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Welcome to Slim's Power Tools
We specialize in Heavy Duty Power Tools, Hand Tools, Machinery, Fasteners, Anchors and Supplies for the Contractor, Professional, and Do-it-yourselfer.
Have you ever dropped your tool off the roof, cut the cord, or even run it over with your truck? Well you've come to the right place! Slim's provides an "Unconditional" One-Year Guarantee on selected Power Tools Manufacturers. See our "Unconditional Guarantee" for more information.
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Captain Herbert Johnson died Friday night after battling on house fire in the Gage Park neighborhood.
Work did not stop Saturday night for the firefighters of Engine 123 Tower Ladder 39, even as they continue to mourn the loss of their colleague and friend, Capt. Herbie Johnson.
"Herbie was larger than life," said Deputy Fire Commissioner John McNicholas. "Herbie was a true leader and a fireman's fireman."
At Johnson's Morgan Park home, a steady stream of family and friends came to pay their respects. Known for the large number of first responders who live here, trees along Johnson's neighborhood were wrapped with the traditional purple and black bunting.
"You all know someone who is a firefighter or a policeman, and it doesn't matter if you don't know them personally you come out and you talk to them and you're there for the family," said neighbor Laura Schmidt.
That sense of loss was echoed during services at St. Catejan's Catholic Church, where the Johnson family are parishioners.
"Every time he ran into me he would sing Hallelujah as loud as he could he can," said Father Frank Kurucz. "He was always that type of person who would have that smile on his face, where even if he was telling you to go jump in the Lake it would be in such a way that you'd enjoy the swim."
The 33-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, who was only recently promoted to Captain, died Friday after investigators say he was hit by a flash of flame during a house fire.
Saturday morning, a large procession accompanied his body from the medical examiner's office to a south side funeral home.
His brother-in-law spoke for the clearly devastated family.
"He was always a hero to us," said Dan McMahon. "And now he is a hero for our city. Herbie never wanted glory or notoriety. Instead what he wanted was to make Chicago a safer place for everyone who lives here."
There was a second firefighter from Engine 123 who was injured in that blaze. He was briefly hospitalized, but is home resting.
As for the cause of the fire, it appears that a water heater in the attic may have been the source, but a final determination has not yet been made.
Arrangements have been set for Captain Johnson. Visitation is Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m. at St. Rita High School at 7740 South Western Avenue in Chicago.
The funeral mass will be at the same location on Thursday at 11a.m.

subset: commoncrawl


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Often described as a conflict photographer, Hetherington's mission was never so simple. "Trying to understand my own fascination with conflict and war has become something that's started to focus on what it means to be a man. What is it about war that really draws men?"
The inventory of Tim Hetherington's work and awards tells the story of an intrepid journalist and filmmaker who covered conflict and humanitarian issues at the highest levels; he was recognized as a committed human rights activist and a visionary for the issues he covered and an innovator in the media he used to describe what he saw. Hetherington was equally well known in television and film circles as he was in print with an Oscar nomination, two Emmy's, the World Press Photo premiere award and an eclectic client list that included ABC TV, Vanity Fair and Human Rights Watch.
After graduating from Cardiff University in 1997 with a degree in photojournalism, Hetherington experimented with multimedia and he persistently rehearsed his pioneering approach in privately circulated multimedia pieces that ultimately culminated in his Academy nomination for the documentary "Restrepo" in 2010. Even as he walked the red carpet he was working on the next innovation and later in 2010 he self-published "Diary", an extraordinary manifesto of documentary narrative in a new form that broke the conventions of linear story-telling.
For Hetherington it was never enough to simply witness events, he had to experience the lives of his subjects. He spent nearly eight years working in West Africa and lived through the second Liberian civil war with unprecedented access to the rebel forces. It was this insight and passion that subsequently qualified him to work with the United Nations Security Council as an investigator for the Liberia Sanctions Committee.
In 2007 he accepted an assignment from Vanity Fair to work with writer Sebastian Junger to document the American campaign in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. The assignment extended into a two-year study that resulted in an astonishing array of work that included traditional journalistic coverage of the Afghan war and a profound study of fighting men in the multi-screen multimedia project "Sleeping Soldiers", a fly-poster exhibition, the book "Infidel" and the feature documentary "Restrepo".
Hetherington died in 2011 aged 40 while covering the Libyan civil war.
TIM HETHERINGTON: born Birkenhead UK December 5 1970, died Misrata, Libya April 20 2011. Graduated Oxford University (classics and English 1992), Cardiff University (photojournalism 1997). Published books Healing Sport (Thames and Hudson 2003, as part of group project Tales of a Globalizing World), Long Story Bit By Bit: Liberia Retold (Umbrage Editions 2009), Infidel (Chris Boot Ltd 2010). Film work included Violent Coast (assistant producer & cameraman 2004), Liberia: An Uncivil War (assistant producer & cameraman 2004), The Devil Came on Horseback (cameraman 2007), Unreported World – Nigeria: Fire in the Delta (producer and director 2006), Afghanistan, The Other War (ABC TV 2008), Sleeping Soldiers (director 2009), Restrepo (director 2010) and Diary (director 2010). Clients included The Big Issue London, The Independent London, The British Council, Human Rights Watch, Vanity Fair New York. Awards included a Fellowship from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (2000-2004), a Hasselblad Foundation grant (2002), World Press Photo of the Year 2007, the Rory Peck Award for Features (2008), an Alfred I. duPont award (2009), Grand Jury Prize Sundance Film Festival (2010), two Emmy awards for continuing coverage and editing (2011), and Academy Award nomination for Restrepo (2010). Investigator for United Nations Security Council's Liberia Sanctions Committee (2006).


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No, I'm kidding. Don't do it--those are cruel. So I've heard. I haven't ever been involved in one myself. Really. Would I lie to you?
Yes, while toilet swirlies are evil and mean-spirited, these swirlies--made from cream cheese added to rich, chocolate brownies--are beautiful and delicious. Nothing wrong with that, no sireebobber.
The chocolate I used for these bad boys was bar number two from my Amano stash. (If you'll recall, bar number one was used for some really sensational mint chocolate brownies.) This Amano bar was the Madagascar, described as having "strong fruity flavors including hints of citrus and berry." Surprisingly, my numb palate could actually pick up on those fruity undertones--this was some seriously delicious chocolate.
Also seriously delicious? The finished product. I love how the bites with more cream cheese than chocolate are tangy and smooth, while the bites with more brownie than swirl are sweet and decadent. It's a lovely combination. Lovely, I say.
Cream Cheese Swirlies
(adapted from a recipe originally found in Cook's Illustrated--gasp!--but perfected by smitten kitchen and tweaked by me)
Cream Cheese Swirl:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
12 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9x13" baking dish.
For the swirl, beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until well blended. Beat in the egg and then mix in the flour. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk to combine the flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.
Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave and when completely smooth, gradually whisk in sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition until thoroughly combined. Stir in the vanilla. Add flour mixture in two additions, mixing until the batter is completely smooth. Stir in the nuts.
Transfer half of the batter to prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Pour the cream cheese mixture over it, smoothing as you go, and then add the second half of the brownie batter on top. Swirl the batters together decoratively with the tip of a knife. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature if, in fact, it is humanly possible. (I have my doubts.)


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The Complete Go Team!
Team Fortress 2's classes explained.
Since the Team Fortress Beta went live, the collective bodies of Rock, Paper, Shotgun have been running around with cartoon projectile weapons pretty much non-stop. When that "Pretty much" kicks in, we have a break and write about Team Fortress 2, just to mix things up and keep it fresh. The following are the nine short critical examinations (with gags) of the character classes that Jim, Alec and myself conjured up with special Word Science.
Part 1: The Heavy.
Part 2: The Medic.
Part 3: The Demoman.
Part 4: The Pyro.
Part 5: The Sniper.
Part 6: The Engineer.
Part 7: The Soldier.
Part 8: The Scout.
Part 9: The Spy.
When we finished what we like to call a "ultromegafeature" we thought an opening post linking to them all and introducing the concept a little wouldn't be a bad idea. So we did one, and it looked suspiciously like this.
Go Team!


