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Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials
Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:
May 9
The Post-Intelligencer, Paris, Tennessee, on solar panels:
President Barack Obama is announcing a bundle of plans for boosting solar power and promoting energy efficiency.
That may be about all he can do on his own authority without support from Congress, but it's still half a loaf.
One of the steps he was touting was completion of solar panel installation on the White House roof. Well, whoopee.
Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the roof of the executive residence, but Ronald Reagan had them removed. That made the panels a political football rather than a modest efficiency tool.
The panels will be more effective as a symbol of presidential policy than as a real contribution to the nation's energy efficiency.
America needs a broader, more inclusive energy policy, but it's never going to get one as long as political leaders hold to hard-line policy.
"The president can't claim an 'all of the above' strategy while he's blocking the Keystone pipeline, slow-rolling the approval of new energy exploration and proposing job-killing regulations that will destroy the American coal industry," said a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, the ultra-Republican from Ohio.
Filter out the partisan rhetoric, and the man has a point. Solar panels do not a policy make. Power-saving green steps alone can't meet our energy needs.
The energy efficiency guys and the we-need-more-power bunch need to bury the hatchet. The issue is too important to the national well-being to be a focus for political games.
May 8
Marietta Daily Journal, Georgia, on Benghazi:
President Barack Obama has now spent the past year and a half wishing that questions about the Benghazi attack would just go away.
You can bet that former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting Hillary Clinton is wishing the same thing, except more so.
But that isn't likely to happen thanks to damning information that has now come to light. And while our friends on the left here in Georgia and elsewhere love to try and spin Benghazi as a Fox News fantasy, the public has the New York Times to thank for the latest revelations about how minimizing the damage to Obama's 2012 re-election campaign — not national security — was the top priority in the White House in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2012, tragedy that left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead at the hands of Libyan terrorists.
The attack on the embassy there came against a backdrop of Team Obama's repeated assertions that the war on terror was over and that we had won.
The attacks in Libya ran counter to that, so Obama and those around him quickly came up with an alternative version: that the supposedly spontaneous demonstrations and the attacks that followed were inspired by an amateurish, obscure Internet video, even though the evidence and common sense ran counter to that.
The Times reported late last month that Obama's deputy national security adviser, Benjamin J. Rhodes, emailed U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice on Sept. 14, 2012, just before she made a round of high-profile appearances on Sunday morning news-talk shows that day.
Rhodes urged Rice to "underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy" and that she should "reinforce the President and Administration's strength and steadiness in dealing with difficult challenges."
It's the "smoking gun" that proves the administration misled the American public about the Benghazi incident right from the very start. It cynically considered that ensuring the re-election of Obama was more important than telling the public the truth.
But truth has a way of ultimately coming out.
May 11
Boston Herald on climate dogma:
The Obama administration is trying to scare us with totally unverifiable projections of a disastrous global warming. We trust that most people are not going to fall for this outrageous scare-mongering.
The ballyhooed third National Climate Assessment, released last Wednesday by several agencies, alleges first, the world has warmed over the last century and second, it's going to get much worse.
This is supposed to convince us of the wisdom of President Obama's plans to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief gas said to be warming the planet.
It has indeed warmed slightly (by at most 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) over the past 100 years. Saying so ignores an unexplained cooling from about 1940 into the 1970s. It warmed from the 1970s to 1998; there has been no warming since even as carbon dioxide concentrations rose.
Predictions of floods here and heat waves there and falling sky somewhere else are produced by already failed computer models. None can reproduce changes in temperature observed in the past. Relying on such failed prophets is folly.
Unsurprised critics note that the concentrations of water vapor in the troposphere that are supposed to amplify warming simply aren't there.
The assessment rambles about heat and rainfall and other unpleasantness, but pays no attention to the fact that there is no trend in the incidence of tornadoes, or the fact that hurricanes making landfall are at a record low, or the fact that even more emission cuts than Obama wants would lower the temperature in 2100 by one-seventh of a degree.
As Yogi Berra said, it's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. The country needs a devil's advocate, with adequate funds for research independent of the army of alarmists who have built careers on dubious dogma.
May 12
Chicago Tribune on America's oil boom:
After a harsh winter, it's time to get out and hit the open road. So what's with $4-a-gallon gasoline? North American oil production is on the rise, so you might have expected a break at the pump by now. Yet gas prices remain stubbornly high.
What happened to the homegrown energy boom? Wasn't North Dakota supposed to be America's Saudi Arabia? How come gas isn't back to $2 a gallon?
The boom is real, and North Dakota, along with states and Canadian provinces, is producing a gusher of oil. The North American energy bonanza now underway is helping the U.S. economy to pull out of the doldrums. It helped ease the pain of Chicago residents during the cold winter, since stepped-up natural gas production kept heating bills lower.
But gasoline, alas, is not going to be half price anytime soon, if ever. America's oil boom is delivering broad benefits, but not necessarily at the pump.
The good news is that oil analysts say gas prices probably peaked for this year in late April.
Based on today's market conditions, prices should decline by a nickel or a dime over the next month.
Prices bounce around during the year. It's not unusual for prices at the pump to rise in the spring, ahead of the summer driving season. That's due in part to refineries switching to a different formula for gasoline that meets clean-air requirements during the warm-weather months. As companies draw down winter stockpiles, conduct routine spring maintenance and ramp up production of the summer blend, prices are prone to short-term spikes.
This year, the transition has gone smoothly. Supplies of reformulated gasoline are building. The usual run-up in prices ahead of the summer driving season is likely to be especially short-lived. Prices also vary by geography: Some parts of the country — including southern Illinois, though not heavily taxed Chicago — could see gasoline selling below $3 a gallon later in 2014.
The controversial extraction technology known as fracking is contributing to the enhanced production of domestic oil and natural gas. The light, sweet crude produced in the U.S. sells at a considerable discount here compared with the price paid on other continents, because there is so much of it at our disposal, according to Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service. The oil industry, as well as energy-dependent chemical, utility and industrial users, has been growing fast as a result. That economic activity ultimately creates jobs.
But the impact at the pump is limited because oil is an internationally traded commodity. By virtue of its soaring production, North America is more insulated from price shocks prompted by disruptive events in the Middle East and other oil-producing regions than it has been in years. The U.S. shale boom is replacing oil being kept off the market because of geopolitical issues in Ukraine, Iran and elsewhere.
But the U.S. can't insulate itself entirely from global energy markets.
Energy prices are always a moving target. We got a break on heating bills during an extremely cold winter, thanks to natural-gas production. But we'll pay more this summer to cool our homes, reflecting rising costs to secure electricity supply. Gasoline may not seem cheap these days, but it's a relative bargain. America needs to keep conserving and producing energy to keep those costs in check.
May 12
Kansas City Star on Nigeria:
The tragic plight of the missing girls of Chibok, Nigeria, has triggered heartbreak and hand-wringing around the world. And it has opened vexing examinations of a nation in chaos and an international community unsure of how best to respond.
The fact that the girls' kidnappers — the fanatic, anti-Western Islamists known as Boko Haram — have been terrorizing their nation's impoverished northeastern region for years has prompted appropriate questions about the abilities and priorities of the Nigerian government. Boys have been slaughtered. Many schools and villages have burned. Boko Haram has led a vicious campaign to douse the spirit of Christians and Muslims alike, and to expunge the idea that enlightened education leads to better lives for all.
Prominent people are speaking out and challenging others to raise awareness and concern. The U.S. and other nations are supplying advisers to help gather intelligence and to aid a rescue of the kidnapped teenagers, saving them, it is hoped, from the marriage enslavement market and other crimes against humanity that Boko Haram commits.
Still, it's abundantly clear that there are limits to what Americans and other outsiders can do. Boko Haram issued signals this week that it is willing to negotiate, perhaps trading the captive girls for imprisoned brothers in arms. The Nigerian government rejected that deal. Proceedings from here will be delicate and unpredictable.
The Chibok kidnapping crisis is indeed horrendous and awakening. It comes at a time of increasing violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The global specter of civil wars and unceasing conflict seems permanent.
Yet, the Nigeria story seems especially alarming on a human scale. All those girls, taking a test at their high school when they were abducted, represent an incalculable future.
To understand the potential of young women like them — girls who aspire to freedom and betterment amid rigid, medieval settings — one need look no further than Kansas City. The Star's Joe Robertson on Sunday reported the inspiring story of Cynthia Odu, who left Nigeria as an infant with her parents, and now, at 18, having graduated from Kansas City's Lincoln Academy, is bound for college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
These two stories, one of horror and another of triumph, remind us that certain values, like universal education, are worth fighting for.
May 12
The Australian on unrest stirring in South Africa:
Ingrained loyalty to the African National Congress, the liberation movement led by Nelson Mandela against apartheid, guaranteed the party another commanding victory in South Africa's fifth general election since white rule ended. A small but significant decline in ANC support, however, suggests its glow is wearing off. Unless it changes course to deal effectively with high-level corruption and poor governance, the ANC will have a hard time arresting the steady erosion of its electoral base.
The ANC scored 62.1 per cent of the popular vote, down from 65.9 per cent five years ago. It will have 249 of 400 members of the National Assembly. President Jacob Zuma, the focus of corruption allegations and the target of booing at Mandela's funeral in December, is assured of re-election.
But the outcome is not the two-thirds majority the ANC wanted to amend the constitution. Nor does it deflect from the success of the main opposition, the liberal Democratic Alliance, in increasing its vote from 16 to 22 per cent and its parliamentary numbers to 89. It retained control of the Western Cape provincial parliament and is challenging the ANC's grip in Gauteng province, centered on Johannesburg, the country's economic heartland.
The ANC also lost a million votes to the disaffected former leader of its Youth League, the firebrand Julius Malema. His Economic Freedom Fighters party, which advocates radical Mugabe-style expropriation of white-owned land and the nationalization of mines and banks, won 25 seats.
Zuma's credibility is at stake over the $23 million in government funding spent on his private home. He refused to reimburse the money and Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille is seeking his impeachment.
Economically, the achievements of the thriving black middle class have been offset by unemployment levels worse than those under white rule: 50 per cent of school leavers are jobless and South Africa is ranked 146th out of 148 on the World Economic Forum's school standards rankings.
The ANC would be shortsighted to ignore the signs of disenchantment.
May 14
Khaleej Times, Dubai, on Uruguayan tips for Obama:
Jose Mujica, who is highly respected for his cherished values on human rights and socialism, had a piece of advice for Barack Obama as he wanted the Americans to look beyond its frontiers and embrace a pluralistic culture. What he meant was to focus on the backwater countries in America's south and co-exist with their lingual preferences. The Uruguayan leader said the US would have to become a multilingual country, with its citizens learning Spanish, Portuguese and other Latin languages. This is no ordinary statement. Intellectuals and academicians in times to come can evaluate its essence by keeping in mind the problems that an assertive and arrogant world power faces due to demographic imbalances.
Obama, who praised Mujica as an undisputed leader on human rights in the entire Western hemisphere, apparently in the light of his courage to adopt five prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay, exhibited his political acumen as he avoided controversial issues between the two countries. Rather, he eulogized the small South American country's services' such as peacekeeping in Haiti and Africa. So did the White House guest as he didn't pin-point imperialist fervor in the US foreign policy.
The saner side of their diplomacy should be reenacted when Obama rubs shoulders with other southern leaders of the continent, especially Cuba's Raul Castro. Obama's desire to cultivate cordial ties with his southern neighbors is up for test.


