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Bless – the first Grasshopper of 2013 has appeared in the garden. Well, the first I have seen anyway.
Found this little bundle of gorgeousness in the garden. He/She sat around and waited for me to get my camera. This species is often confused with Pyrausta purpuralis. Both can be bright purple with golden markings, especially when fresh, or brown with yellowish markings, especially when worn. The principal distinguishing feature is the arrangement of the postmedian markings on the forewing.
Dad. A bar in the living room. Genius.
Love him x
My first poppy of 2013 is out! Lots more to come by the looks of it though.
With over 600 entries and plenty of spectators creating a great atmosphere, the Folkestone Coastal 10k seemed like something I should enter. I signed up at the start of the year with every intention of training hard for it, but then I had two months off with a rib and knee injury so that rather set me back. However, I gave it a go and that's all that really matters. However, that said, I have done a lot of walking recently up a fair amount of hills, so this being a flat course, I knew I could finish it. I just wanted to be able to run the whole distance without collapsing.
The last time I actually ran 10k was back in September 2012 at the Resolution Run in Mote Park. I really wanted the weather to be slightly more pleasant than then. There was no rain, but jeez it was cold before the run started!
I admit it, I wasn't really feeling in the mood to run. Photos by Dad.
Just to prove how cold it was at the start… Mum wrapped up nice and warm. However, it was soon time to remove the trusty Carter USM top. I like to run/walk in Buff headbands now – they can be used in various styles, but I just went for a simple 'wrap it round' approach.
I started in my usual position – about a third of the way back. I have no delusions that I'm ever going to win a 10k. It's about proving to myself that I can do it, but, of course, I don't want to come last either!
I tracked this run with my Garmin 10 – I basically don't change pace too much and try and stick at something that is comfortable. If I had had any training this might be different, but I'm all self taught so I tend to just go with what I like. Anyway, I got overtaken by a lot of people in the first 2km, but I overtook a lot in the last half of the run, so a steady pace works well for me.
My left ankle started hurting at the 3k marker which wasn't a good sign and I did contemplate quitting, but I carried on and it eased. At 7k I felt my right groin twinge, but, well, when you've gone that far you have to finish. By the second drinks point it was warm, very warm, and that cup of water just got poured all over my head – heaven!
There were no medals on offer, perhaps this is always the case, but, instead, was a really cool trophy! I'm lovin' that.
Unfortunately, the on-site refreshments were not very vegan friendly, so I quickly tucked into a sarnie I had brought with me.
My aim for this run was to go under the hour. I'll update this with the chip time when I have it, but my Garmin reckons this: 58:22, so I'm chuffed to bits with that and thinking of signing up for next year as soon as I can.
Beautiful. Spider magic.
Mother, Mother-In-Law, Mother's Mother. Mothers.
Bird bath = cat refreshment. Word.
A Lesser House Fly (Fannia canicularis). Maybe.


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A new report from Ericsson ConsumerLab, The optimal consumer experience, reveals that consumers judge operators according to their standards of service and support, loyalty-building initiatives, and billing and payment services.
Cecilia Atterwall, Head of ConsumerLab, says: "This report shows that consumers' expectations of operators will increase, opening up the potential for new types of services that build on individual needs."
The report also reveals that different types of people have different needs.
For older, more senior and less tech-savvy people, the initial purchase process is the deciding factor in the consumer experience. Career-minded consumers, meanwhile, are most concerned with billing and payments. They expect the billing process to be transparent – regarding the financial aspects of their accounts – with no excessive, unexpected or hidden fees.
Young professionals are attracted to loyalty-building initiatives such as proactive suggestions to switch to a service plan that matches their usage patterns.
For parents, the billing process is the most important factor. Since they want to be in control, parents want to be able to monitor both their own usage and that of their children – either online or via an app.
Stefan Hedelius, Head of Marketing and Communications for Business Unit Support Solutions, says: "This study highlights several unmet consumer needs that can be addressed with the right OSS and BSS capabilities. For operators, there is a great opportunity to meet the demands and expectations on consumer experience and to capture the revenue potential."
In order to fully understand the consumer experience, Ericsson ConsumerLab interviewed nearly 3,000 people from the US, Brazil and Russia. In this way, ConsumerLab was able to gather unique findings that make it possible to measure consumer satisfaction and identify areas in which improvements can be made in order to optimize the consumer experience.
Figure: Importance level of the five touch point areas
ConsumerLab found that the leading reason for a consumer to contact an operator is to either upgrade or downgrade a service plan. Sixty-one percent of the interviewees had contacted their operators in the past six months for this reason. Meanwhile, 58 percent had contacted their operators to resolve a technical service or support problem, and 51 percent because they wanted more information about new services or products.
Interesting quotes from interviewees
"I got charged USD 10 for something. My mom was freaking out. I had to pay it. It wasn't fair."
College student, Chicago
"I was disappointed when the trial price period changed without any notice and the rates went up. They're poor at explaining prices, services, and options."
Young professional, Chicago
"I need a cellphone plan for my 15-year-old daughter who does texting but not much calling. I need more options. I'm paying for more than what I need. I need a customized plan but that doesn't exist."
Parent, Chicago
Download the Report
Notes to editors
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Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.
Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the "prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.
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We gain our knowledge through a global research program based on annual interviews with 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and more than 10 megacities – statistically representing the views of 1.1 billion people. We use both quantitative and qualitative research, and spend hundreds of hours on in-depth interviews and focus groups with consumers from different cultures. Our research includes general market and consumer trends and in-depth insights into specific areas.
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subset: commoncrawl


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As I've noted twice here recently, President Obama's biggest political challenge is not health care reform. It is Afghanistan. And now that he's reportedly deliberating whether to OK the military's impending request for a sizeable troop hike, apparently with a fair degree of skepticism as to the value of such a move, his potential domestic quandary is coming into sharper focus.
The prime political task of any president is to secure the strong support of his party base. But the Democratic base is strongly opposed to a troop hike in Afghanistan; the new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll reports that two-thirds of all Democrats are saying no. So if Obama says yes to the military, and the troop hike fails to improve our prospects for success (which would not be a shock, given the current prowess of the insurgents, and the corruption and perceived illegitimacy of the Karzai government), he risks splitting his own party in ways reminiscient of what doomed LBJ 40 years ago in the wake of Vietnam.
Yet if Obama essentially says no to the military's recommendation, and that decision also fails to improve our prospects for success, the Republicans - 60 percent of whom support a troop hike, according to the aforementioned poll - will work overtime to morph Obama into Jimmy Carter, to roll out the traditional rhetoric about how Democrats are timid and weak on national security, and to complain that this president is losing a war he only recently described as crucial ("a war of necessity") and specifically vowed to win ("to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: we will defeat you").
Of course, the Republicans will do all this (actually, they're doing it already; Newt Gingrich this week referred to the Obama team as "the second Carter administration") while conveniently ignoring the fact that George W. Bush screwed up Afghanistan and thus bequeathed to Obama a steaming pile of dung with few cleanup options. But hey, that's politics.
I talked about the politics of Afghanistan, and the other potential domestic ramifications of Obama's foreign policy agenda, during a guest gig on Philadelphia's National Public Radio this morning, with foreign affairs columnist Trudy Rubin doing the heavy lifting on policy. Not that people care about the international realm; over the span of an hour, a grand total of one person phoned into the show. Nevertheless, you can listen to it here.
With respect to this blog's comment section, there was a disturbance in the force earlier today. For technical reasons, comments were blocked. Full venting rights have now been restored.


