals. you just take them and all their personality traits right out of the gene pool, no?
but eisner also mentions an idea of émile durkheim's related to the reduction of violence that's right up my alley:
"Durkheim saw the decline of homicide rates as resulting from the liberation of the individual from collective bonds rather than as the consequence of the coercive potential of the state. High levels of lethal violence thus mirror the intensity of 'collective emotions', which bind the individuals to 'groups of things that symbolically represent these groups'. Violence thus declines to the degree that the person becomes liberated from its sacred obligation to the group, and the rise of moral individualism…."
"This is in accordance with a society in which 'honour' constitutes highly important social capital of the male person as a representative of his group…. Such a theoretical framework may help to better understand why the secular decline in homicide rates primarily seems to have been due to a decrease in male-to-male fights. And it may also offer a point of departure for understanding the high violence rates in Italy, where a culture of honour persisted despite the early development of administrative and judicial structures in the city states." [pg. 632]
yes! but, again, what's missing is the biology of it.
the individual in (parts of) europe was liberated from the "collective bonds" because europeans started outbreeding in the early medieval period and, over the subsequent generations, the frequencies and perhaps even types of altruism genes changed in the populations. europeans quit behaving like inbred pashtuns who are always looking for revenge when their familiy's honor is tainted because they (the europeans) were no longer inbred.
england, the netherlands, belgium, germany and switzerland saw the earliest reduction of violence because they were the european populations who started outbreeding the earliest (in some cases, as early as the 500s). the scandinavians — the swedes and the norwegians, anyway — probably didn't start outbreeding until sometime after ca. 1000 a.d. when they converted to christianity. that could amount to nearly 500 years less outbreeding compared to the franks and the english, and their reduction in crime was a few hundred years later as well.
populations on the periphery — the irish, the spanish, the italians, the hungarians — all continued to be much more violent than "core" europe for a much longer time AND they also all kept inbreeding in one form or another longer than the germans or the english. and the italians? — differences between the north and south, again! — the south being more violent than the north.
i know, i know. i start to sound like a certain individual (won't mention any names!) who has only one explanation for everything. i don't think inbreeding/oubreeding and altruism explains everything. REALLY! but i do think it applies in this case. it's not the entire explanation (i think the role of the state is important, too, for instance) — and there's more to it than just how much inbreeding/outbreeding there is. like greying wanderer said:
"i think there's likely to be a compounding effect too. as the clannishness recedes it becomes easier – and in fact neccessary as the only previous rule of law was clan vendetta – to institute a communal rule of law instead."
absolutely! with all of the outbreeding, european societies became more "corporate" simply because the old extended-family/clan/tribal ties disappeared. everything had to be arranged differently. but europeans — northwestern europeans more than others — also just felt differently about the world and their place in it and their relationships with others than their ancestors had. 'cause they were different.
h/t to halvorson for pointing out a post by agnostic on this paper from a couple of years ago @gnxp. thnx, halvorson!
(yes, i've got pinker's new book sitting and waiting for me on my kindle. and i am planning on reading it. any day now…. (~_^) )
(note: comments do not require an email. justice?)


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An Imperial Beach workshop to discuss the future of the city's Sports Park turned into a debate on whether the city should be leading the effort at all.
About 120 residents turned out Tuesday evening expecting to have an open discussion for alternatives to the YMCA, but many said they felt like it was already a done deal.
City Manager Gary Brown and Assistant City Manager Greg Wade took heat from residents angry with the city staff's recommendation to contract with the South Bay Family YMCA, which if selected by council, would take over operations and maintenance of the park.
The city, which has invested about $1.7 million in improvements to the park since 2000, can no longer afford to fund the park. For the last several months it has explored having another agency take it over with the goal to expand the quality and quantity of services.
"This workshop is a chance for all of us to hear each other's ideas, a chance to listen, a chance to spot flaws in our thinking and a chance to sharpen our ideas," Brown said, adding that any ideas given would be subject to City Council discussion and decision.
One woman said many Imperial Beach residents are single parents with two or more children living on a low income and wouldn't be able to afford higher fees.
In addition, about one-third of Imperial Beach residents are 19 or younger, according to Mayor Jim Janney.
Many families are barely scraping by now, according to parents who attended the workshop.
One man said the biggest fear and the risk is losing control.
Many residents agreed that the Boys & Girls Club of South County would be a natural choice to run the Sports Park because they know the organization.