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Mariners' offense in short supply behind Elias
SEATTLE -- Rookie left-hander Roenis Elias put together another solid five-inning start on Wednesday night, but the Mariners couldn't muster any offensive support as the Angels spoiled Seattle's early-season run with a 2-0 win at Safeco Field.
The Mariners managed just one hit off a trio of Angels pitchers, as Seattle was held to one hit or none for the 21st time in club history and first since July 20 at Houston.View Full Game Coverage
SEATTLE -- Rookie left-hander Roenis Elias put together another solid five-inning start on Wednesday night, but the Mariners couldn't muster any offensive support as the Angels spoiled Seattle's early-season run with a 2-0 win at Safeco Field.
The Mariners managed just one hit off a trio of Angels pitchers, as Seattle was held to one hit or none for the 21st time in club history and first since July 20 at Houston.View Full Game Coverage
Right-hander Garrett Richards gave up just the lone single to Abraham Almonte in his seven innings, then turned it over to the bullpen to finish off a tough night for the home team.
"Listen, when you run into a buzzsaw like that, where a guy's throwing 96, 97 and he's getting an 86- to 89-mph slider over for strikes, it's going to be a tough night," said Mariners skipper Lloyd McClendon. "He just outdueled our guy."
Elias allowed just two runs -- on an Albert Pujols bolt -- in a 91-pitch outing. The 25-year-old Cuban surrendered four hits with one walk and two strikeouts and is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA after his first two Major League outings.
The Mariners would have equaled the best eight-game start in franchise history with a win, but instead suffered their first loss in five games to the Halos this season and are now 5-3 going into Thursday's off-day.
After a lively Opening Night win in front of a sellout throng Tuesday, the Mariners' bats stayed silent for Wednesday's crowd of 16,437. Only Almonte's broken-bat single in the third dented the hit column, though Seattle did reach base four times on walks and twice on errors.
"He had good stuff today," said Almonte, who went 1-for-3 with a walk. "He had a little tough time commanding the fastball, but every time he threw it in the zone, he was tough to hit. The first at-bats he looked a little out of control. But after the second at-bat, he got better and better location, and it was a little tough."
Robinson Cano, who saw his average drop to .300 with an 0-for-4 night, gave credit to Richards, who has now thrown 14 1/3 shutout innings over his last two starts in Seattle.
"What can you say?" Cano said. "His fastball was moving a lot, and the guy throws 97 with sink. You have to give him credit. He never went down. He was 96-97 the whole way and his curveball was filthy, too."
The Mariners only got to third base once in the game as the 25-year-old Richards improved to 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA after two starts this year.
Pujols ripped his second two-run home run in as many nights with a blast to left field off Elias in the third inning to give the Halos an early lead. Pujols needs six more homers to become the 26th player in Major League history with 500 for a career.
"I felt good out there," said Elias, who had never even been to Seattle before the Mariners arrived this week for their opening homestand. "I made a bad pitch, it was a little high. But you have to give credit to Pujols. He prepared for a pitch like that and he got it."
Elias defected from Cuba in 2010 and has been working his way up in the Mariners organization since signing as a free agent in 2011 while playing in Mexico. He made the jump from Double-A to the Mariners rotation this year after a strong spring, coupled with injuries to Hisashi Iwakuma, Taijuan Walker and Brandon Maurer that thinned out the competition.
Walker threw five shutout innings for Double-A Jackson in a Minor League rehab start on Wednesday, with three hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts on 84 pitches. So he seems to be drawing close to his Seattle return, but the club put James Paxton on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, thus Elias' spot in the rotation seems secure for now.
"I think he should come away from this outing feeling good about himself," McClendon said. "He pitched pretty darn good tonight. He just ran into a guy that was a little better, but in no way was I disappointed with his outing. I look forward to his next start."
The Mariners bullpen had another strong showing as well, with rookie Dominic Leone throwing 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief after replacing Elias.
Joe Beimel gave up a pair of infield singles in the seventh before Yoervis Medina came on to get the third out and then threw a scoreless eighth as well, with Charlie Furbush finishing off the ninth.
The Mariners bullpen has allowed just one earned run in 12 2/3 innings over the last four games and has a 1.75 ERA for the season.
Angels closer Ernesto Frieri walked Justin Smoak with one out in the ninth, but then struck out Corey Hart and got Kyle Seager to ground out for his first save.
"It's good to win a game when you don't mash the ball offensively," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We have to be that type of team. That was a good game, not only the win but how we got it done."
"It was a great pitcher's duel on both ends," McClendon said. "Their bullpen came in and did a nice job, our bullpen was exceptional. Our guys threw the ball extremely well. Our starter was good. It's just we came out on the losing end. That's the unfortunate part tonight."
Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thomas Wei, 17, a senior at Rock Falls High School, is the November Student of the Month. He is the son of Mike Wei, with whom he lives, and Serina Lin, who lives in China. His sisters are Carol, who lives in DeKalb and attends Northern Illinois University, and Anna, who lives in China with their mother.
Favorite class: Either goes to Spanish or Math. Spanish because it is such a relaxing class, and the teacher knows how to have fun. Math because I understand it, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment when you have solved a difficult problem.
Top teacher: I like Mrs. Nunez because I enjoy learning different college tips and advice she randomly throws out. I also like the way she teaches, by implementing teamwork in all of the activities she has us do. Lastly, I love the way she treats every student with respect and doesn't favor one student over the other.
Extracurriculars: I am the president of the Junior Optimist Cub, vice president of the Library and Science Club, secretary of Spanish Club, a BLIND leader, and a member of the varsity scholastic bowl.
After graduation: Yes, I am heading off to college. I am hoping I can get into the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I think I want to major in accounting; however, I might major in international business, as well.
Paycheck: I currently help out at my dad's restaurant, Asian Buffet. As for whether or not I like it, I would say it is not something I hate. However, it definitely is not something I always look forward to doing. But then again, that is why you need a good education – to find a job you look forward to going to.
BFF: I would have to say Steven Chen is my best friend, simply because I know he always has my back, no matter what. Plus, we have been friends for a long time, so it is only natural I see him as my best friend.
Favorite singer: I listen to a whole variety of songs, so I do not have a favorite singer or artist. But if I had to choose, I like Justin Timberlake and Drake a lot, so maybe them, ha ha.
Favorite actor: Will Smith.
Favorite movie: "White Chicks" or "21 Jump Street".
Hobbies: For some reason, I love collecting cologne. It is bizarre, but for some reason I like it.
Favorite game/outdoor activity: I like football a lot.
Favorite food: Has to go to spaghetti.
Biggest fear: To realize I no longer know what I want to do in my life.
Least favorite class: I do not have a class I do not like, or else I would not be taking it.
What makes your blood boil? I hate liars. People need to take responsibility for what they have done. I also hate people who say they will do something but do not follow through.
What music makes your skin crawl? Bad raps that are about a subject in school. For instance, a rap about bones for an anatomy class.
Places: I enjoy just the outdoors. Sometimes I like to walk by the walking bridge so I can clear my thoughts and just relax.
Survival guide: Make good friends. They will bring along positive attitudes that will likely help you succeed in high school.
Useless knowledge: Higher-up math problems. I do not even think it is possible to do anything with the "imaginary number." Nothing is going to equal the square root of negative one.
I'm in the dictionary next to: I think most people would describe me as being kind, probably because I approach everyone with a friendly attitude.
Secret twin: I wish I looked like a celebrity. Although lots of people say I look like the dude from Tokyo Drift… I think it is just because he is Asian, and so am I…ha ha.
Dream job: To be the CEO of a major corporation and make millions. Then I would deposit all of my money into a bank so when I snap out of my dream, I would be a millionaire.
Trading places: I wish I could trade places with Bill Gates, so I could realize what it feels like to be one of the richest people in the world. Then I would donate most of my money to a fundraiser, so I know I have made a big impact.
Trading spaces: I would like to go to France or Britain, because I find accents fascinating. Also, I want to learn more about their culture and history.
Shout out(s): Definite shout out to my dad, Mike Wei. Know that I am extremely grateful to have you as a dad and I would not wish to have any other dad than you. Also, a quick shout out to the Rock Falls High School teachers and staff for choosing me as the November Student of the Month. This means a great deal to me, and I appreciate you guys choosing me. And finally, a quick shout out to my girlfriend, Jessi Hicks, who has always stood beside me in everything I do. Know that I love you and I would not want to trade places with anyone else in the world.