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On the eve of destiny, the fate of the champions are in the hands of those they once called Enemy.
Hated and distrusted, Queen Trinity must leave the shadows and reach for redemption.
With their final battle on the horizon, the champions are faced with a long-lost piece of the prophecy. Unable to search for the crests that are rumored to be the key to survival, they must turn to a band of their former enemies for help. Sinister desires and hopes for redemption collide as Queen Trinity of the Chaos Elves leads the hunt and struggles to keep her companions on the path of heroism. Monsters, traps, mysteries, and their own pasts will rise up to stand in the way of these people who have spent their entire lives committing sins. Throughout it all, another old enemy is lurking in the shadows and determined to claim her own delicious prize.
By the end of their journey, those who survive will learn that being a hero is more than simply stepping into the light.
Dive into the adventure on Amazon for $2.99!
Find it on Goodreads!
Excerpt: The Aura Syphon
A gurgling causes the two women to pause and look into the pit where the shadows are swirling among the jagged stones. Two black tentacles lance out of the ground and wrap around Yola's waist, the ooze-dripping projections turning silver at the taste of her magic. Attracted to the stronger energy, the aura syphon yanks the immortal into its slime-covered maw and becomes a metallic beast. With its armored skin, the camouflaged predator is now visible and resembles a sea anemone with the body of a beetle. The jagged rocks are fused to the animal's exoskeleton and there are six jointed legs that help it scurry out of the pit. Standing over Trinity, the creature opens a faint crease on its body to reveal a bulbous eye with a star-shaped pupil. It pauses to shove a few tentacles into its mouth and hit Yola with pulses of electricity to stop her from struggling. It changes from silver to gold when she attempts to break free, her efforts being quickly drained by the monster.
"Let the crazy woman go before you get killed," Trinity whispers to the aura syphon. She creates a fireball in the hopes of getting its mouth open, but her spell is ignored. "No reason to have a snack when you have an eternal meal in your belly. Maybe we can have a trade. Can't believe I'm trying to bargain with this thing. Well, I gave you a chance, so I'm going to blow you up before things get worse. Hope you heard that Yola and are bracing yourself."
The beast gurgles before releasing a blast of sticky strands that lock Trinity in place. Instead of going after the trapped chaos elf, the creature turns its attention to the helpless army. Having had its fill of magic, the aura syphon is ready to gorge on fresh meat and opens a second mouth that is filled with knife-like teeth. Heading for Sir Harbiss, it is stopped when a chunk of earth erupts beneath it and flips it back into the pit. Unsure of where the attack came from, the aura syphon leaps out and reveals several eye stalks that search for an unseen enemy. A cutting wind lops off half of the projections, but Yola's potent energy revives them and protects the crystalline armor plates. When the spell comes back around, it bounces off the new defense and bursts against a hill. Blasts of fire strike the beast from behind, so it sprouts a fan-shaped tail of water that douses the flames.
Looking around, the aura syphon stops when it sees that Trinity is nowhere to be seen and there is a hole where she once stood. Spikes grow from the predator's belly and it slams against the ground in the hopes of impaling the chaos elf. The hiss of escaping gas is heard an instant before an explosion sends the shrieking animal into the sky. Careening towards a solitary cloud that is very low to the ground, the beast catches the scent of an aura that revives the one currently in its gut. Passing through the cloud, it finds its legs caught in a net that runs down to where Trinity is hiding behind a hill. With enhanced strength, the channeler slams the aura syphon into the ground and delivers a leaping stomp to its soft upper body. Instead of ejecting Yola, the creature opens its skin to swallow the chaos elf's leg up the knee.
"Fine. Backup plan it is," Trinity mutters, synching her aura to that of the imprisoned immortal.
Releasing as much magic as she can without killing herself, the channeler creates a power surge within the aura syphon. Unable to absorb or redirect so much energy at once, the predator tries to reject the grinning chaos elf. Plunging her fingers into its flesh, Trinity refuses to be thrown off and continues her assault. Blisters appear on the hard exoskeleton and the metallic color flakes off to reveal the natural black of the tentacles. Without warning, the gold returns and the animal explodes with enough force to collapse the ground. Before she can escape, the channeler falls into the pit and is buried beneath the icy dirt.
Need to catch Legends of Windemere from the beginning? Then click on the picture below! First book, 'Beginning of a Hero' is free!
Ready for the newest adventure in Windemere? Find out if Queen Trinity earns redemption or will return to the Baron's side!
About the Author:
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you, and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.
Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com


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Researchers from the National Cancer Institute report that decaffeinated coffee drinking may benefit liver health. Results of the study published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that higher coffee consumption, regardless of caffeine content, was linked to lower levels of abnormal liver enzymes. This suggests that chemical compounds in coffee other than caffeine may help protect the liver.
Coffee consumption is highly prevalent with more than half of all Americans over 18 drinking on average three cups each day according to a 2010 report from the National Coffee Association. Moreover, the International Coffee Association reports that coffee consumption has increased one percent each year since the 1980s, increasing to two percent in recent years. Previous studies found that coffee consumption may help lower the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
"Prior research found that drinking coffee may have a possible protective effect on the liver. However, the evidence is not clear if that benefit may extend to decaffeinated coffee," explains lead researcher Dr. Qian Xiao from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
For the present study researchers used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2010). The study population included 27,793 participants, 20 years of age or older, who provided coffee intake in a 24-hour period. The team measured blood levels of several markers of liver function, including aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transaminase (GGT) to determine liver health.
Participants who reported drinking three or more cups of coffee per day had lower levels of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT compared to those not consuming any coffee. Researchers also found low levels of these liver enzymes in participants drinking only decaffeinated coffee.
Dr. Xiao concludes, "Our findings link total and decaffeinated coffee intake to lower liver enzyme levels. These data suggest that ingredients in coffee, other than caffeine, may promote liver health. Further studies are needed to identify these components."
Journal Reference:
Cite This Page:


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WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2014—Secretary Vilsack made the following statement on passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014:
"Today's action will allow the proud men and women who feed millions around the world to invest confidently in the future. Our communities will have additional support to attract new economic opportunity and create jobs. During difficult times, children, working families, seniors and people with disabilities will have access to nutritious food. The potential of new products, treatments and discoveries will be strengthened through new agricultural research. Renewed conservation efforts will protect our fields, forests and waters creating new tourism options. This legislation is important to the entire nation.
Building on the historic economic gains in rural America over the past 5 years, this bill will accomplish those goals while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. While no legislation is perfect, this bill is a strong investment in American agriculture and supports the continued global leadership of our farmers and ranchers."


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When the royals wanted to leave the hustle and bustle of Madrid, they would retreat to a small town outside Segovia called La Granja de San Ildefonso. It's a small village set in the grandeur of nature and all the comforts a majestic palace can provide.
When visiting Madrid, a trip to La Granja is a must. You can wonder at the ornate beauty of the palace, enjoy a relaxing nature walk, and spend the night in Parador La Granja.
Local cuisine
Suckling pig is the most renowned gastronomic pleasure La Granja has to offer. Come hungry, as the carefully prepared tender meat is quite filling! Also from this region comes what the Spaniards call Judiones, or large butter beans. These legumes are served with all types of typical food from the region, from suckling pig to clams. Although originally brought over from America, they have adapted to Spain beautifully. They have taken on the characteristics of the region through the water, soil and sun, and these beans have become the jewel in the crown of La Granja cuisine.
How to spend your day
The small village packs a punch with plenty of activities to fill your day. It sits at the foot of the Guadarrama Mountains, ideal for long nature walks. Pack a lunch and put your hiking shoes on. Head up into the hills to feel the sun on your face and fresh air in your lungs.
The royal palace is not to be missed! They offer daily tours of the facilities. Built between 1721 and 1724, Phillip V hired various architects to design and build the Versailles-inspired royal residence. Wander through the extensive gardens before heading inside to see rooms adorned with paintings, elaborate tapestries and gigantic mirrors reminiscent of the era of King Phillip V.
The glass museum and Royal Collegiate Church are also worth a gander.
Parador La Granja
After a day spent exploring the town, relax in style in Parador La Granja. The luxury hotel is also a vantage point into history. Composed of two buildings, one was used as the housing for Princes Gabriel and Antonio. The other half was the lodgings for the King's Guard, there to protect the royal family from danger. Come savour mouth-watering meals in the restaurant and let the staff give you the full royal treatment.
Parador Segovia
La Granja is only 11 km from Parador Segovia, another fantastic luxury hotel. The town of Segovia is a World Heritage Site with plenty of its own landmarks to explore. The enormous aqueduct, still intact from the Roman rule over 2,000 years ago, is an impressive reminder of Spain's vast history.
Why not treat yourself and indulge in the luxury these towns and their hotels have to offer?


