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LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA — For the snow enthusiast, the first day of the season is more exciting than Christmas morning. The feeling and sound of snow crunching under your brand-new board or skis as you exit the lift for the first run of the year is incredible.
We haven't quite experienced that joy just yet, but we will tomorrow. A group of us Wired folk have come up here to test a bunch of snow gear — boards, boots, and a few boxes of soft goods — over the next four days. Even though we'll be spending our nights documenting every turn, jump and mishap here on Playbook, it's still the sweetest gig. Hell, most of us would pull overtime shifts on the ski lift if it was possible just to get in a few runs on the white stuff with brand-new gear.
The Wired Winter Camp crew (Or WWCC for those keeping score) loaded up a couple of SUVs with gear Wednesday afternoon. It was raining in San Francisco, and the snow forecast in Lake Tahoe was a bit grim, but after weeks of staring at the piles of gear in the Gadget Lab and counting down the days until we headed up to the Squaw Valley resort, we're ready to ride anything that's white and requires a lift ticket.
The trip was blessed (or possibly cursed) by an event that occurred in the parking lot of the Wired office: the sacrifice of a pigeon by a unidentifiable San Francisco bird of prey. While we were loading up the vehicles, we noticed feathers drifting down from the sky and landing at our feet. We looked up to the roof of the office and saw whatever freaky bird it was — possibly a hawk, maybe a falcon — pushing clumps of feathers off the side of the building. The gently floating detritus resembled a peaceful winter snow fall, just with bits of bloody pigeon meat attached. It was weird and mesmerizing, but mostly a little gross.
One stroke of bad luck (damned bird!) was that Karissa's snowboard bindings hadn't arrived in time for the trip. Karissa is the person on our staff we put in charge of gathering all our review samples, and she wrangled up enough gear outfit 20 skiers and snowboarders. But somehow, a few of the things Karissa wanted to test for herself (she's an expert snowboarder) fell through the cracks. The Flow bindings she called in never showed up. After calling the manufacturer and hounding FedEX, she solved the mystery: the bindings had been sent two-day shipping instead of overnight.
"It's the day we leave, and I have two boards and no bindings," she said. "I must have gone to the mail room five times this morning looking for them. Turns out, there was a shipping snafu and I'm not going to be able to ride my Flows until Saturday."
We left San Francisco — and the grisly episode of CSI: Bird Unit — behind and barreled down Interstate 80. Unfortunately, some of us tend to barrel a little quicker than others.
"Robbie was driving at the front and I was bringing up the rear of the convoy," says product reviews editor Michael Calore. "I'm trying to keep up with him and I'm looking at the speedometer, and the guy's pushing 90, passing all the commuters and leaving everyone in the dust. We had to send a GroupMe message up to the lead car and beg him to lay off the throttle."
We still had to get some bindings for Karissa, or else she was going to be relying on bungee cords to test the boards she called in. So, we started Yelping ski shops in Sacramento, which is a couple of hours into the drive. The divide between skiers and snowboarders is no more more apparent than with shops that cater to only one of our beloved snow sports. Fortunately, our photo editor Ariel was able to find a shop (snowboard only) that carried bindings. Karissa ended up with a pair of Roxy Rockit Roll bindings that just happen to match her electric yellow snow bibs. Win.
With new bindings in our possession, Robbie's speed-racer antics under control and delicious sandwiches in our belly (thanks to Ariel's knowledge of the best places to in Sacramento to shove bread, cheese and meat into our mouths), we rolled on into the Sierras.
By the time we arrived at the resort, there wasn't much snow, but there was a constant drizzle of light rain. I blame the falcon's curse. No matter — the top of Squaw had received a few inches of snow in the past 24 hours, which means tomorrow will be at least OK. And a bad day riding is better than a good day sitting behind a desk wading through tech industry press releases.
Plus, one of the bedrooms in our condo has bunk beds! Who can have a bad time when bunk beds are involved? According to Karissa, this means we're required to turn one of into a fort.
All photos: Ariel Zambelich and Jim Merithew/WiredGo Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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Sheer heaven on a stick! Pure and delicate, this Choc-o-lait chocolate stick with sublime, full of milk chocolate, for a cup of hot chocolate with a sweet touch.
Choc-o-lait, the perfect creation for all those out there who love real hot chocolate, was created in early 2004. As with most great ideas, the concept is simplicity itself: a wooden stick with a block of real Belgian chocolate on the end. Stir for a minute in a mug of hot milk (80°C) and there you have it – the tastiest hot chocolate you could ever wish for.
The world is melting away for Choc-o-lait, the pioneer of chocolate sticks. How about you?

subset: commoncrawl


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Photographic confirmation of special build Audis spotted around the world.
Our contact in Ingolstadt spotted another very interesting car parked in a top executive spot at building A50 on the piazza of the Audi Forum Ingolstadt today. Painted the very eye-catching Glut Orange, the car also features other special details such as ceramic brakes and an Audi Exclusive interior with orange stitching and even orange
Last August we ran a story about an Audi R8 GT painted by Audi Exclusive in Signal Green, photos of which had been posted over at AutoGespot. For those unfamiliar with the hue, Signal Green is almost a basic non-metalic primary green that was a popular color of choice for German cars in the early 70s. B1 Audi 80 (a.k.a. Audi Fox) models were available in the color as was the Porsches of the time and especially the 911 RS.
We met up a few weeks ago with Audi of America R8 product planner Mark Fruechtnicht at the local Neato Burrito. Fruechtnicht was in the area doing a site visit at a local Audi dealership and this gave us an both an excuse to enjoy a great burrito and talk shop about Audi and the R8. The conversation eventually turned to Audi Exclusive and Fruechtnicht admitted that one of his favorite
Europrice has posted a photo on their facebook page of a new car purchased by one of their customers. B5 S4 fans will likely guess the color name immediately - the legendary Nogaro Blue. Word on the street is that this hue is headed back into production very soon and this car reminds us why.
According to the boys at Europrice, this car is due to get a few
There's no doubt about it, Geneva is a pricey town. In a place there's a purveyor of expensive TAG Heuers, Breitlings and Rolex watches on nearly every corner, you can bet that many of the residents sport the necessary coin in order to live hear comfortably. Given the Franc:bank ratio of the town, is it any surprise that Audi chose the Geneva Motor Show to display
Though the stars of the Audi stand at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show were most certainly the new A3, the new RS 4 or the more recently revealed A1 quattro and A6 allroad, this very interesting R8 from Audi Exclusive grabbed our attention from the outset. Set on the corner of the Audi stand, this R8 V10 coupe featured matte paint and some of the most extensively different
Theres an aggressive push for growth at Audi, and while this strategy seems quite obvious when you look at high-demand new models, it can even be measured in smaller corners of the business such as quattro GmbH. Weve learned that, even here at their high performance and custom tailoring division, Audi is pushing for aggressive gains in both performance cars
On first verbal description, the R8 GT with its red-accented badges and brakes might not be the best pairing for green bodywork. The net effect might be assumed to be a bit... well... yuletide. Seeing it in the buff though, it certainly seems to work. We've spotted this one lone British Racing Green R8 GT photograph over on idownshift.com.
We don't know much about this car other
Our buddy Brian McCauley, an Audi brand specialist at Audi North Scottsdale in Arizona, dropped us a note about an Audi R8 GT that's sitting in his showroom. Seems Audi North Scottsdale had an R8 GT allotment that's not spoken for. Even better, the car was ordered through Audi Exclusive in a popular R8 color, but one that wasn't a factory option on the GT.
With Audi R8 GT deliveries now well underway, shots of the cars in the wild are now beginning to surface. The car seems a natural for an Audi Exclusive order where an owner chooses to go beyond the streamlined color options and choose something a bit different. Case in point is a classic 70s color painted on Audis of the period but known more for its placement on that era's Porsches as well as the last generation 911 GT3 RS. 'Signal


