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Deirdre Walker was the Assistant Chief of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Police, spending 24 years as a police officer. Here she explains why the TSA's inconsistent procedures may end in public rebellion and/or a terrorist attack.
"Do I have the right to refuse this search?"
This is a question I heard many times during my law enforcement career. Often my answer was no. But occasionally it would be "yes," followed by an admonition to have a good day.
For the last half of my career, I would have documented each interaction, whether or not it involved an arrest. I would have written down the nature and length of the interaction, the gender, race, and age of the person, and the outcome of the contact (arrest, citation, etc.).
I carry the baggage of this history with me as I've traveled over the last eight years, mindlessly placing my luggage on the conveyer belt and removing my shoes for TSA inspection.
Recently, something changed.
Within the last few months, I have been singled out for "additional screening" roughly half the time I step into an airport security line. On Friday, October 9, as I stepped out of the full-body scanning device at BWI, I decided I needed more information to identify why it is that I have become such an appealing candidate for secondary screening.
Little did I know this would be only the first of many questions I now have regarding my airport experiences.
Growing frustration
Over these last few months, I have grown increasingly frustrated with what I view as an unjustifiable intrusion on my privacy. It was not so much the search (then) as it was the embarrassment of being singled out, effectively being told "You are different," but getting no explanation as to why.
That frustration has been tempered by a combination of my desire to be a good citizen, and my empathy for the TSA screeners. These folks, after all, are merely doing what we, the American traveling public, have permitted and now expect them to do.
I am left to wonder whether my own passive acceptance of these evolving search procedures has contributed to a potentially fatal dichotomy: what we allow TSA screeners to do in order to maximize efficiency and enhance our perception of safety, or what we really need them to do in order to preserve our rights and dignity and enhance our actual safety.
We have asked TSA to find the tools terrorists use and prevent both from boarding a passenger plane. We have unintentionally created an agency that now seeks efficiency and compliance more than any weapon or explosive.
While returning my computer and shoes to their proper places, I watched the screening line at BWI. I thought about the haphazard events surrounding the security screening process. As I watched the screening officers, I wondered what information drives their decisions. Left only to my observations, I concluded that their decisions were entirely random, and likely based upon three criteria: passenger load, staffing, and whim.
I was left to conclude that I am not screened because I look like a terrorist. I am routinely screened because I look like someone who will readily comply. I decided then that my next invitation to enjoy additional screening would be met with more inquiry.
I did not have wait very long. On my return through Albany to BWI—Surprise!—I got "randomly selected" for additional screening.
This time, I was "invited" to step into one of the explosive detection machines, commonly referred to as a "puffer machine." The traveller is exposed to short, intense bursts of air, which are then, supposedly, analyzed for trace residue.
I read an article awhile ago that suggested these machines are entirely ineffective. I have subsequently observed that they now sit idle at many airports where they were originally installed (Tampa International, for example). In recently renovated airports (San Jose) they have not been installed. At some other airports (like BWI), they have been replaced by the body-scanning technology.
Testing the system
When notified by the cheerful screener that I had been selected for additional screening (the screener's tone reminded my of the announcer who tells the contestant that she has just won a TV on the Price is Right), I stepped reluctantly toward the machine and asked her quietly whether I had the right to refuse the search. I did not want to become a spectacle, or have to rent a car and drive back to Maryland.
The screeners face dropped and she appeared stunned, as if my question had been received like a body-blow. She asked me to repeat what I said, and I repeated my inquiry regarding whether or not I had the right to refuse this search, especially since it was my understanding that the equipment did not work. She responded defensively, "It sounds an alarm!"
What followed is what I can only describe as a process that left me with more questions and a hunger for something we need and something that has apparently been missing from TSA procedures since September 12, 2001: Data.
It is, again, important to note my general respect for the front line TSA screeners—with the exception of those screeners who feel that it is necessary to yell at people. In my experience as a cop, as a supervisor and as a manager, I know that yelling at people is the one method guaranteed to ensure sub-par performance and a collapse of any semblance of cooperation.
My motivation to write this piece is first, to vent, but then to take a stab at the windmill that has grown from flawed processes to become a barrier to achieving the real mission and ultimate goal: Passenger safety.
I believe, fundamentally, that our collective compliance with the current screening procedures has served only to undermine TSA, and has denied our screeners the tools they need to correct their course.
After realizing I was serious about refusing to step into the puffer machine, I was told that I would be subjected to a "full-body pat-down" and that all of my "stuff would be fully searched."
I shrugged and waited while the screeners figured out what to do next. One of the screeners said "Who is the supervisor? Notify a supervisor." I waited two to three minutes with two female screeners. I was then approached by a uniformed screener and the following exchange took place.
"She refused the puffer. We are supposed to notify a supervisor. You're a supervisor, right?"
Apparently reminded of his role, the subordinate screener then said "We're notifying you." She said nothing further. The supervisor then informed me that if I did not step into the "puffer" I would be subjected to a full body-pat-down, that I would be "wanded" and that all of my belongings would be fully searched by hand.