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Alaska mind-numbingly boring intramural politics of, 1-208 Aristotle, 63 Atlantic Monthly formerly reputable outlet asserts Trig Palin actually child of Bristol or Willow, 238 Baldwin, Alec hypocritical failure to fulfill promise to leave U.S. after election of George W. Bush cited by SP, 313 Biden, Joe called "Joe" by SP, 289 hair plugs of thought about by SP as calming device going into debate, 297 Bloggers, Maniacal, 236 Bono, talked to by SP, 301 Boredom of, by reader while waiting for Going Rogue to get to 2008 presidential campaign, 156 Clinton, Hillary hat off to SP while fundamentally disagreeing with every view of, 287 Couric, Katie condescension of, 276 far more forgiving when Biden gives historically erroneous answer during his interview, 278 intense desire to be liked adduced by McCain staffer, 256 lowest-rated news anchor in network television, 270 should have been asked by SP what she reads, 207 Democrats "embarrassed pacifism" of deplored, 46 Elites stupidity of for buying Alaska salmon eggs labeled as "caviar," 48 "want you to sit down and shut up," 395 Fey, Tina friendliness and graciousness of to SP, 310 makes lots of money imitating SP, 293 God 1, 22, 30, 33, 34, 51, 56, 57, 76, 83, 104, 121, 133, 170, 173-5, 176, 177-8, 181, 185, 187, 193, 195, 208, 210-217, 243, 245, 261, 286-8, 294, 322-3, 346, 349, 355, 362, 399, 413 Kerry, John "elitist loon," 181 King, Martin Luther, 86 Kudlow, Larry energy of liked by SP, 206 Left, The decides SP must be eliminated, 364 Letterman, David prick, what a, 351 Lieberman, Joe tells SP God will see her through the VP debate, 286 Liberals, Hollywood, 134 Marx, Karl 84 McCain, Cindy down-to-earthness of praised, 210 elegance of, 210 ice queen reputation unjust, 221 McCain, John boldness and out-of-the-boxness of hailed by SP, 223 reveals selection of SP as VP nominee at Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, 222 staffers of feed lies to Fox News' Carl Cameron about SP, 343 wading, favorite pastime of, 286 • Duff McDonald: Palin's Gold Mine• Tina Brown: Sarah Drops the Act• More Daily Beast contributors on Palin's book tour Media "bunch of buffoons," 378 causticity of, 351 ghastliness of, 187, 236, 280, 342, 347, 348, 378 ninety percent liberalness of, 270 veiled barbs, directed at SP by, 75 Murkowski, Governor "darn jet" of deplored by SP, 147 Obama Campaign Opposition Researchers "black-suited, laptop-toting flatlanders," 236 Page, 208 Going Rogue finally gets to 2008 presidential campaign Palin, Bristol impregnation of by unnamed teenage lout, 207 pregnancy of likened to a forest fire, 208 Palin, Sarah abused by McCain campaign staff during debate prep, 283 appalled at emphasis on packaging by McCain campaign staff, 232 approval ratings of in Alaska plummet from 90 percent to 56 following presidential campaign, 373 books, non-banning of by, 77 "butt," use of by, 49 caribou lasagna eaten by as child, 218 "Change," used as gubernatorial campaign theme way before Obama, 114 conservatism, fiscal of, 153 creationism of, soft-pedaled by, 217 D, gets in college course once, 112 "darn," use of, 31, 87, 147 daughters, cuteness of adduced by, 132, 138 "effete young chap," used to describe gubernatorial opponent, 116 emails, personal, hacking into by deplored as "another fine how-do-you-do," 263 favors holding self to higher standard, 366 "giddy-happy," not made by pregnancy of teenage daughter, 234 humbled and honored when nominated by McCain, 223 legal bills of top $500,000, 363 likeability of, 1-413 "Mom Moment," has when daughter Piper crashes bicycle, 138 moose chili served three times a week at governor's mansion, 133 moose eyeballs, handed by father, 32 not amused by "SARAH PALIN IS A CUNT" T-shirts at rally, 279 not amused by media portrayal of family as "herd of hillbillies," 315 "not retreating but reloading," said about SP by father, 377 oil companies, goes up against, 159, 189 per diem, refuses, 147 "porks up" while pregnant, 50 "ready to calve" first child, 51 Russia, proximity of Alaska to, made too much of by media, 309 sneaks in calls to folks like Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity and someone thought to be Larry Kudlow but who turns out to be Neil Cavuto's producer, 257 spends less on travel and personal expenses while governor than previous two predecessors, despite having larger family, 365 sweats like crazy while working rope-line, 276 unable to remain silent in face of serious issues facing Alaska and U.S., 356 wardrobe problems of, 314 wife, yearns for a, 86 "Wow," utters when realizes Alaska politics determined by "relationships," 142
Palin, Piper adorableness of, 347 Palin, Todd children, love of by, 37 DUI arrest for, 49 elders, reverence for, 37 extreme masculinity of, 37-413 honesty, justice and accountability of, 38 kept from appearing on stage with SP on Election Night, 337 nature, respect for, 37 prejudice, hatred of, 37 roars into life of SP, 34 serially impregnates SP, 40 taciturnity of, 36 tells buddies SP doesn't know how to kiss, 39 tobacco, dipping of by, 38 treats new bride SP to wedding dinner at Wendy's Drive-Thru, 49 Palin, Track malicious reporters suggest may have joined Army to "hide from the law," 371 thuggish hockey playing style of, 167 Palin, Trig derivation of middle name "Van" (rock band Van Halen) not explained by SP, 195 Paine, Thomas, 146 Plato, 24 Pundits, odiousness of, 45 Reagan, Ronald, 12, 45-7, 124, 158, 384, 386, 391-3, 400 Sarkozy, Nicolas Montreal DJ pretends to be during phone call to SP; suggests both shoot wildlife from helicopter, 326 Schmidt, Steve, McCain Campaign Manager condescension of, 235 not one for a lot of chitchat, 212 not a lot of camaraderie or rah-rah optimism by, 253 puts into motion plan to destroy SP's reputation in order to salvage own, 318 tells SP Gwen Ifill is going to "f*** with you," 294 tells SP she cannot give concession speech on election night, 334 threatens SP with nutritionist, 284 Washington, DC breeze, fresh, much-need in, 221 dreadfulness of, 1-413 Wooten, Mike, SP Brother-in-law bankruptcy of, 100 drinking history of, 101 infidelity of, 100 Tasers young stepson, 101
Plus: Check out Book Beast for more news on hot titles and authors and excerpts from the latest books.
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.


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I logged on to Gmail this evening after basketball and noticed something different: The labels looked nicer. According to the Gmail blog, there's been a change:
Today, we're happy to announce the next evolution of labels: the colored label. Until now the label has been a little inconspicuous creature, subtly suggesting categorical associations in its simple green coat. Oh, we've seen the colored label here and there, its precursors surfacing in various experiments and Greasemonkey scripts; but the label has never before been so brazen, so bold. How will it use its new colors? Will it disguise itself with the chameleon's camouflage or clamor for attention with the monarch butterfly's vivid contrast?
Several new features we've launched, including colored labels, only work in the newest version of Gmail, currently available for IE7 and Firefox 2. Please upgrade your browser to start using those features now.
To be clear, they're not just colored, they're also far more attractive than they used to be. Very nice.