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Tetrapod footprints found in Poland and reported in Nature in January 2010 were "securely dated" at 10 million years older than the oldest known elpistostegids(of which Tiktaalik is an example) implying that animals like Tiktaalik were "late-surviving relics rather than direct transitional forms, and they highlight just how little we know of the earliest history of land vertebrates" possessing features that actually evolved around 400 million years ago.
Tiktaalik lived approximately 375 million years ago. Paleontologists suggest that it is representative of the transition between non-tetrapod vertebrates ("fish") such as Panderichthys, known from fossils 380 million years old, and early tetrapods such as Acanthostega and Ichthyostega, known from fossils about 365 million years old....Tiktaalik is a transitional fossil; it is to tetrapods what Anchiornis is to birds, troodonts and dromaeosaurids. While it may be that neither is ancestor to any living animal, they serve as evidence that intermediates between very different types of vertebrates did once exist. The mixture of both "fish" and tetrapod characteristics found in Tiktaalik include these traits:Fish -fish gills-fish scales-fish fins"Fishapod" -half-fish, half-tetrapod limb bones and joints, including a functional wrist joint and radiating, fish-like fins instead of toes-half-fish, half-tetrapod ear regionTetrapod -tetrapod rib bones-tetrapod mobile neck with separate pectoral girdle-tetrapod lungs
Feet, hands and heads are where walking, tool-making and thinking reside — the very features that most conspicuously separate us from the apes — and the flock of new papers show that Australopithecus sediba was starting to separate itself indeed. This suggests a whole new transitional species between long-ago pre-humans and modern Homo sapiens....And then there are the hands. Nothing says human — or at least fancy pre-human — like opposable thumbs and a precision grip, and sediba had both. Apes have longer fingers and shorter thumbs than humans, which is the arrangement needed for tree-climbing. Sediba — like us — reverses that, with a longer thumb and shorter fingers, just right for manipulating and making tools. Indeed, sediba's thumb is actually longer than ours, relative to the size of its fingers.
Apes are animals, members of the biological superfamily Hominoidea, part of the order Primates. Hominoidea contains two families of living (extant) species:-Hylobatidae consists of four genera and sixteen species of gibbon, including the lar gibbon and the siamang. They are commonly referred to as lesser apes.-Hominidae consists of orangutans, gorillas, common chimpanzees, bonobos and humans. Alternatively, the hominidae family are collectively described as the great apes.
1. Evolution has many hurdles to get over. It is not by any means conclusive, nor observed and documented as fact. There are alot of assumptions that one has to make to "believe" it. For one, there is no scientific proof that man came from an Ape.
Theory? yup. i would agree it is a theory.
Curious Girl:Sorry, short on time this evening. However, in response to the Time Magazine Article see below. And interestingly enough, on a website that is authored by a Muslim I believe. However, he references many other scientists and literature. Link at the bottom. My points are:
1. Evolution has many hurdles to get over. It is not by any means conclusive, nor observed and documented as fact. There are alot of assumptions that one has to make to "believe" it. For one, there is no scientific proof that man came from an Ape. Would be glad to view your information. As you can see, even secular (poor word choice?)men of Science aren't all on board with this. So as stated earlier on this forum by nogodsforme, it is not a valid rigorously tested proven fact of Science. A Theory? yup. i would agree it is a theory. Anyways, I apologize for pasting such a large section into the thread. In an attempt to make it easier to read, I may have just done the opposite.
2. The point about the last article was, this discovery was not a new one that explained any link or transitional theory. Footprints of this species were found in fossil evidence that they believed to be millions of years old. Therefore, this was not a recent example of a something evolving. In fact, I believe the point was, it was an example of a life form that had not evolved in millions of years. have I misinterpreted what was said?
3. I think science will continue to reveal Gods creation, yes. Fossils don't negate Gods design. They preserve it. And as far as your "belief" that fossils will continue to prove evolution, I guess we'll have to wait and see. So far, it hasn't.
The first category, the genus Australopithecus, means "southern ape," as we have said. It is assumed that these creatures first appeared in Africa about 4 million years ago, and lived until 1 million years ago. There are a number of different species among the australopithecines. Evolutionists assume that the oldest Australopithecus species is A. afarensis. After that comes A. africanus, and then A. robustus, which has relatively bigger bones. As for A. Boisei, some researchers accept it as a different species, and others as a sub-species of A. Robustus.All of the Australopithecus species are extinct apes that resemble the apes of today. Their cranial capacities are the same or smaller than the chimpanzees of our day. There are projecting parts in their hands and feet which they used to climb trees, just like today's chimpanzees, and their feet are built for grasping to hold onto branches. Many other characteristics-such as the details in their skulls, the closeness of their eyes, their sharp molar teeth, their mandibular structure, their long arms, and their short legs-constitute evidence that these creatures were no different from today's ape. However, evolutionists claim that, although australopithecines have the anatomy of apes, unlike apes, they walked upright like humans.
And then there are the hands. Nothing says human — or at least fancy pre-human — like opposable thumbs and a precision grip, and sediba had both. Apes have longer fingers and shorter thumbs than humans, which is the arrangement needed for tree-climbing. Sediba — like us — reverses that, with a longer thumb and shorter fingers, just right for manipulating and making tools. Indeed, sediba's thumb is actually longer than ours, relative to the size of its fingers.
Australopithecus skulls and skeletons closely resemble those of modern apes. The drawing to the side shows a chimpanzee on the left, and an Australopithecus afarensis skeleton on the right. Adrienne L. Zhilman, the professor of anatomy who did the drawing, stresses that the structures of the two skeletons are very similar. (above)An Australopithecus robustus skull. It bears a close resemblance to that of modern apes. (above)
Fossil remains indicate that A. africanus was significantly more like modern humans than A. afarensis, with a more human-like cranium permitting a larger brain and more humanoid facial features.
"GOODBYE, LUCY" Scientific discoveries have left evolutionist assumptions regarding "Lucy," once considered the most important example of the Australopithecus genus, completely unfounded. The famous French scientific magazine, Science et Vie, accepted this truth under the headline "Goodbye, Lucy," in its February 1999 issue, and confirmed that Australopithecus cannot be considered an ancestor of man.This claim that australopithecines walked upright is a view that has been held by paleoanthropologists such as Richard Leakey and Donald C. Johanson for decades. Yet many scientists who have carried out a great deal of research on the skeletal structures of australopithecines have proved the invalidity of that argument. Extensive research done on various Australopithecus specimens by two world-renowned anatomists from England and the USA, Lord Solly Zuckerman and Prof. Charles Oxnard, showed that these creatures did not walk upright in human manner. Having studied the bones of these fossils for a period of 15 years thanks to grants from the British government, Lord Zuckerman and his team of five specialists reached the conclusion that australopithecines were only an ordinary species of ape, and were definitely not bipedal, although Zuckerman is an evolutionist himself.186 Correspondingly, Charles E. Oxnard, who is another evolutionary anatomist famous for his research on the subject, also likened the skeletal structure of australopithecines to that of modern orangutans.187That Australopithecus cannot be counted an ancestor of man has recently been accepted by evolutionist sources. The famous French popular scientific magazine Science et Vie made the subject the cover of its May 1999 issue. Under the headline "Adieu Lucy"-Lucy being the most important fossil example of the species Australopithecus afarensis-the magazine reported that apes of the species Australopithecus would have to be removed from the human family tree. In this article, based on the discovery of another Australopithecus fossil known simply as St W573, the following sentences appear:AFARENSIS AND CHIMPANZEESOn top is the AL 444-2 Australopithecus afarensis skull, and on the bottom a skull of a modern chimpanzee. The clear resemblance between them is an evident sign that A. afarensis is an ordinary species of ape, with no human characteristics.A new theory states that the genus Australopithecus is not the root of the human race… The results arrived at by the only woman authorized to examine St W573 are different from the normal theories regarding mankind's ancestors: this destroys the hominid family tree. Large primates, considered the ancestors of man, have been removed from the equation of this family tree… Australopithecus and Homo (human) species do not appear on the same branch. Man's direct ancestors are still waiting to be discovered.188http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/origin_of_man_02.htmlLink:
Au. afarensis had both ape and human characteristics: members of this species had apelike face proportions (a flat nose, a strongly projecting lower jaw) and braincase (with a small brain, usually less than 500 cubic centimeters -- about 1/3 the size of a modern human brain), and long, strong arms with curved fingers adapted for climbing trees. They also had small canine teeth like all other early humans, and a body that stood on two legs and regularly walked upright. Their adaptations for living both in the trees and on the ground helped them survive for almost a million years as climate and environments changed.
What "rigorous" tests? What new species has formed/evolved in the last 100 years? Name one! Come on you guys! Bacteria (still bacteria) have become more resistant? Wow, that nails it.
What has been observed is the argument creationists use to explain how all the "kinds" of animals fit on the arc. There was no Golden Retriever breed in the 1700s, the breed was bred from guess what? Monkeys? No. Dogs!
Applied how? How are we applying evolution? I know we are genetically engineering seed crops, but, genetically engineered corn is still corn. It has nothing to do with evolution.
The Theory of Evolution is now "scientific fact"? You need to learn the language of science and study more, you have fallen into the kool-aid vat.
What testing experiments in the last 150 years support evolution? Name one please! In fact, all experiments to "prove" evolution have been abysmal failures. Miller experiment (abiogenesis really), fruit fly (the most experimented on animal) to name two off the top of my head.
The fossil record!, come on, even your guys can't agree on how it was even formed or how much original material was present and in what form to even accurately date anything.
And from this non-consensus you blather on about "early mammal fossils that are older than early reptile fossils because simple egg-layers like reptiles predate" blah, blah, blah.
Today's scientists are calling in kind mutations proof of evolution. "This mechanism (mutations)was present when" blah, blah blah...viola, out popped a new species.
Penicillin was discovered by accident ("it just flew in the window"). It didn't evolve, it was around like everything else. And this proves evolution how? We're looking at putting a pigs heart into humans - and this proves evolution how?
1. Evolution has many hurdles to get over. It is not by any means conclusive, nor observed and documented as fact. There are alot of assumptions that one has to make to "believe" it. ..... A Theory? yup. i would agree it is a theory.