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Back in 2005, when EA released Need For Speed: Most Wanted, I was hooked to it. I had a pretty decently powerful PC back then, and loved playing the game at Full HD resolution with all the settings to max. Not only did the game look absolutely fabulous, it was insanely fun to play as well. I even went ahead and got an Xbox 360 controller for PC so that I could enjoy playing the game more.
After Most Wanted, the next racing game that I got hooked to was Burnout Revenge when EA finally released it for PC. I had heard a lot about Burnout on consoles and from my hardcore gamer friends that how much better the series is compared to NFS.
Once I started playing Burnout Revenge, I could not agree less with my friends. The game was really well done, and had more than just 'racing' to it. In between, I never tried any of the NFS games that were released including Shift, Run and more. They all got horrible reviews, and I really did not want to spoil all the good memories I had of playing NFS: MW in my mind.
So, when EA and Criterion released Need For Speed: Most Wanted again this year, I was more than excited. So, here is my review of Need For Speed: Most Wanted after playing the game for the last couple of weeks.
The Story/Gameplay
In nearly all the racing games, the gamer needs to win races, or earn bonus/XP/points to unlock better and powerful cars. Most Wanted bucks this trend. You can roam around in the city – Fairhaven – aimlessly and find all the cars you want to. It's an open-world out there, and it is up to you to explore it!
The game does have a pretty loose narrative though. Winning races will earn you speed points, which will allow you to challenge the top 10 Most Wanted drivers in the city. These top 10 most wanted racers drive the most desirable cards including many concept cars. Keep in mind that only beating a most wanted driver in a race is not enough to earn his car; you need to takedown his car as well.
Winning races also have another incentive apart from earning speed points, you get to unlock mods for your car, including shorter gears, lighter chassis etc. Every new car that you get is completely stock, so you need to win races to not only earn speed points, but also mods for your car. Every car has five different races allotted to it ranging from easy to hard.
One thing, which Most Wanted absolutely nails, is the handling of the cars. All the cars handle differently at varying speeds, with different mods, at different corners.
The Criterion/Burnout effect in Most Wanted is also clearly visible with billboards that can be smashed, hidden corners/shortcuts. The 'Burnout' effect is definitely there, and I mean it in a positive way.
Most Wanted also has a very different approach to races. There is no starting line here. Instead, players are greeted with a stunning track intro video, which is different for different tracks, before they are put in control of their car right in the middle of the race.
If it is a city based racing game, cops have to be there, and Most Wanted is no exception. There are 6 different heat levels, and according to the heat level, the cops get tougher by bringing in SUVs or by deploying spike stripes. Evading cops in Most Wanted is no easy task. I actually spent more than an hour trying to evade cops once, before giving up. You can evade cops by either aiming for the horizon and flat-out outpacing them or by taking some quick corners and hiding somewhere underground.
The Good
The open-world, the graphics, the ability to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo right from the start without the need to win a race, the Burnout effect, the EasyDrive navigation system to select mods or races for your car are easily the strengths of the game. The tracks of the game are really well executed as well. They are not only limited to the city roads but include a bit of off-roading and hidden shortcuts as well.
The attention-to-detail in Most Wanted is amazing as well — watching the debris flying from another car and then sending it into oblivion by knocking it with your car — all while driving your car at insane speeds. Each and every car in Most Wanted has been given the treatment they deserve, right from the Ford Focus ST to the Lamborghini Countach.
Don't expect to win races easily in Most Wanted. The competing cars can sometimes be clearly much more faster than you, and if you miss those barely visible shortcuts, there is a fat chance of you winning the game. In some races, you will be on your toes and will have to make full use of the nitrous boost to rank among the top 3. You may win the 'Easy' races on stock cars, but beyond that, if you are not gonna modify your car, the chances of you winning are going to get extremely slim.
The Bad
As much as I like Most Wanted, I am not hooked to it. Blame my lack of gaming experience or the game itself, but there are no indicators or barriers in the racetracks so as to prevent the player from going off-road. Imagine driving an Aston Marin at nearly 200MPH on a flat road in a race, which you are leading, only to realize that you missed a turn. While there is an on-screen map that highlights the racing path, it is simply not possible to take your eyes off the road when you are driving at such high speeds. Do so, and you end up crashing your car.
The baffling part? There are actually virtual barriers present in certain points in some tracks. Why not everywhere? Or a virtual indicator like in Forza? I am fine with a game being very tough to play, but the lack of any kind of indicator makes me absolutely want smash my console or TV out of frustration. Nothing can be more frustrating that losing a race because you took a wrong turn.
This is perhaps the sole reason why I won't recommend Most Wanted to anyone. The game does have some other oddities as well. If cops chasing you take you down, you will not be busted. Instead, the game resumes from the same place where you crashed. You can wreck you car into pieces, but it will not affect the performance of the car.
If you are a racing game freak, you are going to love Most Wanted. Nearly every aspect of the game has been executed very well, and the several oddities in the game are nothing too much to be bothered about. However, if you are new to racing games or a casual gamer, I will recommend you to not to spend your money on Most Wanted. 'The Bad' part of my review clearly sums up my lone frustration with the game and why I won't play the game and recommend it to anyone.
P.S. – What's up with the need for an Origin account? Is not an Xbox Live Account enough? I really don't see the point of creating any kind of accounts for Xbox games, especially when I am already paying for an Xbox Live account.


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Cyclones win battle of near-no-hitters
The Mets prospect retired his first 23 batters before allowing a hit as the short-season Cyclones scratched out a run in the ninth inning and defeated Vermont, 1-0.
Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2008, Robles struck out seven before a crowd of 7,175 at MCU Park. The 21-year-old right-hander was perfect until Daniel Robertson singled with two outs in the eighth. Unfazed, Robles got Wilfredo Solano to ground out to end the inning and his outing.
"The question would be what wasn't working for him tonight," Cyclones pitching coach Marc Valdes said. "He was focused pitch from pitch. He was in the 92-94 [mph] range and the fastball tails a little. He's got a sharp little slider and [he'll throw] his changeup whenever he's behind in the count."
Robles did not figure in the decision because three Lake Monsters combined to take a no-hitter to the bottom of the ninth. It created a situation in which Robles thrives, Valdes said.
"He seems to step it up when he has a good crowd," said Valdes, a former big league right-hander. "When his back is to the wall, he seems to step it up a notch. There have been times when we've needed him to give us a quality start, and he has."
The native of the Dominican Republic did not walk a batter against a lineup that included a pair of first-round Draft picks in Robertson and Addison Russell.
"I haven't seen a guy do deep into the eighth and dominate a lineup like that," Valdes said. "He had to mix his pitches and keep them off-balance, and he did that."
Robles was selected to pitch in next week's New York-Penn League All-Star game after compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.48 ERA that ranks third in the circuit.
Tyler Vanderheiden (2-0) earned the win after allowing one hit in the ninth.
The Cyclones broke up the Lake Monsters' no-hitter when Dimas Ponce opened the ninth with a single off Omar Duran (0-1). Ryan Dull took over and uncorked a wild pitch, then gave up a walk-off single to Phillip Evans.
Vermont starter Kris Hall walked one and struck one over three innings and Seth Streich fanned five and issued a pair of walks over the next three frames.
Robert Emrich is a contributor to MLB.com.