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W. E. B. Du Bois
(William Edward Burghardt Du Bois)
writer, teacher
Born: 2/23/1868
African-American author and teacher who helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). A recipient of the World Peace Council Prize (1952) and the Soviet Lenin Peace Prize (1959), Du Bois became a member of the Communist party in 1961 and a citizen of Ghana, where he served as director of the Encyclopedia Africana. See also Encyclopedia: W.E.B. Du Bois.
Died: 8/27/1963 See also:


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So, I have one of these MiFi clone from T-Mobile and want to unlock it to use on AT&T (I know that AT&T 4G/3G isn't supported, but I thought maybe I could fix that later). The first thing I tried to do was contact T-Mobile, as they are usually very liberal concerning unlock codes. However, this time, T-Mobile (or, as they claim, the manufacture) isn't so generous. So I've decided to take it upon myself to do it. I will write down the entire procedure here as a case study on how to "reverse engineer" a new device. However, in no way do I consider myself an expert, so feel free to bash me in the comments on what I did wrong. Also, I have decided against releasing any binaries or patches because phone unlocking is a grey area (although it is legal here), but if you read along you should be able to repeat what I did, even though I will also try to generalize.
Getting information
The hardest part of any hack is the figuring-out-how-to-start phase. That's always tricky. But… let the games begin.
-Wheatley, Portal 2
So before we can do anything, we need to know what to do. The best place to begin is to look at the updater. A quick look at the extracted files, we find that the files being flashed have names such as "amss.mbn", "dsp1.mbn", and such. A quick scan with a hex editor, we see that the files are unencrypted and unsigned. That's good news because it means we have the ability to change the code. A quick Google search shows us that these files are firmware files for Qualcomm basebands. Now, we need to find more information on this Qualcomm chip. You may try some more Google-fu, but I took another path and took apart the device (not recommended if it's any more complicated). In this case, I found that we are dealing with a Qualcomm MDM8200A device. Google that and you'll find more information such as there are two DSP processors for the modem and on "apps" ARM processor (presumably for T-Mobile's custom firmare, and is what you see as the web interface). We want to unlock the device, so I assume the work is done in the DSP processor. That's the first problem. QDSP6 (I found this name through more Google skills) is not a supported processor in IDA Pro, my go-to tool, so we need another way to disassemble it.
Some more Googling (I'm sure you can see a pattern on how this works now) leads me to this. QDSP6 is actually called "Hexagon" by Qualcomm and they kindly provided an EBI and programmer's guide. I guessed from the documents that there is a toolchain, but no more information is provided about it. More searching lead me to believe that the in-house toolchain is proprietary, but luckily, there is an open source implementation that is being worked on. Having the toolchain means that we can use "objdump", the 2nd most popular disassembly tool [Citation Needed]. So, it's just a matter of sending dsp1.mbn and dsp2.mbn into objdump -x? Nope. It seems that our friends at ZTE either purposely or automatically (as part of the linker) stripped the "section headers" of the ELF file. I did a quick read of the ELF specifications and found that the "section headers" are not required for the program to run, but provides information for linking and such. What we did have was the "program headers", which is sort of a stripped down version of the section headers. (Program headers only tell: 1) where each "section" is located in file and where to load it in memory, 2) is it program or data?, 3) readable? writable?, while section headers give more information like the name of each section and more on what the program/data section's purpose is). What I then did is wrote my own section headers using the program headers as a guide and made up the names and other information (because they are not used in the actual disassembling anyways) with a hex editor. Then I pasted my headers into the file, changed some offsets, and objdump -x surrendered the assembly code. 180MB worth of it.
So we have 180MB worth of code written in a language that could very well be greek. Luckily, as I've mentioned earlier, Qualcomm released a document detailing the QDSP assembly language and how it's used. Most likely, you would be dealing with a more "popular" processor like ARM or x86 and would have access to more resources. However, for QDSP6/Hexagon, we have two PDF documents and that is basically the Bible that we need to memorize. I then spend a couple of hours learning this new assembly language (assembly isn't that hard once you embrace it) and figured out the basics needed to reverse engineer (that is: jumps, store/loads, and arithmetic). Now, another problem arises. We have literally 3 million lines of assembly code with no function names, no symbols, and no "sections". How do we find where the goal (the function that checks the NCK key and unlocks the device accordantly) without spending the next two years decoding this mess? Here, we need to do some assumptions. First, we know (through Google) that the AT modem command for inputting the NCK key is AT+ZNCK="keyhere" for ZTE devices. So, let's look for "ZNCK" in the hex editor of dsp1.mbn and dsp2.mbn. (If you are not as lucky and don't know what the AT command is, I would put money that the command will contain the word NCK, so just search that). In dsp2.mbn, we find a couple of results. One of the results is in a group of other AT commands. Each command is next to a 4-byte hex value and a bunch of zero padding. I would guess that it is a jump table and the hex values are the memory locations of the functions to jump to. Doing a quick memory to file offset conversion (from our ELF program header), we locate the offset in our disassembly dump to find that it starts an "allocframe" instruction. That means we are at the beginning of a function so our assumptions must be right. Now, we can get to the crux of the problem, which is figuring out how the keycheck works.
Mapping out the functions
We now know where the function of interest starts, but we don't know where it ends. It's easy to find out though, look for a jump to lr (in this case for this processor, it's a instruction to jump r31). We start at the beginning of the function and we copy all the instruction until we see a non-conditional jump. We paste the data into another text file (for easier reference). Then we go to the next location in the disassembly (where it would have jumped to) and copy the instruction until we see another non-conditional jump, and then paste them into the second text file. Keep doing this until you see a jump to r31. We now have most of the function. Notice I kept saying "non-conditional" jumps. That's because first, we just need the code that ALWAYS runs, just to filter out stuff we don't need. Now, we should get the other branches just so we have more information. To do this, just follow each jump or function call in the same way as we did for the main function. I would also recommend writing some labels like "branch1" and "func1" for each jump just so you can easily locate two jumps to the same location and such. I would also recommend only doing this up to three "levels" max (three function calls or three jumps) because it could get real messy real quick, and we will need more information so we can filter out un-needed code, as I will detail in the next section.
Finding data references
Right now, we are almost completely blind. All we know is what code is run. We don't know the names of functions or what they do, and it would take forever to "map" every function and every function every function calls (and so on). So we need to obtain some information. The best would be to see what data the code is using. For this processor (and likely many others), a "global pointer" is used to refer to some constant data. So, look for references to "gp" in the disassembly. Searching from the very beginning of the program, we find that the global pointer is set to 0x3500000, and according to the ELF headers, that is a section of the dsp2.mbn file at some file offset. In the section we care about, look for references to "gp" and use the offsets you find to locate the data they refer to. I would recommend adding some comments about them in the code so we don't forget about them. Now, the global pointer isn't everything, we can have regular hard-coded pointers to constant areas of memory. Look for setting of registers to large numbers. These are likely parameters to function calls that are too big to be just numerical data and are more likely pointers. Use the ELF header to translate the memory locations to file offsets. In this case (for this processor), some values may be split into rS.h and rS.l, these are memory locations that are too "large" to be set in the register at once. Just convert rS.h into a 16 bit integer, rS.l into a 16 bit integer (both might require zero padding in front), then combine them into one 32 bit integer where rS.h's value is in front of rS.l's value. For example, we have: r1.h = #384; r1.l = #4624. That will make r1 == 0x1801210. You should also make some comments in the code about the data that is being used. Now, predict standard library calls. This may be the hardest step because it involves guessing and incorrect guessing may make other guess more wrong. You don't have much information to go by, but you know 1) the values of some of the data being passed into function calls, and 2) library calls will usually be near the start of the program, or at least very far away from the current function. This will be harder if the function you are trying to map is already near the beginning of the program. The function I'm mapping is found at 0xf84c54, and most function calls are close to it. When I see a function call to 0xb02760, I know that it might be a library call. 3) Some of the more "common" functions and the types of parameters they accept. You don't need to figure out all of the library calls, just enough to get an idea of what the code is doing so you don't try to map out these functions (trying to map out strcpy, for example will get messy real quick). For example, one function call, I see is taking in a data pointer from a "gp" offset, a string that contains "%s: %d", and some more data. I will assume it is calling fprintf(). I see another function is being called many times throughout the code, and it always accepts two pointers where the second one may be a constant and a number. I will assume it is calling memcpy().
This may be the most boring part. You should have enough information now to try to write a higher language code that does what the assembly code says. I would recommend doing this because it is much easier to see logic this way. I used C and started by doing a "literal" transcription using stuff like "r0-r31" as variable names and using goto. Then go back and try to simplify each section. In my process, I found that how the unlock key is checked is though sort of a hash function. It takes the user input, passes it through a huge algorithm of and/or/add/sub of more than 1000 lines and takes the result and compares it to a hard coded value in the NV ram (storage area for the device). Here, I made a choice to not go through and re-code this algorithm for two reasons. First, it would be of little use, as the key check doesn't use a known value like the IMEI and relies on a hard coded value in the NV ram that you need to extract (which a regular user might have trouble doing). Second, after decoding it, we would have to do the algorithm backwards to find the key from the "known value" in the NV ram (and it could be that it would be impossible to work backwards). So I took the easy way out and made a 4-byte patch in where I let the program compare the known value to itself instead of to the generated hash from the input and flashed it to the device. Then I inputted a random key, and the device was unlocked.
Now, remember at the beginning I said the code was unsigned? Because of that I could easily have reflashed the firmware with my "custom" code. However, if your device has some way of preventing modified code from running, you may have no choice but to decode the algorithm.


