text:
According to the apple-or-coin test, used in the Middle Ages, children should start school when they are mature enough for the delayed gratification and abstract reasoning involved in choosing money over fruit. In 15th- and 16th-century Germany, parents were told to send their children to school when the children started to act "rational." And in contemporary America, children are deemed eligible to enter kindergarten according to an arbitrary date on the calendar known as the birthday cutoff — that is, when the state, or in some instances the school district, determines they are old enough. The birthday cutoffs span six months, from Indiana, where a child must turn 5 by July 1 of the year he enters kindergarten, to Connecticut, where he must turn 5 by Jan. 1 of his kindergarten year. Children can start school a year late, but in general they cannot start a year early. As a result, when the 22 kindergartners entered Jane Andersen's class at the Glen Arden Elementary School near Asheville, N.C., one warm April morning, each brought with her or him a snack and a unique set of gifts and challenges, which included for some what's referred to in education circles as "the gift of time."
After the morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance, Andersen's kindergartners sat down on a blue rug. Two, one boy and one girl, had been redshirted — the term, borrowed from sports, describes students held out for a year by their parents so that they will be older, or larger, or more mature, and thus better prepared to handle the increased pressures of kindergarten today. Six of Andersen's pupils, on the other hand, were quite young, so young that they would not be enrolled in kindergarten at all if North Carolina succeeds in pushing back its birthday cutoff from Oct. 16 to Aug. 31.
Andersen is a willowy 11-year teaching veteran who offered up a lot of education in the first hour of class. First she read Leo Lionni's classic children's book "An Extraordinary Egg," and directed a conversation about it. Next she guided the students through: writing a letter; singing a song; solving an addition problem; two more songs; and a math game involving counting by ones, fives and tens using coins. Finally, Andersen read them another Lionni book. Labor economists who study what's called the accumulation of human capital — how we acquire the knowledge and skills that make us valuable members of society — have found that children learn vastly different amounts from the same classroom experiences and that those with certain advantages at the outset are able to learn more, more quickly, causing the gap between students to increase over time. Gaps in achievement have many causes, but a major one in any kindergarten room is age. Almost all kindergarten classrooms have children with birthdays that span 12 months. But because of redshirting, the oldest student in Andersen's class is not just 12 but 15 months older than the youngest, a difference in age of 25 percent.
After rug time, Andersen's kindergartners walked single-file to P.E. class, where the children sat on the curb alongside the parking circle, taking turns running laps for the Presidential Fitness Test. By far the fastest runner was the girl in class who had been redshirted. She strode confidently, with great form, while many of the smaller kids could barely run straight. One of the younger girls pointed out the best artist in the class, a freckly redhead. I'd already noted his beautiful penmanship. He had been redshirted as well.
States, too, are trying to embrace the advantages of redshirting. Since 1975, nearly half of all states have pushed back their birthday cutoffs and four — California, Michigan, North Carolina and Tennessee — have active legislation in state assemblies to do so right now. (Arkansas passed legislation earlier this spring; New Jersey, which historically has let local districts establish their birthday cutoffs, has legislation pending to make Sept. 1 the cutoff throughout the state.) This is due, in part, to the accountability movement — the high-stakes testing now pervasive in the American educational system. In response to this testing, kindergartens across the country have become more demanding: if kids must be performing on standardized tests in third grade, then they must be prepping for those tests in second and first grades, and even at the end of kindergarten, or so the thinking goes. The testing also means that states, like students, now get report cards, and they want their children to do well, both because they want them to be educated and because they want them to stack up favorably against their peers.
Indeed, increasing the average age of the children in a kindergarten class is a cheap and easy way to get a small bump in test scores, because older children perform better, and states' desires for relative advantage is written into their policy briefs. The California Performance Review, commissioned by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, suggested moving California's birthday cutoff three months earlier, to Sept. 1 from Dec. 2, noting that "38 states, including Florida and Texas, have kindergarten entry dates prior to California's." Maryland's proposal to move its date mentioned that "the change . . . will align the 'cutoff' date with most of the other states in the country."
All involved in increasing the age of kindergartners — parents, legislatures and some teachers — say they have the best interests of children in mind. "If I had just one goal with this piece of legislation it would be to not humiliate a child," Dale Folwell, the Republican North Carolina state representative who sponsored the birthday-cutoff bill, told me. "Our kids are younger when they're taking the SAT, and they're applying to the same colleges as the kids from Florida and Georgia." Fair enough — governors and state legislators have competitive impulses, too. Still, the question remains: Is it better for children to start kindergarten later? And even if it's better for a given child, is it good for children in general? Time out of school may not be a gift to all kids. For some it may be a burden, a financial stress on their parents and a chance, before they ever reach a classroom, to fall even further behind.
Redshirting is not a new phenomenon — in fact, the percentage of redshirted children has held relatively steady since education scholars started tracking the practice in the 1980s. Studies by the National Center for Education Statistics in the 1990s show that delayed-entry children made up somewhere between 6 and 9 percent of all kindergartners; a new study is due out in six months. As states roll back birthday cutoffs, there are more older kindergartners in general — and more redshirted kindergartners who are even older than the oldest kindergartners in previous years. Recently, redshirting has become a particular concern, because in certain affluent communities the numbers of kindergartners coming to school a year later are three or four times the national average. "Do you know what the number is in my district?" Representative Folwell, from a middle-class part of Winston-Salem, N.C., asked me. "Twenty-six percent." In one kindergarten I visited in Los Altos, Calif. — average home price, $1 million — about one-quarter of the kids had been electively held back as well. Fred Morrison, a developmental psychologist at the University of Michigan who has studied the impact of falling on one side or the other of the birthday cutoff, sees the endless "graying of kindergarten," as it's sometimes called, as coming from a parental obsession not with their children's academic accomplishment but with their social maturity. "You couldn't find a kid who skips a grade these days," Morrison told me. "We used to revere individual accomplishment. Now we revere self-esteem, and the reverence has snowballed in unconscious ways — into parents always wanting their children to feel good, wanting everything to be pleasant." So parents wait an extra year in the hope that when their children enter school their age or maturity will shield them from social and emotional hurt. Elizabeth Levett Fortier, a kindergarten teacher in the George Peabody Elementary School in San Francisco, notices the impact on her incoming students. "I've had children come into my classroom, and they've never even lost at Candy Land."
For years, education scholars have pointed out that most studies have found that the benefits of being relatively older than one's classmates disappear after the first few years of school. In a literature review published in 2002, Deborah Stipek, dean of the Stanford school of education, found studies in which children who are older than their classmates not only do not learn more per grade but also tend to have more behavior problems. However, more recent research by labor economists takes advantage of new, very large data sets and has produced different results. A few labor economists do concur with the education scholarship, but most have found that while absolute age (how many days a child has been alive) is not so important, relative age (how old that child is in comparison to his classmates) shapes performance long after those few months of maturity should have ceased to matter. The relative-age effect has been found in schools around the world and also in sports. In one study published in the June 2005 Journal of Sport Sciences, researchers from Leuven, Belgium, and Liverpool, England, found that a disproportionate number of World Cup soccer players are born in January, February and March, meaning they were old relative to peers on youth soccer teams.
Before the school year started, Andersen, who is 54, taped up on the wall behind her desk a poster of a dog holding a bouquet of 12 balloons. In each balloon Andersen wrote the name of a month; under each month, the birthdays of the children in her class. Like most teachers, she understands that the small fluctuations among birth dates aren't nearly as important as the vast range in children's experiences at preschool and at home. But one day as we sat in her classroom, Andersen told me, "Every year I have two or three young ones in that August-to-October range, and they just struggle a little." She used to encourage parents to send their children to kindergarten as soon as they were eligible, but she is now a strong proponent of older kindergartners, after teaching one child with a birthday just a few days before the cutoff. "She was always a step behind. It wasn't effort and it wasn't ability. She worked hard, her mom worked with her and she still was behind." Andersen followed the girl's progress through second grade (after that, she moved to a different school) and noticed that she didn't catch up. Other teachers at Glen Arden Elementary and elsewhere have noticed a similar phenomenon: not always, but too often, the little ones stay behind.
The parents of the redshirted girl in Andersen's class told a similar story. Five years ago, their older daughter had just made the kindergarten birthday cutoff by a few days, and they enrolled her. "She's now a struggling fourth grader: only by the skin of her teeth has she been able to pass each year," the girl's mother, Stephanie Gandert, told me. "I kick myself every year now that we sent her ahead." By contrast, their current kindergartner is doing just fine. "I always tell parents, 'If you can wait, wait.' If my kindergartner were in first grade right now, she'd be in trouble, too." (The parents of the redshirted boy in Andersen's class declined to be interviewed for this article but may very well have held him back because he's small — even though he's now one of the oldest, he's still one of the shortest.)
Kelly Bedard, a labor economist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, published a paper with Elizabeth Dhuey called "The Persistence of Early Childhood Maturity: International Evidence of Long-Run Age Effects" in The Quarterly Journal of Economics in November 2006 that looked at this phenomenon. "Obviously, when you're 5, being a year older is a lot, and so we should expect kids who are the oldest in kindergarten to do better than the kids who are the youngest in kindergarten," Bedard says. But what if relatively older kids keep doing better after the maturity gains of a few months should have ceased to matter? What if kids who are older relative to their classmates still have higher test scores in fourth grade, or eighth grade?
After crunching the math and science test scores for nearly a quarter-million students across 19 countries, Bedard found that relatively younger students perform 4 to 12 percentiles less well in third and fourth grade and 2 to 9 percentiles worse in seventh and eighth; and, as she notes, "by eighth grade it's fairly safe to say we're looking at long-term effects." In British Columbia, she found that the relatively oldest students are about 10 percent more likely to be "university bound" than the relatively youngest ones. In the United States, she found that the relatively oldest students are 7.7 percent more likely to take the SAT or ACT, and are 11.6 percent more likely to enroll in four-year colleges or universities. (No one has yet published a study on age effects and SAT scores.) "One reason you could imagine age effects persist is that almost all of our education systems have ability-groupings built into them," Bedard says. "Many claim they don't, but they do. Everybody gets put into reading groups and math groups from very early ages." Younger children are more likely to be assigned behind grade level, older children more likely to be assigned ahead. Younger children are more likely to receive diagnoses of attention-deficit disorder, too. "When I was in school the reading books all had colors," Bedard told me. "They never said which was the high, the middle and the low, but everybody knew. Kids in the highest reading group one year are much more likely to be in the highest reading group the next. So you can imagine how that could propagate itself."
Bedard found that different education systems produce varying age effects. For instance, Finland, whose students recently came out on top in an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development study of math, reading and science skills, experiences smaller age effects; Finnish children also start school later, at age 7, and even then the first few years are largely devoted to social development and play. Denmark, too, produces little difference between relatively older and younger kids; the Danish education system prohibits differentiating by ability until students are 16. Those two exceptions notwithstanding, Bedard notes that she found age effects everywhere, from "the Japanese system of automatic promotion, to the accomplishment-oriented French system, to the supposedly more flexible skill-based program models used in Canada and the United States."