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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Barack Obama stepped into the familiar role of chief consoler Friday as he arrived for meetings in South Korea, a key U.S. ally that is reeling from a deadly ferry disaster.
More than 300 people are dead or missing after the April 16 disaster, with the vast majority of the victims students from a high school near Seoul. The tragedy has consumed South Korean President Park Geun-hye in the lead-up to Obama's visit and could distract from the security and economic agenda she had been expected to highlight during her meetings with the U.S. president.
White House officials said Obama did not plan to change his schedule in South Korea as a result of the disaster. But the president probably will balance his expected statements — warnings against North Korean nuclear provocations and calls to lower tensions in regional territorial disputes — with words of condolence for the ferry victims and the people of South Korea.
In an interview published Friday by the South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, Obama noted that U.S. military forces were involved in the search and rescue effort in the ferry sinking and that his visit to South Korea "will be an opportunity to express the sympathy of the American people. When our friends are in trouble, America helps, and we'll continue to do everything we can to stand with our Korean friends at this difficult time."
The president's trip will come at a sensitive point in the ferry recovery mission, as officials weigh when to bring in cranes and begin cutting up and raising the submerged vessel. More than 140 people are still unaccounted for.
The disaster has outraged many in South Korea. Most of the ferry's 29-member crew survived, and 11, including the captain, have been arrested or detained in connection with the investigation. Park, the South Korean president, said the actions by some of the crew were "tantamount to murder."
Throughout his five years as president, Obama has been called upon frequently to offer reassurance following natural disasters and other tragedies at home, including twice just this month. On his way to Asia, Obama met with families of the more than three dozen people who perished in a mudslide in Washington state. And in mid-April, he spoke at a memorial service for three victims of shootings at Fort Hood, Texas — the second time the president has mourned the loss of life in violence at that military base.
Obama arrived in South Korea Friday afternoon and headed first to the National War Memorial, where he laid a wreath in honor of victims of the Korean War and led a naturalization ceremony for 20 military service members and their spouses from 14 different countries. He used the occasion to call for comprehensive immigration reform back in the U.S., saying he's going to "keep pushing to get this done this year."
"If there's anything this should teach us, it is that America is strengthened by our immigrants," Obama said. "What makes us Americans is something more than just the circumstances of birth, what we look like, what god we worship. Rather it is a joyful spirit of citizenship."
The president's overnight stay in Seoul is the second stop on a four-country Asia swing that also includes visits to Malaysia and the Philippines and an earlier stop in Japan, where he was feted during an official state visit and attended meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ahead of Obama's departure, negotiators from the U.S. and Japan worked through the night to try to hammer out differences on a stalled trans-Pacific trade agreement.
U.S. officials said they reached a breakthrough by narrowing differences on market access issues related to agriculture and automobiles, two key sectors that had deadlocked negotiations. Japanese officials were less upbeat, saying only that the two sides see a way forward and had agreed to keep talking.
The president has been serving as something of a mediator between Japan and South Korea, two U.S. allies with strained relations due to Seoul's lingering resentment over Japanese actions during World War II. In March, Obama hosted a trilateral meeting with Abe and Park on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in the Netherlands, and he has been expected to follow up on that discussion in his individual talks with both leaders this week.
In addition to a meeting and news conference with Park, Obama will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial to the victims of South Korea's many wars, and he will visit the Gyeongbok Palace. On Friday, he'll receive a military briefing from U.S. officials at Yongsang Garrison, then speak to American troops stationed in the region.
As with each of Obama's previous trips to South Korea, the White House is closely watching activity at North Korea's nuclear test site. Commercial satellite imagery showed increased action there this week, but not enough to indicate that an underground atomic explosion was imminent, officials at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said this week.
North Korea last month threatened to conduct its fourth nuclear test, and there has been speculation it may take that step during Obama's trip. The president on Thursday called North Korea "dangerous" and said he was not optimistic of a major shift in Pyongyang's attitude anytime soon.
In the interview with JoongAng Ilbo, Obama said, "If North Korea were to make the mistake of engaging in another nuclear test, it should expect a firm response from the international community. South Korea, Japan and the United States will stand united."
He did specify what that response would be, but said the United States was committed to the defense of its allies, including South Korea, and would work closely with its allies and partners to increase the pressure on North Korea.
"North Korea can meet its obligations, relinquish its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and come into compliance with its international commitments," the president said. "That is the only way that North Korea can obtain the respect, lasting security and economic progress it seeks."
The president will also reiterate his plea for Asian nations to avoid escalating multiple territorial disputes with China. Seoul's key concern is over an area in the East China Sea that is effectively controlled by South Korea but falls within a controversial air defense zone China established last year.
Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC


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Police are asking for the public's help in finding the people who vandalized a church in Chicago's East Side neighborhood.
A deacon opening the International Harbor of Grace Church for a morning service on Saturday found pews uprooted, an antique organ destroyed and the walls full of gang slogans, according to Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli. The last time the church had been open was May 13.
The vandals entered the church in the 9700 block of South Avenue L through a pair of rear windows, Mirabelli said.
The vandals removed pews from their bases and cracked a porcelain baptismal pool. The organ was smashed and the keys pulled out, Mirabelli said.
Glass bottles littered the chapel, as well as drug paraphernalia, and gang slogans were written on the walls, he said.
A smaller organ and three computers used for teaching were taken, and a door to the church's community center was pried open, police said.
Anyone with information as asked to contact the Area South Detective Division at (312) 747-8272.
Twitter: @neacynewslady


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This informative, relaxed group is for parents and caregivers of infants. Each week focuses on a different topic of interest to new parents, and guest speakers are occasionally featured. Infants and children under 4 years of age are welcome to attend with the parent or caregiver.
Nurture Your Child's Innate Music Potential
Barbara Lysenko, Director, Kids' Music Round


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Originally Posted by iznot
How about Kel Tek P32 with laser. The laser is imperceptible on the gun and so thin that it adds no width whatsover. Close range defense with a well sighted laser is all you need. The small caliber will arrest the attack, unless the attacker is a grizzly bear.


text: Find Henderson Toyota. Let our friendly and knowledgeable sales team locate the new 2015 or 2016 Toyota car, truck, SUV or Hybrid that's a perfect fit for you. Our FINDLAY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP in Henderson NV and serving the surrounding area including Las Vegas, Reno and Winchester is constantly updating our new vehicle inventory with the latest models and trim options. Use the convenient search tools on this page to find the right vehicle for you. You can search by year, model, trim level, color, drivetrain, transmission and price range.


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Point of Grace will be on Nashville's "More At Midday" with Holly Thompson cooking up some recipes from "Cooking with Grace." The segment is set to air Wednesday, December 8 at 12:30 PM CT and Friday, December 24 at 12:30 PM CT. For more information, visit:...
Bid on this stylish hat signed by Jason! The hat is now available on the GRAMMY Charity Holiday Online Auction benefiting MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation. Auction runs now through December 6. Just in time for the holidays…...
BarlowGirl will give a sneak peak of their new music video for their fan-favorite Christmas song "Hallelujah (Light Has Come)" as part of this year's Billy Graham TV Christmas special "The Greatest Journey." Produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, this exclusive video will make...
Michael recently spent some time talking with Kevin Davis from New Release Tuesday about "Come As You Are." Read what Michael had to say here.
Point of Grace will be on Nashville's WSIX with Gerry House kicking off his last twelve days on air. Tune in at www.wsix.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 at 9:15 AM CT to listen to the ladies live!
Join us for a live chat TODAY, Monday, November 15 on uStream at 7:00 PM CT! We can't wait to answer your questions!
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Check out the new photos of baby Maverick hanging out at Z88 during Meredith's recent visit to the studio here!
The Girls of Grace conference will be returning in Spring 2011, hosted by Point of Grace. This is an exciting one-day event for teenage girls focusing on common age-related issues with positive Christian messages. Already scheduled in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Texas, the tour will include...
Meredith will be on the Girls of Grace conferences with Point of Grace. We will be adding information as it comes in, but you can get more details from www.girlsofgrace.com. Stay tuned for more details!! Be sure to register early so you don't miss out...