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Report: Obama health law a good deal for states
(AP)—A new report says states can receive more than $9 in federal money for every dollar they spend to cover low-income residents under President Barack Obama's health care law.
Expanding Medicaid to cover about 20 million more low-income people will cost a total of more than $1 trillion from 2013 to 2022, the report estimates. But states will pay just $76 billion of that, or roughly 7 percent of the cost.
Two nonpartisan groups, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Urban Institute, collaborated on the new analysis.
It also found that a few states might actually spend less than they do now.
The Supreme Court allowed states to opt out of the health care law's Medicaid expansion, an issue that will be hotly debated when state legislatures meet next year.
Explore further
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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EDMONTON - While Rogers Place arena has been scrutinized from the start, information about the area surrounding the new home of the Edmonton Oilers has been murky.
On Thursday, Daryl Katz, team owner and co-developer of the Edmonton Arena District (EAD) made a rare appearance before journalists to reveal new details about a $2.5-billion mega-development that will transform four million square feet (including the arena) of downtown parking lots and one-storey building sites into what he calls the largest mixed-use sports and entertainment project in Canada.
"There's nothing like this district anywhere in Canada," said Katz, chairman of the Katz Group which has partnered with WAM Development Group.
"Arguably, there's nothing like this district anywhere in North America."
Planning for the district began at the same time as design work started on the arena, with help from consulting company Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).
AEG previously helped turn a rough Los Angeles neighbourhood into L.A. Live, a glitzy arena district filled with restaurants, entertainment venues, and a hotel and condo complex.
Katz said Edmonton's arena district has already one-upped its Los Angeles counterpart with a little more than $1 billion in projects already under construction and another $1.5-billion worth to start in the next six months.
"We are building more in Phase 1 in Edmonton than they have built to date after 12 or 15 years at L.A. Live," Katz said.
"We have a world-class sports and entertainment district under construction now in the city and nobody really knows about it."
Darren Durstling, CEO of WAM, said, "It's been the quietest $2-billion development of all time."
The EAD will be built over two phases. The first stage is already underway and its 2.6 million square feet of development around the arena is slated for completion in 2019.
This week, the EAD joint venture announced a 62-storey office and residential tower and future Stantec headquarters will be built on the southeast corner of the parking lot at 102nd Street and 103rd Avenue by 2018.
Construction has begun on a 27-storey office block to house City of Edmonton employees at the site of the former Staples store, at 101st Street and 104th Avenue. It's expected to open in September 2016.
Durstling said an upscale hotel and luxury residential tower will be built just north of the Stantec tower and across 104th Avenue from Rogers Place. It is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2017. The developers are in discussions with an unidentified hotel group.
"The last (downtown) hotel was built in 1978," Durstling said. "Edmonton's looking for quality and it's time to move up."
A 55,000-60,000-square- foot casino is slated to go in a building just east of the arena that will also house Oilers and Katz Group offices and a practice rink.
To the west, on the site of the existing Greyhound bus depot, a retail podium will be completed in the first quarter of 2019 with a residential tower opening a few months later.
Durstling said the podium will house entertainment and lifestyle retailers such as a movie theatre, fitness gym, grocery, pharmacy, bank and restaurants.
A 50,000-square-foot public plaza filled with programmed activities and events will be framed by the arena, Stantec tower and the former Greyhound site.
East of the arena, on the high-profile corner of 101st Street and 104th Avenue, plans are still being developed for a "trophy" development.
PHOTO: Plans unveiled for the Edmonton Development District. Click on the circles to see plans for buildings.
A network of plus-15 pedways will connect new and existing buildings while a 2,200-car parking garage will go under the block. The arena will feature 350 underground stalls.
"None of this means anything if people don't come down and want to live here so we want to have the amenities, the entertainment, the office buildings that attract people during the day, the services from retail to personal services," said Katz.
"We want to get all that in place so that we can build residential units of one kind or another that will bring people to live downtown."
Katz said the project is powered by the vast potential of northern Alberta's robust resource-based economy and soaring population growth. "By 2041, we'll have six-and-a-quarter to six-and-a-half million people — two-thirds in northern Alberta. That's our market."
Phase 2 of the district will be developed on what is now eight acres north of the arena.
Katz said there is high demand from tenants and buyers for the district's commercial and residential components.
"We've answered that question by leasing already a million square feet of office," Katz said, adding that 5,500 Stantec and city employees will be on site every work day.
"(The offices) bring the people down to the mixed-use district and then we bring the services and the retail and the whole point behind all of this is to build a development that people want to live in. If this development doesn't bring people downtown to live, we've failed."
The City of Edmonton tower is 75 per cent leased, Stantec 80 per cent leased and 60-70 per cent of the 200,000 square feet of retail space is already spoken for.
"We're demanding a high rent, we're looking for higher rents than you'll probably see in the rest of the city, but we're getting them," Durstling said.
"You're going to see well in excess of four million people a year through the plaza in foot traffic. … What we can offer the retailers is very unique."
Katz said when he bought the Oilers in 2008, he decided to use the need for a new arena to develop "something special" for downtown Edmonton.
"This is what makes me tick," Katz said. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something special for everybody."


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Dirty Mauve with Rosy Undertones COVERAGE: Medium TEXTURE: Addictive creamy texture FINISH: Demi-shine finish
Item# UKmastergnlipstick
GEN NUDE™ Radiant Lipstick
20% off sitewide. CODE: FF20
Nude lipstick glides on like butter, provides medium buildable lip coverage with a rich creamy texture and radiant shine. Read more
Size: 3.5 g / 0.12 oz.
Additional Information
What it is:
Gen Nude™ Radiant Lipstick is addictively creamy colour with medium coverage and balmy shine in a range of flattering nude lip colours for all skin tones. Formulated with natural oils and butters to moisturise, smooth and condition your lips. Subtle vanilla scent. Gen Nude™ Radiant Lipstick was developed to complement all skin tones and lip tones, to be a playground of nude lipstick shades for everyone, from makeup novice to artist. It's modern lip-perfecting formula glides on like butter and provides medium buildable coverage with a rich, creamy texture and radiant shine. Blend and layer colours and finishes for infinite ways to go nude. This product is gluten-free and was not tested on animals.
What's inside:
Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Triisostearyl Citrate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax (Candelilla Cera /Cire De Candelilla), Ozokerite, Polyethylene, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Flavor (Aroma), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Silybum Marianum Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Algae Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Meadowfoam Estolide, Smithsonite Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Ethylhexylglycerin. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140).


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Patients in some European countries with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease may soon have a cheaper treatment option, following today's statement from the European Medicines Agency recommending approval of two monoclonal antibody biosimilars to infliximab (Remicade).
The two agents, Remsima and Inflectra, have been shown to be equivalent to infliximab in safety and efficacy, and should be granted marketing approval by the European Commission, the statement noted.
Monoclonal antibodies and other biologic agents have revolutionized the treatment of autoimmune diseases, but carry a high price tag.
The manufacturer of Remsima, Celltrion, has said that its biosimilar will cost 30% less than the brand name version.
The biosimilars initially are likely to be marketed in a limited number of countries in Europe because of existing patent protection on Remicade, which extends until February 2015 in many countries and until 2018 in the U.S.
Infliximab and the biosimilars all target tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a cytokine central to the inflammatory response in these diseases.
Recently, a phase III study of the Celltrion biosimilar found that in more than 600 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement (ACR20) responses were seen in 60.9% of patients receiving the biosimilar for 30 weeks and in 58.6% of patients receiving infliximab.
Treatment-related adverse events also were similar, occurring in 35.2% and 35.9% of the biosimilar and infliximab groups, respectively (Ann Rheum Dis 2013; DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203090).
Other biosimilars are available in Europe, such as Nivestim, which is similar to the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor analog filgrastim, and product-specific guidelines for monoclonal antibodies have been established by the medicines agency.
According to the agency, any company seeking approval for a biosimilar must provide evidence that "it does not have any meaningful differences from the reference medicine in terms of its quality, safety, and efficacy."
But some experts have expressed concerns about unforeseen consequences, such as potential therapeutic variations from even slight structural differences. Another area of uncertainty could be the issue of pharmacy substitutions.


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B-3 & Sheepskin Jackets
The B-3 shearling bomber jacket was first issued to the United States Army Air Corps in 1931 and continued into WWII as an invention of necessity. The B-17 and B-24 bombers that were flown over Europe were not climate-controlled, so pilots and aircrew were exposed to extreme cold temperatures as they climbed to high altitudes. The heavy B-3 sheepskin bomber jacket with fleece interior provided much-needed relief and eventually became a fashionable choice as well as functional and organic.
At Cockpit USA, we make sure to maintain the same level of quality and craftsmanship that went into these jackets during WWII. We are proud to supply both the Air Force and civilians with genuine, dependable iconic B-3 sheepskin bomber jackets with the practical modifications made in the late 1970's. Browse our collection of flyboy fashions today and select a B-3 bomber jacket for your next adventure.