The relative value of being older for one's grade is a particularly open secret in those sectors of the American schooling system that treat education like a competitive sport. Many private-school birthday cutoffs are set earlier than public-school dates; and children, particularly boys, who make the cutoff but have summer and sometimes spring birthdays are often placed in junior kindergarten — also called "transitional kindergarten," a sort of holding tank for kids too old for more preschool — or are encouraged to wait a year to apply. Erika O'Brien, a SoHo mother who has two redshirted children at Grace Church, a pre-K-through-8 private school in Manhattan, told me about a conversation she had with a friend whose daughter was placed in junior kindergarten because she had a summer birthday. "I told her that it's really a great thing. Her daughter is going to have a better chance of being at the top of her class, she'll more likely be a leader, she'll have a better chance of succeeding at sports. She's got nothing to worry about for the next nine years. Plus, if you're making a financial investment in school, it's a less risky investment."
Robert Fulghum listed life lessons in his 1986 best seller "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Among them were:
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Take a nap every afternoon.
Were he to update the book to reflect the experience of today's children, he'd need to call it "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Preschool," as kindergarten has changed. The half day devoted to fair play and nice manners officially began its demise in 1983, when the National Commission on Excellence in Education published "A Nation at Risk," warning that the country faced a "rising tide of mediocrity" unless we increased school achievement and expectations. No Child Left Behind, in 2002, exacerbated the trend, pushing phonics and pattern-recognition worksheets even further down the learning chain. As a result, many parents, legislatures and teachers find the current curriculum too challenging for many older 4- and young 5-year-olds, which makes sense, because it's largely the same curriculum taught to first graders less than a generation ago. Andersen's kindergartners are supposed to be able to not just read but also write two sentences by the time they graduate from her classroom. It's no wonder that nationwide, teachers now report that 48 percent of incoming kindergartners have difficulty handling the demands of school.
Friedrich Froebel, the romantic motherless son who started the first kindergarten in Germany in 1840, would be horrified by what's called kindergarten today. He conceived the early learning experience as a homage to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who believed that "reading is the plague of childhood. . . . Books are good only for learning to babble about what one does not know." Letters and numbers were officially banned from Froebel's kindergartens; the teaching materials consisted of handmade blocks and games that he referred to as "gifts." By the late 1800s, kindergarten had jumped to the United States, with Boston transcendentalists like Elizabeth Peabody popularizing the concept. Fairly quickly, letters and numbers appeared on the wooden blocks, yet Peabody cautioned that a "genuine" kindergarten is "a company of children under 7 years old, who do not learn to read, write and cipher" and a "false" kindergarten is one that accommodates parents who want their children studying academics instead of just playing.
That the social skills and exploration of one's immediate world have been squeezed out of kindergarten is less the result of a pedagogical shift than of the accountability movement and the literal-minded reverse-engineering process it has brought to the schools. Curriculum planners no longer ask, What does a 5-year-old need? Instead they ask, If a student is to pass reading and math tests in third grade, what does that student need to be doing in the prior grades? Whether kindergarten students actually need to be older is a question of readiness, a concept that itself raises the question: Ready for what? The skill set required to succeed in Fulgham's kindergarten — openness, creativity — is well matched to the capabilities of most 5-year-olds but also substantially different from what Andersen's students need. In early 2000, the National Center for Education Statistics assessed 22,000 kindergartners individually and found, in general, that yes, the older children are better prepared to start an academic kindergarten than the younger ones. The older kids are four times as likely to be reading, and two to three times as likely to be able to decipher two-digit numerals. Twice as many older kids have the advanced fine motor skills necessary for writing. The older kids also have important noncognitive advantages, like being more persistent and more socially adept. Nonetheless, child advocacy groups say it's the schools' responsibility to be ready for the children, no matter their age, not the children's to be prepared for the advanced curriculum. In a report on kindergarten, the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education wrote, "Most of the questionable entry and placement practices that have emerged in recent years have their genesis in concerns over children's capacities to cope with the increasingly inappropriate curriculum in kindergarten."
Furthermore, as Elizabeth Graue, a former kindergarten teacher who now studies school-readiness and redshirting at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, points out, "Readiness is a relative issue." Studies of early-childhood teachers show they always complain about the youngest students, no matter their absolute age. 'In Illinois it will be the March-April-May kids; in California, it will be October-November-December," Graue says. "It's really natural as a teacher to gravitate toward the kids who are easy to teach, especially when there's academic pressure and the younger kids are rolling around the floor and sticking pencils in their ears."
But perhaps those kids with the pencils in their ears — at least the less-affluent ones — don't need "the gift of time" but rather to be brought into the schools. Forty-two years after Lyndon Johnson inaugurated Head Start, access to quality early education still highly correlates with class; and one serious side effect of pushing back the cutoffs is that while well-off kids with delayed enrollment will spend another year in preschool, probably doing what kindergartners did a generation ago, less-well-off children may, as the literacy specialist Katie Eller put it, spend "another year watching TV in the basement with Grandma." What's more, given the socioeconomics of redshirting — and the luxury involved in delaying for a year the free day care that is public school — the oldest child in any given class is more likely to be well off and the youngest child is more likely to be poor. "You almost have a double advantage coming to the well-off kids," says Samuel J. Meisels, president of Erikson Institute, a graduate school in child development in Chicago. "From a public-policy point of view I find this very distressing."
Nobody has exact numbers on what percentage of the children eligible for publicly financed preschool are actually enrolled — the individual programs are legion, and the eligibility requirements are complicated and varied — but the best guess from the National Institute for Early Education Research puts the proportion at only 25 percent. In California, for instance, 76 percent of publicly financed preschool programs have waiting lists, which include over 30,000 children. In Pennsylvania, 35 percent of children eligible for Head Start are not served. A few states do have universal preschool, and among Hillary Clinton's first broad domestic policy proposals as a Democratic presidential candidate was to call for universal pre-kindergarten classes. But at the moment, free high-quality preschool for less-well-to-do children is spotty, and what exists often is aimed at extremely low-income parents, leaving out the children of the merely strapped working or lower-middle class. Nor, as a rule, do publicly financed programs take kids who are old enough to be eligible for kindergarten, meaning redshirting is not a realistic option for many.
One morning, when I was sitting in Elizabeth Levett Fortier's kindergarten classroom in the Peabody School in San Francisco — among a group of students that included some children who had never been to preschool, some who were just learning English and some who were already reading — a father dropped by to discuss whether or not to enroll his fall-birthday daughter or give her one more year at her private preschool. Demographically speaking, any child with a father willing to call on a teacher to discuss if it's best for that child to spend a third year at a $10,000-a-year preschool is going to be fine. Andersen told me, "I've had parents tell me that the preschool did not recommend sending their children on to kindergarten yet, but they had no choice," as they couldn't afford not to. In 49 out of 50 states, the average annual cost of day care for a 4-year-old in an urban area is more than the average annual public college tuition. A RAND Corporation position paper suggests policy makers may need to view "entrance-age policies and child-care polices as a package."
Labor economists, too, make a strong case that resources should be directed at disadvantaged children as early as possible, both for the sake of improving each child's life and because of economic return. Among the leaders in this field is James Heckman, a University of Chicago economist who won the Nobel in economic science in 2000. In many papers and lectures on poor kids, he now includes a simple graph that plots the return on investment in human capital across age. You can think of the accumulation of human capital much like the accumulation of financial capital in an account bearing compound interest: if you add your resources as soon as possible, they'll be worth more down the line. Heckman's graph looks like a skateboard quarter-pipe, sloping precipitously from a high point during the preschool years, when the return on investment in human capital is very high, down the ramp and into the flat line after a person is no longer in school, when the return on investment is minimal. According to Heckman's analysis, if you have limited funds to spend it makes the most economic sense to spend them early. The implication is that if poor children aren't in adequate preschool programs, rolling back the age of kindergarten is a bad idea economically, as it pushes farther down the ramp the point at which we start investing funds and thus how productive those funds will be.
Bedard and other economists cite Heckman's theories of how people acquire skills to help explain the persistence of relative age on school performance. Heckman writes: "Skill begets skill; motivation begets motivation. Early failure begets later failure." Reading experts know that it's easier for a child to learn the meaning of a new word if he knows the meaning of a related word and that a good vocabulary at age 3 predicts a child's reading well in third grade. Skills like persistence snowball, too. One can easily see how the skill-begets-skill, motivation-begets-motivation dynamic plays out in a kindergarten setting: a child who comes in with a good vocabulary listens to a story, learns more words, feels great about himself and has an even better vocabulary at the end of the day. Another child arrives with a poor vocabulary, listens to the story, has a hard time following, picks up fewer words, retreats into insecurity and leaves the classroom even further behind.
How to address the influence of age effects is unclear. After all, being on the older or younger side of one's classmates is mostly the luck of the birthday draw, and no single birthday cutoff can prevent a 12-month gap in age. States could try to prevent parents from gaming the age effects by outlawing redshirting — specifically by closing the yearlong window that now exists in most states between the birthday cutoffs and compulsory schooling. But forcing families to enroll children in kindergarten as soon as they are eligible seems too authoritarian for America's tastes. States could also decide to learn from Finland — start children in school at age 7 and devote the first year to play — but that would require a major reversal, making second grade the old kindergarten, instead of kindergarten the new first grade. States could also emulate Denmark, forbidding ability groupings until late in high school, but unless very serious efforts are made to close the achievement gap before children arrive at kindergarten, that seems unlikely, too.
Of course there's also the reality that individual children will always mature at different rates, and back in Andersen's classroom, on a Thursday when this year's kindergartners stayed home and next year's kindergartners came in for pre-enrollment assessments, the developmental differences between one future student and the next were readily apparent. To gauge kindergarten readiness, Andersen and another kindergarten teacher each sat the children down one by one for a 20-minute test. The teachers asked the children, among other things, to: skip; jump; walk backward; cut out a diamond on a dotted line; copy the word cat; draw a person; listen to a story; and answer simple vocabulary questions like what melts, what explodes and what flies. Some of the kids were dynamos. When asked to explain the person he had drawn, one boy said: "That's Miss Maple. She's my preschool teacher, and she's crying because she's going to miss me so much next year." Another girl said at one point, "Oh, you want me to write the word cat?" Midmorning, however, a little boy who will not turn 5 until this summer arrived. His little feet dangled off the kindergarten chair, as his legs were not long enough to reach the floor. The teacher asked him to draw a person. To pass that portion of the test, his figure needed seven different body parts.
"Is that all he needs?" she asked a few minutes later.
The boy said, "Oh, I forgot the head."
A minute later the boy submitted his drawing again. "Are you sure he doesn't need anything else?" the teacher asked.
The boy stared at his work. "I forgot the legs. Those are important, aren't they?"
The most difficult portion of the test for many of the children was a paper-folding exercise. "Watch how I fold my paper," the teacher told the little boy. She first folded her 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper in half the long way, to create a narrow rectangle, and then she folded the rectangle in thirds, to make something close to a square.
"Can you do it?" she asked the boy.
He took the paper eagerly, but folded it in half the wrong way. Depending on the boy's family's finances, circumstances and mind-set, his parents may decide to hold him out a year so he'll be one of the oldest and, presumably, most confident. Or they may decide to enroll him in school as planned. He may go to college or he may not. He may be a leader or a follower. Those things will ultimately depend more on the education level achieved by his mother, whether he lives in a two-parent household and the other assets and obstacles he brings with him to school each day. Still, the last thing any child needs is to be outmaneuvered by other kids' parents as they cut to the back of the birthday line to manipulate age effects. Eventually, the boy put his head down on the table. His first fold had set a course, and even after trying gamely to fold the paper again in thirds, he couldn't create the right shape.