The club responded to the city's request for proposals, but was rejected due to an $180,000 cost to the city. It has a $40 annual fee and no kids are turned away if they can't afford it.
On March 29, Boys & Girls Club president Ken Blinsman sent the council an email saying it was only interested in contracting with the city if the YMCA wasn't interested.
"I'm not requesting to be invited back to the negotiation table and I would only consider the Boys & Girls Club a viable option to provide Sports Park services, only if the YMCA backs out," Blinsman stated.
Imperial Beach resident Candy Unger suggested the community come up with an option.
"In every other city there is a parks and recreation advisory committee," Unger said. "This is a money issue so let's find organizations where we can apply for thousands of dollars…"
The city staff decided not to invite representatives from the YMCA to the workshop to answer questions from the public.
"The Y has been maligned through all of this through no fault of their own," Wade said. "All they did was respond to the city's proposal."
At a council meeting last month, city staff members reported that they'd chosen the YMCA as the best option of three. Residents spoke out against the idea.
"We didn't think we wanted to subject the Y to that again," Wade said. "If you have an issue, you have an issue with the city staff," he told residents.
YMCA Associate Executive Director Lisa Johnson said in an interview Friday that the YMCA only charges the amount necessary to cover the cost of programs it offers.
"If the city council votes to contract the Sports Park operations out to us, at that time we will work on an operating agreement with the city," she said. "One of the things we will do once given the opportunity is some community outreach to find out what services people want."
Johnson said the Y is stuck in the middle.
"When I step back and look at this I see a community that's passionate and cares about their kids," Johnson said. "They just want what's best for their community."
The Tony Hawk skate park is a whole other issue.
In December 2008, the Tony Hawk Foundation donated $10,000 to the city, which got the project going. Although some residents say the agreement between the city and Foundation stipulated it remain free, public property, it does not. Council also voted to use $200,000 in redevelopment funds and the remaining $126,000 was raised through the community and other efforts.
In November 2010 the 7,100-square-foot skate park opened at the Sports Park Recreation Center.
However, the city, through a potential deal with the YMCA would charge skaters an annual membership or daily use fee.
WiLDCOAST founder Serge Dedina said the foundation of the deal was to provide a skate park to low income kids.
"You want to make the lowest income kids pay for the worst skate park in the U.S.?" Dedina said. "You're only as good as your word. The movement across the country is free skate parks. It's about keeping kids active."


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A Balloon with the message 'i love you'
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Same day delivery available on orders received before 2pm
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About Paul
Putting excellent patient care first and foremost, Paul makes efficient use of technology, allowing him to spend more time listening to his patients' needs and collaborating with them when making medical decisions. He is an experienced primary care provider with expertise in HIV and hepatitis treatment. A graduate of Rutgers University, Paul completed his Physician's Assistant training and master's degree at Philadelphia University. He was most recently the Director of Clinical Care at the William F. Ryan Community Health Network in New York and has been practicing family medicine as a Physician's Assistant since 1999. Paul is certified through the NCCPA and is also a certified HIV specialist through the American Academy of HIV Medicine.
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Ruling on selling textbooks that contain pictures
There is nothing wrong in principle with selling books of knowledge, even if it is not Islamic knowledge such as fiqh, hadeeth and tafseer; rather it is sufficient that these books should not contain things that are contrary to Islam and go against its rulings and etiquette.
With regard to textbooks that are used by students and universities, the need for them is greater. As for what these books contain of pictures that are not compatible with Islamic teachings, as mentioned in the question, if the pictures are few and are not sought in and of themselves, rather the purchaser buys the books because of the beneficial knowledge they contain, such as medical textbooks in which there are illustrations or books that explain by means of pictures, there is nothing wrong with buying and selling these, in sha Allah, because of the general need for them and the difficulty of avoiding the pictures they contain.
But if the seller knows that a specific purchaser is only buying the book because of the pictures in it, then he should not sell it to him.
See the answer to question no. 138655
With regard to books of philosophy, if they are textbooks required as part of the curriculum, there is nothing wrong with selling them to those who need them for their studies, in sha Allah. Similarly, it is permissible to sell them to one who it is thought most likely will benefit from what is in them and is safe from any confusion they may cause, or he will benefit others by teaching and warning against what the books may contain of things that are contrary to Islam.
The seller does not have to probe deeply into the intention of each purchaser; rather it is sufficient for him to act upon what he thinks most likely to be the case and what appears to be the case.
And Allah knows best.