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The Occupation of Baghdad is the topic of the annual Emporia State University Veterans Roundtable during the All Veterans Tribute celebrating the city of Emporia's role as the Founding City of Veterans Day.
From May 2003 to February 2004, retired Lt. Col. Kevin West served in Baghdad as an operations office for the 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery. During the deployment, personnel in West's unit were responsible for securing fixed sites, patrolling, securing detainees, working with Iraqi political parties, supporting Special Forces and securing and supporting numerous diplomatic facilities.
West's presentation at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Preston Family Room in the Memorial Union is free. The event is sponsored by Emporia State's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Social Science, as well as the Lyon County Historical Society Archives and Museum.
Emporia's All Veterans Tribute runs Nov. 3-12 and includes art exhibits, movies and a parade. For more information, visit www.emporiakschamber.org/custom2.asp?pageid=895.


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Robert Pattinson: 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2' Fan Event in Sydney!
Robert Pattinson suits up for a Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 fan event held at Fox Studios on Monday (October 22) in Sydney, Australia.
The 26-year-old actor took time to meet fans, sign autographs, and pose for photographs.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Robert Pattinson
Robert recently talked about what it was like to shoot the fighting scenes for Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
"This one was hard," Rob expressed. "I mean, we were shooting this big action sequence for about two and a half months in a massive warehouse where they normally sell cows, with a bunch of fake paper snow and green walls, and you literally started to go insane after a while! Yeah, it gets tough doing stuff like that, it gets a bit repetitive."
FYI: Robert is wearing a Kenzo suit and shirt.
10+ pictures inside of Robert Pattinson at a fan event for Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2…


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2 sounds
A dual mono recording of a boxing bell struck once as at the beginning of a round.
A dual mono file of a bell striking three times as at the end of a boxing round.
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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are primed for another memorable showdown when Barcelona and Real Madrid meet Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Messi is coming off a four-goal performance over the weekend and has found the back of the net in the last 16 games he has started, while Ronaldo has sparked a recent resurgence in Madrid with 10 goals and two hat tricks this month.
With Barcelona in firm command of the Spanish league title race, the Copa del Rey takes on even more importance for Madrid as it tries to salvage some silverware from its disappointing season.
Atletico Madrid hosts Sevilla on Thursday in the opening leg of the other semifinal series.
"We are very excited. We want to reach the final and have the added motivation of playing against Real Madrid,'' said midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who extended his contract with Barcelona to 2016 on Monday.
"We will try to impose our style of play,'' said Xavi. "We will go out looking to win the game and trying to score as many goals as possible so we can wrap up the series back at home.''
The return legs will be played late next month.
This will be the third straight year that Barcelona and Madrid meet in the Copa del Rey. Madrid beat Barcelona in the 2011 final, while Barcelona knocked Madrid out of the quarterfinals last season on its way to claiming a record 26th title.
The last time the two European powerhouses played in October it ended in a 2-2 league draw as Messi and Ronaldo each scored twice in a brilliant display of arguably the sport's two best players. Prior to that, the two rivals played twice in the Spanish Super Cup to start the season with both teams winning at home and Madrid emerging with the trophy.
Messi, who has scored 44 times this season and just established a club record by scoring for an 11th consecutive league match, has his aim set on yet another milestone.
The four-time world player of the year has 17 goals all-time against Madrid, leaving him one short of equaling Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano's record.
"Real Madrid versus Barcelona is the best game in the world,'' Madrid striker Karim Benzema said. "Both of us have great teams. It's always a tough match, each `clasico' is different, but tomorrow we play at home and we want to play well and get the win. We played a great game against them in the second leg of the Super Cup, and we hope we can repeat that victory.''
Unfortunately for Madrid, Messi will be facing a thinned defense.
Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas will miss his first match against Barcelona since 2002 with a broken left hand, leaving the home goal in the care of either the relatively inexperienced Adan Garrido or new signing Diego Lopez.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will also be without defenders Sergio Ramos and Fabio Coentrao and forward Angel Di Maria because of suspension, while defender Pepe is out injured.
Barcelona arrives with its squad intact except for coach Tito Vilanova, who is reportedly in the United States seeking further treatment after having a tumor removed from his throat. Assistant coach Jordi Roura will again be on the touchline.
Ronaldo has scored 30 goals for Madrid this season, and after being outshone by Messi in their first encounters, he has become a terror for Barcelona's defense by scoring in six consecutive meetings.
Wednesday's game will be the 27-year-old forward's 500th career club match. So far he has scored 302 goals in his club career.
Atletico is hoping to recover striker Radamel Falcao in time for the game against Sevilla. The Colombia striker is nursing a pulled thigh muscle and did not train Tuesday.
Mid-table in the league and not playing in European competition for the first time in several years, Sevilla- the 2010 Copa del Rey winner- knows that this is its only chance to win a title this campaign.
Sevilla faces an Atletico team that is a perfect 11-for-11 at home in league play and has yet to lose at Vicente Calderon Stadium this season.
"We are taking on a physical opponent that is dangerous on the break. But we are confident,'' Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. "We are only one step away from the final.''


text: (Los Angeles, CA – June 25, 2012) Composer Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica) once again engages in space combat with the new multi-player space game Moon Breakers. The retro futuristic game, from Imba Entertainment and Uber Entertainment, brings the classic genre of space shooters back to a new generation of players and is . . . → Read More: Moon Breakers Launches As FTP Multi-Player Space Game


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LeBron James worries about rough fouls
LeBron James spoke out about the way he gets officiated on Wednesday night, saying he is starting to get concerned about how physical he believes some opponents are against him.
James made the comments to reporters huddled around his locker in Chicago not long after he and the Miami Heat had their 27-game winning streak snapped, with the Bulls prevailing 101-97. He cited two specific plays he thought merited flagrant fouls, one involving Kirk Hinrich in the first quarter and another by Taj Gibson late in the fourth.
The only flagrant assessed in the game was one against James himself with 3:52 remaining, when the Heat were trying to mount a comeback.
"I'm not sitting here crying about anything," James said. "I play the game at a high level, I play with a lot of aggression, I understand that some of the plays are on the borderline of a basketball play or not. But sometimes, you know, I don't know … it's frustrating."
Miami's winning streak was the second-longest in NBA history, ending six games shy of matching the 33-game run set by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
James came down 1-on-1 against Hinrich in the opening quarter, and the players collided. Hinrich may have been in position to actually draw an offensive foul on that play, but wrapped his arms around James' back and appeared to pull him to the ground. Hinrich was called for a blocking foul.
In the fourth, James worked his way through three defenders and was fouled. Referees originally called a flagrant-1 against Gibson, though after review downgraded it to only a common foul. So instead of Miami having two free throws and retaining possession — which could have been huge, given that they were trailing by nine with 4:02 remaining — James only got the two free throws.
He and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra argued to no avail. So on the ensuing Chicago possession, James got a bit of costly revenge, ramming into Chicago's Carlos Boozer as he attempted to fight through a pick. James was called for the flagrant-1, which was upheld after video review.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade didn't seem bothered that the 6-foot-8, 260-pound James chose to lash out.
"I'm surprised he ain't done it before," Wade said. "A big guy like that, you don't really want to see him really start trying to inflict pain on other people. He plays the game the right way. It's unfortunate."
James often asks referees why he doesn't get more calls, given that there often is some level of contact whenever he's around the rim in particular. Wade likened how James gets officiated to the way Shaquille O'Neal was, in that sometimes isn't always better to be bigger and stronger than just about everyone else.
"It's tough but that's why he is who he is," Wade said. "You have to deal with it. Tonight, he decided to get back a little bit. I didn't think it was that bad."
James' comments will likely be at least reviewed by the league, which could also issue a fine for complaints about officiating.
"I believe, and I know, that a lot of my fouls are not basketball plays," James said. "First of all, Kirk Hinrich in the first quarter basically grabbed me with two hands and brought me to the ground. And the last one, Taj Gibson was able to collar me around my shoulder and bring me to the ground.
"Those are not basketball plays. And it's been happening all year. I've been able to keep my cool and try to tell Spo, `Let's not worry about it too much,' but it is getting to me a little bit."