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Northampton 23-28 Scarlets, Heineken Cup, November 18, 2011
Mallinder still keen on England job
ESPNscrum Staff
November 18, 2011
Northampton boss Jim Mallinder was in relaxed mood ahead of his side's defeat to the Scarlets © Getty Images
Northampton boss Jim Mallinder has confirmed he is interested in replacing Martin Johnson as England manager.
The Saints' director of rugby is widely regarded as the leading candidate, having guided the Saints from the second division to last season's Heineken Cup final in just three years, and he initially expressed his interest in the England job three weeks ago, while Johnson was still deciding whether to continue in the wake of a disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign.
With the position now officially vacant, Mallinder has reiterated his desire to be considered for the job of coaching England into the 2015 World Cup on home soil. But he confirmed there had been no official contact with Northampton from the Rugby Football Union. "I have said a few weeks ago that everybody strives to be the best they can and coaching the national side is a massive honour," Mallinder said. "I have said previously that it is (a role that interests me).
"There have been no questions asked and at this moment I am very happy and I think I have got a really important job to do, getting this side (Northampton) back up and winning rugby matches."
Mallinder was speaking after the Saints suffered a 28-23 home defeat to the Scarlets, which leaves them facing the very real prospect of early elimination from the Heineken Cup. Northampton opened their campaign with a last-gasp defeat to Munster last weekend. "It was always going to be tight, every game very competitive," he said. "To lose our first two games is a massive blow to our aspirations of getting through this year. We will look at ourselves. We were very disappointing in a lot of areas tonight. We played badly and deserved to come second."
The Scarlets, who opened their campaign with a victory over Castres, had the game wrapped up by half-time with tries from Liam Williams, Aaron Shingler and Matt Gilbert. Rhys Priestland, the Wales fly-half making his first start since the World Cup, scored the bonus-point try as the Scarlets counter-attacked following a Chris Ashton knock-on.
The Saints staged a late comeback to earn a losing bonus point with tries from George Pisi and Tom Wood, on top of 13 points from Ryan Lamb. The Scarlets top Pool 1 with nine points and are in a strong position to reach the knockout stages. "We had to play a very good game of rugby to get a result here and that is what we did," said Scarlets boss Nigel Davies.
"This is pretty big against a side of Northampton's quality. I don't think they have lost a European encounter at home since 2007 so it is a big scalp for us. We have to build the momentum. The big thing has been belief, believing we can come to places like this."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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'Surprisingly Firm'
"Treasuries are firmer amid an equity sell-off and the weak consumer data," said Christopher Sullivan, who oversees $2.1 billion as chief investment officer at United Nations Federal Credit Union in New York. "Even with generally positive economic data, the back end has been surprisingly firm."
Bonds rose today even after Fed data showed U.S. industrial production grew 0.7% in February, beating a forecast for a 0.4% gain, after a 0.1 decline the previous month.
A separate report showed the cost of living rose in February due to a jump in gasoline prices. The consumer-price index rose 0.7%, the Labor Department reported, with the biggest jump in gasoline prices in more than three years accounting for three-quarters of the advance.
A retreat in fuel expenses this month signaled inflation will hover around the Fed's goal, giving the central bank more room to continue steps to spur growth and curb unemployment.
Inflation Bets
The difference between yields on 10-year Treasury notes and inflation-indexed securities, a measure of consumer prices over the life of the debt known as the break-even rate, touched 2.6%, versus an average of 2.35% over the past year.
Treasury securities due in a decade or more are at the cheapest levels since 2011 relative to global peers with comparable maturities, according to the Bank of America indexes. Yields on Treasuries were 54 basis points higher than those in an index of other sovereign debt yesterday, the data showed. It was the most since August 2011.
"We are right around the level that economic fair value suggests so there's not a lot of incentive to take a long term position," said Guy LeBas, chief fixed-income strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC in Philadelphia. "We're seeing more in short term swings."
China, the largest foreign lender to the U.S., increased its holdings in Treasuries in January by $44.1 billion, or 3.6%, the biggest boost since June 2011, the Treasury Department reported. The country owns $1.2645 trillion of the debt, the most since September 2011. As of January, China held 11.4% of outstanding marketable U.S. government debt.
Chinese holdings of longer-term notes and bonds rose to $1.259 trillion, also the most since September 2011. The nation's bill holdings fell to $5.8 billion, from $6.3 billion.
Japan Holdings
Japan, the second-biggest foreign lender, raised its holdings of U.S. government debt by $4 billion to $1.1152 trillion, the first increase since October. Japan holds 10% of outstanding Treasury debt.
Foreign holdings of Treasuries rose to $5.6165 trillion in January, a 0.8% increase from the previous month, the biggest since October. Foreign investors held 50.5% of the $11.1 trillion in U.S. debt outstanding then.
The Fed remains the largest holder of Treasuries, with a total of $1.767 trillion.
The central bank bought U.S. government securities today due from December 2017 to November 2018. The Fed is purchasing $85 billion of Treasury and mortgage debt each month in a quantitative-easing program to spur economic growth and curb unemployment.
A Fed policy meeting is scheduled for March 19-20.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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House should impeach Obama
A recent letter said the president should, to paraphrase, stand tall against the dastardly Republicans destroying our country. Cutting through liberal talking points, I came to the statement, "a vocal minority in one chamber of Congress doesn't get to pick and choose which laws shall be implemented or not, or even how."
As a nation of laws, public servants take an oath of upholding and defending the Constitution. Let's refer to it.
The legislative branch creates laws and is certainly able to change or modify laws it created. Especially laws burdensome to the people! The "Affordable Care Act," sarcasm intended, is destroying businesses and individuals! The very affordable $95 a month plan has a $7,000 deductible.
The executive branch, which includes the president, his administration and departments, implements the law "without getting to pick and choose which laws shall be implemented or not, or even how."
Such as granting over 1,400 exemptions to corporations, friends, the state of Nevada and granting businesses exemption until 2015.
Who gave him the power to do this? Not the Constitution! The executive branch is forbidden from changing law in any way. Period. He has even given the executive branch new powers, declaring the Senate shut down so he could nominate two people to the National Labor Relations Board without Senate confirmation. A federal court ruled he violated the separation of powers.
Perhaps the House should perform another Constitutionally delegated duty: Write up charges of impeachment.
David Wolosik, Oroville
Letter missed important points
An Oct. 9 letter to the editor opposed Initiative 522, the measure requiring labeling of GMO foods.
While I'm not going to address the actual merits of the labeling initiative, I am going to make a couple of points about the comments in general.
First, while there is still debate about Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring," and the overall negative effects of DDT, there is no debate that DDT was largely responsible for thinning of bird egg shells, which resulted in a big reduction in the nesting success rate of several species of birds, including our national symbol, the bald eagle.
Furthermore, the book opened up the public's eye to the bigger question of whether we should allow pesticides and other chemicals to be introduced into the environment without proper testing.
Second, the letter goes on about "Ignorant, voodoo-based, anti-corporate cultism," but seems to forget that for every example of over-stepping by those that might question the integrity and honesty of big corporations, there is a long list of examples of corporations deceiving the public, and poo-pooing the dangers posed by many of their products.
Can you say lead, asbestos, Agent Orange, Dioxin, mercury, thalidomide, Fen Fen, DES, arsenic, etc, etc.? In each of the examples and dozens more, corporations pushed a product or chemical that often proved to be disastrous.
Finally, I can still remember the cigarette ads in the 1960s touting the benefits of "healthier" cigarettes (Yeah, right!), and the presidents of all the major U.S. tobacco companies sitting in front of Congress in the mid-90s saying under oath that they did not believe tobacco was addictive. "Caveat emptor!"
Greg James, Mercer Island
Resident picks top candidates
Please join me in supporting the following candidates in the upcoming election:
Brian Dansel for state senator for District 7. Being well-acquainted with Brian's family, I don't think he is a career politician and don't believe he likes regulation any better than I do. I do like his style.
Teresa Hughes will be my choice for Commissioner No. 5 for Okanogan County Hospital District 4. Please join me in electing Teresa for that position.
Rosa Snider for commissioner Position No. 1 for Hospital District 4. I really believe that younger, responsible people should replace the older ones that seem tired of it all. Rosa is worthy of that position.
Gerald Green, Tonasket
Sen. Smith gets my endorsement
I disagree with your endorsement last week.
I have had the opportunity to observe Sen. John Smith not only within the county but, also in Olympia. He worked extremely well within the new Senate coalition — so well, in fact, that he has received the endorsements of all 23 Republican senators.
It does not surprise me that he has raised a good deal of campaign money. I don't believe with his character content that this success should be judged quite so harshly.
He also paid attention to his district, passing four different bills, as well as asking for accountability from agencies trying to keep or expand their budgets.
I believe he has demonstrated a depth of character so as not to be swayed by power or overly impressed by money. The Senate coalition is tenuous at best.
Smith has fit in well, even in the trying times while helping to put a halt on several new taxes, as well as gun control.
I hadn't heard until recently that term limits had come to light. I might mention that if term limits had been in place, some of the paper's staff would not have seen the benefits of Sen. Bob Morton's abilities, as well as his wisdom.
We have had the opportunity to see what Sen. Smith has done and I believe in the old adage of "If it isn't broke, don't fix it."
Lee Barker, Omak
Sheriff oversteps authority, again
There he goes, again. Sheriff Frank Rogers is once more conferring upon himself supra-constitutional authority.
Concerning the partial closure of public lands during the government shutdown, Rogers indicated he would not enforce laws or orders prohibiting use of those lands.
He added the closures irritated him because the lands "belong to the people, not the government."
Despite special interest money and the idiocy of many elected officials, we are still a government for the people, of the people, and by the people.
By Rogers' reasoning, any person can set up camp on the grounds of the county courthouse because those grounds belong to the people, not government.
Likewise, anyone can take the sheriff's patrol rig out for a spin because it, too, belongs to the people.
The sheriff does not get to decide which laws warrant enforcement.
The next time the sheriff is asked which laws he will or will not enforce, he should reply, "I will do my job" — as that job is defined by the people's government, of which he's an elected member.
If, in the great American tradition, Rogers wishes to commit an act of civil disobedience against the government, he should do so as a private citizen and not from behind his inflated sense of the authority of his badge.
Peter Donahue, Winthrop
National anthem well-sung by girls
I attended the Okanogan-Cascade football game last Friday night and I heard a beautiful rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner by Okanogan cheerleaders.
My first thought was that they were out of tune. Then as they sang, I realized it was a different version.
Loved it! I hope it catches on.
Please sing it again at the Okanogan-Omak game Nov. 1.
Ill be there.
Arnie Olson, Tunk Valley
It is clear that hydroelectric power is a clean and renewable resource. Whether the government recognizes it as renewable or not, all logical people realize that the our rivers are renewed each year with water from the snowmelt in the Cascades. The Pacific Northwest dams are currently producing a surplus of power based on a wet Spring and high rainfall. There is so much surplus hydro power that the Wind Farms will likely be shutdown. This will cost the Wind Farm owners millions in lost revenue during the down time. Let's fast forward to an Enloe Dam supported by the Okanogan County ratepayers. It has not been properly demonstrated by the PUD that the Enloe Dam project has a positive Net Present Value. A third party analysis has stated that the project will never turn a profit. This claim has never been refuted by the PUD. There are at least two major reasons why this project, and all of the related budget expenditures should be put on hold. First, if a positive NPV cannot be demonstrated and Bonneville has a continuing surplus of electricity, there is not a business case to proceed with the project. It will only continue to bleed the ratepayers with high rates. These high rates are a poison pill to the economic recovery potential within the County. Higher electric rates are compounded costs passed on to all consumers directly and indirectly. Okanogan County cannot afford the risk associated with this high cost project. The $5.4 million dollars in the 2014 budget is a slap in the face for the county ratepayers.