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After Schulte Files Suit Over Rent, Landlord Says Law Firms Are 'Taking Advantage' of Pandemic
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Suspect in Canada armored car heist caught
Updated 11:30 PM ET
(AP) EDMONTON, Alberta - The man wanted in a deadly armored car heist at a university in western Canada that left three armed guards dead has been arrested by U.S. border officials in Washington state, police said Saturday.
Edmonton police Supt. Bob Hassel said in a news release that Travis Baumgartner was stopped near a border crossing in Lynden, Washington, southwest of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Officials said Baumgartner was in his pickup truck and was alone.
Police said a sum of money was found in the truck when Baumgartner was arrested. Police had earlier called it a "significant" sum.
Baumgartner, 21, had been on the run since Friday when four armed guards were gunned down, three of them fatally. He faces three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Baumgartner was the fifth member of a G4S Cash Solutions crew that was re-loading bank machines at a University of Alberta mall and residence where the shooting happened, police said. The armored truck was found abandoned but running not far from the security company's offices. Dead at the scene were Michelle Shegelski , 26; Eddie Rejano, 39; and Brian Ilesic, 35.
"We're grateful to the border officials at Lynden, Washington, for their excellent work in arresting a man we believe was armed and extremely dangerous," Hassel said in a statement. Canadian police officials were on their way to the U.S. to bring Baumgartner back to Edmonton.
Police had launched an international manhunt to find Baumgartner.
G4S Cash Solutions spokeswoman Robin Steinberg said the company would conduct its own investigation into the shooting. The company said Baumgartner had only been on the job for three months.
"We applaud the dedication of the Edmonton Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies in apprehending Travis Baumgartner today," Steinberg said in a statement. "Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims and also with the Baumgartner family."
Baumgartner's mother issued a statement Friday pleading for her son to surrender and apologizing for an argument they had.
Such shootings are rare in Canada, where residents are nervous about anything that might indicate they are moving closer to U.S. levels of gun violence. The oil boom town of Fort McMurray, Alberta, however, often has drug-related shootings, and Vancouver often has gang shootings. Gunfire at Toronto's most prominent mall this month left two dead and several injured and a shooting at an Edmonton club in 2006 left three dead.
Police said Baumgartner was driving his Ford F-150 truck with an Alberta license plate when he was arrested.
Steven Munz, a close friend of Baumgartner, had said that Baumgartner had been on the job for only three months and wanted to eventually become a police officer, but said Baumgartner didn't believe he had what it took. Munz said he had noticed a change in his personality in the last year, and that he had been irrational at times.
In a profile on the dating website Plenty of Fish, Baumgartner bills himself as an armored car guard interested in video gaming. A photo shows him shirtless holding a cellphone. He says he has a laid back personality and a "10" physique.
"I'm a great guy. We don't come around often," he writes.
Baumgartner lived with his mother and step-sister in Sherwood Park, a bedroom community just east of Edmonton.


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And I Wonder stands out for comfort. You can choose your shape by specifying size and width. This style is true to size. Suitable for wide feet.
Select the size according to the number you normally use. If you have any doubts about size, please chat with us.
and I wonder has 3 shapes of the same size but with different volumes. It is important that you tell us the volume precept of your foot. It may be Small, Medium or Large


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This almost A list celebrity/singer has spent the entirety of his marriage cheating on his B list mostly movie actress wife so it really isn't surprising she is cheating on him now. What is surprising is the semi-public sucking face she did off in a corner of a screening of her most recent movie.
Robin Thicke, Paula Patton
Movie: "Baggage Claim"
Source: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net


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Charter to bid below $135 a share for TW Cable
NEW YORK >> Cable TV operator Charter Communications wants to buy the much larger Time Warner Cable in a cash-and-stock deal that could be worth up to $38 billion.
The company says it is prepared to bring the offer directly to shareholders after determining there is "no genuine intent" from Time Warner Cable's management to engage in merger talks.
Charter Communications Inc. said Monday that it has made repeated overtures to Time Warner Cable for more than six months. In December, Charter was planning an offer below $135 per share, including $83-per-share in cash. That values Time Warner at up to $38 billion.
In a letter to Time Warner Cable CEO Robert Marcus that was posted online Monday, Charter chief Thomas Rutledge said he "communicated a willingness to submit a revised proposal in the low $130s," including the cash component.
But instead of engaging in discussions, Rutledge wrote that Time Warner "came back with a verbal offer at an unrealistic price expectation."
Time Warner Cable Inc. did not have an immediate comment. Marcus took over as Time Warner Cable's CEO on Jan. 1. He told an investor conference last month that the company's current debt level is "prudent," even as other cable TV companies are reportedly examining adding debt to acquire it. His comments suggested that it would be difficult for Charter to come up with an attractive offer to buy the company.
Consolidation talk has percolated throughout the cable TV world ever since billionaire John Malone's Liberty Media Corp. took a 27 percent stake in Charter for $2.6 billion in May. TV distributors are seen banding together to gain more leverage at the bargaining table against media companies that are driving up fees for their TV networks.
Time Warner Cable, in particular, suffered from a bruising monthlong blackout in a fee dispute with CBS Corp. in August. It lost more than 300,000 video subscribers in the third quarter.
Time Warner Cable's stock closed at $132.40 on Monday and rose 1.6 percent to $134.45 in after-hours trading. Shares have risen 35 percent over the past 12 months.
Charter's shares added 1.7 percent to $136.50 in extended trading. They have gained 71 percent over the past year and closed at $134.22 Monday.


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Creating A List From A Database? Prepare For A Patent Infringement Suit
from the promoting-what-progress? deptThanks to the whole slew of folks who sent this in: TechCrunch has the details on Channel Intelligence, a company that owns a ridiculously broad and obvious patent on creating a list from a database and is now suing a whole bunch of small websites that offer things like wishlists. Read through the claims of the patent and see if you can explain how a single one is possibly new or non-obvious to those in the space. As TechCrunch notes, the lawsuits are all targeted against smaller websites, rather than the big players like eBay or Amazon. There are a variety of reasons why this might be. Channel Intelligence may have approached those companies and actually received a token payout (cheaper than a lawsuit for those companies). Or, perhaps more likely, it's using these smaller lawsuits to bring in some additional cash and to establish the myth that this patent is valid. That was common a few years back, before people started suing everyone at once for patent infringement. Patent holders would mostly target a few small companies, who wouldn't be able to launch a strong legal defense -- use those "victories" to build up a warchest while also claiming that it showed how the patents are "valid."
Filed Under: database, lists, obviousness, patents, wishlist
Companies: channel intelligence


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It seems that every time I see a new Hurricane Sandy (aka Frankenstorm) forecast, the scenario for New Jersey worsens.
Indeed, it looks likely – at least to me – that Sandy's impact through coastal and inland flooding and high winds will rival, surpass or even dwarf the severe damage footprint left by the March 1962 nor'easter.
"Sandy is an extremely dangerous storm," according to a "personal plea" in a noon briefing by Gary Szatkowski, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service Mount Holly office. (Bold and italics here and below are my emphases).
"If you are reluctant to evacuate, and you know someone who rode out the '62 storm on the barrier islands, ask them if they would do it again," Szatkowski writes.
More excerpts from the briefing:
– Sandy is expected to remain at or near hurricane strength as it transitions into an extremely intense nor'easter.
– It is forecast to still have wind gusts above 75 mph (74 mph is hurricane strength) as it approaches our region.
– Record river flooding is possible in the areas with heaviest rain.
– Major coastal flooding is expected, based on the current track forecast, and record coastal flooding is likely.
– A 12- to 15-foot storm tide, which includes the surge and astronomical tide linked to the Oct. 29 full moon, is possible in Raritan Bay. That would result in record coastal flooding.
– A 10- to 12-foot storm tide is possible along the Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay. That would lead to record coastal flooding in many locations.
– The first high tide cycle today generated minor to moderate coastal flooding. Subsequent high tides will be worse. The second high tide cycle today will produce moderate to major coastal flooding.
– The two high tides on Monday will generate major to record coastal flooding.
– Seas will continue to build, with 10- to 12-foot breakers in the surf Monday.
– The two high tides on Monday will be the most dangerous high tides, with major to record coastal flooding expected. Between the coastal flooding and expected high winds, the barrier islands will likely be cut off from the mainland during both high tides.
– Please respect Sandy's power and heed the advice of local and state officials regarding any evacuations.
Here are the latest track and Sandy image:


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Yve Jones named Assistant News Director at 40/29 News
Yve Jones joins KHBS/KHOG-TV, the home of 40/29 News, as Assistant News Director.
For the last 5 years, Jones has served as the News Operations Manager at KHBS/KHOG-TV's sister station, WISN in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, she coordinated large-scale projects including Super Bowl coverage, the Sikh Temple Shooting, the takeover of the Wisconsin state capital by striking teachers, and organized team coverage for countless winter storms.
"Yve has an extraordinary ability to organize, communicate, and collaborate, said KHBS/KHOG-TV News Director, Greg Shepperd." "She's worked the assignment desk, produced, anchored and reported during her career."
Shepperd and Jones reunite after working alongside one another when Jones first joined the Hearst Television family in 2005 at WDSU in New Orleans. Jones has also worked in Ohio at WOIO (Cleveland), WUAB (Cleveland), CTN (Cleveland), WNWO (Toledo), and WLIO (Lima).
Jones will wrap up her tenure in Wisconsin January 16th and will join the 40/29 News team on January 21st.
Jones garnered Regional Emmy® awards for news excellence in the Midwest Region for her contribution to Breaking News coverage of the Lake Delton Washout and for the Student Commitment project which showcased young voter's political perspectives.


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I am interested in going into the "man under care" program. I am curious as to what all is involved in this. More specifically, what is the person under care to do? If you could send me any information on requirements and expectations I would greatly appreciate it.
The answers to your question, at least to get started, are found in Form of Government XXI, "Licensing Candidates to Preach the Gospel" and specifically the first two sections of that chapter.
In brief, you need to be a communicant member of an OPC and your session needs to send a communication to its presbytery "certifying that in its judgment [your] Christian faith and potential gifts qualify [you] to be taken under care of the presbytery with a view to ordination to the gospel ministry." At the meeting of presbytery at which their letter is read, you will be briefly interviewed by the presbytery (not a theological exam, but an exam "respecting [your] Christian faith, life, service, and the motives influencing [you] to desire the sacred office").
Once taken under care by the presbytery, the presbyteryalmost always acting through its Candidates & Credentials Committee (or a committee with some similar name)will "show its continuing concern for the progress of ... the candidate under its care, and shall continually guide, counsel, and help [him] as [he] further prepares [himself] for the work of the ministry."
So, if you are not a member of an OPC and you wish to be under the care of the OPC, you need first to join a congregation of the OPC. If you are already a member, let your session know of your interest and work with them.
I hope this has been a helpful answer to your question. Feel free to follow up with further inquiries.
"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.
The questions come from individuals like yourself. If you have questions about biblical and theological matters, you are invited to send them by e-mail by using the "Pose a Question" link on the OPC home page or by clicking here.
At least one new question is posted each week, so there should always be something new here for you to read. (For those people who would like to look at previous questions and answers, they will continue to be available as well.)
The purpose of the OPC website's "Questions and Answers" is to respond to biblical and theological questions. Matters of church discipline, disputes, or debates go beyond the scope of our work. We recommend that you present your concerns in these areas to the appropriate judicatory. In most cases this will be to a local pastor, elder, or session. We do not want the website to replace personal involvement in, or commitment to, the local, visible church.
While we will respond to every serious questioner, we are not bound to give a substantive answer to every question, should we deem the question to be beyond the scope of our purpose or our own ability to answer.
You will receive an answer by e-mail. Please be patient as many of our respondents are busy pastors. The response to your question may take up to two (2) weeks. Some of the questions submitted will be chosen to be posted here, along with the corresponding answers.
Note that the "Questions and Answers" posted on the site have been editedall personal references are removed, Scripture references or from some source may be added, and sometimes portions are expandedto make the questions and answers more useful to a larger audience.
|© 2020 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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Food & Drink
Harlem shake reaches new heights; FAA not amused
By Mike M. Ahlers and Aaron Cooper, CNN • Updated 6th March 2013
Up next
It's the dance sensation that's sweeping above the nation -- at 30,000 feet.
The Harlem shake has gone aloft, breaking out on commercial airline flights, and appearing in dozens of YouTube videos.
Some of the videos were taped aboard planes on the ground. But the Federal Aviation Administration says it is looking into
one instance of high-altitude dancing
And airline pilots, flight attendants and others say the fad presents serious safety and security problems.
"It's ridiculous," said Jim Tilmon, a retired 29-year airline pilot. "A commercial airplane in flight ... is not a dance hall, it's not an entertainment stage, it's not any of those things."
"It's cute, novel, all that sort of stuff," he said, adding, "Wrong place, wrong time."
CNN's Felicia Taylor explains how viral videos are now cashing on the latest dance crazes.
Hundreds of students at LSU took a break to deck out in costume for a flash mob as they all did the 'Harlem shake.'
A new viral dance craze, the "Harlem Shake," is the latest YouTube sensation.
An Internet phenomenon and dance craze, the "Harlem Shake," has spawned many copycat videos.
Experts say they are not trying to be party poopers.
"I hate to be a bureaucratic kill-joy," agreed Steve Wallace, former director of the FAA's Office of Accident Investigation. "I think there is a safety issue here. Turbulence injuries are the most common type of injuries, and they are virtually eliminated when people are in their seat belts."
Dancing is a bad idea even on the ground, said Veda Shook, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. She fretted about being labeled a "buzz kill." But dancing impedes other passengers and makes it impossible for flight attendants to communicate with passengers, she said.
The FAA is looking into a
31-second video taken on a February 15 Frontier Airliners flight
On that flight, 18 Colorado College students, on their way to an ultimate Frisbee tournament in San Diego, staged a Harlem shake as the plane soared over the Rocky Mountains.
What the dance has to do with Harlem
The students said they had the approval of the flight crew, who let them use the plane's public address system to tell other passengers about their intentions.
"We wanted to make sure that we followed every regulation and that nothing went wrong, and that it was OK with (the airplane crew)," said team member Matt Zelin. "We just figured being on a plane, you know, you need to make sure everything is safe, and we just talked to flight attendants and they were excited."
After the plane landed, they posted the video online, and it went viral.
"And so it went from kind of this, kind of joking around idea among the team to something that was reality, and then it was on YouTube and there were hundreds of thousands of views and now we're talking to you guys," Zelin said.
The seat belt sign was off during the videotaping, which took less than a minute, team members said.
"The video is a hand-held camera, so it's shaking and looking a lot worse than it is," said teammate Gavin Nachbar. "So we never felt unsafe the whole time, and we hope the FAA sees it the same way, and we assume that they will."
Why did the 'Harlem Shake' take off?
The FAA said it was "looking into" the video, bristling at the term "investigation." The agency said it is trying to determine whether the seat belt sign was on and the circumstances of the videotaping.
Frontier Airlines said it could not comment because of the FAA investigation, but said "all safety measures were followed and the seat belt sign was off."
"If I was king for a day, the criticism would first be leveled at the airline for encouraging this type of thing," said Tilmon, the retired pilot. "It may seem cute but you cannot tell me it is safe to have that number of people up out of their seat jumping up and down."
"If they're on my airplane, they're going to either sit down and fasten their seat belt, or I'm going to find a policeman to help them do it."
Tilmon, Wallace and Shook all raised the prospect of air turbulence, which airplanes can encounter without warning.
"That airplane can just flop all over the place, just suddenly," Tilmon said. "Once you have gone into that kind of turbulent air, your body becomes some kind of missile. It's not just you, it's who you are going to hit and injure as you go flying through the cabin."
A Harlem shake dance could also be used by terrorists to divert a crew's attention, the experts said.
"I think a federal air marshal might find that a bit confusing," Wallace said.
"You don't know what every person's intentions are," said Shook, the flight attendant.
The pilots said it was unlikely the dancing would upset a large aircraft's stability. "It depends on the airplane, the larger the airplane, the less the impact," Tilmon said.
Team members do not plan a repeat performance, saying sequels are never as good as original performances.
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Quinn suggests he won't sign gambling expansion
Gov. Pat Quinn strongly said Friday that he'll almost certainly kill the latest General Assembly proposal to add casinos and expand other gambling in Illinois, rejecting changes lawmakers made in the plan to appease the governor.
Both the state House and Senate signed off on the bill Thursday that backers say would generate anywhere from $300 million to $1 billion a year for the cash-starved state by allowing four new casinos and allowing horse tracks to add slot machines.
But the governor, who believes the state's annual take would be far less, said Friday that even as Illinois struggles to cut its pension obligations and find the money to make up a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall, he isn't likely to budge on his gambling objections.
"I believe in a strong ethical framework of oversight and integrity," he told reporters at the Capitol, explaining some of the things he believes should be part of the plan that so far aren't. "No (election) campaign money from gambling interests. Those are things that I've said over and over again."
Asked if the lack of a measure barring campaign contributions from gambling concerns and other ethical safeguards Quinn would like to see would lead him to veto the bill, Quinn said that's likely.
"That's how I feel," he said. "I think that's how the people of Illinois feel."
Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat who is a co-sponsor of the gambling bill, said he hopes to find a way to convince Quinn to sign the bill but, after what he called a fruitless meeting with the governor earlier this month, isn't optimistic.
"At some point you have to draw the conclusion that he's not a big fan of the bill and regardless of what we do, he's not going to sign it."
That would leave Lang and other bill backers looking for additional votes to make the bill veto-proof. They say they have them in the House but not in the Senate.
The bill would add a casino in Chicago that would be owned by the city and have spots for 4,000 people to gamble at one time, as well as riverboat casinos in Danville, Park City, Rockford and a location yet to be determined in Chicago's south suburbs. Each of the riverboat casinos would have 1,600 gambling positions and the state's 10 existing casinos could expand from their current 1,200 gambling spots each to 1,600. Horse racing tracks would also for the first time be allowed to have slot machines.
The General Assembly passed a similar gambling bill last year but never sent it to Quinn after he threatened to veto it.
Backers like Lang and Sen. Terry Link, its Senate sponsor, said the version passed this week offered concessions to Quinn in eight of the 12 areas he's listed as points of concern.
"If you question the ethics of it, I don't think you could question them now," Link said.
Both Lang and Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer, who has for years pushed for gambling expansion to create revenue and jobs in his struggling town on the Indiana border, said they hope the potential addition of slot machines at horse tracks might change the minds of some senators who now oppose the bill.
"We'll need to try to gather some Republicans and certainly some downstate votes who recognize how important this bill is to the horse racing industry," Eisenhauer said.
While the gambling bill awaits the next move by the governor, both he and legislative leaders say they'll call lawmakers back to Springfield soon for another try at controlling pension costs that contribute to the state's deep budget problems. Quinn said Friday he'll meet with legislative leaders on the subject next week.
The General Assembly approved a tight budget before it adjourned early Friday morning but deadlocked on pension costs as House Speaker Michael Madigan and Minority Leader Tom Cross jousted over two different proposals.
Quinn said must move quickly on the $83 billion problem but said little about how to do that beyond everyone working together.