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Don't Weep For The Past; Plan For The Future
from the disruption-in-action dept
And, of course, it didn't work. Because it couldn't.
Shirky angrily bashes them for jumping on the hype bandwagon in a way that gave false hope to others wishing to bring back a glorious past (that wasn't as glorious as people remember) and which is long gone:
Of course, the print-first folks have an obvious comeback: plenty of digital businesses are flopping (often badly) too. Just a couple of months ago, one of the people that Shirky calls out in his post, Ken Doctor, was writing about the demise of an ambitious digital effort from the aptly named Digital First Media, which is trying to reinvent the newspaper business for a bunch of legacy newspapers while building a brand new digital airplane mid-flight. That effort has run into lots of trouble as well, as have plenty of purely digital news businesses.
There's no nice way to say this, so I might just as well get to it: Kushner's plan was always dumb and we should celebrate its demise, not because it failed (never much in doubt) but because it distracted people with the fantasy of an easy out for dealing with the gradual end of profits from print.
The most important fight in journalism today isn't between short vs. long-form publications, or fast vs. thorough newsrooms, or even incumbents vs. start-ups. The most important fight is between realists and nostalgists. Kushner was running a revival meeting for nostalgists: "The internet's not such a big deal! Digital readers will pay rather than leave! Investing in print is just plain good business!"
That was some old-time religion right there. It was fun while it lasted, for people who miss the good old days. For people who do not miss the good old days, it was not fun.
It turns out that running a successful media business is not an easy thing.
And, of course, the nature of innovation often involves a lot of experiments, many of which will fail before people find the things that do work. So while I hesitate to jump on the singular failure of Kushner's OC Register efforts as signalling much more than a single failure (in the same way that Digital First Media's troubles may only really be indicative of the unique issues that company faces), Shirky's overall point is still an important one. While experimenting with new business models and new ideas are important in this ongoing effort to figure out what might work (and discovering first hand what doesn't work), if you're going to experiment, you have to experiment with an eye towards the future, rather than nostalgia for the past.
In short: not all experiments are equal. Experiments that look to embrace new opportunities and to leverage what's powerful about new media are attempts to understand and plan for the future. Experiments that look to just recreate a past world that does not exist any more are destined for failure, while (as Shirky notes) bringing false hope to those who wish to bring back those times.
Another way of thinking about it: if your experiments are about leveraging what's changed in the world to your own advantage, it's a worthwhile experiment. If it's about trying to deny what's changed in the world and hoping you can swim upstream against the larger direction of the world, you're just asking for trouble. Innovation is often about surfing waves. Many people wipeout along the way, but you have no chance at all if you're trying to surf at the wave rather than with it.


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Our guide, Gene Berkey, tapped me on the shoulder, quietly saying, "There," he pointed toward a seam in the river's current.
I strained to see into the wind-ruffled water, my polarized glasses cutting through the glare. My wife, Suzanne, whispered, "Oh! I see them now!"
The breeze died for a few seconds, letting the river's surface smooth. In the gin-clear water, a line of dark torpedoes hung close to the boulder-lined bottom against the sides of a shallow pool, just out of the river's main flow.
Small details came slowly into focus. I could now make out heads, tails, fins, and even the dark spots along each fish's back. Every now and again, a fish would twist slightly to reveal an iridescent reddish-pink stripe down the middle of its bronze flank. Despite their relatively small size, we were looking at mature, wild rainbow trout in magnificent spawning colours.
I cast a #14 Adams dry fly slightly upstream of the school. As the tiny fly drifted over a trout's cone of vision, the fish nosed into the main current, quickly rising off the bottom to give chase.
We sighed contentedly after another of chef Terry MacDonald's beautifully plated and locally sourced gourmet suppers. We had started with an aromatic smoked sablefish over cucumber-wrapped red mustard cabbage with strawberry vinaigrette, followed by a main of fork-tender barbecued beef tenderloin with roasted baby potatoes and a playful side of carrot "boats" (a piping of mashed peas formed the "upper decks"). A sinful wedge of dark chocolate ganache-covered cheesecake completed the meal.
John, one of our fellow guests at the Lodge at Gold River, summed up our impressions of the resort perfectly, "This is a very special place. I tell everyone this place is seven-star!" His partner, Nora, echoed, "This resort is too good for just fishermen!" We could see the other four women at the table nodding in agreement.
Since building the Lodge at Gold River for private investors a decade ago, managers Kent and Teresa O'Neill have seen it evolve from a resort catering to hard-core anglers into one that appeals to multi-generational family groups and to women. While the Lodge still serves diehard anglers who want to challenge the Gold River's world-renowned winter-and summer-steelheading - or take that bucketlist heli-fishing trip to the remote rivers of Bute Inlet - there are plenty of activities for guests less interested in angling, and even those who just need a place to kick back and relax.
The Lodge is situated on two level terraces overlooking the river. Fifteen acres of neatly manicured lawns, gardens of native plants, and tall evergreens surround the main building and guest cabins. The gardens of the upper terrace boast a beautiful pond stocked with catch-and-release trout, where we were able to brush up on our rusty fly-casting techniques (the Lodge will arrange fly-fishing lessons here if guests like). The resort recently acquired an additional 70 acres directly behind the existing property to protect its unspoiled views and quiet.
Kent and Teresa (and an "honour guard" of their three Labrador retrievers) led us into the main lodge's grand entranceway. Massive peeled log beams and walls are impressive and, at the same time, warm and inviting. We found the great room, with its vaulted ceiling, mezzanine, and huge stonework fireplace, the perfect place to sprawl out on an overstuffed armchair with a book and a drink. Paintings of the outdoors, bird and fish sculptures, stuffed trophy deer and elk heads, and floor-to-roofline windows complete the classic fishing lodge decor.
We were impressed with many First Nations ceremonial masks that adorn the walls of the formal dining room. Kent was more than happy to tell what each mask represented, who had carved it, and from which band it came. The Lodge can configure the tables to allow groups to dine separately or as one large group. When Tom, one of a group of Italian-American cousins, learned that we were on our own, he immediately asked us to join them at one long table come la famiglia.
The Lodge has live music up to four times a week. Kent had arranged for Rick Benn, a gifted singer and songwriter from Campbell River, to sing golden oldies at Tom's request. The heavy wood floors proved perfect for an evening of dancing jive, cha-cha, and foxtrot to Rick's huge repertoire of familiar tunes.
Each guest room is designated by an animal - bear, elk, or steelhead - which denotes the theme used to decorate it. Since my wife collects bears, we could only laugh when we found ourselves assigned to a Bear Room filled with bear sculptures of all sizes. The spacious, vaulted room had two queen-sized beds and a couple of comfy armchairs in front of a stone fireplace. We shared a long, covered veranda with other guest rooms. In the early morning, I found it soothing to curl up in a wooden Adirondack chair with a mug of coffee while watching and listening to the roaring river below.
The Lodge can customize each visitor's itinerary to include options like archery, golf, clay-target shooting, or spa services. With such close proximity to Strathcona Provincial Park, there are also myriad outdoor activities from which to choose. Kent and Teresa can design packages to include exploring the intriguing 100 or more caves in the Upana system, hiking some of the many fine park trails (like the Crest Mountain, Elk River, or Peppercorn), climbing, mountain biking, or even accommodations during fall and spring hunting seasons. The Lodge has a fleet of three big Grady White sport fishing boats to go saltwater fishing for salmon, halibut and other bottomfish in nearby Nootka Sound or the open Pacific. Guests can go freshwater fishing nearby for stocked rainbows in small lakes like Amber, Drum, and Star, or troll for wild rainbow and cutthroat trout in bigger Muchalat.
We enjoyed a late-afternoon cruise on picturesque Muchalat Lake. Our guide, Alexei Boyanowsky, has worked in many parts of the world, including the Bahamas and eastern Russia. Alexei regaled us with some of his hair-raising exploits aboard ancient helicopters used in Russia to shuttle between fishing spots.
Kent suggested that we go for a fly-fishing drift-trip on a local river the next day with guide Gene Berkey. Suzanne's ears perked up when she heard that she could sleep in a bit; the fish would bite more readily once the sun had warmed the waters of the mountain-fed stream a tad.
Gene launched his inflatable driftboat from the banks of the shallow river, where cobbles gleamed like the coins in a leprechaun's treasurechest. He used his oars just enough to control our general direction, and to avoid hazards like logjams. Over the course of a few hours, we drifted a half-dozen kilometres downstream. Suzanne found the experience almost whimsical as we sometimes spun in slow circles through gentle rapids.
Gene patiently helped Suzanne master casting her dainty 4-weight fly rod and matching flyline. We stepped ashore or anchored to cast. The best thing about drift-boat fishing was being able to find fishy pools in the middle of the river that were all but impossible to reach from shore.
We enjoyed the quiet, and never saw another soul the whole time we fished. And despite our rusty fly-casting mechanics, we were able to fool a number of trout into striking our flies.
- The Lodge at Gold River: 100 Muchalat Drive, Gold River, B.C. V0P 1G0 www.thelodgeatgoldriver.ca
From the B.C. Ferries terminal in Nanaimo, it's about 160 kilometres to Campbell River via Highway 19 north, then another 89 kilometres west via Highway 28 to Gold River. The total time to reach the Lodge is about three hours. As ferry traffic during the summer can be busy, it is advisable to make a reservation at: www.bcferries.com or call tollfree: 1-888-223-3779


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This week Kash speaks to the author of a new novel that puts the science into science fiction, and Sal explains why daylight savings time might be unnecessary. And more!
[Direct MP3 Link] [Podcast Feed] [Add to iTunes]
The Martian (1:09) by Kash Farooq (ft Andy Weir)
Daylight Saving (14:03) by Salim Fadhley
Reconnecting Young People (20:26) by Cory Hazlehurst
Death (28:50) by Alex Fitch
Follow-Up Links