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Our clients are looking for the best owner operators. We work with companies that have some of the best pay and benefit packages available. This means that the truckers that apply with us are getting hooked up with companies that are willing to pay them what they're worth, and then some. Not just one company with just one offer. The drivers that apply with us have the opportunity to choose from all the companies offering them owner operator jobs. There is a great demand for owner operator drivers. You own your own equipment and the trucking companies wants to just hire someone to do the job and get it done on time without any other costs to jobs. Want the trucking opportunity of a lifetime? Our multi-company application matches your information to hundreds of companies searching for owner operators. So many opportunities that you get to pick the owner operator job you want! Get The Trucking Opportunity Of A Lifetime


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About Gerry Bergstein
Gerry Bergstein makes mixed-media painting and photography hybrids using images and figures culled from disparate moments in history and art history. In his own words, "This work samples art history and hypothesizes 'chance meetings' of images which have everything and nothing in common," generating "blind dates between images and ideologies." His compositions are built in layers, rife with figures, heaps of recognizable but chaotic objects, and older layers of paint. Among his better-known series are a number of works dedicated to the Tower of Babel and fantastical architecture (2001-2006), and a humorous and fantastical body of self-portraits (2000-2002). Bergstein is commonly associated with the Boston Expressionist movement.
American, b. 1947


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11:00-11:45 a.m.Ballroom 20 — " Black Lightning" Special Video Presentation and QA
Stars expected:Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Damon GuptonandJames Remar
11-11:50 a.m. Indigo Ballroom — "The Good Place""The Good Place"
Stars expected:Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto and executive producers Michael Schur, Morgan Sackett and Drew Goddard
Also Read: 19 TV Reboots That Should Have Been Booted (Photos)
11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Room 7AB — #WeBelieve in Suspense#WeBelieve in Suspense
Stars expected:Donny Cates(REDNECK),Mirka Andolfo(UNNATURAL),Steve Orlando(CRUDE),Jacob Semahn(NO. 1 WITH A BULLET),Megan Hutchison(ROCKSTARS), andDean Haspiel(THE RED HOOK)
12-12:45PMBallroom 20 — " The Simpsons"
Stars expected:Creator Matt Groening, Executive Producer Al Jean, Supervising Director Mike Anderson, Legendary Director David Silverman, Actress Tress MacNeille and Moderator Johnathan Fernandez
12-12:50 p.m.Indigo Ballroom — SYFY Panel: " Krypton"Special Video Presentation and QA
Stars expected: Cameron Cuffe, Shaun Sipos, Wallis Day, Ann Ogbomo, Cameron Welsh, Dan Evans
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Room 6A — Disney Channel's "Big Hero 6 The Series"
Stars expected:Ryan Potter,Scott Adsit,Jamie Chung,Khary Payton,Genesis RodriguezandBrooks Wheelan, along with Executive ProducersMark McCorkle, Bob SchooleyandNick Filippi
Also Read: Here's the Complete Fall 2018 TV Schedule for All 5 Broadcast Networks
1-2 p.m.Indigo Ballroom — " Manifest"Pilot Screening and QA
Stars expected:Josh DallasandMelissa Roxburgh
1:00 – 2:15PMBallroom 20 — " America Dad!" and "Family Guy"
Stars expected: Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Dee Bradley Baker, Curtis Armstrong, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Daisuke Suzuki, and executive producer Matt Weitzman
Stars expected:Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein,Seth Green, Mike Henry and executive producersRich Appel,Alec Sulkin, and Steve Callaghan
2:00-2:50 p.m.Indigo Ballroom — " Legacies" Exclusive Video Presentation and QA
Stars expected:Matthew Davis
2:30 – 3:15PMBallroom 20 — " The Gifted"
Also Read:
7/8length trousers BARBARA fit Peter Hahn blue Peter Hahn 1VaqDQ3KKW
2:45-3:45 p.m. Room 6BCF — "Midnight, Texas"
Seven towns and villages across Courier Country are bidding to be named the most beautiful in Scotland.
Crieff, Comrie, Dunkeld, Killin, Pitlochry, Crail and Broughty Ferry are all in the running for the award, organised by the Hidden Scotland tourism group.
They have made it onto a 36-strong shortlist, whittled down from more than 7,000 communities across Scotland byHidden Scotland's followers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
The local contenders are up against the likes of Portree, Oban, Forres and Peebles in the race for the title.
Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland regional leadership director, hopes the nominations will help to boost tourism for the towns and villages in Courier Country,
She said: "With their picturesque surroundings, rich heritage and warm welcomes, the towns are some of the most beautiful and charming places in the world.
"I am delighted, but not surprised, to hear that Crieff, Crail, Dunkeld, Broughty Ferry, Comrie, Killen and Pitlochry have been named as finalists in Hidden Scotland's Most Beautiful Town or Village competition.
"I hope this competition will help bring even more visitors to the region to see these wonderful places for themselves and bring major benefits which will touch every community, generating income, jobs and social change."
Stuart McLaren, manager of Crieff Visitor Centre, said: "I feel very proud that Crieff has been shortlisted and I believe it is well deserved.
"The local community work has to make Crieff not only a visitor destination but a welcoming and thriving place to live."
Since launching in 2015, Hidden Scotland has helped to drive tourism across the country and has almost 100,000 followers across its social media channels.
Founder of Hidden Scotland, Jack Cairney, said: "I am excited to start our search for Scotland's Most Beautiful Town or Village.
"Our audience have picked some of the most charming and picturesque places you can visit in Scotland and it is a delight to be able to showcase some of these places."
Voting has opened on the Hidden Scotland website, with a winner due to be announced on August 10.
To vote go to https://hiddenscotland.co/scotlands-most-beautiful-town/.
A ride on the back of a Harley-Davidson was a "dream come true" for Dundee woman Carla Assenti.
* Featured Tag: Polycarbonate .
This projectwas conceived as a constructive, modular and prefabricated system, allowing the stadium to be built in stages.The galvanized metal trusses are repeated rhythmically,creating acloak that covers the stadium. They are clad in aluminum panels, opaque or microperforated, generating semi-transparent planes.
* Featured Tag: Aluminum .
The Castelão stadium was alsoremodeled for the 2014 World Cup,with the modifications following the guidelines of the original 1970s design. Its externalenvelope is covered by a translucent "skin" leaving its concrete structure visiblefrom the inside.Concrete pillars were established through its inclinationto provide a guiding element to develop the new steel structure and the constructive logistics. The 60 steel trussed columns were installed to perform two main functions: diminish the vibrations from the stands and support the new roof structure.
* Featured Tag: Metallic Structure .
With a capacityfor 30,000 spectators, this stadium is characterized by its perforated metal façade. From the inside, the transparent external walls allow views of the surrounding city. The stadium's retractable roof also gives it flexibility and increases the sensation of permeability and openness.
* Featured Tag: Perforated Metal .
This stadium has a capacity for 10,000 people and stands on a 46,000 square meter property. Like the previous structures, it seeks to generate permanent visual relationships between interior and exterior through a colorful curtain wall facade with horizontal and vertical parasols. The large volume of the building is reduced by its transparent façade and slender 15-meter beams.
* Featured Tag: Lattices .
Home to one of the most important basketball teams in China, the stadium has a capacity for 15,000 visitors. "The steel roof structure of the stadium has a diameter of 157 meters. It consists of an external, vertically undulating pressure ring. From this are suspended 28 ribbons, on which lattice frame structures are placed for bracing. The roof area is supported on zig-zag shaped struts. A unique feature worldwide is the cable network facade between roof and floor, which consists of triangular panels with insulating glazing."