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What to Know
- The team's state-of-the-art rest and recovery room is part of their pursuit of better injury prevention and recovery
- The Redskins led the league with 27 players on injured reserve last season and put 19 players on in 2017
- Coach Jay Gruden said players choose how much of the recovery techniques they want to get involved with
Sunglasses shield your eyes from the infrared lights that give oxygen to your body's cells. Uggs boots, rubber gloves and shorts are the only protection from freezing temperatures as cold as minus 200 degrees. Then comes the sensory deprivation of floating pitch black in 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt while meditation music plays.
And that's just at work. At home is a custom-made mattress designed to get just the right about of sleep.
Massage tables, zero gravity chairs, a laser-therapy table that looks like a tanning bed, a cryotherapy chamber and giant float pods make up the Washington Redskins' state-of-the-art rest and recovery room. Combined with advanced mattress and pillow technology, it's all part of Washington's pursuit of better injury prevention and recovery after no NFL team put more players on season-ending injured reserve over the past two years combined.
"It's more like restoration," head athletic trainer Larry Hess told The Associated Press during a recent visit to the recovery room. "There's things in here that are setting their body up to perform better in the weight room, to perform better in their meetings mentally. Mental preparedness. That's where our advantage is."
Professional and college sports teams are always looking for the next edge, and the Redskins hope they're on the right track by zeroing in on rest and relaxation as a way to keep players healthier and more focused. The idea came from Hess and owner Dan Snyder visiting English Premier League soccer clubs and discovering after nutrition and player tracking, they considered sleep the next great frontier.
Hess and player recovery director Hutch Call struck up a partnership early last season with Bedgear, which works closely with Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks and provides Redskins players, coaches and staff with mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets optimized for their needs. Call said focus gleaned from the right amount of sleep could be the difference between a receiver catching a ball and bringing it down and getting it knocked out of his hands; plus, there are more practical elements.
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
"Our bodies go through a restoration process while we sleep, doing important things like balancing hormones related to tissue growth, stress control, appetite and weight management," MIT research scientist and Bedgear sleep scientist and biometrics expert Lorenzo Turicchia said. "When a person does not get the right amount of sleep, their bodies will not be able to adequately repair damaged tissues, thus prolonging the healing time. When a player has an injury, the damaged tissues need extra time to repair and heal."
Redskins players have required plenty of healing. The team led the league with 27 players on injured reserve last season and put 19 players on in 2017.
Late in the 2017 season, since-released safety D.J. Swearinger criticized some teammates for not taking care of their bodies well enough to limit preventable injuries, which contributed to missing the playoffs.
"You're not supposed to wait till something happens to you to get treatment," Swearinger said at the time. "You're supposed to do stuff to prevent injuries, and I don't think as a group we did that as much as other teams I've been on. ... Some injuries are freak injuries. You can't control them. But pulls and strains and stuff like that, you can sort of control those things."
Despite the lengthy injured list, Hess said the team reduced soft-tissue injuries — such as sprains, strains, tendinitis and damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments — by over 50 percent last season. He hopes that progress will continue now that players have a full offseason to take advantage of the recovery room at the practice facility.
After a typical Sunday game, massage therapists and a chiropractor are available for players on Monday and then again Friday. The recovery room is always open and sometimes is the location of meetings to help a player relax and not hunch over a desk while watching film.
The three-step restoration process starts with a minimum of 12 minutes inside a photobiomodulation bed that resembles a tanning booth and uses three types of infrared light to help repair cells all over the body. Hess said it's good for recovery and studies have shown it improves strength on lifts in the weight room.
The next step is three finger-tingling minutes inside the cryotherapy chamber, where it feels difficult to breathe because the extreme cold tricks the body into rushing blood to major organs to survive. It's different than getting in a cold tub full of ice or putting an ice bag on because the seconds and minutes after cryotheraphy come with an endorphin release capable of waking up a groggy player.
"Your core body temperature shoots up because of the fight-or-flight," Call said. "You just had everything (go) to your major organs. Now it's just shooting back out in your bloodstream."
The coup de grace is up to an hour latched inside one of three Superior float tanks designed to take away all the senses and that can actually make players fall asleep. Hess said it's supposed to replicate the weightless feeling of a baby in a womb, and it feels similar to floating in the Dead Sea.
"It's an amazing experience," Hess said. "Our goal is to get them to that pre-sleep state to shut their body down. It will lower their heart rate. The temperature of the water replicates your body temperature. Really we're taking all sensation out."
A player showers and puts on lotion to keep the salt from damaging skin, and then a lot of times it's off to bed to rest up for the next grueling day. Quarterback Colt McCoy has been big on giving feedback on bedding technology, and Bedgear is working to develop ankle pillows to help athletes elevate their feet after the stress of a game or practice.
"It's a problem that a lot of the players have when they're on their feet for hours during a game and they're getting sort of this compression and swelling in their lower limbs," Bedgear vice president of strategy Shana Rocheleau said. "They just kind of hodgepodge things together today to put their feet up and try to get the blood flowing."
Coach Jay Gruden said players choose how much of the recovery techniques they want to get involved with, and that varies throughout the roster. He has tried out the recovery room devices himself, thinks they're pretty cool and most importantly believes they'll make a difference on the injury front.
"Give these guys just another way to help them recover," Gruden said. "The players, even if it gives them a mental state of mind where, 'Hey, I feel pretty good,' then let's give them every avenue to feel that way."


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Globair was established in 1995 in Prague and has a long history of representing different partners in travel industry. With 2 offices (Prague and Warsaw) we cover 4 countires - Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Today we represent 1 partner in Hungary - Hertz International. All sales and marketing activities as well as support for travel agencies and final customers we cover from our head office in Prague.
We offer our services to travel agencies and final customers who can reach us via email, phone or personally with any request regarding the partners we represent. If you have any enquiries, for example you would like to purchase a flight ticket, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our multilingual staff will be happy to accommodate your request.
You can learn more about the products and services our partners offer together with our contact details in dedicated sections.
Learn more about services Globair provides in our International section.