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Jack,If you check the forum back before the download-only change was made, you'll find that there were a very large number of complaints about people not getting their DVDs or getting them months after others. Chris and Michael and their gang worked very hard to deal with those issues, but they were pretty much overwhelmed.When Chris says "Post 9/11 borders also were a factor," he's putting it mildly.Perhaps you can find a friend somewhere in Florida who can download it for you and burn it to a DVD for a modest fee.Eric
Thanks for letting us know Jack!
Actually, the decision that was made two or so years ago to discontinue shipping physical product had much more to do with the cost of shipping, handling and packaging which as I am sure you are aware, is far higher than the modest cost of the media itself. Post 9/11 borders also were a factor.
It is a business model that works well for the majority of our customers. I am sorry that it's not for you and has caused you grief.Chris Sanderson
Given the extreme importance of this topic, I think your message should have been longer and more petulant.
Given the extreme importance of this topic, I think your message should have been longer and more petulant. If I worked at LuLa and had received a courteous, mature request for discs, I might have been tempted to take some of my own time to burn them just to make a customer happy. If, on the other hand, I had received this insulting, selfish, whiny screed I would have been tempted to make an anatomically impossible suggestion.
I know nothing about LULU's reasoning.. it's their business. Literally.However, having lived in my present location for a while I can certainly understand issues with bandwidth. Many streaming products I just can't use. Others that merely download often become a major time waster.I've sometimes wondered if there's a market for some enterprising individual to become a media/shipping agent, in the same style many sell prints through print making companies? Or maybe there's already such a service out there, and if so maybe they could 'receive' the product on your behalf, and burn/ship it for a fee? Anyone know of one?It could all be done via electronic orders/invoices on the originators end I'm sure, the only real 'trouble' it would be, would be incorporating the widgets into the current ordering software. At least that I can think of, there's often a lot of things we don't see. Like trusting the agent not to break copyright.. but that could be worked out in the contract.It might be a money maker for someone..
For the record, ours are not streaming videos. I too am on a limited ISP and find the frustration of stopping & starting streamed videos make them unwatchable. Our videos are file downloads and while lengthy, we try to keep the actual file sizes reasonably small which is why for a nine hour video series (Lightroom 3) there are forty download zip files.


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STOCKTON - Dr. Moses Elam looked out at the 240 students gathered before him, and in many of those young faces what he saw as he spoke was none other than himself.
STOCKTON - Dr. Moses Elam looked out at the 240 students gathered before him, and in many of those young faces what he saw as he spoke was none other than himself.
"I was once where you are," Elam told the students. "I remember sitting in an auditorium just like you. But I had a dream. The world is yours if you want it. But it's going to cost you right now some work."
Elam, physician-in-chief of the Kaiser-affiliated Permanente Medical Group, addressed the students of Stockton Unified's Health Careers Academy at an assembly Monday morning in the University Park-based school's gym.
It was one more step forward in a burgeoning partnership between the medical group and the school, a relationship that for Elam is as much personal as professional.
The 61-year-old Elam wants to show the HCA students, who overwhelmingly come from low-income backgrounds, that they, too, can become medical professionals. One of the best ways he knows how to impart this message, he says, is to provide them with a role model.
Elam's own story is emblematic of the best aspects of the American Dream. The grandson of North Carolina sharecroppers and the first in his family to attend college, Elam spent childhood summers picking cucumbers and tobacco. In some ways, it wasn't all that different from the experiences of some HCA students whose parents earn their backbreaking livings in the fields of San Joaquin County. Elam said he hopes his own story can inspire the students to persevere in pursuit of their own dreams of a better life.
"It is important, I think, to see people who look like you and you can say, 'I can do that too,' " Elam says.
In the coming months, Elam's medical group will begin providing job-shadowing opportunities for some of the sophomore students at HCA, which is in its second year of operation. Additionally, the group has established a scholarship fund that will be worth $15,000 by the time the first students graduate from HCA in 2015. The medical group also will provide guest faculty and speakers at HCA and will encourage its physicians to make financial contributions to the school.
Elam's most direct contact at HCA is D'Angelo Garduno. The 16-year-old sophomore calls Elam "a motivator" and says, "I see myself becoming a man like he is."
D'Angelo, raised by a single mother, said he has an older brother serving a 26-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter. He says that as an eighth-grader at Spanos Elementary, he knew he would find trouble if he attended a large high school. Instead, he chose HCA, where he said he has found purpose, friendship and "love." He plans to become a family-practice physician.
Of Elam, he said, "I've never had nobody to be by my side like he is and mentor me and motivate me to do the things that I'm doing. Nobody's ever recognized the good that I was doing. ... It's very important."
Elam said he wants the mentorships his medical group will provide to assist D'Angelo and other students at HCA as they navigate the troubled road so many teens walk as they grow up in Stockton.
"When I look at my career, I can remember being young and having dreams and saying, 'What is my future going to hold?' " Elam said. "You don't know what these kids face every day when they go back home. It's easy to say, 'Just do it.' That's why they must have role models and mentors, people who can inspire them, motivate them and encourage them."
Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/phillipsblog.


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The best ways to earn and burn frequent flier miles
The possibilities of frequent flier miles first tantalized me one evening in New York City 11 years ago, when I was 18 and I found that I'd be able to get elite status -- with its bonus miles, queue-skipping privileges and many other perks -- from a couple of international trips I had to take anyway.
Having grown up internationally, in the United States, Japan and Britain, I had spent years flying without earning miles, but from then on I was determined to put everything I had into them.
From reading online forums and tracking programs closely over the years, I became something of an expert. In 2009, I made a documentary about people who live for miles and love to fly, and I'm currently working on a longer version.
As my flying has ramped up (I travel often for work now) I now spend an hour a day on average keeping tabs on all aspects of the ever-changing world of miles. Here's some of what I've learned.
First choice
Overall, I consider the American Airlines AAdvantage program to be the best in the world.
They have great oneworld partners to use miles on, they offer miles on cheap fares, and their miles are the easiest to use to get the free seat I want.
I use AA miles to make the bulk of my redemptions for long-haul first and business class travel on airlines like Cathay Pacific (CX), Japan Airlines and LAN Airlines.
My favorite (and most common) redemption with AA miles: 67,500 miles one-way in CX First between any point in the United States and any point in Southeast Asia, a ticket that can easily run in the US$7,000-plus range.
But I also keep a balance of miles in their partner British Airways' (BA) program. While BA tend to charge far too much for long-haul flights (and they tack on fuel surcharges) they have great deals on shorter flights.
When I wanted to fly from Los Angeles to Maui last month, I would have had to use 45,000 AA miles for round-trip tickets.
But using BA miles (on AA flights) the cost was just 25,000 miles.
In another example, Tokyo to Hong Kong through BA's program is just 20,000 in economy round-trip or 40,000 in business (compared to AA at 40,000 and 60,000 respectively.)
This is even more true of very short flights -- a short one-way ticket within the United States, like Chicago to Cleveland, can be very expensive (if paid for). While AA would charge 12,500 miles one way for any trip within the United States, BA will set you back just 4,500 miles for this leg.
The smartest ways to rack them up
Even though I tend to fly around 150,000 to 200,000 miles a year, roughly half of that is on free tickets, so I rely on credit cards to bulk up balances in a handful of other programs to keep the miles flowing and the options open.
Although I currently live in Hong Kong, I have a U.S. billing address so I can take advantage of the intense competition there that's led credit card companies to offer thousands of miles just for getting a card.
For example, I earned 100,000 BA miles for getting the BA credit card from Chase -- that's five round-trips between Tokyo and Hong Kong, for free.
I tend to have between 10 and 15 credit cards open at any given time, most of which I get for the bonus, then leave dormant and cancel before the annual fee falls due the following year.
Best cards
My favorite credit cards for regular use are the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the American Express Premier Rewards Gold card. Chase gives double points for all travel and dining purchases, plus has no foreign transaction fee, while the Amex offers triple points for airfare purchases.
Both cards earn points in those banks' own points programs, from which points can be transferred to a number of airlines. This means I can wait until I want a certain seat, find it, then transfer to the best airline for booking it.
Chase is great for transfers to United's and BA's programs, while I often do American Express transfers to AC's Aeroplan and All Nippon Airways' (ANA) Mileage Club (which have their own set of good deals on certain itineraries -- see below).
More on CNNGo: World's 10 most innovative airlines
Favorite flights
When it comes time to redeem, I enjoy the challenge of hunting down seats on interesting airlines.
There are a lot of unexpected routes where you can pick up a great airline between two cities that aren't in their home region.
In addition, I've found a few great deals over the last few years of intensive award-booking, and the following are some of my favorite flights to redeem miles:
-Air Tahiti Nui is a partner of AA, and they fly from Los Angeles to Paris. Normally using AA miles you'd look to AA to carry you on that route, but that would mean connecting somewhere. Air Tahiti, for the same amount of miles, gives you a nonstop option plus other fun things like Tahitian beer.
-CX flies Vancouver to New York and vice versa (as part of a one-stop flight originating in Hong Kong). There's definitively no better way to get between these two cities.
-Royal Jordanian flies between Bangkok and Hong Kong, and when connecting at Hong Kong on an award flight, they'll often have seats available in business class even when CX doesn't. Similarly, Thai Airways (TG) operates a Hong Kong to Seoul flight that's almost always available in business class.
-AA will take you from Europe to Hawaii or Alaska (with a stop in the mainland United States if you so desire) for 40,000 miles round-trip in economy. This has to be one of the best ratios of miles spent to distance traveled out there, thanks to the fact that AA defines Honolulu et al as being in the same award "region" as New York or Miami.
-ANA has "low-season" (usually in the fall and winter) redemption rates for travel between Japan and some Southeast Asian cities (like Hong Kong) for 17,000 miles round-trip. This is the absolute cheapest way to get to Japan from other parts of Asia.
-US Airways and AC's programs both have favorable routing rules that allow travel from the United States to Asia (or vice versa) via Europe on a range of great Star Alliance partners. In AC's case, that includes two stopovers in addition to the final destination. I used this to travel in first class on Lufthansa, Swiss and TG, flying Hong Kong-Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok-Frankfurt-San Francisco-Dusseldorf-Zurich-Hong Kong. Previously this was an outstanding value at 120,000 miles all-in, and though it's now risen to 180,000, that's still a pretty good deal.
Further reading
Gary Leff's blog is full of insights into the ins and outs of mileage and travel, and is a great source for deals and mileage offers as they happen.
Two frequent flier forums packed with information and knowledgeable users. You'll need some time to trawl through the thousands of posts, but they're invaluable for mileage junkies-to-be. Flyertalk is where I got started more than 10 years ago.
-For a look at how far some of these junkies go, check out my 20-minute documentary "Frequent Flyer."
More on CNNGo: The world's best airline in 2012 is ...