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Audi Rules Le Mans—Again
For the fourth straight year and the 12th in the last 14, German auto maker Audi has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, which concluded Sunday.
The team survived a spirited effort by Japanese rival Toyota, which placed second, with another Audi car placing third. Both companies ran hybrid racing cars that represent many millions of dollars of investment.
The winning Audi—which took the checkered flag shortly after 3 p.m. Paris time, was piloted by Tom Kristensen of Denmark, Loic Duval of France, and Allan McNish of Scotland. Kristensen earned his ninth victory at Le Mans's Circuit de la Sarthe—more than any other driver.
The race was marred by the death Saturday of Danish driver Allan Simonsen, who crashed the No. 95 Aston Martin just nine minutes into the race. Medics were quickly on the scene.
Simonsen was 34 years old. He had competed at the 24-hour classic seven times. His fatality was the first at Le Mans since 1997.
Le Mans is billed as the most important sports car race in the world, the ultimate test of engineering excellence and a clash of big auto makers. It is run every June outside the city of Le Mans on an 8½-mile circuit on closed-off public roads.
This year's event, run on its 90th anniversary, saw more unpredictable and treacherous weather than in recent years.
"It was really difficult for the drivers, for the team, for all of us," said Wolfgang Ullrich, the head of Audi's Le Mans team, after the race. "But it's great now to have this result, despite this horrible accident."


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It all began in the heat of the summer of 1940. Hitler was at his peak in Europe. France had been defeated. Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, would be launched once the aerial bombardment of England had, presumably, broken the spirit of the island's residents. Although Franklin Delano Roosevelt, twice elected President of the United States, was doing his best to aid the British, who were flat broke, 88 percent of the American people wanted no part of a war in Europe, while the isolationists in Congress were uncommonly eloquent. But Roosevelt was a sly and devious man (and I mean those adjectives, as Nixon once said when applying them to Eisenhower, "in the best sense of those words"). Some time that summer, probably in June, FDR decided to run for a third term, something no President had done before. But slyness and deviousness were very much the order of the day, particularly when, after a closed session with Congressional leaders, FDR was promptly quoted as having said that the border of the United States was the Rhine River; this was a dangerous misquotation. What to do?
Into history strode one Henry Kannee–a mere walk-on, an under-five-lines player, as they say in movies. But remember that name. This under-five changed history, permanently. Why not, he said, bug the Oval Office? FDR was delighted. David Sarnoff, the head of RCA, was sent for, presumably with his drills and wires and toolbox, as well as a Kiel Sound Recorder, the ancestor of today's tape recorder.
William Doyle has written Inside the Oval Office, an entertaining study of "The White House Tapes From FDR to Clinton." This subtitle is something of a misnomer, since not all the Presidents taped themselves and their visitors. Ronald Reagan, as befitted a bona fide movie star, was not about to be demoted to what, in effect, was a mere radio performer. He occasionally called in video recorders to show him in full majestic crisis-control as well as in full color to emphasize those curious bright red clown spots on his cheekbones. (It should be noted that Doyle is partial to our very conservative Presidents, as opposed to the standard conservative models we are usually permitted.)
In 1988 Doyle made a fascinating documentary for television. Apparently, from August to November 1940, FDR was haphazardly taped (the microphone was in his desk lamp). The tapes were not discovered until 1978. One FDR admirer has remarked how similar his private speaking voice was to his high ecclesiastical speechifying. What is fascinating is how un-bishoplike the New York politician is in private. The voice is dry; vowels short; consonants clipped at the end like every other farmer in the Dutchess County of those days. He was something of a chatterbox and often filibustered to make sure that he wasn't told what he didn't want to hear. He also, as Harry Truman sternly noted, "lies." Associates of Truman have noted the same thing of Truman and, indeed, shocking though it must be to contemporary members of the House of Representatives, Presidents, when not outright telling lies, feel obliged to shade the truth most of the time. This is called politics; when a President lies successfully, he is called a statesman.
FDR's tapes provide little of interest. He does wonder how best to smear his opponent in the 1940 election, Wendell Willkie, who was having a fairly open affair with "the gal," Irita Van Doren, editor of the New York Herald Tribune Book Review (imagine George W. Bush even knowing the name of Michiko Kakutani). They were intellectual giants then. FDR tells civil rights leaders that he's been integrating blacks into the armed services; this is a real whopper. When challenged, he forlornly notes that the innate musicality of Negroes might pep up the military bands and so could lead, with luck, to an indigo band leader. Doyle affects shock that FDR refers to black men as "boys," particularly in front of black civil rights leaders. It is sickening, of course, to be exposed even fifty-nine years after the fact to such a horror at a time when our sensibilities have never been so delicately attuned to the feelings of others. But I suppose this is a small flaw in the man who gave us the entire world. Doyle sadly quotes Dean Acheson, an Assistant Secretary of State at the time, on how FDR "condescended [to people]…. it was patronizing and humiliating." Doyle neglects to note that Acheson was bounced by FDR in 1933 only to be rehired in a lesser capacity eight years later. I don't think Doyle likes FDR; if he does, why does he note gratuitously that FDR "laughed at his own jokes"?