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Mint Green Floral Printed Necktie
Tax included.
This Mint Green Floral Necktie is a must-have accessory that will add a touch of elegance and style to your wardrobe. Its subtle yet stylish design and high-quality construction make it a versatile accessory that you'll wear for years to come.
- Item : Necktie
- Quality : Printed Microfiber
- Base Color : Green
- Width : 8cm
- Length : 140-148cm ( standard )
- Pattern : Florals
At tossido, we strive for accuracy and transparency in our product offerings. We utilize professional equipment to capture high-resolution images of each brand's products, ensuring clarity in design, pattern, color, and style.
Notwithstanding our best efforts to provide precise representations of each product's color and design, actual colors and designs may vary slightly due to several factors such as device screen settings, device resolution, and photography location lighting. Consequently, we urge our customers to be mindful of these slight variations and not hold us responsible for any discrepancies between the website's images and the actual product received.
Dear valued customer,
Thank you for shopping at www.tossido.in. We appreciate your business and are committed to providing you with quality products and excellent customer service.
We understand that you may not be entirely satisfied with your purchase. Therefore, we have put in place a Returns & Refunds policy to ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase.
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You have 7 calendar days from the date the order is delivered to return an item. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must be in the original packaging, with all tags and labels intact. You must also provide proof of purchase, such as an invoice or delivery note.
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On June 7, 2005, my 14-year old son, Michael, was the victim of what is referred to as a near- drowning on
Okaloosa Island, near the Four Points Sheraton, in Fort Walton Beach, FL. He had stopped breathing and
was in cardiac arrest. Thanks to the heroic efforts of Deputy Jeff Morgan of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's
Department, Michael was resuscitated. He was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola via Lifeflight. He
was placed on a ventilator and emergency personnel at the hospital rushed to save his life. A routine blood
sample was taken to check for drugs or alcohol. His blood alcohol reading came back at 0.32. 0.32 is
unconscious, 0.5 is dead.
He was left with brain damage. He cannot walk or talk. He is fed through a feeding tube surgically implanted
in his stomach. He cannot do anything on his own. He is unaware of his surroundings. His body is
deteriorating daily because he is bedridden.
Furnishing alcohol to minors is a misdemeanor in the State of Florida. Look at the pictures then tell me this
is a misdemeanor. Better yet, come over to my house and spend the week with us. Talk to him, knowing that
he won't answer. Ask him to do something, knowing that he can't. Give him formula through his feeding
tube. Change his diaper. Put on his leg and arm braces that combat atrophy. Load him into his wheelchair.
He grew up in this house and now he does not even know that he is home. Watch my whole world lie in that
bed wasting away. Watch me die a little more each day.
Three employees of the were arrested for their part in this; two 16 year olds and one 19 year old bartender,
all employees of the Four Points Sheraton. Yeah, you can tend bar in the State of Florida at the age of 18.
I will be updating this site daily with Michael's condition if you care to check back.
Thank you so much for you words of kindness, prayers and emails. We are deeply touched.
Michael and Dave


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10 Apps to Help Keep You Safe for Hurricane Season
The beginning of June brings warm weather, new flowers and less joyfully, the start of hurricane season.
The good news is that unlike a lot of other national disasters, we know about hurricanes before they hit. This means we usually have some time to prepare and make sure that we're ready to weather the storm. Unlike joining the mobs clearing out bottled water at the local grocery store, some preparations can be done from the comfort of your home, using nothing more than your phone. Below are 10 apps that you can download to make sure this hurricane season doesn't blow.
Make sure you're ready for any possible disaster with this app from Fema. It includes emergency checklists, safety tips and a map of FEMA disaster recovery locations so you can make sure you have a good plan in case of a storm.
Download for Free: Android
iHurricane HD
This free app allows you to track multiple hurricanes on an interactive map and its geolocation ability will update you on how many miles you are from a storm at any given moment. It also gives you access to satellite maps and even provides you with historical information on past storms in the region.
NOAA Now
According to the local news, every upcoming storm is the next "big one." Get the straight information without the ratings grab right from the source. This app from the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration provides you with no frills updates and satellite information on the latest storms.
Flashlight by Rik
When the storm hits, don't be caught in the dark! When the power goes out, it can be a lot easier to remember where your phone is than where you stored the candles. With a flashlight app at your fingertips, you can use your phone to guide your way and make sure you move about safely in the darkness.
Download for Free: iPhone
It's scary enough when storms hit on land — if you're at sea it can be a matter of life and death. The SeaStorm app tracks storms and also provides the mariner with marine maps, sea surface temperatures and wave height analysis to make sure you're in for smooth sailing.
Download for $1.99: Android
Need to stock up on supplies? Get some gas? Make a last minute trip to the pharmacy to update your first aid kit? The Poynt app will let you know where the closest needed business is and the turn by turn directions will make sure you get there easily.
Download for Free: Android
Storm Shield
This app tracks where you are and where the storms are. If there is an emergency alert for your area, the Storm Shield app will send voice and push notifications to make sure you're updated. The app will even wake you up in the middle of the night to make sure you're aware of any potentially dangerous situations.
Download for $4.99: iPhone iPod Touch iPad
Shelter View
In the worst case scenario, it can ease your mind to know where the nearest help is. Red Cross operates this app which locates the nearest open shelter and will tell you the capacity of the center, the current population and the exact location and address so you can quickly and easily find a safe place.
Download for Free: iPhone iPod Touch iPad
ICE Emergency Contact
Hurricanes can create dangerous situations, with potential for power outages, broken glass and other unforeseen hazards. The ICE app stores all of your medical information and puts your emergency contacts at the touch of a single button. It also has GPS and can alert rescue workers and contacts where you are should you need help.
Download for Free: Android
Battery Boost Magic App
With all of the ways your phone can help you during a storm emergency, you might struggle not to drain the battery. This app helps you manage your usage and gives you tips to conserve the battery life so that when you really need your phone, it's charged and ready to go.


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Duke Deuce Drops Killer Single 'MURDER' Out Now [WATCH NOW]
New Music: QFRMBRICKS Releases 'WICKED'
Multi-Billboard Charting Music Producer KashFlow is Featured on MoneyBagg Yo and Big 30 & Nless Compilation Album 'We Connected' [LISTEN NOW]
K Camp Releases New Music Post Vocal Surgery
Tahjere Uncovers an Array of Emotions On New EP 'Twin Flame'
We Grown Now Film Starring Jurnee Smollet, Lil Rel Howery and More Are Featured At Pan African Film Festival [MORE DETAILS INSIDE]
Morehouse Alum Javarius Opened Luxury Atlanta Restaurant Dining Experience
Nicki Minaj Announces 'Pink Friday 2 World Tour' Dates
Cardi B Confirms Breakup with Offset: Embracing a New Start in 2024
Grammy-Nominated Artist and Songwriter Playy Drops New Single and Video "Gold On My Lip (G.O.M.L.)" [WATCH]
450 Releases His Latest Offering, "Wild N Rich"
Ryah Unleashes Electrifying Vibes with New Single "Shake"
Scar Lip Releases New Single and Performance "Blick" [WATCH]
Torica Shows Off Her Chops in New "Dance With Me" Visual
Drake's 'Views' Turns 7; Is It A Classic Album?
Review: Steve Lacy Invokes The Spirit Of Prince And El Debarge With Magical Album 'Gemini Rights'
Album Review: "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" – Kendrick Lamar
Album Review: Pusha T – 'It's Almost Dry'
Album Review: Syd – 'Broken Hearts Club'
Today, breakout Pontiac, MI rapper DDG releases his eagerly awaited new album, It's Not Me It's You. An unfiltered rumination on relationship and newfound success, the...


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Ed. Note: In late July, we contacted two APS members in Lebanon, Bassem Sabra of Notre Dame University-Louaize and Ghanem Oweis of the American University of Beirut, as well as Eitan Ehrenfreund of the Technion in Haifa, Israel. We asked for news of the impact of the crisis on them personally and on their physics communities. Their responses, written on July 27 and 28 and slightly edited, follow. APS News plans a lengthier feature on this subject in our October issue.
Bassem Sabra: "Your email is very heartening after a long, troubled night of air raids. The humanitarian situation is grim indeed…Needless to say this is taking its toll on the physics community. Many graduating physics students who were getting ready to go abroad for graduate studies are now stuck here. Mail services are down so they are not able to get their papers ready in time and getting out of Lebanon is not that easy given that the roads with Syria are bombed regularly. Summer sessions at universities are on hold.
"I had this whole summer planned out for research and public outreach. The astronomy club at my university, together with the Lebanese Astronomy Group and the Arab Astronomical Union were organizing the first Arab amateur astronomy meeting in late August. We had a full program of lectures and hands-on workshops on practical astronomy. Five speakers from the US, e.g. Alan Hale (co-discoverer of comet Hale-Bopp) and Europe were expected. Participants from all the Arab world were planning to attend (over 100 persons). The convent where we were going to house the participants has been badly damaged. We cancelled the whole event and are planning to host it next summer (the phoenix will rise again).
"I have two students working with me on studying the correlations between host galaxy properties, dark matter halo, and the central supermassive blackhole. This project has screeched to a halt since one of the students is stuck in the South, the other is in the sea city of Byblos, and I am stuck in the Bekaa. The roads are dangerous. My university in Mount Lebanon is closed. My home in Beirut is dangerous to live in. There is no place for us to meet to discuss the project. We are cut off from the resources that we need. I cannot go to my office to continue with the other projects. I am trying to work on yet another project on my laptop computer but, due to the situation, my efficiency is at a record low….One of my colleagues whom I was collaborating with on a proposal to the Lebanese CNRS spent two days looking for milk for his children. Many were planning to travel abroad to carry out experiments at the labs outside Lebanon or were getting ready to have international colleagues come to there labs. Due to the heavy teaching load during the fall and spring, we all look forward for the summer to get some work done. All these research efforts have been torpedoed."
Ghanem Oweis: "I was in Beirut, Lebanon during the first three days of the crisis, and managed to evacuate through the embassy of Jordan, of which I am a citizen, to the safety of the capital Amman, where I am well and spending time with my family… I moved to the American University of Beirut in February of this year as an assistant professor where I've been teaching and working on establishing a laboratory for experimental fluid mechanics. Things have been going well with my new life, up until the crisis erupted. It was very sudden and without any warnings, and within 12 hours the situation changed from well to hell. My concerns and thoughts shifted from getting my lab up and running and finishing up manuscripts, to trying to stay alive…I was working on my PhD at Michigan on September 11th 2001; the nerve wracking confusion and uncertainty was déjà-vu this time but it is something you'd hope never to go through again."
Eitan Ehrenfreund: "Technion was closed for a week (16-22/7/06); it is now formally 'back to routine'. Many employees do not show up, but prefer to stay at home with their children, who of course do not have any summer camps or other activities. There are no exams (July was the exam period); all exams are postponed, as of now, to September. There will be no summer semester. Administratively, Technion is
"So far, it has not been hit by a missile or rocket, but one of the missiles fell some 400 m from Technion fence. Of course, we are all worried and pray for the safety of our soldiers in Lebanon and the safety of Israeli citizens under the missile threat."
APS encourages the redistribution of the materials included in this newspaper provided that attribution to the source is noted and the materials are not truncated or changed.