text:
An actor who appeared in the film "40-Year-Old Virgin" was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for stabbing his ex-girlfriend more than 20 times.
Shelley Malil was in court Thursday in connection to the brutal attack in Vista. Three months ago, a jury convicted him attempted premeditated murder and assault with a deadly weapon. On
Thursday, Judge Harry Elias gave the actor the maximum sentence. When all is said and done, with time already served, plus the additional five years, Malil will be eligible for parole in about nine or 10 years.
The 45-year-old testified at trial that he visited his ex-girlfriend Kendra Beebe at her San Marcos home in August 2008 to apologize for taking personal items from her house. He stabbed her with a kitchen knife after finding her with another man.
Early during Thursday's proceedings, Malil's attorney made a motion for a new trial, claiming the jury disagreed on a specific act of violence. Lawyer's also argued that the removal of a juror was premature and that the verdict was "inconsistent with prosecution's theory."
After the deputy district attorney went over each specific argument, Judge Harry Elias denied the motion, and several people, including the defendant, began delivering statements prior to sentencing.
Malil appeared in court dressed in a dark sports jacket, dress shirt and slacks, and did not appear to be handcuffed. Convicted defendants are often cuffed and wear prison-issued clothing. Malil's lawyer was likely granted a request for a clothing exception due to heavy media interest (there were eight videographers and three photographers in court).
"I am at a loss for words right now," Malil told the court. "I failed miserably, not only as a human being but as a father, son, uncle, brother, friend. What I did to Kendra, I don't have the words to express my remorse."
Beebe, too addressed the court.
"I stand before the defendant alive," Beebe testified. "Despite plunging a knife in me 23 times and trying to kill me, I am alive. Despite the wicked scars he left on my body, I am alive."
Beebe's mother, Laurey Manning, shared her feelings prior to sentencing as well.
"That night the defendant was a monster," Manning stated. "She didn't deserve this, but I am so grateful that I can hug her. I didn't see one ounce of remorse during the trial."
Malil's family also addressed the court, specifically Beebe. "Kendra, I want you to know that we have been praying for you every night since the incident,"said Malil's niece Anjali Varghese.
"I hope one day that you find it in your heart to forgive my uncle for the pain he's caused you,"she said.
Malil's sister told NBCSanDiego that family members were shocked to hear about the stabbing and wanted to contact Beebe.
"We weren't allowed to speak to her before, we wanted to the minute we heard, but we were advised not to by the attorney,"Varghese said.
Varghese said she met with Beebe privately after the sentencing and said it was "very emotional".
"We wish her well and we really hope that she heals and finds some peace in her life,"Varghese said.
Malil played Haziz, a co-worker of Steve Carell's character in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Look for leaders among laggardsOctober 14, 2013: 10:45 AM ET
This article was published in the October issue of Money magazine.
Searching for stocks that are likely to thrive in 2014? If recent history is a guide, one place to look is among shares that are badly lagging the S&P 500 this year.
Best Buy (BBY) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), after all, are soaring after being among the biggest losers last year. (Full disclosure: I recommended dumping HP in the January/February issue.) In 2012, Bank of America (BAC) and AIG (AIG) were on top, after being also-rans in 2011.
Of course, not all laggards become leaders -- see J.C. Penney (JCP). The key is "to look for stocks that haven't done as well, figure out why, and have the patience and conviction to hold," says Bob Phillips, managing principal at Spectrum Management Group.
Here are two iconic businesses with the potential to turn things around fairly soon:
Drill for value
Shares of energy giant Exxon Mobil (XOM) have performed well over the past decade, but not this year. Why? Investors have shunned big oil in favor of smaller firms directly tied to the shale gas boom, such as EQT (EQT), which is up more than 50% this year.
Watch: J.C. Penney not dead yet
But Mike Binger, senior portfolio manager at Gradient Investments, says Exxon has been unfairly overlooked. True, the energy giant's profit margins have shrunk lately, thanks in part to still historically low natural-gas prices, brought about by the shale boom. Yet there are several potential catalysts to reenergize shares of the country's biggest oil company: For starters, the recent rise in crude prices, now firmly above $100 a barrel. Plus the improved outlook for Europe, which is finally out of recession. That should only help Exxon, which derives 70% of its petroleum sales from the U.S. and Europe.
Exxon also trades at a price/earnings ratio of just 11, based on next year's estimated earnings, so the downside is limited.
Steel your portfolio
While Exxon is being hurt by the shale boom, U.S. Steel (X) may not be getting enough credit for it. Growing shale gas exploration has led to increased demand for tubular steel. Lately that hasn't translated into profits for the nation's second-biggest steel company, thanks to competition from cheap imports. That could change soon, though.
Related: Picking the best stocks for your portfolio
Eric Marshall, manager of the Hodges Small Cap Fund (HPDSX), says the rebound in Europe should lead to a stronger euro, which will make European steel and iron ore less competitive. And while the fact that China isn't growing as fast as forecasters expected is a concern for the industry as a whole, U.S. Steel isn't directly affected, since it does not sell into Asia or the emerging markets.
Analysts expect U.S. Steel to return to profitability by 2014. "The biggest gains made in cyclical companies is when they go from losing to making money," Marshall says. It's a risky contrarian bet. But those tend to be the ones that really pay off.
Send a letter to the editor about this story to email@example.com.