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It's a "prep" rally
With state NECAP tests starting this week, the faculty at Randall Holden School "revved up" students to perform better than even with a preparation rally. Principal Kenneth Rassler, wearing his motorcycle helmet, gloves and sunglasses and using a bullhorn, set the tone and led opening cheers. Then, following suit, classes led cheers and pairs of the older students read posters they had helped make highlighting pointers on test taking. The test taking starts this week and continues for the next two weeks in grades 3 to 8 and 11. "We want to rev up NECAP scores," said Rassler. Holden was placed in a "warning" category following last year's test results.
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Microsoft Obtains Court Order to Shut Down Botnet
An operation of the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has taken down a large number of command and control (C&C) servers for the Waledac botnet. Waledac is a major spammer botnet.
After months of technical research and investigation, Microsoft sought and received a temporary restraining order in a Northern Virginia federal court for VeriSign, operators of the .COM and .NET top-level domains, to remove registrations for 273 domains.
Click here to see the complaint. The domains are listed in the complaint; I did some checks and some are still up and running, though Microsoft claims that the order was executed and has already cut heavily into Waledac traffic. We don't know if they are serving the botnet, but some are serving parked web pages.
Botnets use large numbers of domains as part of "fast flux networks" in order to hide the actual C&C servers. They rapidly change the servers by changing the authoritative DNS for the domains to various IP addresses for bots in the botnet. As Microsoft states in the complaint, the domain registrar is the lone single choke point for those domains, at least for those in the .com and .net spaces.
The possibility of using registrars for this purpose is an old one, but there is no good mechanism for using it. In this case, a company like Microsoft has the resources to do research and bring a legal challenge, but the courts aren't an efficient way to deal with the problem. For their part, VeriSign probably has no problem cooperating even absent a court order, but their agreement with ICANN to operate the registries probably precludes them from taking down domains simply at the request of a 3rd party. The need the court order.


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Dr. Linda Curtis Selected as DoDEA Pacific Director
Travel EVA
Dr. Linda Curtis Selected as DoDEA Pacific Director
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Marilee Fitzgerald, Director, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), today announced the selection of Dr. Linda Curtis as DoDEA's new Area Director for the Pacific Area.
As the Director of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Pacific and the Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools/Guam (DoDDS Pacific/DDESS-Guam), Dr. Curtis will have oversight of the 50 schools located in Japan, Okinawa, Korea and Guam that serve more than 23,500 children of U.S. military and eligible Department of Defense civilian personnel families stationed throughout the Pacific theater.
Prior to this assignment, Dr. Curtis was assigned to DoDEA's Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Cuba (DDESS/DoDDS-Cuba), headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga., serving approximately 26,000 students in 65 schools in seven U.S. states and Cuba. She served as the DDESS/DoDDS-Cuba Deputy Director for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from July 2009 – August 2013 and as the Interim Director from May 2011-October 2012. Her efforts and knowledge in curriculum attained increased student achievement for DoDEA's domestic schools.
Dr. Curtis has served in DoDEA for more than 27 years and has worked at nearly every level of the school system. She began her career with DoDEA in 1986 at Smith Elementary School in Baumholder, Germany where she taught first grade. Dr. Curtis became a school administrator three years later at Spangdahlem Elementary/Middle School where she served as the assistant principal from 1989 – 1996. She continued to serve as an administrator at SHAPE Elementary School in Belgium where she was the school principal from 1996-2000. During this time, SHAPE Elementary School was recognized with a Blue Ribbon School award.
In 2000, Dr. Curtis was selected as the Assistant Superintendent of DoDEA's Brussels District and one year later became the District Superintendent. In 2002, she became the Superintendent of DoDEA's Isles District where she supervised and provided educational support to schools in England, Iceland, the Azores, Bahrain, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. From 2006-2009, Dr. Curtis served as the Deputy Director of DoDDS Europe, overseeing DoDEA's school operations throughout Europe, serving 36,000 students in 81 schools across Europe.
DoDEA Director, Ms. Marilee Fitzgerald, commented on Dr. Curtis' experience and background with DoDEA schools.
"Dr. Curtis truly understands the DoDEA school system and has in-depth experience with the unique educational needs of military connected students," she said. "From her past boots-on-the-ground experience in the classroom to her strategic vision in senior leadership positions, her background and know-how will serve our students, families and communities in the Pacific."
"Dr. Curtis is a forward-thinking education leader," Ms. Fitzgerald added. "Her support and efforts to embed a strong focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) across the curriculum in all of our domestic schools are an example. She was also an early proponent and strong advocate of digital learning, e-readers, and other research-based practices that promote high student achievement for all students," Ms. Fitzgerald said.
Dr. Curtis is excited about her new opportunity, especially the chance to promote 21st century teaching and learning environments and practices.
"It is indeed an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the DoDDS Pacific and DDESS Guam schools," said Dr. Curtis. "Through the years my commitment to the students of our military families has always been my professional and personal priority. I look forward to incorporating 21st Century Skills and STEM into our schools in the Pacific and all DoDEA schools as well as increasing partnerships with the military and various universities. I am confident that with our Pacific staff's continued commitment and dedication we will strengthen and promote the partnership with our military families and provide a world class education to each student."
Prior to joining DoDEA Dr. Curtis, a native of Indiana, taught in in Fort Wayne and Australia. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana and went on to earn two Master's Degrees from Indiana University at Fort Wayne in School Administration and in Elementary Education with a concentration in Reading and Special Education. In 2006, she earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida.
She is an active member of Phi Delta Kappa (PDK), the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). She has served as President and Treasurer of the PDK overseas chapters.
Dr. Curtis' honors and awards include the ASCD Outstanding Educational Leader, the Phi Delta Kappa Educational Leader, and the European Congress of American Parents, Teachers, and Students (ECAPTS) Principal of the Year.
Dr. Curtis will assume her new duties in September.
DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools located in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.


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SISSONVILLE, W.Va., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Inspectors with the National Transportation Safety Board said they were in West Virginia to examine details surrounding a pipeline explosion.
There were no reports of major injuries related to a gas pipeline explosion this week in Sissonville, W.Va. Several homes were damaged or destroyed, however.
NTSB investigator Robert Sumwalt said there were no reports of gas fumes detected before the explosion Tuesday. No alarms sounded at a control station operated by NiSource Gas Transmission and Storage, reports The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette.
The company, in a statement, said it was working closely with investigators to determine the cause of the incident.
The NTSB investigator said it took about an hour before gas deliveries through the pipeline stopped.
The report said it took Pacific Gas and Electric Co. about 90 minutes to shut off gas through a pipeline in San Bruno, Calif. That gas explosion in 2010 left eight people dead and destroyed dozens of homes.


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Posted by EddieRandolph 153 days ago (http://Greens-coffee.com)Scientific innovations have played a big role by introducing new developments of artificial products such as weight loss pills. However, going for 100% natural ways of losing weight is the better option. Natural products have been and are still used by most people all over.
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Series Preview: Cubs v. Braves, April 5 – April 7, 2013
The Cubs now embark on a 19-game stretch in which they face, exclusively, teams that finished the 2012 season at .500 or better. Indeed, 13 of those 19 games are against 2012 playoff teams. If the Cubs go, say, 9-10 over this stretch, you've got to be feeling extremely good. Heck, even 8-11 or 7-12 wouldn't be abysmal.
By way of reminder, the Series Preview hooks you up with what you need to know about every series this year – streaks, broadcast information, pitchers, expected lineups, etc. That way, if you want to check only one place to get a sense about an upcoming series, or to plan ahead, you've got it. There's also some fun stuff, because fun stuff is fun.
We're Going Streaking
The Cubs took two of three in their opening series with the Pirates, putting them a game over .500. Let's hope today isn't the last day we get to say that all year. (Unless they win SO much that they never fall BACK to JUST one game over .500. AMIRITE!?)
The Braves also took two of three in their opening series against the Phillies, though they did so in slightly more convincing fashion.
Game Times and Broadcasts
- Friday, April 5 at 6:30 CT on CSN+, MLBN.
- Saturday, April 6 at 6:10 CT on WGN.
- Sunday, April 7 at 12:35 CT on CSN.
Expected Starters and Lineups
These lineups are likely to be pretty close to what actually gets fielded, but you'll want to check each day's Pre-Gamin' post for the actual lineup.
Starters: Scott Feldman (0-0, -.–), Carlos Villanueva (0-0, -.–), Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 0.00)
- David DeJesus, CF
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Alfonso Soriano, LF
- Nate Schierholtz, RF
- Welington Castillo/Dioner Navarro, C
- Luis Valbuena, 3B
- Brent Lillibridge, 2B
- Pitcher
Starters: Mike Minor (0-0, -.–), Julio Teheran (0-0, -.–), Tim Hudson (0-0, 6.23)
- Andrelton Simmons, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Justin Upton, LF
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- B.J. Upton, CF
- Dan Uggla, 2B
- Juan Francisco, 3B
- Gerald Laird/Evan Gattis, C
- Pitcher
Hot or Not and Whom to Watch
Best batting average on the Cubs right now? Travis Wood at .500.
The only Cubs player with more than 6 at bats and an OPS over .750 is Anthony Rizzo … and he's got only one hit. But, since that hit was a homer, and he's also got two walks and a HBP, he's managed a .778 OPS over the first three games.
Nate Schierholtz has been on fire to start the year, reaching base six times over the three-game series in Pittsburgh, and hitting a crucial homer yesterday. His plate appearances have been excellent examples of making the pitcher work, too. That last part is also true for David DeJesus, though he's still looking for his first hit.
Brent Lillibridge is having a rough go of replacing Darwin Barney. He's 0-9 with four strikeouts so far, though he did hit a couple balls hard yesterday.
The Braves' bats have been jumping. Already this year, they've got homers from Freddie Freeman, Evan Gattis, Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward, and Justin Upton (twice). Freeman and Upton, in particular, have been killing it.
A reminder that small sample sizes blast new players on other teams, too: B.J. Upton is hitless and walkless in 11 plate appearances with seven strikeouts.
Series She-View
The Series She-View is one beautiful woman representing the Cubs taking on another (usually) beautiful woman representing the opponent. The Cubs' representative will change as the team's needs change – in other words, if the Cubs are winning, the rep will stay the same. But if the Cubs' performance calls for a change, someone new will step in. The opponent's representative will change from series to series, at my whim. But at least she'll probably be wearing the opponent's colors or have some connection to the team or something like that. It is immature, and the connection to baseball is tenuous at best. These things, I know.
This year, the Series She-View will live over at the Message Board. Here's your She-View for the Braves series.
Caption the Enemy
A new feature for the Series Preview this year – since folks on the Internet can't get enough of cracking wise about pictures, I thought it might be a fun addition to the Series Preview. I'll drop in a picture (hopefully one ripe for captioning), and you'll drop in your clever captions into the comments. Then, if there are good ones, we can meme-ify them for use down the road.
For example … here's one of Jason Heyward from Zimbio. Must be nice to celebrate stuff:


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Rubio to take on climate change in GOP's State of Union responseBy ERIKA BOLSTAD
McClatchy Newspapers
February 09. 2013 9:40PM
WASHINGTON - Sen. Marco Rubio will offer up the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address this week, demonstrating the younger, more diverse face of the party as the nation confronts such issues as immigration.
But Rubio doesn't think much of climate change, one of the other hot political topics of the moment. That puts the 41-year-old Rubio squarely in the anti-science wing of his party and among a shrinking number of Americans with doubts about global warming.
The Florida senator earlier this month in an interview questioned whether "man-made activity" is contributing most to global warming, and he suggested there's reasonable debate on whether there's "significant scientific consensus" on the human role. He also questioned whether there's anything the government can do to make a difference.
"When you look at the cost-benefit analysis that's being proposed, if you did all these things they're talking about, what impact would it really have on these changes that we're outlining?" Rubio said during the interview with BuzzFeed. "On the other hand, I can tell you the impact it would have on certain industries and on our economy, and that's where it falls apart."
The Sierra Club in Florida issued a statement that oozed with incredulity. In recent years, extreme weather has "seriously damaged Florida's infrastructure," said Frank Jackalone, the staff director of Sierra Club Florida.
Already, local governments are developing regional plans to deal with rising seas, which are projected to make problems much worse along the Florida coastline. Studies show that Florida faces some dire consequences even with modest sea level rises. They include saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies, damage to infrastructure such as roads and sewer lines, and flooding that could force people to abandon beachfront property. Some studies show sea levels rising as much as six and a half feet over the next century, said Harold Wanless, chairman of the geology department at the University of Miami.
"We cannot afford to sit idly while the threat of climate change becomes a dangerous reality," Jackalone said. "By denying the climate crisis and rejecting climate action, Marco Rubio's got his head buried in the sand - and that's a bad place to be when the seas are rising."
A spokesman for Rubio, Alex Conant, said, "Sen. Rubio doesn't think that big government can control the weather. But big government can hurt Florida's economy and destroy jobs."
There's no doubt that fiscal matters, immigration and gun control are expected to take precedence in the coming months. Yet Obama almost certainly will address climate change in his State of the Union speech. Obama said last month in his inaugural address that Americans have a moral obligation to address the consequences of global warming, and he's expected to offer more details Tuesday night.
Already, federal agencies are beginning to issue climate adaptation plans that outline what can be done to limit exposure of federal programs, assets and investments to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise or more frequent or severe extreme weather. The Environmental Protection Agency warned in its preliminary adaptation plan that until now, the agency "has been able to assume that climate is relatively stable and future climate will mirror past climate."
"However, with climate changing more rapidly than society has experienced in the past, the past is no longer a good predictor of the future."


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Fracking Injury Attorney in Odessa, TX
You might not feel that exposure to dangerous chemicals causing medical conditions is enough of a reason to prompt you to call a Odessa, TX oilfield accident lawyer, but there's plenty of reason to get a legal professional to help investigate such a matter to make sure that someone is looking out for what's right for you.
Working in any type of oil field situation in Odessa, TX is a dangerous and risky proposition, but unfortunately not all the dangers associated with this occupation are fully known. Many companies managing the fracking and oil field processes have not disclosed all of the chemicals involved. This means that you may be exposed to chemicals that could lead to medical conditions down the road.
Many companies in Odessa, TX have withheld the specific ingredients in fracking operations in all states in which oil field drilling occurs. Although researchers are currently working to identify and investigate the chemicals that are being used, not all the information has yet been fully revealed.
A recent Texas law, for example, has helped to identify more than 170,000 ingredients used in this process, however, only emergency personnel are authorized to receive this information, not academics or toxicologists.
One of the primary reasons for this in Odessa, TX is that the chemicals in the fracking process are listed as proprietary information or trade secrets. Fracking is a process that involves a variety of chemicals being injected with water into a well bore in order to release oil and gas from rock formations.
In the past several years, since this has become a multi-million-dollar industry, however, it has generated environment concerns as well as worker's compensation concerns. In the event that you notice certain medical symptoms that have appeared after you began working in an oilfield, be aware that you may have been exposed to dangerous chemicals that could compromise your health. An oilfield accident lawyer (incitycommastate)) can tell you more about whether or not your case meets the grounds to initiate legal action.
While the majority of oilfield accidents are physical injuries that could have been prevented and may form the basis of a workers' compensation claim or even a personal injury claim, exposure to dangerous chemicals on the job also carries a risk that could compromise your ability to work.
Not knowing which chemicals are used in the process means that the public as well as the employees on the site are not familiar with what might happen when contamination does occur. Consulting with an experienced Odessa, TX oilfield accident lawyer is strongly recommended.


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Quote from All about Bathroom Tiles for a Great Bathroom :
To have a great look of the bathroom, we need some ideas in choosing bathroom tiles. Marbles that gives a luxurious look can be on the list. We also can have various different colors of tiles with different shapes for our bathroom. If your bathroom is smaller you can use the same tiles for the floor and walls. To create your bathroom look unique, we can make a focal wall in the shower space. The color of tiles will make a bathroom look so refreshing, so you can have a light blue color that can make the water looks even clearer like crystal. For a contemporary look bathroom, we can have tiles that shaped like bricks with white color and they have placed also like bricks of a house.
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Copyright © 2013 · Home Design Ideas. All Wrong Reserved.
Any content, trademark/s, or other material that might be found on this site that is not this site property remains the copyright of its respective owner/s. In no way does Badris claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner.


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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The day after Kirk Urso passed away, Crew head coach Robert Warzycha visited the bereaved family at a Columbus hotel.
Urso died early Sunday of an undetermined cause after collapsing in a Columbus restaurant/bar.
An autopsy Monday was inconclusive and a toxicology report could take up to six weeks. The Associated Press quoted Franklin County coroner Jan Gorniak as saying, "It's leaning toward an apparent natural death, but we don't know why." Gorniak also added that there were some "heart changes."
"What that means is we saw some changes with his heart but we don't know what it is until we examine it underneath the microscope," Gorniak told the AP. "So it could be something or it could be nothing. But it's not definitive as a cause of death right now."
Obviously, this was a not a normal Monday for a stunned Crew organization.
Coming to grips with the tragedy, especially during the season, is going to be difficult, but club president and general manager Mark McCullers needs only to look a few miles away to the Ohio State men's soccer team for guidance. On Sept. 26, 2001, OSU freshman walk-on Connor Senn collapsed during a game at Akron University and died that night from a congenital heart defect.
The pro team and the school are linked through the annual Connor Senn Memorial Match to raise funds for an endowed scholarship in Senn's name and awareness of sudden cardiac arrest.
After getting over the initial shock of learning about Urso's death, McCullers said he "immediately thought about Connor Senn in context of a team, [in] context of a sport. There are similarities to our situation."
Ohio State head coach John Bluem, in a phone interview with MLSsoccer.com on Monday, said it's important to let everyone know they are not alone in their grieving.
"More than anything else we made sure there was a lot of support for the players," Bluem said. "Have psychologists if anyone wants to talk. We didn't want to force it on anyone but, 'Here's a name and number if you want to talk to anybody.'
"We spent a lot of time together as a team and with our staff talking about things and asking everybody to look out for each other and to take care of each other," he added. "Don't let anybody on the team hang out there by themselves. If somebody's really struggling, make sure somebody's with them."
McCullers said Sunday that OhioHealth has offered grief counselors to the team and staff.
The Crew had a scheduled off day Monday but will resume practice Tuesday. After first sending notice that the last portion of the session would be open to the media, a later announcement from the club stated that it would be closed and no interviews would be conducted at their Obetz training facility.
"I am not sure how we're going to be tomorrow, to be honest with you," Warzycha said.
Urso, a rookie midfielder who captained North Carolina to the College Cup championship last December, started the first five Crew matches but underwent surgery to repair an adductor strain in June and was not with the team for Saturday's match at D.C. United.
Warzycha gathered the players in a room at the team hotel and broke the news. As a father of three, he is still coming to grips with Urso's death, especially after meeting with the player's parents.
"I cannot imagine what they're going through," he said. "There are no words to describe it."
Warzycha added that it's impossible to separate the team's emotions right now from what they need to do on the field Saturday against Toronto FC.
"After all, we're human beings," Warzycha said. "We will always remember him when we step on the field but we have to do what Kirk wanted us to do. He'd want us to go on the field and win the game and play as hard as he did."