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Posts Tagged 'bethany'
"Soul Surfer" Bethany Hamilton chews up Jaws!
December 2009, the first big swells to hit the famous break of Jaws on Maui in five years offered several massive days suitable for tow-in surfing. Bethany was on the scene and was thrilled for the opportunity. Her wave was nominated for the Girls Best Performance in the 2010 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards! After watching Bethany Hamilton at Peahi, also known as "Jaws", the famous big-wave surf spot on Maui, we were inspired to create our new "Jaws" Bone Pendant necklace.
Imagine taking a pounding 3 X overhead 15 ft wave with one arm. It was amazing to watch and without a doubt remarkable. She was astounding and this young woman is fast becoming the most extraordinary woman surfer in history. Inspirational doesn't even begin to describe Bethany Hamilton. Her story is one of survival, determination and heart.


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Latest Nutrition, Food & Recipes News
TUESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Clever food labeling can fool well-intentioned consumers into believing that foods labeled sugar-free, fat-free or whole-wheat are healthy choices, a dietitian says.
"Consumer food marketing can be extremely persuasive, and the right buzzword on a package can lure a shopper into making an unwise purchase," Kari Kooi, a registered dietitian at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, said in a hospital news release. "We need to educate consumers on how to read nutrition labels so they can avoid falling prey to the 'health halo' effect."
Studies have shown that this "health halo" effect leads some people to eat twice as much or more of these foods because they are marketed as healthy, she says.
Five foods Kooi recommends avoiding are:
- Vegetable chips. These are marketed as healthy substitutes for vegetables but the nutrition labels on most brands read the same as potato chips. Many of the vegetables' nutrients are lost in the processing of these chips. Choose real vegetables instead.
- Nutrient-enhanced waters. Most are nothing more than colored sugar water that contain empty calories that contribute to weight gain. Claims that some of these products are a healthy choice because of added vitamins are just marketing hype, Kooi said. Taking a daily multivitamin with a glass of water is a better option, she said.
- Muffins. If they're sprinkled with a few oats or packed with blueberries, consumers think they're a healthier choice than donuts. But muffins are really nothing more than cupcakes without icing, said Kooi. She also noted that mega-size muffins sold in coffee shops can contain 500 to 600 calories.
- Premade smoothies. Most commercial ready-made smoothies are loaded with sugar and calories. You're better off making your own smoothies with high-quality, nourishing ingredients such as low-fat Greek yogurt, skim milk and fresh or frozen fruits, Kooi says.
- Frozen yogurt. Although made with low-fat or fat-free dairy ingredients, frozen yogurt typically contains high amounts of added sugar. Many of the live and active cultures added to frozen yogurt cannot survive freezing, so you won't get any probiotic benefits, Kooi said. Probiotics help maintain the balance between good and bacteria in the digestive tract.
-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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Recipe from Candace N. Sakuda.
2 cups wild rice blend
8-10 cardamom pods
enough water to cover rice
1/4 cup carrots, diced
1/4 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup onions, chopped
1/4 cup water chestnuts, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 to 1 cup Vegenaise
Cook ingredients in rice cooker and cool rice. Take out the cardamom pods, release the seeds into the cooked rice. Add carrots, celery, onions, water chestnuts and salt & pepper to taste. Mix with Vegenaise.
Refrigerate before serving. Garnish with chopped green onions or chives.
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
Even in 1887 there were classical liberals, like the Australian barrister Bruce Smith, who lamented the fact that state intervention was on the increase and that legislators had little regard for individual liberty. Here is his list of principles which all legislators should keep in mind:
The broad principles, then, which I should venture to lay down as guides for any one assuming the responsible position of a legislator are three in number.
- The state should not impose taxes, or use the public revenue for any purpose other than that of securing equal freedom to all citizens.
- The state should not interfere with the legally acquired property of any section of its citizens for any other purpose than that of securing equal freedom to all citizens; and in the event of any such justifiable interference amounting to appropriation; then, only conditional upon the lawful owner being fully compensated.
- The state should not in any way restrict the personal liberty of citizens for any other purpose than that of securing equal freedom to all citizens.
About this Quotation:
As an Australian and an admirer of late 19th century radicals such as Herbert Spencer, Auberon Herbert, and Thomas Mackay I was very surprised to come across one of their kind in Australia. This work did not deserve the obscurity into which it had sunk and it was a pleasure to put it online on the OLL.