text:
Please take a moment to verify yourself:
Back to Dog Parks
Birthstone charm. Celebrate the birthmonth of your pet. 12 different stones set in a cute doggy bone.
Be sure to check out the pet businesses near you!
Be sure to check out the dog parks near you!
Pet podcast #61 features an interview with dog trainer Elizabeth Simpson of Tenderfoot Training and we talk about boundary training for dogs for about 30 minutes. What is boundary training? Most mammals have a sense of personal space and when …
Copyright © 2000-2020 Pets.ca. All Rights Reserved. | Copyright & Legal Statement | Privacy Policy & Security


text:
A selection of the global US social media cloud, resorting under the Patriot Act by Metahaven
E-Flux this month includes an essay by Metahaven (Part 1 of 3) on cloud computing, international law, and privacy. "Citizens across the world are subject to the same Patriot Act powers" the US has over its citizens" as data stored overseas by US companies is still subject to US surveillance. The US also excersizes "super-jurisdiction" in cases like the seizure of Megaupload, which was a Hong Kong-based company, the DOJ accused of "willful conspiracy to break US law" due it's global user base. Furthermore, "all top-level domain names" registered through VeriSign are subject to US seizure, even if operated entirely outside the country.
The essay continues, looking at examples of Apple's App store censureship of Drones+, Google+ and Facebook real name policy, and other examples of the "cloud as a political space."
"The first mention of the notion of the "cloud" was in a 1996 diagram in an MIT research paper," redrawn by Metahaven for e-flux
Most journalism routinely criticizes (or praises) the US government for its ability to spy on "Americans." But something essential is not mentioned here—the practical ability of the US government to spy on everybody else. The potential impact of surveillance of the US cloud is as vast as the impact of its services—which have already profoundly transformed the world. An FBI representative told CNET about the gap the agency perceives between the phone network and advanced cloud communications for which it does not presently have sufficiently intrusive technical capacity—the risk of surveillance "going dark." The representative mentioned "national security" to demonstrate how badly it needs such cloud wiretapping, inadvertently revealing that the state secrets privilege—once a legal anomaly, now a routine—will likely be invoked to shield such extensive and increased surveillance powers from public scrutiny.
Users' concerns about about internet surveillance increased with the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which was introduced into the US House of Representatives in late 2011. How the government would police SOPA became a real worry, with the suspicion that the enforcement method of choice would be standardized deep packet inspections (DPI) deployed through users' internet service providers—a process by which the "packets" of data in the network are unpacked and inspected. Through DPI, law enforcement would detect and identify illegal downloads. In 2010, before SOPA was even on the table, the Obama Administration sought to enact federal laws that would force communications providers offering encryption (including e-mail and instant messaging) to provide access by law enforcement to unencrypted data. It is, however, worth noting that encryption is still protected as "free speech" by the First Amendment of the US Constitution—further complicating, but not likely deterring, attempts to break the code. One way of doing so consists of surrounding encryption with the insinuation of illegality. The FBI in 2012 distributed flyers to internet cafe business owners requesting to be wary of "suspicious behavior" by guests, including the "use of anonymizers, portals or other means to shield IP address" and "encryption or use of software to hide encrypted data." In small print, the FBI added that each of these "indicators" by themselves, however, constituted lawful conduct...


text: Huawei Sunday added another product to its growing Android arsenal with the new Ascend P2. The super-size smartphone, which runs the Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system, comes with a 4.7-inch HD display, 16 GB of storage, and a special feature called "magic touch" that allows users to interact with the touch screen while wearing gloves. Huawei's version of Android also comes with a customer user-interface called Emotion UI on top of the Android OS.


text:
Secret Santa 2012
approved by Skiyomi & Sweet May. thread modelled after pupintheturd's thread last year.
In real-life, chances are you've probably participated in Secret Santa or Kris Kringle. For those of you who haven't, each person who participates anonymously gives a gift to someone else, whose name they draw out of a hat. We'll be doing the same thing, except with banners.
If you want to participate, just fill in the form below and make a post. You can sign up from now until Wednesday 5th December. On Thursday 6th December, I'll randomly assign each participant someone, and you'll have to make that someone a banner based on what they filled out on the form. Send me your finished banned by Wednesday December 19th, and I'll distribute the gifts in this thread on Friday December 21st.
Only sign up if you're actually going to make a banner for someone else; otherwise it's not fair. Your Secret Santa will choose the image(s) for your banner to make things more fun; only fill in the specified details on the form. Don't tell anyone who you have, don't complain about who you have, etc. And have fun, of course.
Thursday 6th December - Secret Santas assigned
Wednesday 19th December - Deadline for banner submission
Friday 21st December - Banners distributed
Fill in the form below if you want to participate.
for example:I'd like to join Secret Santa 2012.
Text on banner:
I'd like to join Secret Santa 2012.
Username: zhanton
Text on banner: Chaos
Style: Grunge
Have fun. If you have any questions, shoot me a PM.
-Blood Red Absol
-Hermosa Caldera
-The Crusader
-Sweet May
-Hermosa Caldera
-The Crusader
-Sweet May
Last edited:


text:
COVID-19 updates
Quality CareFind out why Mayo Clinic is the right place for your health care. Make an appointment.
Meet the StaffFind a directory of doctors and departments at all Mayo Clinic campuses. Visit now.
Research and Clinical TrialsSee how Mayo Clinic research and clinical trials advance the science of medicine and improve patient care. Explore now.
Visit Our SchoolsEducators at Mayo Clinic train tomorrow's leaders to deliver compassionate, high-value, safe patient care. Choose a degree.
Professional ServicesExplore Mayo Clinic's many resources and see jobs available for medical professionals. Get updates.
Philanthropy at Mayo ClinicYour support accelerates powerful innovations in patient care, research and education. Give today.
Subscribe to Housecall
Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.
Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex
Perflutren lipid microsphere preparation is an ultrasound contrast agent. Ultrasound contrast agents are used to help provide a clear picture during ultrasound. Ultrasound is a special kind of diagnostic procedure. It uses high-frequency sound waves to create images or "pictures" of certain areas inside the body. The sound waves produced by the ultrasound equipment can be reflected (bounced off) by different parts of the body, like for example, the heart. As the sound waves return they are electronically converted into images on a television screen. Unlike x-rays, ultrasound does not involve ionizing radiation.
The perflutren lipid microspheres preparation contains very small gas-filled lipid microspheres that reflect the sound waves and help create a better picture. The lipid microsphere preparation is given by injection into a vein before ultrasound to help diagnose problems of the heart.
This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor with specialized training in ultrasound procedures.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2020
Copyright © 2020 IBM Watson Health. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.


text: The Yamanote Line is one of Tokyo's busiest commuter rail lines, so it only seems natural to me that someone would want a constant reminder of the chaos, foul smells and groping that is their morning commute. This new watch from Seahope offers a highly detailed replica of electronic signage for your choice of the Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ebisu, and Shinagawa stops. Unfortunately, there are no maps or train timetables here, so the time and date is about as far as this watch goes helping you manage your commute. Available for ¥25,200 ($290). [Seahope via DVICE via Core77]


text: The Wonder Twins of Podcasting are starting off with a bang, pitching a new movie... The Emperess' New Wig! Coming soon to a theater near you! They also have a little trip down memory land to the 2000s. Nnekay also discusses her underwear choices... and James extols the beauty of jock straps. Nnekay talks about the her turn as the cheesiest audience member for Yan Can Cook. Also Whoops! We made a mistake Ed Skerin was the bad guy in Deadpol. James talks about meeting the legend...Dolores Huerta who might be side eyeing us. WHAT? In Nnekay's Korner she covers some of the ways that you can contribute still to Houston. This was recorded before Irma hit, so be sure to listen to the top of the show where we cover how you can help with Irma relief as well. Links are included in these show notes. Help is needed further than just the first few weeks. In James' Korner we got the return of Quizlet Korner! Some of the topics he covers: Harriet Tubman and the 20 dolla bill, Star Wars and Asian Stars, Todrick Hall, KKK, The Democratic Party, and Bisexual Discrimination. We are still aiming for that goal for 100 reviews by our 100th episode for the Minority Korner Give away! So please write those reviews!!!!


text:
The Wharton Moneyball Post Game Podcast
7/22/2020: COVID-19, Sports, David Fajgenbaum
David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc is a groundbreaking physician-scientist, disease hunter, and bestselling author of the acclaimed memoir, Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope Into Action. Fajgenbaum went from being a beast-like college Quarterback to receiving his last rites while in medical school and nearly dying four more times battling Castleman disease. To try to save his own life, he spearheaded an innovative approach to research and discovered a possible treatment that has put him into an extended remission. Now, he is spreading this approach to advance cures for other diseases and sharing lessons he learned about living from nearly dying through Chasing My Cure.
One of the youngest individuals ever appointed to the faculty at Penn Medicine and the top 1 percent youngest grant awardees of a leading NIH grant, Dr. Fajgenbaum is co-founder and executive director of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) and Associate Director, Patient Impact, for the Penn Orphan Disease Center. He has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, as a top healthcare leader by Becker's Hospital Review, the Global Genes RARE Champion of Hope: Science awardee, and one of three recipients--including Vice President Joe Biden--of a 2016 Atlas Award from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. Before co-founding the CDCN, Dr. Fajgenbaum co-founded and led the Actively Moving Forward Support Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grieving college students. Dr. Fajgenbaum has been profiled in a cover story by The New York Times as well as by Good Morning America, CNN, and the Today Show, among others.
Dr. Fajgenbaum earned a BS from Georgetown University magna cum laude with honors and distinction, MSc from the University of Oxford, MD from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, and MBA from The Wharton School. He is a former Division I college quarterback, state-champion weight lifter, and co-founder of a national grief support network.


text:
How can we help you?
We matched that to:
What is Balance Protection Plus?
Overview of the TD Insurance Credit Protection products available on TD Credit Cards
Balance Protection Plus is an optional insurance product, which can make payments towards your TD Credit Card Account when you can't. As a Primary Cardholder or Spouse of a Primary Cardholder, you would be covered for the following: Life, Critical Illness, Disability Requiring Hospitalization, Total Disability, and Dismemberment. Additionally, as a Primary Cardholder you would be covered for Involuntary Unemployment.
Other TD Insurance Credit Protection products are available to protect your TD Credit Card Accounts:
For more information about these coverages, please call 1-866-315-9069, Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM ET.
Thank you.
Please note that the answers to the questions are for information purposes only for the products discussed. Individual circumstances may vary. In case of discrepancy, the documentation prevails.