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Friday, September 11, 2015
What is arthritis? Arthritis is degeneration or inflammation of joints that may result in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement of the joint. There are over one hundred medical conditions that are associated with arthritis or joint pain. For arthritis sufferers, joint symptoms can cause significant levels of disability that interfere with daily activities.
About one in five (21%) of U.S.adults has some form of doctor-diagnosed arthritis. That's an estimated 46 million people. Two-thirds of these adults are under the age of 65. These numbers do not include the nearly 300,000 children under the age of 18 who are affected by juvenile arthritis. At any age, females are more likely to be diagnosed with arthritis than males. Furthermore, women name arthritis as the cause of their disability more frequently than men (6.4 million women vs. 2.2 million men).
Because the incidence of arthritis increases with age, the number of individuals with arthritis who have a disability is projected to rise as baby boomers get older. By the year 2030, if rates remain stable, an estimated 67 million people (ages 18 years and older) will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis
Arthritis is such a debilitating disease that it ranks as the most common cause of disability in the United States. Arthritis-related disability has been on the rise; since 1999, the number of people who report arthritis as the primary cause of their disability has increased by 1 million. Arthritis is a more frequent reason for activity limitation than heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.
Arthritis can keep people from living their lives to the fullest. Many people with arthritis require help performing such daily activities as:
For some, this means losing their ability to live independently.
Joint problems lead to work limitations in 40% of individuals with arthritis. Many workers affected with arthritis leave their jobs earlier than those without arthritis. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.
The behaviors recommended for healthy living in the general population are also important for controlling symptoms and preventing functional loss in individuals with arthritis. These healthy behaviors include:
For adults with arthritis, physical activity can:
Daily physical activity can reduce some of the difficulties associated with arthritis. Exercise improves muscle strength and joint range of motion. Improved muscle strength and tone can help to reduce the stressful forces on joints, thus reducing pain and future damage. In addition to strength training and cardiovascular exercises, gentle stretching and relaxation should also be included. Consultation with a physical therapist is a good option for many people with arthritis.
Any physical activity is better than none, but the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggest that low-impact, moderate-intensity aerobic activity totaling 150 minutes a week and muscle strengthening exercise at least 2 days a week generally are safe, beneficial, and achievable for persons with chronic conditions such as arthritis.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Talk to your doctor - Before beginning an exercise routine, consult your physician to ensure that it is safe to exercise and always pace yourself, rest, and understand your limitations. Be aware of how joints move, and use care when engaging in twisting motions.
2. Balance your activities - Too much or too little activity can lead to muscle and joint pain and stiffness, so finding a balance is key for improved health.
3. Keep a journal - Use a journal of activities to track when excessive discomfort is experienced. When pain is felt, hot or cold treatments can help. Depending on the person and affliction, one may be more effective than the other. Try warm baths, heating pads, and ice packs to see what works best. Judicious use of over-the-counter muscle & joint ointments/creams may also alleviate morning stiffness.
In summary, things you can do to reduce and minimize the burden of arthritis include:
The CDC has information about physical activity and self-management education programs that are proven to improve the quality of life of people with arthritis. Contact your local Arthritis Foundation office for programs offered in your area.
This article is a NetWellness exclusive.
Last Reviewed: Jun 15, 2009


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Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise, center, with director Bryan Singer and writer Chris McQuarrie, secured a supporting actor nod in 2000 for "Magnolia," but lost to Michael Caine in "The Cider House Rules." Cruise also received a nomination for a lead actor Oscar in 1997 for "Jerry Maguire," but was bested by Geoffrey Rush in "Shine." And in 1990 Cruise was nominated for a lead actor Oscar for "Born on the Fourth of July," but was topped by Daniel Day-Lewis in "My Left Foot."
Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 2018, Los Angeles Times


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Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is known for her appearance in a sex tape in 2004, her appearance on the television series The Simple Life, her several minor film roles (most notably her role in the horror film House of Wax in 2005), her 2004 tongue-in-cheek autobiography, her 2006 album Paris, and her work in modeling. As a result of several legal incidents, Hilton also served a widely publicized sentence in a Los Angeles County jail in 2007.
Shania Twain
Shania started her career as a country singer. She was allready singing when she was eighth years old, but her real breakthrough came with her second album 'the woman in me'. From that moment she decided to focus on pop music and many successes followed within the next couple of years including hits like You're Still the One, That Don't Impress Me Much en Man! I Feel Like a Woman!.
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith's real name is Vicky Lynn Hogan. She is a real media celebrity who primarily became famous when she was crowned as playmate of the year, but most discussions started when she married a 89-year-old millionaire. Of course they said they were deeply in love. Her beautiful blonde hair and big breasts have provided her with an huge number of male and female fans.
Keeley Hazell
When she was 17 Keeley competed in The Daily Star's search for a beach babe contest and won. Shortly after that she also won an idol-like contest through The Sun which gave her career a big boost. Her modelling jobs for Zoo and Nuts have resulted in many great photo shoots and of course a huge salary for herself. Currently she is trying to take her first steps into the movie industry and most likely she wil get a small role in the new Baywatch movie.
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American Pop/R&B singer and songwriter. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993-1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording 'Reflection' for the film Mulan.
In 2000, Shakira started dating Antonio de la Rúa, the son of the president of Argentina Fernando de la Rúa, a romance that made headline news throughout Latin America. In March 2001, he proposed to her. Shakira's future mother-in-law Inés Pertiné claimed the wedding would take place in September 2007 in the mansion which Shakira owns in the Dominican Republic (though this didn't happen).
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President Barack Obama is ordering a review of the military's response to sexual assault in the armed forces.
Obama says in a statement provided to The Associated Press that his administration has "an urgent obligation" to respond. The president is giving military leaders a year to report on their progress in responded to the crime -- including in the military justice system.
The president's remarks are his first on legislation that would crack down on sexual assault passed by the Senate late Thursday.
Obama says if he doesn't see progress, he will consider further reforms to -- quote -- "eliminate this crime from our military ranks."
Obama isn't specifying what other reforms he would consider. The Senate is debating legislation that would take authority for prosecuting attackers away from commanders.


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Your devotion, delivered. Surprise your special one with this gorgeous arrangement of one dozen long stem red roses. It's a timeless testimony of your love she won't soon forget.
Includes one dozen long stem red roses, accented with fresh greens. Delivered in a clear glass vase.Approximately 20 1/2" W x 22 1/4" H


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The information that a company gets through customer feedback is an important resource for improving and addressing the needs and wants of customers. That's why feedback is the core of some models and theories of continuous improvement and development. As an example the Lean Start-up model claims that a tech start-up should develop just what the customers need and ask. This theory is based on continuously listen the customers and learn from their feedback.
There are different characteristics that make tricider a powerful tool to get the feedback of your customers. For example the different channels that you can use to get the feedback like e-mail, Twitter, Facebook etc; the high interaction that you can get with your customers and between them; the customization; and the simplicity of the process to start using it. With only 4 steps you can easily set up tricider as your feedback system.
Step 1 – Set up the question
Once you will be in the homepage of tricider. You just have to insert the question that your customers should answer.
After pressing the Go button, you will get into the configuration page. Here you could edit different aspects such as a further description of the question or a deadline.
You can use the advance settings at the bottom of the page in order to limit the number of characters per idea or to disable the voting option. Some extra features, such as personalizing the design and hiding the ads are available with myTricider Plus.
Step 2 – Start a contest! (Optional)
Set up a contest in order to increase the response of your customers. With tricider you can reward your customers for the best ideas or the ideas that get the higher number of votes. A contest is a good way to tell your customers that their ideas matter and they are important for you.
Step 3 – Share the question with your customers
You can use different channels to distribute tricider depending on your needs. You can embed it in your website or blog, you can send it to an email list, or you can use social media and distribute it through Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
Step 4 – Sign up (optional)
We suggest you to sign up in order to save all your questions and have all your feedback organized in a unique dashboard. You won't have to save any URL and you could set up alerts to your e-mail account. It is really easy; you can do it with your Facebook, Gmail or any other e-mail account.
After setting up tricider as your online feedback tool, you can continue editing your questions and some of the characteristics through your dashboard. Now it is time to listen your customers and get the best out of them!


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Grunthy wrote:blackjack68 wrote:Grunthy wrote:Pavel Bure wrote:Grunthy wrote:they revamped the offense, now their efforts will turn towards the defense.
Their efforts could go to both if they'd ever sign some free agents... then again they never have the money to do that because they give tons of money to 31 year old guys like Harrison.
Harrison won't be here next year.
I'll put money on that too.
So you think often injured harrison will be back? He would have to take a pay cut.
Not with this team.


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'The Last of Us': Lauded Naughty Dog title headed for big screen
"The Last of Us" creative director Neil Druckmann. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)Link
The 14-year-old Ellie in a scene from "The Last of Us." (Naughty Dog / SCEA)Link
Joel and Ellie in a scene from "The Last of Us." (Naughty Dog / SCEA)Link
First it was one of the most acclaimed video games released last year. Now the zombie-themed "The Last of Us" is set to make the leap to the big screen.
Screen Gems announced Thursday its plan to distribute a new film based on the PlayStation 3 title developed by Naughty Dog. "The Last of Us" creative director Neil Druckmann will write the script for the movie, which he'll also produce along with game director Bruce Straley, Screen Gems executives Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra and filmmaker Sam Raimi under his Ghost House Pictures banner.
Set in a post-apocalyptic environment, "The Last of Us" visits decimated cities where a fungus has transformed the population into zombies. Twenty years after the outbreak, smuggler Joel is hired to protect 14-year-old Ellie and escort her across the dangerous wasteland. On the journey, the two form a powerful emotional bond.
Druckmann and Straley have cited the 2007 drama "No Country for Old Men" as primary inspiration for the game, which also features a mournful score from Oscar-winner Gustavo Santaolalla ("Brokeback Mountain").
With its strong emphasis on character, "The Last of Us" won over critics, becoming one of the most lauded games of last year.
It took home 10 prizes at this year's Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences D.I.C.E. Awards, where it was named game of the year and won for outstanding innovation in gaming and character performance. "The Last of Us" also won a Writers Guild of America award for outstanding achievement in writing for video games, and it leads nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Video Game (BAFTA) Awards with 10.
Click through the image gallery above for a more detailed look at "The Last of Us."
— Gina McIntyre and Todd Martens | @LATHeroComplex
'Doki-Doki': Video games make a play for emotions
Video game designers take on real-world problems
Nintendo reinvigorates classics in new 'Mario,' 'Zelda'
The Nintendo 2DS: Is lack of 3-D a deal-breaker?
Game designers to watch in 2014
'The Last of Us,' 'Tearaway' prestigious GDC noms
11 women who need their own games
'Arkham' review: 'Blackgate' simplicity bests 'Origins'
Neil Gaiman's game 'Wayward Manor' prizes puzzles
Return to: 'The Last of Us': Lauded Naughty Dog title headed for big screen