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As a contributing editor to Smart Libraries Newsletter published by ALA TechSource, I write one or more short articles each month on developments in the field of library automation. This publication, known from 1981-2000 as Library Systems Newsletter, has chronicled the events in the field since July 1981. I've had the privilege to contribute since 2005. My agreement with ALA allows me to post what I write for them on my Web site after a specified embargo period. For 2009 it was 3 months, beginning in 2010 it will be 6 months. I believe this is a fair arrangement that helps sustain TechSource, but that provides open access within a reasonable period. To get access to SLN articles as they are published, consider subscribing.
I posted my contributions to the SLN for the first half of 2009 in an earlier post. Here are the stories from the second half of the year:
Jul 2009: SOLINET, PALINET and NELINET Merge to Form Lyrasis
Another development involving consolidation among nonprofit organizations involves the OCLC regional cooperatives. Formally established April 1, 2009, Lyrasis emerged out of a merger between Atlanta-based SOLINET, serving a large number of libraries in the southeastern United States, with PALINET, based in Philadelphia and serving the mid-Atlantic region. The merger culminates a process that formally began in February 2008.
Aug 2009: BiblioCommons Prepares for next phase of Roll-out
After a long period of development, testing and some delays, BiblioCommons appears poised to move forward as a contender in the arena of discovery interfaces. Developed by a Toronto-based company of the same name, BiblioCommons offers a new approach to the discovery interface that fully embraces social networking as a fundamental component in the way that patrons find and select resources from library collections.
Sept 2009: EBSCO sets strategy for discovery
In the rapidly moving world of discovery products, EBSCO Publishing has developed a series of products and partnerships that make it a strong competitor. A longstanding provider of aggregated article databases and other information products, EBSCO has extended its strategic product suite into the arena of broader discovery services. In recent months, the company has announced a number of partnerships for content and extensions to its technology platform related to this new suite of products and services.
Oct 2009: Softlink International Realigns its Forces
Softlink International, a global company that produces the Liberty and Oliver library automation systems, has made a number of noteworthy changes over the last year. They have installed a new CEO for the global company and new management at their US subsidiary, and have incorporated a major independent distributor into the parent company. Softlink International reports that its software finds use in over 10,000 libraries spanning 108 countries, making it a key player in the library software world. The company offers library automation products for school, corporate, academic, and public libraries. In the United States Softlink has not gained wide adoption in large public or academic libraries, but has a substantial presence in school and corporate libraries.
New Options for Koha Support
One of the benefits cited by many libraries using an open source ILS is that they are not tied to a single organization for support services, hosting, and development. We have previously provided coverage of LibLime's role as the first commercial company in the United States to provide support for an open source ILS. LibLime has been providing support for Koha since early 2005 and continues as the dominant Koha service provider.Over time, a number of other firms have began providing services to help libraries implement and maintain Koha, both within the United States and internationally. These companies operate both cooperatively and competitively. They cooperate in the development of the Koha software upon which they all depend, and they compete to gain the business of libraries for support services.
Nov 2009: LibLime Launches LibLime Enterprise Koha, or, Rift Splits the Koha Development Community
LibLime has launched an enhanced version of the open source Koha ILS, called LibLimeEnterprise Koha (LLEK), hosted on a highly-scaleable platform and designed to offer abroader set of functionality with high reliability and fast performance. LLEK makes useof Amazon's platform-as-a-service cloud computing infrastructure. LibLime's launch of a private hosted version, though legally compliant with GPL, has enraged the other companies involved with Koha. Deep animosity now exists between LibLime and the other companies and individuals involved in the support and development of Koha. The prevailing view among the developers external to LibLime is that there has been a fork in Koha development, a state where multiple independent versions split apart with significant variations.
IMLS funds $1 million for major Open Source ILS projecty
In a major boost for open source library automation, the Institute for Museums and Library Science has funded a grant proposal, Empowered by Open Source, to facilitate the adoption of open source automation software in libraries. Led by the King County Library System in Washington State, along with three other major public library systems, the $998,556 award will help create resources that will help libraries break away from proprietary ILS products and make the transition to open source alternatives. The institutions involved will match the IMLS funds with $1,014,400 of in-kind contributions. The grant was part of the $17.9 million distributed to 51 institutions as part of theNational Leadership Grants announced in September of 2009.
Dec 2009: SkyRiver Ramps up as a new Bibliographic Service Business
SkyRiver, a new company delivering bibliographic services in competition with OCLC, formally announced its launch in early October 2009. The company offers a suite of software and services that compete with the cataloging services of OCLC. The service includes a bibliographic database of MARC records, a cataloging client, and a set of services for record delivery and enhancement. The SkyRiver database has initially beenpopulated with bibliographic and authority records from a variety of sources including the Library of Congress, the British Library as well as with records from the current cataloging activities of a broad set of libraries. The service includes record delivery for those not immediately available in the database and notification when enhanced records become available. SkyRiver's goal is to offer a competitive product at a subscription cost around 40 percent lower than what libraries would otherwise pay to OCLC.
Two major lawsuits jolt library automation industry
In recent months, two major lawsuits have been filed in the the library automationindustry. Queens Borough Public Library filed a complaint on July 2, 2009 against SirsiDynix for breach of contract and 3M has filed suit against EnvisionWare for patent infringement. Both of these lawsuits address interesting issues that bring pivotal libraryautomation legal concerns to the surface. Neither accusation has been proven, and both are still pending legal action or settlement. The complaints filed with the courts stand as public documents exposing the plaintiffs' concerns in detail. The defendant's response to those claims may not become public until the issue comes before a court, or may never be disclosed if the parties settle out of court. While major lawsuits attract much attention, they must be considered skeptically until both sides of the matter can be understood.
Large-scale ILS Implementations: Open Source and Proprietary
In recent times, we have seen an increasing number of broad-based ILS implementations, often spanning entire states or provinces. Two recent implementations illustrate of this trend, one an open source system for provincial school libraries and another a large consortium of libraries in Tasmania.
Marshall Breeding May 10, 2010 12:23:26
Link to Posting: 2009 in review from Smart Libraries Newsletter, Part two


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Ecumenism in common use can refer to two different ideas, either relations with non-Christian or non-Orthodox religious groups or instead it is the teaching that the Orthodox Church is not uniquely the one Church of Jesus Christ but rather one of many branches. The former activity can be of dubious value to some, while the latter is considered a heresy by many. To many in the Orthodox Church, participation in ecumenical relations with other religious groups is often an indication that the teaching regarding the Orthodox Church's non-uniqueness is being promulgated, either openly or surreptitiously.
Between these two ideas is the activity of relating to the non-Orthodox with either the notion of witnessing to them the ancient Christian faith or of pandering to them and making concessions in order to build relations. In the 20th century particularly, some ecumenical activities have drawn sharp criticism from various voices within the Orthodox Church, particularly participation in the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches in the US.
External links
- September 2004 Conference on Ecumenism, held at Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Conclusions of the Conference on Ecumenism
- The Church of Serbia vis-à-vis Ecumenism, by Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren
- Contours of Conversion and the Ecumenical Movement, by Hieromonk Alexis (Trader) of Karakallou
- The Consequences of Orthodox Participation in the Ecumenical Movement on the Orthodox Witness to the Heterodox West, by Fr. John Reeves
- The Mystery of Baptism and the Unity of the Church, by Fr. Peter A. Heers