text:
A middleweight matchup between Dutch prospect Michael Kuiper (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and eight-time UFC veteran Tom Lawlor (8-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) is the latest reported addition to April's UFC on FUEL TV 9 event.
Swedish website MMAnytt.se was the first outlet to report the new booking, though UFC officials have yet to confirm the contest.
UFC on FUEL TV 9 takes place April 6 at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm. The event's main card airs on FUEL TV following prelims on Facebook.
The 23-year-old Kuiper fights for the third time in the octagon and looks to build on the strength of an impressive August 2012 TKO of Jared Hamman.
The judo black belt has struggled to return to action as he was expected to face Thiago Perpetuo at January's UFC on FX 7 event before the Brazilian was forced out and replaced by Caio Magalhaes. Unfortunately for Kuiper, Magalhaes also pulled out of the fight, and he was shifted into UFC on FOX 6 against Buddy Roberts. Shockingly, Roberts was also forced out and replaced by Josh Janousek. the promotional newcomer then subsequently withdrew from the fight, marking the fourth fighter to fall out of the matchup.
Meanwhile, Lawlor looks to rebound from a November split-decision loss to Francis Carmont at UFC 154. The always-colorful "Filthy Mauler" is now 2-4 over his past six appearances, though that stretch includes a 50-second "Knockout of the Night" win over Jason MacDonald.
With the reported addition, UFC on FUEL TV 9 now includes:
- Alexander Gustafsson vs. Gegard Mousasi
- Philip De Fries vs. Matt Mitrione
- Ryan Couture vs. Ross Pearson
- Mike Easton vs. Brad Pickett
- Akira Corassani vs. Robert Peralta
- Papy Abedi vs. Besam Yousef
- Marcus Brimage vs. Conor McGregor
- Ben Alloway vs. Ryan LaFlare
- Adlan Amagov vs. Chris Spang*
- Michael Johnson vs. Reza Madadi*
- Michael Kuiper vs. Tom Lawlor*
* – Not officially announced
For more on UFC on FUEL TV 9, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Tom Lawlor)


text:
WCU's College of Health and Human Sciences provides award-winning professional programs in a wide variety of health care fields. Its faculty and students are involved in groundbreaking research and community service through on-site clinics and outreach programs. Students in all fields gain experience while providing care to the rural communities surrounding WCU.
Western Carolina's Health and Human Sciences Building was designed and constructed specifically to meet the educational needs of 21st-century training for healthcare professions. This includes high-tech classroom and lab space for a wide range of fields.Learn More
WCU's Health and Human Sciences Building includes extensive clinic space, which houses primary care, sports medicine, and speech and hearing clinics along with part-time pro bono clinics for underinsured physical therapy patients as well as migrant farm workers.Learn More
Faculty and students in WCU's Environmental Health program are actively working on studies to help with the control of mosquito-borne illnesses in the United States and around the world.Learn More


text:
Contribute to ReadWriteThink / RSS / FAQs / Site Demonstrations / Contact Us / About Us
ReadWriteThink has a variety of resources for out-of-school use. Visit our Parent & Afterschool Resources section to learn more.
Home › Parent & Afterschool Resources › Podcast Episodes
Episode 50 — Goosebumps!
|Podcast Series
|Chatting About Books: Recommendations for Young Readers
See all episodes in this series
iTunes Subscription
|Original Air Date
|Published October 15, 2012
Music in this podcast is provided by Freeplay Music.
Book Chat
Skeleton Hiccups
Author: Margery Cuyler
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2002
Poor Skeleton has the hiccups, and they just won't go away. His friend Ghost tries to help him get rid of his hiccups using conventional methods, but a spoonful of sugar and a glass of water simply don't work for a skeleton. Finally, Ghost thinks of a smart way to get rid of those hiccups once and for all. This picture book has simple text that makes it a good read for young children, and anyone who has ever had the hiccups will sympathize with Skeleton's plight and laugh at the answer to ridding them!
Skeleton Meets Mummy
Author: Steve Metzger
Illustrator: Aaron Zenz
Publisher: Scholastic, 2010
This picture book has just the right amount of suspense and spook for the youngest readers. Sammy the Skeleton can't wait to go trick-or-treating, but first he must deliver hot soup to his grandma, which means he has to walk through the woods on his own. Just like anyone who has ever walked through the dark on his own, Sammy's imagination is bigger than reality EXCEPT when footsteps start following him through the woods. The footsteps don't go away, they can't be explained by wind or a creaking tree, and they are getting closer and closer. What or who is following Sammy? Kids will enjoy the build-up in this spooky but fun skeleton tale.
Bone Dog
Author: Eric Rohmann
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2011
Young Gus's favorite and best dog Ella passes on, but before she does, she makes this promise: no matter what she will always be with him. And since she makes that wish under a full moon, it cannot be broken. Time goes on and Gus must learn to live without Ella. On Halloween night, even though he can't imagine trick-or-treating without Ella, he makes himself go. At the end of the night, on his way home, he ends up in a dark graveyard. The skeletons come out of their graves to tease and scare Gus. Just when things seem like they might go wrong, Ella, who is now a bone dog, appears to help. The ending, I must leave to surprise, but Ella has a surefire way to scare the skeletons away once and for all. Award-winning Rohmann uses his colorful illustrations to unfold the surprise endingone that will leave readers laughing at Ella's ingenuity and the one thing that will really scare skeletons. It's not what you think!
Goosebumps HorrorLand (Books #13-19)
Author: R.L. Stine
Publisher: Scholastic, 2010-2011
Welcome to HorrorLand, where everyone can take a little horror home with them. In this series, kids visit the vast HorrorLand theme park where everything is frightening and scary. It's possibly the "scariest place on earth." Most of it is just in good fun, but there is always a little edge to the fun as if it there might be something more to it. Characters in the second arc (books 13-19) of the HorrorLand series all find their way to Chiller House, Jonathan Chiller's souvenir shop within HorrorLand. The kids make a purchase that will change their lives forever. When they choose their items, creepy Jonathan Chiller attaches a "little horror" (a small figurine) to their package and tells the kids that they can pay him back later. This simple statement proves to be more chilling than any of the kids could ever imagine. At the end of each book, the kids are unwillingly summoned back to Chiller House. How will they have to pay back Jonathan Chiller, and who is the mastermind behind it all? You will have to read all the way to book #19 before you find out!
#13 When the Ghost Dog Howls
#14 Little Shop of Hamsters
#15 Heads, You Lose!
#16 Weirdo Halloween
#17 The Wizard of Ooze
#18 Slappy New Year
#19 The Horror at Chiller House
Goosebumps Wanted: The Haunted Mask
Author: R.L. Stine
Publisher: Scholastic, 2012
Are you in need of a good scare? Then try this book. It all begins in the past with William, the owner of Williams Mask Emporium. His brother Randolph visits his shop with evil intentions, trying to get William to buy some of his masks, haunted masks. He gets angry that William doesnt want any of his masks and tugs the mask on Williams face. To Williams horror the mask forms to his face and will not come off; its almost as if it became a living breathing thing of its own. William claws at the mask and pulls it off along with his face. With his last dying breath he decides that he will protect the people from the masks by becoming a ghost in the attic. Now, fast forward 40 years. Lu-Ann is not looking forward to Pollys Halloween party. They are always major lame-o. She and her friends are trying to find a way to scare everyone. Well, they find it alright when Lu-Ann accidentally finds the haunted mask in the attic and pulls it on her face only to find out that the mask will not come off and now the horrifying mask is her actual face. To get the mask off, she must perform an act of unbelievable kindness. The only problem is Lu-Ann is finding it hard to fight the evil that is inside her. Will she be stuck with the mask forever? It takes a haunted pumpkin patch and a very good friend to help her out.
Expert Chat
Listen in as Emily chats with the master of chills, frights, and spookiness: R.L. Stine. R.L. Stine will talk about his newest book Wanted: The Haunted Mask and how he is able to keep finding new ways to frighten kids!


text:
The Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1
The Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1
There's something about magic that captivates readers. Perhaps it's the romantic notion that magic can wake princesses from a near-death sleep or that it can defeat evil wizards bent on destroying the world. Wherever magic is found you can be sure that a host of interesting characters and creatures follow in its wake. But what happens when magic begins to fade? What happens when magic is really only used for unclogging pipes and drains because it can't do anything else? And what happens when the last magical dragon is waiting for the last dragonslayer to come along and put it out its misery?
"The characters are wacky, the Quarkbeast is frighteningly adorable, and you just might learn a thing or two about what it means to be brave. Fortunately, this is just the first book in a planned trilogy, and I can only imagine what Fforde has up his sleeve for the rest."
Unfortunately, orphan Jennifer Strange could tell you all about this. Jennifer has spent the last couple of years running Kazam, an employment agency for magicians and has been watching the magic slowly fade from the planet. While this is nothing new, Jennifer's ears --- and everyone else's for that matter --- perk up when some magicians have a very important premonition: Maltcassion, the last dragon, will be killed by the last dragonslayer on the next Sunday at noon. Now, this is a big deal. Maltcassion currently resides in the dragon lands, acres and acres of land undisturbed by humans and protected by a magical barrier that keeps everyone out. With Maltcassion's death, it's only a matter of time before some big company or kingdom comes in and turns the lush forests and plains into a brand new parking lot.
Strange is just as perplexed as everyone else by this new announcement, but she isn't ready for what happens next. She finds out that the mighty Shandar, the last great magician who forged the pact that prevented dragons from attacking humans by created the dragon lands, declared hundreds of years ago that the last dragonslayer is Jennifer Strange herself! Jennifer quickly undergoes training --- about a minute's worth --- and is soon thrust into the spotlight with unintended consequences. Proposals of marriage, product endorsements, and TV interviews start flooding in and Jennifer isn't sure what to do.
There's also the little matter of the dragon. Maltcassion tells Jennifer that she needs to kill him. There is no other choice. Jennifer, though, knows that if she kills the dragon, she could start a war. A couple of kingdoms are moving in troops and declaring property rights, while big companies are lining up outside the magical barrier with heavy machinery to start building. Something else is coming, too. Something that nearly everyone can feel. Something called Big Magic.
It isn't everyday that you get a book about magic that also serves as a witty and astute social commentary. Thankfully, Jasper Fforde is a pro. Funny one-liners zing off the page, and every time Jennifer Strange encounters yet another commercial endorsement or business ploy, you can't help but smirk and roll your eyes. The characters are wacky, the Quarkbeast is frighteningly adorable, and you just might learn a thing or two about what it means to be brave. Fortunately, this is just the first book in a planned trilogy, and I can only imagine what Fforde has up his sleeve for the rest.
Reviewed by Benjamin Boche on October 12, 2012
The Last Dragonslayer: The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1
- Publication Date: October 2, 2012
- Genres: Children's 10-12, Fantasy
- Hardcover: 296 pages
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