By this time, my belongings had already passed through the x-ray and sat oddly unattended on the belt. They had aroused no suspicion, either as they passed through the x-ray or as they sat completely unattended. I thought it odd that my initial refusal to be subjected to the 'puffer' now rendered the x-ray examination effectively flawed. I was being cajoled and was then offered the opportunity to change my mind, which, again, I thought rather odd. If I posed such a risk by refusing the secondary screening, why would that risk be now mitigated, if only I were to change my mind?
I did not change my mind. So, I stepped between two glass walls and was subjected to what my police training would allow me to conclude was a procedural vacuum.
I had been told repeatedly I would be subjected to a "pat-down." I correctly suspected otherwise. During the course of my police career, I have conducted many pat-downs on the street. The Supreme Court has described pat downs as a cursory check of the outer clothing of a person by a police officer, upon articulable suspicion that the officer's safety is at risk of being compromised. My department's procedure indicated that this pat-down was to be conducted with an open hand, gently patting the outer clothing of an individual, for purposes of officer safety only, with the goal of detecting weapons. In other words, it is not a search.
Full search in full public view
What happened to me in Albany was not the promised "pat-down." It was a full search conducted in full public view. It was also one of the most flawed searches I have ever witnessed.
From the outset, it was very clear that the screener would have preferred to be anywhere else. She acted as if she was afraid of me, though given that I had set myself apart as apparently crazy, perhaps I cannot blame her. With rubber-gloved hands she checked my head, my arms, my legs, my buttocks (and discovered a pen that had fallen into one of my pockets) and even the bottom of my feet. Perhaps in a nod to decorum, she did not check my crotch, my armpits or either breast area.
Here was a big problem: an effective search cannot nod to decorum.
These three areas on a woman, and the crotch area of men, offer the greatest opportunity to seclude weapons and contraband. Bad guys and girls rely on the type of reluctance displayed by this screener to get weapons and drugs past the authorities. We train cops to realize that their life depends upon the ability to compartmentalize any apprehension about the need to lift and separate. Fatal consequences can and do result when officers fail to detect a secreted weapon which is later used against them.
At the Albany airport, I was left to wonder what kind of training the screener received. I was forced to conclude the answer might be "none." At a minimum, she needs re-training, assuming there is any policy or training that governs searches. Further, after being repeatedly informed that I would be "wanded" by the metal detector in addition to the 'pat-down,' I was not.
Had I actually intended to move contraband past the screening point, my best strategy would have been to refuse secondary screening.
I am also forced to conclude that the purpose of the "pat-down" was not to actually interdict contraband. In my case, I believe I was subjected to a haphazard response in order to effectively punish me for refusing secondary screening and to encourage a different decision in the future.
All of this is admittedly subjective, based on my perceptions at the time. What is also entirely subjective is identifying which travelers are selected for secondary screening.
There's no TSA policy
This is where I find myself now obsessing over TSA policy, or its apparent lack. Every one of us goes to work each day harboring prejudice. This is simply human nature. What I have witnessed in law enforcement over the course of the last two decades serves to remind me how active and passive prejudice can undermine public trust in important institutions, like police agencies. And TSA.
Over the last fifteen years or so, many police agencies started capturing data on police interactions. The primary purpose was to document what had historically been undocumented: informal street contacts. By capturing specific data, we were able to ask ourselves tough questions about potentially biased-policing. Many agencies are still struggling with the answers to those questions.
Regardless, the data permitted us to detect problematic patterns, commonly referred to as passive discrimination. This is a type of discrimination that occurs when we are not aware of how our own biases affect our decisions. This kind of bias must be called to our attention, and there must be accountability to correct it.
One of the most troubling observations I made, at both Albany and BWI, was that—aside from the likely notation in a log (that no one will ever look at)—there was no information captured and I was asked no questions, aside from whether or not I wanted to change my mind.
Given that TSA interacts with tens if not hundreds of millions of travelers each year, it is incredible to me that we, the stewards of homeland security, have failed to insist that data capturing and analysis should occur in a manner similar to what local police agencies have been doing for many years.
Some might argue that the potential for intrusion is not the same between police and TSA. I believe my experience this past weekend demonstrates otherwise. Currently, there is no way to know whether a certain male screener routinely identifies predominantly women for additional screening. There is no way to identify whether a Latino screener routinely isolates African-Americans, or vice versa. To assert that the screeners are highly trained and do not engaged in this type of discrimination, whether passive or active, is unsupportable because there is no data. You simply cannot solve problems that you do not want to identify.
Finally, I am most concerned about the "random" nature of my repeated selection for secondary screening. If there is no discrimination at work, and my selection is entirely random, then we have yet another, and probably more significant problem.
For years in policing, we relied on random patrols to curb crime. We relied upon this "strategy" until someone went out and captured some data, and did a study that demonstrated conclusively that random patrols do not work (Kansas City Study).
As police have employed other types of "random" interventions, as in DWI checkpoints, they have had to develop policies, procedures and training to ensure that the "random" nature of these intrusions is truly random. Whether every car gets checked, or every tenth car, police must demonstrate that they have attempted to eliminate the effects of active and passive discrimination when using "random" strategies. No such accountability currently exists at TSA.