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HOTSEAT- Lead role: Carole Thorpe stars in Tea Party
After years in theater, Carole Thorpe has taken many roles, but perhaps her biggest began on Tax Day 2009, when she carried a sign that read, "Greed, arrogance, ineptitude are bipartisan offenses."
That April 15, Thorpe had no plan to become the chair of the Jefferson Area Tea Party within 11 months. She'd never even been to a protest before. Yet something sparked that day.
"You're always hearing what a liberal town Charlottesville is," says Thorpe. "I was surprised that many people showed up."
Thorpe says she already was disillusioned with government during the second term of President George Bush. "I didn't like the Patriot Act and didn't like the spending," she says.
Ironically, conservative icon Ronald Reagan and his student loan spending cuts cut short Thorpe's college education. "Life happens," muses Thorpe. "I can name one or two things that were disappointing or defining, but everyone has something."
She's remarkably upbeat–- and philosophical about life. "Tough is my son's autism," she says. "I don't sweat the small stuff."
Her son is 13 and Thorpe raves about the programs available through Albemarle County schools. She and her husband, an engineer at Northrop Grumman, plan to have their son living in a group home with some sort of low-skill job by the time post-high school programs end when he's 22 . She urges parents to trust their instincts about how their child is developing. "No one gives you a handbook," Thorpe says.
Before the Tea Party, Thorpe also kept busy as one of the founders of Play On theater, which provided an outlet for her passion. "I like Golden Age musicals from the late '50s to early '70s," she says.
Her theater background comes in very handy as the leader of the local Tea Partiers. She's articulate, she's organized, and "I'm used to standing in front of audiences," she explains.
But with her new duties as head of a group that could tilt the balance of power in the U.S. Congress in November, something had to give, so musicals took a hiatus. But not all music.
On a recent Monday night, Thorpe can be found belting out hits during karaoke night at Applebee's restaurant.
"I haven't repeated a song," Thorpe says between performances. "I've sung 286 different songs."
Thorpe tells a reporter watching the spectacle just off Route 29 that she keeps songlists of what she's already sung and what she might want to sing. Did we mention that she's organized? Back to the point, Thorpe is eager to debunk misperceptions about the Tea Party movement.
"The fact that people say it's full of racists–- that's crazy," she declares. "And that it's violent."
One other thing she says is not true: "That this is a manufactured arm of the Republican party."
While Thorpe says she's always voted, she's learned a lot over the past year about politics and how it works. "I've always been the benefit-of-the-doubt girl," she says. "I don't do that as much now. I do feel a loss of innocence in that. I never felt I had to be a watchdog."
Even if her stint as Tea Party chair is short-lived, she knows she can't go back to the days when the extent of her political activity was going to the polls. "I feel the next generation deserves the opportunities we had because those can be taken away," she says.
And if you don't like your choices on the ballot, advises Thorpe, "Then you need to get involved in the process earlier."
Age: 48
Why here? My husband was hired by Northrop Grumman/Sperry Marine in 1995.
What's worst about living here? No Olive Garden restaurant.
Favorite hangout? Karaoke night at Applebee's or Baja Norte.
Most overrated virtue? Honestly, there are none.
People would be surprised to know? As a child, I had a degenerative hip disease and needed a full leg brace and crutches for five years. I taught myself to walk again at age 12, and eventually worked up to performing choreography in musicals.
What would you change about yourself? Only superficial physical things. I like who I am.
Proudest accomplishment? Teaming with my husband to cope with our son's autism and create the best life for him that we can.
Whom do you admire? Anyone who acts with courage of their convictions–- whether I agree with them or not.
People find most annoying about you: My unbending will to do what I think is fair and right.
Favorite book? Any well-written biography.
Subject that causes you to rant? Well, if you must get a Tea Party leader started...let's begin with the unlimited growth and tyrannical overreach of our Federal government crushing individual liberty.
Biggest 21st-century thrill? The New York Giants beating the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII (I'm a native New Yorker and lifelong Giants fan).
Biggest 21st-century creep out? The effort of President Obama and his administration with A.C.O.R.N., S.E.I.U., the Apollo Alliance, and the Tides Foundation to fundamentally transform the United States of America.
What do you drive? 2003 Ford Windstar van.
In your car CD player right now: A compilation of classic Vegas-era favorites by Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Bobby Darin, Keely Smith, and more.
Next journey: An August excursion to Tweetsie Railroad in North Carolina for my son.
Most trouble you've gotten in? Nothing interesting enough to report, trust me.
Regret: In 1992, my best friend with whom for seven years I resided, worked jobs, and performed in theatre, died tragically at age 29. Steve was the nephew of the late actress Estelle Getty (The Golden Girls) and she generously flew him to the West Coast to put him into hospice once he could no longer care for himself. By this time, I was married and living in another state–- neither living close enough to care for him, nor able to be with him when he eventually passed away. I regret that circumstances kept us apart at the end of his life and I still miss him to this day.
Favorite comfort food: Chocolate anything.
Always in your refrigerator: Dairy staples and Coke Zero.
Must-see TV: Every New York Giants football game.
Describe a perfect day: One without the omnipresent, 13-year-long soundtrack of Barney and Blue's Clues in my home (there should be a special place in Heaven for such parents!).
Walter Mitty fantasy: To play the lead in a musical on Broadway.
Who'd play you in the movie? Probably me. I'm an experienced actress and no woman in Hollywood has my figure!
Most embarrassing moment? ...will go with me to my grave.
Best advice you ever got? If you spend your life trying to make everyone happy, you will make no one happy... least of all yourself.
Favorite bumper sticker? One that will come off my car cleanly.
3 comments
Wow... this woman has an aweome attitude! It seems like she's always, ALWAYS so upbeat. Keep up the good work, Mrs. Thorpe.
Wow, the head Tea Partier sounds so normal & sensible. She didn't like the Patriot Act and deplores greed, arrogance and ineptitude? So do I and I vote against every candidate they support! Maybe they're not racists and conspiracy theorists after all. Oh wait … "Biggest 21st – century creepouts." Really? Not GMO corn, cloned designer dogs or stalking via cellphone GPS?
I guess an organization devoted to enabling disenfranchised voters such as ACORN must be ghastly frightening to a regressive. Why 'those folks' might start to get "uppity."
Of course a conservative feels the need to hide under the bed before a group marching for fair labor practices and pay like the Service Employees International Union. That might end exploitation by rich capitalists, can't have that.
As far as a non-profit striving for "social justice, broadly shared economic opportunities and sustainable environment" (to quote from the Tides Foundation's website) that must make every Tea Partier's skin crawl in horror far more than the thought of Google teaming up with Verizon.
Here's hoping President Obama's plot to "fundamentally transform the United States of America" utilizing these groups meets with every success.
I can't wait until she and the Tea party are successful and get taxes reduced...and the programs for her son are discontinued and her husband's job with a government contractor goes bye-bye.
These people who rant against big government are clueless about the services that gov't provides that they partake of daily.


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So thanks for getting my hopes up. CC Sabathia is currently visiting the San Francisco Bay Area — he was born in the northern Calif. hamlet of Vallejo — and speculation was that he was flirting with the idea of becoming a Giant. And when you think about it, who wouldn't want to pitch at AT&T Park? But that pesky Brian Cashman followed him out here, carrying a suitcase full of cash like Fredo Corleone arriving in Cuba in Godfather II. The results were predictable.
CC Sabathia is a Yankee. Or, you know, very close to it. Terms: The largest pitching contract in major league history, at least $140 million, according to the New York Post. ESPN is saying that the deal is for seven years and $160 million.
The Yankees had extended a six-year, $140 million bid to Sabathia nearly a month ago. As the weeks passed and Sabathia did not accept the deal, a feeling began to pervade that he was trying hard to avoid the Bronx. Instead, this might simply have been a patient game of poker, Sabathia simply taking his time to make sure no desirable West Coast team with significant money would emerge. That never happened.
But the real story is where the Yankees are going next.
Cashman had met Monday night with A.J. Burnett's agent Darek Braunacker and expressed a willingness to exceed the four-year, $60 million bid by the Braves and that they would seriously consider going to a fifth year. Cashman also met with Scott Boras and the Yanks appeared willing to go to the four-year, $60 million plus range for Derek Lowe. In addition, the Yanks have talked with agents for several other starters, including Andy Pettitte, Randy Wolf, Oliver Perez and Ben Sheets. The Yankees received medical records on the oft-injured Sheets and were studying them. One person in the loop described Cashman as really pushing in a much more forceful way to begin closing deals, with or without Sabathia.
That meeting between Cashman and Boras was otherwise unremarkable, except for the strong odor of sulfur in the air.
So, Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain at the same post-game buffet table. Stupid Yankees: Seven years? I'm not sure how they expect his arm to last that long. Well, now the Giants will have to settle for Randy Johnson, I suppose.
Meanwhile, ESPN rushed to get the news out. They have no time to resize photos!
CC Sabathia Picks Yankees [New York Post]


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