text:
BMW Drivers Really Are Jerks, Studies Find
Drivers of BMWs are frequently criticized for habits on the road that are perceived as aggressive. Two new studies provide statistical evidence that BMW drivers really are the most aggressive and more prone to road rage. MarketWatch's Thomas Bemis reports. (Photo: AP/BMW)
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... it's become a cliche ... every decade BMW drivers are wrote ... that's what ... new evidence suggests it's true ... I'm Tom Bemis for MarketWatch and a couple of studies that now from both sides of the Atlantic ... offer statistical evidence for what complete jerks those guys in their three Series and five series really are in California researchers from UC Berkeley study what drivers did ... one of Dustin and just as input costs ... as a kid ... the sub post to stop ... the good news is that eighty to ninety percent of drivers didn't stop to let the pedestrian cross the street ... bad news is that the fancier the car the less likely they were to stop ... and the worst of all ... you guessed it ... the BMW drivers ... the second part of the study looked at driver behavior four way intersections ... once again the answer that are more likely the driver was to try to go through the intersection out for ... interestingly the high minded drivers of Prius hybrids also scored high ... on them is the bigger scale ... but it's not just in the United States to study in great Britain asked more than two thousand drivers about their experiences with road rage including aggressive driving ... style ... the interview is for us to identify the make ... color of the car and the gender of the driver in each of the incident ... once again it was the BMW drivers with the worst case ... the drivers in those cases and ... then ... thirties or forties and loopy and abuse were identified most with investors ... and the beach houses cars as the ultimate driving machine ... such a bad ... for people to ...


text:
Only tournaments sanctioned by USA Badminton that used Tournament Software will be included in the ratings. As this is a new program, USAB does not yet have the results from every tournament, but will keep updating as information is collected.
Levels are as follows:
2.0 – Novice level 1
2.5 - Novice level 2
3.0 - Intermediate level 1
3.5 - Intermediate level 2
4.0 - Intermediate level 3
4.5 - Advanced level 1
5.0 - Advanced level 2
5.5 – Elite level 1
6.0 – Elite level 2
Remember, you must be a current member in order to be on the Ratings list, so if your membership has expired, renew it now HERE. Improvements will be made on an ongoing basis.
Rankings for USAB Elite Athletes who play internationally as well as Juniors will remain the same.


text:
The Challenge tee is made in a Polyester/elastane mix with mesh panels at side for added breathability. Designed with a gradient Salming print at back and logos in contrast color, this tee is an excellent choice for a tough indoor training session.
Features & Functions
• Cool feel
• Meshpanels under arms and at front
• Print at back
Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL
There are no reviews yet.


text:
"Young Justice" Series Premiere Friday, January 7 at 7pm (ET, PT) on Cartoon Network!
In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over - to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you're not just a normal teenager? What if you're a teenage super hero? How much harder will it be to prove yourself in a world of super powers, super villains and super secrets? Are you ready to come of age in such a world? Are you ready for life or death rites of passage? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you're worthy of the Justice League? That's exactly what the members of Young Justice - Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis - will found out ... whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero.
This all-new series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and based upon characters from DC Comics. Sam Register (Teen Titans, Ben 10, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) is the executive producer. Brandon Vietti (Batman: Under the Red Hood, Superman Doomsday, The Batman) and Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-Man, W.I.T.C.H.) are the producers.


text:
Brown, Hallie Q.
|HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY -- Born in New York City--1849 -- Died in Brooklyn--1916
A tiny rill has its mission as well as a majestic river. Aggregated rain drops unite to form mighty billows. The faint flush of dawn though lacking the resplendence of cloudless noon, is none the less a direct emanation from the primal source of light. Any record of good repute attached to lives of even the obscure, embraces much that is illuminating that contrasts gracefully with the follies and foibles incident to humanity. Such details are worthy of narration for their forceful, healthy influence over every day folk who in so large a majority comprise our work-a-day world.
"As a stained web extended to the sun
Grows pure by being purely shone upon,"
so human beings grow more enduring in spirit, more stable in principle by the contemplation of careers finely illustrative of human possibilities, in attempts to climb the ladder of patience and devotion to duty up to the great heart of the infinite Creator.
It is a fact equally gratifying and indisputable that many, many, of "our women," under most untoward conditions, have lived lives, the persual of whose details cannot fail to interest, should not fail to kindle or intensify a longing for better things. Most of these women had during their existence reputations that were limited and local; it is their due that a wider circle than that composed of reflective personal friends should become familiarized with the diverse yet undeviating admirable traits of character they developed. Most were matrons; a fair minority
The hall-mark of good woman, and all consistently good women are truly great women, is reverence for humanity and faith in God, that benign Father who can transmute pain into peace and who will eventually blend all earth's discords into one grand heavenly harmony.
Once, long ago, a woman sang of her sex in these lines of gloomy prophecy:--
"* * * her lot is on you
To make idols and to form them clay,
And to bewail that worship."
The subject of this sketch, herself a poet, caroled her lay of faith and hope in these gladsome words:--
"With vision clear and purpose true
Humanity's broad scheme will trace;
* * * thus life expands
To sweet fruition, till the waves
of Time are lulled on golden sands."
In the world's great output of poetic literature expressed in our noble English language, a few, a scanty few productions stand unrivalled, unapproachable; for the great singers, those touched with the burning coals of the divine afflatus, are exceptional, each the marvel of his age. But the muse of fancy has many poetical gifts varying in degree but not in satisfaction. Each minor bard is content
"Like an Aeolian's wind played tune,
Makes perfect all the psalm."
Among those who have been responsive to this simple yet unique test are three of our women whose songs have made music during three successive generations. Phyllis Wheatly who carolled at the dawn, was endowed with the highest degree of intellectuality; Frances Ellen Watkins Harper in later times was most prolific in tender thoughts and graceful expression. Her verses brought cheer, stimulated hope and revived faith even when their minor undertones suggested soul conflict through tense and trying experiences. Cordelia Ray's poetry, with less exuberant fancy may be likened to the quaint touching music of a shell murmuring of the sea--a faint yet clear note sounding all the pathos and beauty of undying life. It is the peculiar share of clarity and elevation combined that glorifies and makes so rich the quiet flow of music in her songs.
In the dedication of her book of poems, Miss Ray refers to the memories of a household "made beautiful by the presence of loved ones who have entered the Life Immortal." The tender and delicate appreciation may with propriety be applied to her personally, for in her home she moved serenely, diffusing all the light, warmth and beauty of a sunny presence. The even tenor of her way was apparent from her earliest youth. Her daily walk and conversation, her attitude toward the various affairs in which she took an intelligent and willing part, are well remembered. There was a transfiguring light that radiated from her, for she bore herself as one endowed with an innate sense of things divine.
The home so highly prized by Cordelia was a lovely one both in the material and in the immaterial sense of the term. In it she passed a sheltered childhood growing and developing under the fostering care of a refined, cultured mother and made steady by the inspiring example of a vigorous, energetic father whose natural puritanical stamina were neutralized by deep sense of justice and sincere deside to aid, uplift and make better. Miss Ray came of the primitive Massachusetts stock, being a direct descendant of aboriginal Indian, English and of the first Negroes of New England. To find an ancestor of hers with unmixed blood, one would have to trace back from four or five generations. Emphasis is made of this fact as a vital disproof of the theory that a mixture of blood deteriorates all the component elements. Miss Ray had all the qualifications of a gentle woman. She was well-born, well bred and enjoyed all the advantages accruing to her position in a family where birth, breeding and culture were regarded as important assets. The parents of the Ray Children could afford to give them all the intellectual advantages of the time. Those who lived were well educated and three of the girls were college graduates. Cordelia became proficient in French, Greek and Latin and was an English scholar. By opportunity, habit and inclination, she was essentially a student.
Her life long companion was her next older sister Florence who was an accomplished teacher and a brilliant conversationist. In society, Florence naturally attracted immediate attention but no one who ever met Cordelia could entirely forget her. Her curious air of detachment from things ordinary, her entire absence from affectation, her genuine self-forgetfulness, made her charming. A classmate once said of her that she appeared as one unspotted by the world. Always affable she dispensed only kindness and looked for nothing but goodwill. To describe her in her own words: "Her soul was trust, her eyes a prayer!"
When Florence undertook teaching, Cordelia, ever desirous
Yet she was far from unpractical. She enjoyed imparting to others the knowledge which so attracted her. She almost always had some pupils individually and in small groups whom she taught music, mathematics and the languages. At one time for two successive seasons she conducted a class in English literature composed of teachers. With such a grade of pupils the course was extensive and thoroughly enjoyed.
That such a woman should be accurate, precise, and methodical may seem contradictory; yet she certainly was an example that ideality is not an impracticable adjunct to painstaking. She made an admirable secretary and served in that capacity in several organizations. Her work and her worth were duly recognized and appreciated by friends to whom such help as she was able and willing to render seemed invaluable.
Happy with her friends, her books, her writings, her charities, she lived a simple, blameless life. Her wide range of reading, her habits of sustained and elevated thinking aided to lift her literary efforts far above the ordinary. Gradually she attained an exquisite sense of fitness which
It was fortunate indeed for her to be able to love a life she so enjoyed and for which she was so well fitted. When the closing hour became apparent, she shrunk from the crisis not from fear or selfishness but because it entailed separation from that beloved Florence, long a confirmed invalid whom she had watched and tended with a devotion surpassing the love of a mother. But she rallied to her support that faith that had never failed and meekly said farewell to her whom she has mortalized in verse as her dear "Heart-Sister."
Were it as discreet as agreeable, a critical reading of at least one of her poems would form a fitting conclusion; but such an indulgence may to an extent defeat the intent of this volume. The immediate purpose of this book is to be something beyond a vehicle for information or a source of casual enjoyment. It is designed to arouse that admiration that leads to emulation, to emphasize the doctrine of personal responsibility. The number of talents a person has is of minor importance compared with the realization that each human being is accountable for the development and exercise of all powers and faculties with which he is endowed.
Mention should be made of Miss Ray's filial and fraternal feelings. With Florence she collaborated a memoir
A volume of her poems was published in 1910, a copy of the same would be a valuable addition to any library. It displays as reflected in a mirror, her versatility, love of nature, classical knowledge, delicate fancy, an unaffected piety. She sings like a gladsome child basking in the sun-shine of earth's cheer and beauty; again, like a serious maiden she stands with quiet reverent feet at the edge of sealed mysteries. Whether gleeful or sober, carolling or crooning she is intensely feminine and her flights of fancy, not unduly elevated are always steady.
One of her poems is an unconscious portrait of herself; only two slight verbal alterations have been made to make the picture perfect:
"Her ringlets glistened like the bronze of morn
And framed an oval outline statue fair,
Somewhere a faint blush lingered for awhile,
Sending its ripples to the wavy hair.
Upon her features grace had shed its charm
And in her soul sweetness to naught gave way;
'Twas like a streak of sunshine thrown across
The motionless repose of early day,
No sorrow rested on the calm pure brow
But thought held undisputed empire there,
Eyes like the dusky brown of woodland tree,
Gazed in a dream or in a quiet prayer,
And through her aspect something noble shone
That proved the soul in charity had grown."