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Sue Grafton was born 24 April 1940 and died 28 December 2017.
10 Sue Grafton Quotes
- Thinking is hard work, which is why you don't see many people doing it.
- I started writing seriously when I was 18, wrote my first novel when I was 22, and I've never stopped writing since. Of the first seven novels I wrote, numbers four and five were published. Numbers one, two, three, six, and seven, have never seen the light of day…and rightly so. The eighth novel I wrote was A IS FOR ALIBI.
- We all need to look into the dark side of our nature – that's where the energy is, the passion. People are afraid of that because it holds pieces of us we're busy denying.
- I focus on the writing and let the rest of the process take care of itself. I've learned to trust my own instincts and I've also learned to take risks.
- Ideas are easy. It's the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.
- I think with the mystery novel you have to know where you're going, but not in any great detailed sense. I generally know whodunit, who died, and what the motive for the crime was. Then I have to figure out what I call the angle of attack. In other words, how do you cut into the story? Where does the story begin? What's relevant in that first line or paragraph from the reader's point of view? And I have to figure out who hires Kinsey Millhone, and what she's hired to do.
- I write letters to my right brain all the time. They're just little notes. And right brain, who likes to get little notes from me, will often come through within a day or two.
- I'm usually at my desk by 8:30 or 9:00. I like a tidy office because I find messes distracting. Being disorganised wastes time. I keep journals for every novel I write, and I start my workday by logging in, talking to myself about where I am in a novel and how I feel. I focus on the scene or story moves coming up. I worry about pacing and suspense. I revise. I stop sometimes and consult my research library, which is packed with books about crime and law enforcement. If I'm stuck, I call on the small army of experts who assist with each book. I break for a brief lunch and then work another couple of hours. Most days, I walk three to five miles when I've finished writing. I need the stress relief and fresh air.
- I'm a writer by default. I think it is in my blood and in my bones. As I was growing up, women could be secretaries, nurses, ballerinas or airline stewardesses and I'm squeamish so there went my nursing career. I [started] writing early in my life as a way of surviving and my way of processing rage, grief and confusion. Now it is just what I do because I love it.
- For one thing the mystery novel is a very elegant, delicate, highly structured form. You need to know how to plot, how to structure a story, you need to understand how to make a character work. People who start writing and think they can start with the mystery novel are often defeated before they put that first word on the page. So my advice is to learn your craft with mainstream fiction, where you're not as stringently challenged and then come to the mystery when you've acquired some of the proficiencies that you need.
Sue Grafton was an American crime writer. She is best known as the author of the 'alphabet series', starting with "A" is for Alibi. The books feature private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. Grafton was the daughter of detective novelist C. W. Grafton. She wrote screenplays for television movies before she became a novelist.
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I remember a time, not so long ago, when I actually looked forward to movie trailers. Getting the chance to see what certain performers and directors had coming up next; witnessing the artfulness of the preview itself, which has to build anticipation with three minutes of footage; experiencing that happy rush when an entire audience simultaneously reacts to a trailer with a feeling of "I can't wait to see that"? I ate it all up.
And there are still a few that manage to do their jobs terrifically well. Tthe current previews for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Pearl Harbor look appropriately grand and stirring (the Pearl Harbor trailer is just about perfect, in a shameless Titanic-y way, until the words "from Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay" appear ... an omen of bum jokes, sticky romance, and witless plotting to come), and for my money, all you need are a few seconds of Morgan Freeman speaking with his astonishing blend of authority and compassion to be somewhat stoked about the Kiss the Girls follow-up Along Came a Spider.
But it appears that more and more trailers are forgoing mystique and subtlety for the chance to either give away every element in the plot ? romantic comedies, like What Women Want and The Wedding Planner, are especially guilty of this or lead you to expect something you're not going to get, like the pratfall-filled trailer for the quietly humane comedy Keeping the Faith, or the wacky-crooks-in-polyester preview for the new 3000 Miles to Graceland. This particular trailer would have you anticipating a rollicking, farcical robbery flick; what you actually get is what might result if Peckinpah directed Blue Hawaii. Yes, it concerns a group of cons who plan a big-time casino heist during an Elvis convention, and yes, it allows Kurt Russell to, all too briefly, encore his justly celebrated impersonation from the 1979 tele-movie Elvis. But the movie itself is frenetically violent and lazily plotted; it tries for the pumped-up trickiness that screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie brought to The Usual Suspects and The Way of the Gun, but fails on almost every level. And director Damien Lichtenstein aims for John Woo-style slo-mo staging, but seems to have no gift for it (and his attempts at comic violence are merely sickly). The movie descends into just one ultra-loud, generic shooting spree after another; at the screening I saw, I felt pity for the elderly couple who left halfway through, saying "I didn't expect that."
It's bad enough that the movie is a bummer, and that it wastes the talents of the leads and a crew that includes Christian Slater, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Kevin Pollak, and Thomas Haden Church; if you've seen the film's previews, you'll realize that they were intentionally deceptive about Graceland's tone, and that can really anger you. (And yes, I do realize that harping on a film because of what it's trailers indicate is unfair, but with or without previews, 3000 Miles to Graceland would still suck.) That's part of the reason many of us seek out smaller, specialty films on video and DVD; I think it's safe to say that almost all movies benefit from not having their previews shoved down your throat. So, in lieu of anything good opening at the cineplex in the past few weeks, and particularly if you haven't yet caught Traffic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, or O Brother, Where Art Thou? (and shame-shame if you haven't yet), here are three recent video releases that deserve your attention:
The Virgin Suicides: Sofia Coppola was a national joke when she appeared in her dad's The Godfather Part III in 1990, but her abilities might have just been misapplied ? on the basis of this debut feature, she may be a helluva director. Bringing Jeffrey Eugenides' beloved novel about the deaths of five sisters in the mid-1970s to the screen, Coppola displays a keen gift for romanticism and dread. Through impeccable staging and beautiful imagery, she creates a whole, hazy world where nothing is easily explained, least of all the suicides of the title, and everything is mysterious and oddly erotic: it's the cinematic equivalent of falling in love for the first time, and being terrified of it. James Woods and Kathleen Turner are brilliantly cast against type, playing the girls' ineffectual father and subtly domineering mother, and as the most confused daughter, the radiant Kirsten Dunst is a revelation as the very epitome of teen sensuality. She fills her role with curiosity, confidence, and heartbreak; it's a thrilling performance. It's sometimes a tough film to endure because you really don't want the inevitable to occur. But it's a rich, exhilirating, and, in the end, emotionally devastating piece of work. Brava, Ms. Coppola.
Saving Grace: Shame on me for missing this lovely little oddball when it made a brief appearance on area screens last fall. Brenda Blethyn plays a recent widow who resorts to growing and selling pot to save her estate, with her estate's caretaker (Craig Ferguson, who co-wrote the script) taking care of the business end until Blethyn's character takes over that, too. What could easily have been a one-joke affair becomes a real kick through sheer charm, detail, and the inspired interplay between the leads ? Ferguson has a delightfully naturalistic deadpan, and Blethyn tones down her usual boisterousness (she was wonderful in Secrets and Lies, but has become increasingly mannered in works such as Little Voice and RKO 281) and comes through with a shaded, touching, and highly comic portrayal. The finale disappoints and the visuals are barely adequate, yet it retains a sweet sensibility and oozes likability; it's the perfect curl-up-on-the-couch-with-a-movie movie.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye: A documentary about the notorious religious personality, and as entertainingly over-the-top, silly, and sincere as the woman herself. You know you're not in for the usual docu-drama when the narrator is RuPaul and the film's individual segments are introduced by hand puppets. Though the film details Tammy Faye's numerous trials and tribulations, they're held in check by the cheekiness of the presentation, and what's incredible is that the film never comes across as mean-spirited or judgmental. Lord knows Tammy Faye has had a rough time, particularly in the press, over the last two decades. But filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato walk such a fine line between the grotesque and the good-natured that you feel neither abject pity nor mockery for their subject, and when Tammy Faye makes a late-career comeback toward the film's end, you might find yourself fighting back a tear or two. Supremely enjoyable throughout, The Eyes of Tammy Faye is worth catching even if you have little interest in the woman herself. Maybe especially if you have little interest.