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Prey Adds SMS Commands and More to Get Your Lost or Stolen Phone Back
Android: Prey is a great tool to get back lost or stolen gear, and it really works. However, if a thief disables it, you're out of luck. That's where today's Prey updates come in. New SMS commands can return location data, lock or wipe your phone, and even hide Prey itself so the thief doesn't know it's there.


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This deadline also applies to city and school elections set for May 11 in Texas.
Voters register at the Upshur County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office on Titus Street.
On the city ballot are the mayoral race between incumbent R.D. (Buck) Cross and former City Councilman Steve Dean, and 15 proposed amendments to the city charter.
Voting on election day will be held at Gilmer High School. Early voting will be held at the Gilmer ISD administration building from April 29 to May 7.
Voting for the city election will be held at school buildings because the city had anticipated that it would have a joint election with the school district, Mrs. Hoover said. However, as state law allows, Gilmer ISD canceled its May 11 school board election because all candidates were unopposed.
Mrs. Hoover said voters are already accustomed to voting at the high school for city elections.


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An Alabama Cooperative Extension System weed scientist believes two new weed control technologies merit a closer look by cotton producers.
One of the new technologies, Syngenta's Envoke, is a conventional herbicide that can be applied at extremely low rates.
"It's not a genetically engineered product like Roundup Ready or Liberty Link but a true chemical-discovery herbicide that can be used at only one-tenth of an ounce per acre. That's roughly a teaspoon of material per acre," says Mike Patterson, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System weed scientist.
Patterson presented his findings on new weed control technologies at the Alabama Cotton Field Day, held recently at the Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center in Belle Mina.
A foliar-applied herbicide, Envoke also has some residual activity. It is effective on morningglory, sicklepod, pigweed and several other weeds.
"I've seen it kill good-sized morningglory and sicklepod between 6 and 8 inches high," Patterson observed. "It also has significant nutsedge activity."
Envoke can be sprayed over-the-top of both conventional and transgenic crops. On the other hand, one limitation associated with Envoke is that the chemical can be applied only after the cotton has reached the fifth true leaf.
"You can't go early with it, which is a bit of a disappointment," he stressed. "That means if you're growing a conventional variety, you're going to have to use some other product to get your product to the fifth leaf stage before you can use Envoke."
Liberty Link cotton is another technology Patterson believes shows great promise.
Like its competitor, Roundup Ready cotton, Liberty Link is a genetic technology that will require growers to buy Liberty Link cotton in order to use the herbicide product.
"Liberty Link (herbicide) kills both Roundup Ready and conventional cotton, so growers who use it should make sure it is applied only to Liberty Link cotton, just as Roundup should be used only with Roundup Ready cotton."
As a postemergence herbicide, Liberty Link is similar to Roundup. It is a broad-spectrum product that kills broadleaves as well as grasses.
"It may even work a little bit faster than Roundup," Patterson says. "One added advantage is that Liberty Link cotton may have more tolerance at a later stage to herbicide applications.
"Roundup Ready, as most growers know, is limited to the fifth leaf stage. After that, you can't spray over-the-top without risking a yield reduction. Liberty Link, on the other hand, is tolerant up to the bloom stage — a valuable tool if you are dealing with escaped weeds."
One added advantage associated with Liberty Link is that it appears to be stronger on morningglory, though it appears to be weak on large annual grasses and pigweed.
Liberty may also help some producers obtain better control of herbicide-resistant weeds, especially in north Alabama's Tennessee Valley where growers are dealing with Roundup-resistant horseweed.
Bayer, the product manufacturer, also hopes to be granted a label permitting its use in burndown prior to no-till planting, Patterson says.


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Garlic large(peeled) - 4 whole heads
Tamarind Juice – 1/2cup
Chopped red onion – 1cup
Garlic cloves(grated) - 6
Chopped tomato - 1
Jaggery or brown sugar -1tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chili powder - 1tsp
Sesame oil -1 cup
Mustard seeds –1tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
Channa dal - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilies 3-5
Curry leaves – 1spring
To grind:
Red chili – 2
Grated Coconut – 2tsp
Cumin seeds – 1/2tsp
Pepper corns – 1tsp
Dhania seeds – 1/2tsp
Now add turmeric, chili powder, sugar and saute well.Grind all the ingredients above into fine paste. Mix the paste and chili powder with tamarind juice. Add salt and adjust for your taste.Add the tamarind juice and 2 cups of water into the pan. Cover and cook over medium flame.
Once the gravy started boiling add the fried garlic cloves.Allow it to boil till the gravy consolidated.In a separate pan, heat oil. Add mustard, cumin,hing, fenugreek, channa dal, urad dal, dry red chilies and curry leaves. Let them pop and splutter well. Pour this seasoning over the gravy.Serve this along with plain steamed rice and pappad.
This spicy gravy goes to this month's JFI hosted by Mathy with the theme of garlic.


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Reviewed by Lizzie M. (age 9)
I really love this book, because I can relate to Stella, since I got all of my hair cut of as well, and once had to go to my enemy?s house!!!! I have never really experienced going to a camp that I didn't want to attend. I usually have a choice in my family. My favorite part is when she writes her Stellarina story because it's really funny and she enjoys making fun of her enemies. In my opinion, the moral of this story is never judge a book by it's cover, or in this case, never judge a camp by it's looks. You'll understand what I mean when you finish reading the book.
I would recommend this book to children aged 8-10. The author, Jacqueline Wilson, is British. If you are interested in reading a book from England or reading a story about summer camp run out and get this book today.


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Release Details
During Hurricane Preparedness Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to take steps to safeguard their families when using a portable generator. If your power is out due to a hurricane, or for any reason, operating your generator safely can mean the difference between life and death.
The exhaust from generators contains poisonous carbon monoxide, an odorless, invisible killer. "The amount of carbon monoxide from one generator is equivalent to hundreds of idling cars," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "Carbon monoxide from a portable generator can kill you and your family in minutes."
In 2005, at least 55 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with portable generators. The aftermath of last year's four major hurricanes resulted in a majority (28) of those deaths.
CPSC urges consumers to follow these safety tips when operating a portable generator after a storm or other event that has caused a power outage.
- Never use a portable generator indoors, including in your home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home.
- Only use a portable generator outdoors in a dry area far away from doors, windows and vents that can allow CO to come indoors.
- Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home. Test the alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.
- Get to fresh air right away if you start to feel dizzy or weak. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.
- Plug appliances into a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cords and plug the cords into the generator.
- If you are concerned about theft, secure your generator outside.
To reach consumers with this lifesaving information, CPSC has developed new warning labels for newly manufactured generators. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has adopted the same labels in its new procedure for certifying portable generators. Any manufacturer that wants the UL certification will have to place the new warning label on its generators. Generators must also have ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent electrocution if they get wet.
CPSC Chairman Stratton said, "If we can keep people from using a generator indoors, in a partially-enclosed area or anywhere close to their home, these labels have done their job."
Last fall, Stratton directed CPSC staff to undertake a comprehensive safety review of portable generators. That review is ongoing.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


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Well we finally have a set of 6/6 made in the USA. Bill has the 3 sets now done and on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/honda-cb ... ccessories
Dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of the 6-Cylinder Honda CBX-1000 Motorcycle. Huge technical library!
ericfreeman wrote:.... anything one needs for these old cycles. Sure wish someone did the same for the GB500!!
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This item is so popular, it has sold out. You're in luck! It'll be back soon. Please enter your email and we'll notify you as soon as it returns.
Double trouble - our top selling signature baguette style is both modern and minimal with sophisticated sparkle. (Adjustable fit, looks amazing in a stack!).
Rose - 14k rose gold vermeil, jet black Swarovski
Yellow - 14k yellow gold vermeil, jet black Swarovski
Silver - sterling silver, jet black Swarovski


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How to Use the Images
Ohio & Erie Canal.
Diagram 1 illustrates the required canal specifications for the depth of the river and the canal bed at both the river bottom and the surface.
Diagram 2: The balance beam (A) opened or closed the main gate; the sluice gate (B) and its control (C) permitted water to flow slowly into or out of a lock so a boat could be raised or lowered to the level of the water outside the exit gate; and the mitre sill (D), against which the gate was locked and sealed.
Questions for Diagrams 1 & 2, Photo 1
1. What determined the size of a canal boat?
2. How were canal boats transported? What was the power?
3. Based on the description in the reading and the visual materials above, describe in your own words how a lock operated.
4. What do you think the most difficult part of building the canal was?
* The diagrams and photo on this screen have a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Diagram 1, Diagram 2, and Photo 1, but be aware that each file will take as much as 45 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.