text:
Collaborative cloud-based tools to consider, Real-Time Collaboration Tools
5 Free Cloud-Based Document Collaboration Tools to Power Your Productivity
- Evernote
Learn More about Evernote with These Excellent Video Tutorials ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning
- Google Docs
Kaizena: add audio comments to the content of your Google documents http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/10/a-great-tool-to-add-audio-feedback-to.html
- MindMeister (paid, might want to skip it)
- Trello
- WordPress
Doodle – Meeting Wizard
Google Drive, formerly known as Google Docs
The 10 best powerPoint Alternatives!
33 Highly Useful Presentation Tools
Prezi http://philpresents.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/two-reasons-i-dont-recommend-prezi/
20 Options for Real-Time Collaboration Tools
Neat Chat: It is one of the easiest and fastest ways to have online conversations with a group of friends or colleagues. It provides a clean, fast and robust chat room where you can share files, send private messages and even access conversations that happened in your absence.
Today's Meet: Allows you to have quick conversations in private online chat rooms. It has a back channel which gives you the ability to adjust your audience's needs and emotions. In your chat room you can use live stream to make comments, ask questions and use that feedback to tailor your presentations to address your audience's needs
Zoho Writer: Is a powerful rich text-editor for Android devices, which allows you to create documents seamlessly with a rich feature-set. You can either save these docs in local devices or cloud devices like Zoho Docs. Zoho Docs workspace is a collaboration tool, which allows you to share work on the same doc with other people in real-time.
Scriblink: Is a free digital whiteboard that users can share online in real-time. It can be used by up to 5 users at the same time. It can be used just for fun or for more practical things like layout planning, concept diagramming, or tutoring a friend.
Stinto: Is for creating free chats and inviting others to join just by sending a simple link. It allows you to share photos and images with others. You can upload photos, sketches, diagrams, etc. to your chat for others to view.
Mind42: Allows collaborative online mind-mapping and brainstorming. It runs in your browser and allows you to manage your ideas alone or while working in a group. It allows you to quickly create, manage and edit the data structure required for mind maps.
Scribblar: Offers you an online whiteboard, real-time audio, document upload, text-chat and more. It is a perfect online-tutoring platform. You can use it to revise artwork and images; create brainstorming, product demos, interviews and tests.
CoSketch: Is a multi-user online whiteboard designed to give you the ability to quickly visualize and share your ideas as images. Anything you paint is shared in real-time and can be saved and embedded on forums, blogs, etc.
Twiddla: Is a real-time online collaboration tool, which allows text and audio chat in real-time. It also allows you to review websites within the application.
Etherpad: Is an open source online editor providing collaborative editing in real-time. You can write articles, press releases, to-do lists and more along with your friends or colleagues all working on the same doc at the same time.
Tinychat: It lets you create a private chat room in an instant, the URL of which can be emailed to others to participate in real-time. It is very easy to use and also has features to support video capability.
FlashMeeting: Is an easy-to-use online meeting application. A meeting is pre-booked by a registered user and a URL, containing a unique password for the meeting, is returned by the FlashMeeting server, which is passed on to the people who want to participate.
BigMarker: It combines messaging, file sharing and video calls into one place. BigMarker communities have features for conferencing for up to 100 people, presenting PowerPoints and other docs, sharing your screen, recording, storing, exporting sessions and more.
Meetin.gs: Is a web and mobile meeting organizer which brings the benefits of online collaboration to both online and offline meetings. It provides a dedicated online meeting space for scheduling, material sharing and agenda setting.
Conceptboard: It provides instant whiteboards to create a platform for you to communicate with your team. Feedback on visual content is easy and there is support for tasks, reports and more. It simplifies and improves collaboration on visual content and accelerates collaboration processes within your team.
Speek: Allows you to simply organize conference calls. Speek uses a personal or business link instead of a phone number and PIN for conference calls. Participants can join or start a call from their phone, web or mobile browser. You can see who's joined, who's talking, share files, use call controls and more.
Draw It Live: Is a free application that allows you to work together with other people to draw in real-time. You can create a whiteboard and share its URL with other people to let them join.
LiveMinutes: Is an online conferencing app. A unique URL address is created for your conference that you can share with people you want to connect with. You can share audio, virtual whiteboards, documents, etc. and a feature to share videos is coming soon.
FlockDraw: Is an online whiteboard based painting and drawing tool. It makes it easy to draw online free with multiple people participation. There can be unlimited people in a room with drawing updates in real-time.
VIDquik: Is a video-conferencing platform where you can connect and talk with anyone you want. You just need to enter the Email of the person you want to call, they click on the link and the two of you are in a web-based video call.


text:
Misha tells the Huffington Post that Castiel has a dubious skill he'll be showing off, along with an upcoming showdown with Lucifer. If you don't mind mild spoilers, read the interview here.
Buddy TV wonders if there's more to Dean's question "Would your Mother and Father still be alive if your brother was never born?" than just allowing him to avoid the nutcracker.
According to this poll, Supernatural is the #1 favorite imported show in Japan.
Tom Surette of TV.com calls Supernatural "the best show on television that nobody watches" and says it's "one of the most daring and entertaining shows on television."
Casting News: (Slightly spoilerish) Producers are looking for an actor to guest star as a 17-year-old Gary in episode 12 "Swap Meat". The character is described as being "Puny, gawky, bespectacled, smart and geeky, he's a naive, amateur Satanist who works at a fast food joint and longs to break free from his wealthy, stifling parents". [SpoilerTV]
Finally, news that will thrill some and make others weep, Jensen is engaged! That's right, he and longtime girlfriend, Danneel Harris, will be tying the knot. Here's a pic of them at this weekend's Breeder's Cup. And you can read more about the official announcement here.


text:
Just in time for the holidays comes this welcome news from the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (as cited in More magazine, December 2011/January 2012): Retail Therapy Works!
You weren't expecting that, were you? Daily shopping seems to cut a woman's risk for early death by 23 percent (I can't wait to show this statistic to my husband!). Apparently researchers suspect (without any concrete evidence) that the health benefits are due to the "…physical activity that running errands requires, socializing with people you meet along the way and enjoying the fun of getting out of the house…"
Maybe. But I have another theory (equally without concrete evidence). It's unclear what type of shopping is referred to here. If it is grocery shopping, then there can definitely be a social component, although I sometimes think the experience at the market can hasten rather than delay death!
I actually believe that it is not the social component that's crucial in this shopping situation (although having friends and community clearly has important health benefits), but the exact opposite.
It's the anonymity of the shopping experience that's soothing. It's the complete alone time (except for some of those annoying sales women who want to see how you look in every outfit – "no problem, this extra-large runs small; this petite runs large" – but are never around when you actually need a different size!). It's the all-consuming and all-absorbing distraction of the experience.
Whether we are home with our children, working, in school, or some combination, whether we are married or single, our lives are stressful. Someone or something is always pulling on us. Shopping is one of those rare occasions when we can simultaneously be involved in activity and yet left alone.
All else fades – all the needs awaiting us, the dishes, the work project, the emails, the homework, the term papers, the bills due (this latter can be a problem under the circumstances!) as we focus solely on the situation at hand.
There's just enough activity to keep our minds and bodies involved but not enough to engage our emotions, leaving us – albeit briefly – anxiety free. (Madison Avenue take note!)
So I wasn't surprised to read that statistic, just a little taken aback at its source. And I don't think the lesson is really that we need to shop more (okay dear, you can breathe a sigh of relief now). The point is that we need to refresh and reinvigorate ourselves. And in order to do, we need to find activities that occupy our minds and bodies but not our hearts.
Perhaps cooking, perhaps exercise. Perhaps a Torah class. (There I said it -- I am a Rebbetzin after all.) A Torah study class actually fits the bill perfectly – it's completely intellectually engaging and all-involving without any emotional pain. I don't know if the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health wants to conduct that study but I'm sure they would find that women involved in learning Torah, women who have an in-depth involvement with the wisdom of our heritage and the words and lessons of our Creator have decreased their risk of early death even more.