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God and the Problem of Evil, Again.
Jennifer responded again to this post of mine, which originated out of a challenge to Christians to put up or shut up...literally. Jennifer wrote:
It seems that this is hinging on God making sure we don't hurt each other by intervening in some way before the act is carried out....Let's say someone is going to kidnap a child. At what point does God stop them? Let's say this kidnapper had a bad childhood. (I'm using a real life example.) His brother sexually assaulted him many times, which means it probably happened to his brother, which means it probably happened to the person who did it to his brother etc...So on the day this man is driving around on the lookout for someone to take, he sees who he wants and runs out of gas. (God's intervetion) What does he do next? Are you saying that if he runs out of gas enough times he will eventually give up? If I follow this idea all the way to it's end, it seems that God would have to start with babies. But then what if the parents are just evil people? He should stop them from having children? It seems like what you are really saying is that God should just make us right to begin with so nothing will go wrong.Okay, this is worth responding to. Good questions and good point. Thank you. Since she may be speaking the thoughts of others, let me respond below:
There are three prior possibilities that you must first deal with before we should consider your questions. 1) I have argued here that God did not have a reason for creating anything at all, but even if he did so anyway, then 2) he could've and should've created a heavenly world with heavenly beings in the first place (I reject any notion that a being in the direct unmediated presence of an all powerful and perfectly loving God would ever under any circumstances rebel). And I also argue that 3) given the intense suffering in this world (both with animals and human beings) and the suffering of billions of people forever in hell, that God should not have given these creatures free will in the first place. It was an immoral decision of God's by any standards we have to judge whether a good God exists or not, which are the same moral standards that Christians themselves use to judge the morality of any act. To those who want to maintain that free will is an overweighing good, I argue that free will is not such a good thing. Besides, we do not have abstract freedom anyway, able to do whatever we want to do. We are limited by our age, gender, physical strength and stamina, looks, finances, social status, era we live in, and where we live. Since this is so, further limiting our free choices when we already have limited freedom anyway is not a problem, especially when we see the Biblical God doing just that in several cases (Pharaoh's hardened heart, planting thoughts (or dreams) into someone's head (Paul's visions), making a person insane (Nebuchadnezzar), and/or simply killing them (Herod, Uzzah, Ananias & Sapphira).
Hence the questions and points that you make are nonsensical until you first deal with these three prior possibilities.
If however, for no good reason at all (especially for no good moral reason) God created a fleshly world with free creatures in it, then and only then are we faced with the difficulties you point out, but they are not difficulties at all, especially for God. Let me explain.
Yes, there are generational moral deficiencies passed down through the ages. I simply say nip this in the bud at the very first person in the generational line to screw up. If Adam & Eve existed, start with them, and I've already argued this case here.
If a man is about to start a generational chain of molesters, stop him from molesting his first victim. It's that simple. If he's religious, try by planting thoughts into his head at an early age. Keep him from those experiences which will cause him to desire this, if possible. Start young in his life, and early as needed. I see no difficulty for this with an omniscient God who is reading his thoughts as he thinks them. If he continues to rebel, and I simply see no reason he would if God monitors his thought life and redirects it, then give him a heart attack the day he decides to do it. What exactly is the problem here, since as the author of life you will claim he can take it away? And this could be repeated for any heinous moral act down through the centuries. If you want to maintain we need some problems to challenge us, then God need not stop all "sinful" acts, only the most heinous ones. If you want to claim that for all you know he does stop many of them, there is no evidence that he does, and the number of sicko's out there left to wreak havoc upon us means he doesn't do enough.


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BY SEAN EGAN | Even Doris Payne's closest friends understand that she is nowhere near the charming, innocent old woman she appears to be on the surface. "Doris is no saint," says her lifelong friend, Jean. "Her horns are holding her halo up. But she's 80 years old — come on, give her a break!"
Jean says this as she's waiting in court to hear a jury's verdict on whether or not Doris goes to jail. You see, Doris Payne is not only a charismatic, elderly mother of two — she's also a notorious international jewel thief. Payne is a woman of contradictions, equal parts legend and liar, hero and criminal. In the new documentary "The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne," directors Matthew Pond and Kirk Marcolina find tension in their attempts to pin down exactly who Doris Payne is, and what she stands for. It's something of a Sisyphean task — an exercise in scrutinizing the inscrutable.
Doris Payne keeps us guessing what's real and what's an enticing lie
As the film begins, Doris is facing some serious jail time for allegedly stealing an expensive ring from a Macy's. She claims that she never stole anything from the store, despite the fact that the description of the thief's methods fit her M.O., and the fact that the store possesses (admittedly blurry) footage of the thief who may or may not be Doris. By centering the film around the trial, the filmmakers present an engaging "Did she or didn't she?" narrative, which also is able to highlight the differences between the Doris of her heyday, and present-day Doris — who struggles to outwit modern technology and the law.
The movie spends a lot of time recounting the decades Doris spent building a name for herself amongst jewel thieves. Using her considerable charms and beauty, and adopting an air of upper class sophistication that belied her roots as a poor southern child from a home with an abusive father, Doris was able to lull jewelry store owners into a false sense of security — which allowed her to rob them blind, repeatedly, and still (according to her) never get caught by authorities walking out of the stores. When all was said and done, she'd stolen over $2 million, hopped across continents and outsmarted all her accomplices and law enforcement agents along the way.
Produced & Directed by Matthew Pond & Kirk Marcolina
Through June 10
At Film Forum
209 West Houston St.
(West of Sixth Ave.)
Screenings daily at 12:45, 2:40, 4:30, 6:20, 8:10 & 10:00 p.m.
Visit filmforum.org
Periodically a host of interviewees crop up to play armchair psychologist, theorizing what motivated Doris to steal, by taking into consideration all of her life story. While she was ruthless in order to get ahead, she also had to deal with growing up in the segregated south as a woman of color. Doris herself said she saw her stealing as some kind of revenge for the prejudice that she faced as a black woman in the 1950s-70s. She also used her ill-gotten gains to support her children, and help her mother escape an abusive relationship. On the other hand, the money funded her expensive tastes and trips abroad (to steal more). There's also the undeniable rush she felt when stealing that indicates something more selfish at play underneath her claims of righteous criminality.
The film is at its most intellectually interesting during these sections — but it fails to dig deeper into the psychology of its subject, to see what makes her tick. Spending more time with Doris' family would certainly be more enlightening. And the film could definitely have had more cutting insight, by conducting a thorough examination of how racial inequality and sexism shaped the young Doris, as well as the larger effects these factors had on society as a whole.
But then one can't complain too much, as Payne herself is a fascinating and lively subject. The doc comes to life whenever she's on screen. She's everything her critics and admirers say she is: sweet, whip smart, classy, funny — and never to be completely trusted. She is, after all, a criminal who spent years fooling people into believing she something she's not. This makes Doris tremendous fun to watch, because you're constantly trying to figure out whether she's being candid, fudging the truth or telling outright lies in order to build up her legacy or get out of trouble.
While most of these present-day interviews and day-to-day footage are shot in a manner similar to a standard History Channel program, the film nonetheless is able to inject a distinct sense of style into the proceedings. Doris' anecdotes about past capers are augmented by re-enactments which are all soft-focus and supersaturated color — reminiscent of glamorous Technicolor films of yore, like 1955's "To Catch a Thief" (amusingly, one of Payne's favorite films and an inspiration for a particularly daring theft/escape). Combined with the playful, jazzy score that accompanies most of these tales, "The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne" capture a vibrant, nostalgic atmosphere that stands in stark contrast to the more clinical filmmaking.
Overall, this is an entertaining, if slight, documentary about a larger-than-life figure. At its best, the documentary asks audiences to consider what circumstances shaped Doris into the unique individual she is, and challenges them to discern what is real and what's an enticing lie. That Doris Payne is such a fun, memorable subject is just the cherry on top.