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Extremely rare Apple Macintosh 128K with 'Twiggy Drive' listed for $100K on eBay
The seller is advertising the device as the "world's oldest known complete Mac." Still in working order, the starting price on the auction is a whopping $99,995, with more than five days remaining to bid.
The Macintosh 128K was originally set to have a Twiggy floppy disk drive â a disk format developed by Apple during the creation of the Lisa. The disks, known as "FileWare," were similar to a standard 5.25-inch disk, but also had write windows on the top, and a label that ran down the side.
Though early prototypes of the Macintosh included Twiggy disks, they were eventually removed. Instead, Apple chose to go with the 3.5-inch floppy disk created by Sony, as Twiggy drives proved to be unreliable.
"To date, only bits and pieces of the original 'Twiggy Drive' Macintosh have ever surfaced... A motherboard here, a plastic case there, but never a complete machine or example," the eBay seller wrote. "This is the only one! The computer and keyboard are authentic and original, dated 1982-83. The computer and its keyboard were acquired together and complete, and have not been pieced together from miscellaneous parts."
The seller said that the Macintosh 128K powers on, chimes, and then prompts the user to insert a boot disk. A Lisa-formatted Twiggy disk does not boot the computer. Without a Macintosh Twiggy disk, the computer will not boot.
The eBay seller goes by the handle "wozniac," but noted they are not Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple. The seller said they live in Canada and have had the same eBay ID since 2007.
As of Thursday afternoon, there have not been any bids on the rare Macintosh 128K. Pictures of the device are included below, and more can be seen at the official eBay listing.


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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Indonesian mother of three had flown without her kids before, but this was the first time she gave her eldest a to-do list in case something happened on the flight she and her husband were taking.
"I never worried like this before what happened with the missing Malaysia Airlines plane," Yulveri, who like many Indonesians uses only a single name, said at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
At airports across Asia and around the world, Flight 370 and its 239 passengers and crew, now lost for more than a month, are topics of avid speculation and sometimes anxiety. Passengers typically remain confident about the safety of air travel, but some are distressed by the disappearance, which — given the number of people involved — is unprecedented in aviation industry.
"The mystery over the missing plane had created many confusing, even terrifying, theories every day," Yulveri said. "And the black-box must be found whenever and however, or it will become a black hole in the aviation world."
Before she and her husband, an air force officer, left for a week-long tour of Japan's Hokkaido island, she talked to her 15-year-old daughter and asked her to take care of her younger siblings.
"What are you talking about, Mom?" Yulveri quoted her daughter as saying. "You will come home. We all will be fine."
Here's what air travelers across Asia said Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when they were asked, "One month later, how does the Flight 370 mystery affect your attitude toward flying?"
Yue Caifei, 65, a retired engineer from Tianjin, China, waiting at Beijing Capital Airport to set off on a 15-day group tour of the U.S.:
"I'm not afraid at all. Flying is generally really safe and accidents are really, really rare. What's the point of being afraid? We're living a good life, our children are grown and it's time for us to enjoy life. I'm going off to Hawaii and San Francisco and when I get back let's go get a drink."
Jin Bijian, 34, a website-television multimedia producer headed from Beijing to Hong Kong to accompany a friend on a shopping trip:
"I'm really scared. I've always been a nervous flier and this only makes things worse. We have to find out what happened to the plane. We need to know what the risks are. Otherwise, it feels like anything can go wrong and we just don't know."
Greg Corbishley, 49, who was heading home to London from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport after a business trip to Thailand and Cambodia:
"Flying is still probably the safest means of transport. And until we find the plane and find out what happened, I think that stays the case."
Sinead Boylan, 26, of Liverpool, England, flying from Bangkok to Australia after backpacking across Asia:
"It's scarier than it was. I'm a little more cautious, a little more worried, I'd say."
Kim Hyun-shik, 56, a retired banker traveling out of Seoul's Incheon International Airport for a 10-day trip to Turkey with his wife:
"It makes me a little nervous. … It's amazing to think that people have disappeared, just like that. Science has developed so much, yet we can't do a basic search of a jet. As time goes by, it will be like trying to find a needle in a river."
Skander Aissa, who works in the finance industry in Connecticut, at the airport train in Hong Kong. He and his wife were traveling to Taiwan after visiting a friend:
"No fear. You take a risk when you take the plane all the time, anyway. It doesn't matter if you're flying now or tomorrow. It is what it is."
Jacques Niclair, a 65-year-old Mauritius businessman who arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka:
"I can tell you that I slept very well on board. It didn't affect me. I was not worried. … As long as we don't know what happened to the plane, we should be supportive of Malaysia Airlines. It is going through a tough time."
Wajihah Abdul Fatah, 19, a Malaysian student headed home on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to her hometown in Sarawak state on Borneo island:
"I am so very afraid that something will happen to my plane like MH370, but I just have to believe in Allah and pray that I will be safe. I have to fly. I have no choice because I miss my family."
Nurul Shuhada Rosnan, 19, was at the Kuala Lumpur airport to see off Wajihah, her friend:
"I have decided not to take any flight for the next two years. How can a plane just disappear like that?"
Joyce Cole, who lives near Perth, Australia, where she was catching a flight to Bali, Indonesia, for a holiday:
"I'm still fine with flying. But when it first happened, you think, 'Oh my goodness.' But you do it that regularly it doesn't bother you. And I think that whoever took that plane, obviously it must have been something to do with terrorism, and you just hope there are no terrorists on our plane."
Jane Barnes, Cole's daughter, who also was traveling to Bali:
"I don't feel any differently. I fly quite often, probably about every 8 to 10 weeks. But even when I do fly that often, I still have quite a few butterflies on the plane. Any little bumps, I'm just, 'Hang on,' and I'm holding my breath. But you just bear it. … I think you can't let these things interfere with your life. If you have plans, and you have holidays to go to, and, what do they say about life, you just keep going with it."
Duang-ramon Paaptanti, 37, a Thai woman who studies at a Japanese university and was leaving Tokyo's Haneda Airport on a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong:
"That was a one-off thing and things like that don't happen very often, but it makes me want to communicate more with my family. You become more cautious. You make sure that you say your goodbyes properly."
Associated Press writers Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nick Perry in Perth, Australia, Christopher Bodeen in Beijing, Todd Pitman in Bangkok, Jung-yoon Choi in Seoul, South Korea, Kelvin Chan in Hong Kong and Yuriko Nagano in Tokyo contributed to this report.


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