text:
Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but The Onion is kind of a cunt, right?
For anyone who's missed the controversy surrounding the satirical publication, it began over an Oscar-related tweet that called the nine-year-old star of Beasts of Southern Wild a cunt. Within an hour, the tweet was deleted, but by then of course millions of The Onion's followers had already seen it, and many had retweeted it. People like Wendell Pierce and many others criticized the paper, and the next morning its CEO issued an apology for the tweet.
Now, I should say that I don't think the joke was very good: It was crude and simple and basically relied on the shock value of calling a little girl the c-word, so I can see why many found it offensive. But I also think the ideas behind the joke—that Quvenzhané Wallis is so adorable and beloved BUT that Hollywood often turns quickly and cruelly on child stars—-are perfect subjects for The Onion's brand of satire. The product wasn't good, but the thought behind it was fine. Continue reading


text:
You'd think middleweight Jake Rosholt's appearance at Saturday's Bellator 37 event might be a sign of things to come.
After all, the promotion is always looking for standout talent to recruit for future tournaments, and a featured fight can often lead to an invitation.
But Rosholt (8-3 MMA, 0-0 BFC) told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) that his fight with Brandon McDowell (4-3 MMA, 0-0 BFC) is just a one-off. He doesn't want to be tied down.
Bellator 37 takes place at Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Okla., and airs live on MTV2.
The 28-year-old Rosholt has a picture of what his career will look like in the near future, and it's got an octagon in it.
Although Bellator's tournament structure offers a great opportunity, Rosholt, a WEC and UFC veteran, said his first priority is to be ready for the UFC when he makes the kind of noise that warrants a call from the big show.
If he signs on to a tournament, the line could be busy.
"Bellator's doing a great thing and are doing a good job, but it's not something that really interests me," Rosholt said. "I want to fight for the UFC again, and Bellator's contracts could be super long, especially if you get in the tournament or win the tournament.
"It becomes a really long, drawn-out deal, and that's not a situation I want to put myself in."
Rosholt said his involvement with Bellator came about through recent work with a regional promotion, C3 Fights. Because Bellator does not carry a promoter's license in all of the states in which it holds events, it often relies upon local promoters to find talent for the preliminary card.
In fact, two other big-show veterans fight alongside Rosholt on the non-televised card: UFC vet Roli Delgado and WEC vet Jameel Massouh.
Right now, Rosholt is trying to peek his head out from the middleweight crowd, and he just wants to stay busy. He earned a win four weeks ago at a C3 Fights event, and he'll fight again three weeks after Saturday's show in a card promoted in Arlington, Texas, where he and his teammates at Team Takedown relocated after a long stint in Las Vegas.
He is now 2-1 since he was released by the UFC in late 2009 with a 2-2 record.
"I'm just trying to knock out some fights and get some experience," he said. "Get some wins under my belt, and hopefully get back into a big show before too long."
For more on Bellator 37, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


text:
It's almost amazing that XIII has created such a buzz. Its source material, a popular French comic book that's been running since 1984, is not exactly a household name in the United States. Plus, it's a first person shooter a saturated genre that has to work harder and harder to impress increasingly jaded gamers. Nonetheless, the buzz is here and it's strong. And it may well be deserved. If the gameplay and story are as well executed as the much vaunted look, XIII could find legions of U.S. patriots who find a new respect for the recently reviled French. Ah, nationalism. How we love thee.
Novel Graphics
The first things mentioned in any discussion of XIII, and deservedly so, are the cel-shaded graphics. This isn't a totally new concept, but XIII utilizes cel-shading to achieve its ultimate goal: allowing the gamer to play a living graphic novel. Using cel-shading, Ubisoft has re-created the graphic novel artistry of William Vance in unbelievable detail. Adding onomatopoeia to show the "tap" of guards approaching footsteps, the gurgle of "argh" from a fallen foe, or the "click" of an empty weapon in large animated onscreen fonts, for example, seems to fit right into the cartoon milieu of XIII. It rewards accuracy with beautiful paneled close-ups of headshots and knife-kills, and flows cutscenes into the game engine without even a moment's rest, pulling into a windowed close-up for effect.
Each of these subtle and not-so-subtle choices add a layer to the game's own logic. There's an otherworldliness to XIII's look, an almost cold sheen that the comic/panel look provides. XIII is the definition of "stylish."
The X-Files Meets The French Connection?
Beyond the look, though, is XIII's engaging story, complete with amnesia and paranoia in spades. The main character awakens with no memory, and a tattoo on his chest of the number (you guessed it) XIII. It seems quite clearly derived from Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity (see: "lifted from"), but after the initial similarities veers off in a crazy and wonderful direction all its own. The first story arc, or five issues, of Jean Van Hamme's French comic is the main inspiration, for those in the know.
As the story unfolds, the entire opening of the game takes on an almost menacing tone. For gamers walking into this game cold, the effect will probably be almost shocking. Or at least, for those who have never read the comic -- meaning almost everyone in the United States.


text:
Scientists identify "genetic signature" of stem cells
Princeton University scientists have taken a major step toward identifying the "genetic signature" of stem cells, discovering a subset of genes whose products may give these cells their unique traits.
The results promise to become an important resource to biologists as well as medical researchers who are trying to harness stem cells as therapies for neurological diseases, birth defects, heart disease, blood cancers and many other disorders.
In two papers published this week, Princeton biologists identified 283 genes that are common to several of the most important types of stem cells, as well as about 4,000 genes that are active in the surrounding tissues that nurture stem cells and give them cues about how to behave. Databases of these genes have been published online and are freely available to anyone.
"The question we have been asking is: Can we identify the molecular parts list, or toolbox, that the stem cell has at its disposal?" said Ihor Lemischka, the senior author of one of the papers. "We found that there is a core set of molecular machinery that might be responsible for regulating the activities that make stem cells unique."
Currently scientists identify stem cells by the way they behave and by chemical markers on the cell surface. However, the genes that give rise to these characteristics remained largely unknown. A comprehensive catalog of stem cell genes could refine the identification process, as well as reveal the mechanisms that make the cells function as they do.
Read the full story in the news release.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601


text:
The holidays are upon us and with the season comes the hustle and bustle of family gatherings, shopping and cooking. Personal, family and religious traditions are an important part of the festivities for seniors. But, with the "busyness" of the season, these cherished traditions can be forgotten or diminished at times if family caregivers get pulled in too many directions or if a senior doesn't have family nearby.Professional CAREGiversSM can bring hope and be a shining light for seniors during the holidays.
Watch this video from CAREGiver Lynn and see how she brought joy to a client and his wife with one special experience that has turned into a beautiful memory for the family.
In addition to offering hope and companionship during the season, CAREGivers are a key component in helping seniors maintain important daily routines. Many senior's health routines can be disrupted to accommodate holiday happenings. And, all the activity may bring unnecessary stress.CAREGivers are trained to keep basic care needs top of mind. This seemingly simple task is actually very important. If seniors are out and about more than normal over the holidays, it's possible that medication may not be taken at the right time or even at all. When on the go, nutrition and hydration can also vary from what a senior may be accustomed to.
A CAREGiver can work closely with a senior's family to ensure his or her needs are being met and adapted to accommodate holiday happenings.
Professional CAREGivers can light up the holiday spirit by helping recreate family traditions, decorating the home, baking treats and flipping through family photo albums letting seniors re-live precious memories. These acts are especially meaningful to seniors who are alone during the holidays or those with family who are unable to visit. As wonderful as these interactions are for seniors, they are equally impactful for CAREGivers.
See what it means to these CAREGivers to spend time with seniors throughout the holiday season.
Here are some suggestions to keep the holiday spirit lively for the senior loved ones in your life:
An older adult can feel overwhelmed during the holidays with too much of a good thing. Be cognizant of holiday happenings and how they're impacting your loved one. A few considerations are below:
Find more caregiving tips and holiday stress relief suggestions at
CaregiverStress.com. If you find yourself in a situation where you believe you and your loved one can benefit from respite care, visit
HomeInstead.com to find a professionally trained CAREGiver in your area.
May the light shine on you this holiday season,Lakelyn Hogan
How do I get a senior citizen sign up for Christmas
Hi Cynthia,
Contact your local Home Instead Office https://www.homeinstead.com/get-more-info and they will be able to help.
My mom just passed away on November 3rd, I spent many days in the nursing home watching her and others living such sad lives. I want to help with a gift for your elderly Xmas program!
Hello Rosie, I'm really sorry for your loss. If you contact your local Home Instead Office at https://www.homeinstead.com/get-more-info, they will be able to help.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful content loaded with information. I would like to add a point to this. Once you've finished dinner and are stuck with a bunch of holiday leftovers, create individual meal packages and visit a few of the shut-ins that live in your neighborhood. Go see family members who are no longer able to drive and that may not have visitors. Elderly shut-ins love to have company and the food is an added bonus!
Home Instead offers free monthly newsletters with tips and advice for caregivers of elderly loved ones. (Privacy Policy)