The road to public rebellion or a terrorist attack or both
As I left the screening check point in Albany, I looked over a few feet and observed an elderly Asian couple talking to "my" supervisor. I unashamedly eavesdropped.
I heard the man say that his wife had not been told that the machine would blow air and that she had been quite startled. The woman said she should have been informed and the supervisor agreed. He said he would speak to the screener (but again, who knows whether he actually did).
Then the man said "And she should have been told she can refuse." The bells in my head were deafening.
I believe what we have here is the beginning of the end of complacency. It is now apparent to me that in the haste to ensure compliance with procedures that are inconsistent if not inarticulable, TSA has hastened the likelihood of failure. If we do not insist that TSA work to create articulable policies that make sense, procedures that are explicit and consistent and training that supports both, then we are complicit in what will inevitably be an ultimate compromise of TSA.
That compromise may come in the form of terrorist attack, or it may come in the form of a collapse of public support. Either or both are inevitable. Either or both are preventable.
Homeland Security Watch is a blog that features breaking news, rigorous analysis, and informed commentary on the critical issues in homeland security today. It takes a cross-disciplinary approach to the subject of homeland security, spanning issues such as transportation security, preparedness and response, infrastructure protection, and border security. Its content is intended both for an expert-level policy audience as well as the broader general audience of people interested in homeland security. The blog is non-partisan and non-commercial.
Original base image by Shutterstock


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"More talk, no deal" was The Wall Street Journal's headline on Thursday's Blair House health care summit. "After summit flop, Democrats prepare to go it alone on Obamacare," proclaimed the headline here at The Washington Examiner. These were appropriate verdicts if you viewed the summit as an attempt to reach bipartisan agreement or even a limited consensus.
But that of course was not why Barack Obama convened this unique colloquy. He did so as part of an attempt to pass some Democratic health care bill, somehow, through both houses of Congress -- and to discredit the Republicans who opposed the bills passed by the House in November and the Senate in December.
In that he seems to have failed. The Atlantic's Clive Crook, who supports the Democratic bills, concluded that "the Republicans did not come across as the party of no. They looked well-informed, pragmatic and engaged in the discussion. It was the Democrats who leaned more heavily on talking points, and seemed evasive and unspecific."
Kevin Drum, blogging for the left-wing Mother Jones, agreed. "My take is that the summit was basically a draw, but with a slight edge to the Republicans. They didn't have to win, after all. They just had to seem non-insane, and for the most part they did. What's more, Obama missed a chance to provide a punchy 60-second sales pitch for the Democratic plan."
Obama and the Democrats face problems with both public opinion -- their bills are hugely unpopular -- and with legislative procedure. The problem with public opinion has been undeniable since Republican Sen. Scott Brown's victory five weeks ago in Massachusetts. The problem with legislative procedure is more complex.
Democrats could theoretically solve that problem by having the House pass the Senate bill in toto, ready for Obama's signature. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has proved herself a fine vote-counter, doesn't have the votes. Last month, she said "unease would be the gentlest word" to describe House Democrats' resistance. They understandably don't want to cast votes for the Senate's Cornhusker Kickback and Louisiana Purchase.
In November, Pelosi had 220 votes for the House bill. The one Republican is now a no, one Democrat has died, one resigned last month, and another turned in his resignation Friday. That leaves her with 216, one less than the 217 she needs.
There is another problem. The Senate bill lacks the amendment sponsored by House Democrat Bart Stupak banning abortion coverage, and Stupak says that he and about 10 other Democrats will accordingly vote no. That leaves Pelosi around 205. She may have commitments from former no voters to switch to yes (especially from three who've announced they're retiring), but she doesn't have more than 10 other votes in her pocket -- or she wouldn't have accepted the Stupak amendment.
So the House wants the Senate to go first and pass changes to its bill through the reconciliation process that requires 51 rather than 60 votes. But Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad says that you can't use reconciliation on a bill that hasn't already become law. And reconciliation is probably not available on abortion issues.
All of which reminds me of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' attempt to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 2005. Stevens got it in the reconciliation process in the Senate, where it had 51 but not 60 votes. But House Republicans couldn't get it into reconciliation, even though a majority of House members were for it. The Senate could pass it by reconciliation but not regular order; the House could pass it by regular order but not reconciliation. Result: It never passed.
There are two differences here. ANWR drilling would have little effect on most Americans. The health care bill would affect almost everybody -- by raising taxes, cutting Medicare spending, abolishing current insurance -- as Republicans pointed out in Blair House.
The second difference is that ANWR drilling was reasonably popular with the public, and there were majorities in both houses for it. Neither is true of the Democrats' health care bills today.
Last month, we were told that Obama would switch his focus from health care to jobs. But Democrats have spent February and seem about to spend March focusing on health care. It's hard to see how they can navigate the legislative process successfully -- and even harder to see how they turn around public opinion. Summit flop indeed.

subset: commoncrawl


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ATLANTA >> Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond each had a double-double and the Detroit Pistons snapped a 10-game skid in Atlanta with a 102-95 victory over the Hawks on Tuesday night.
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks hold a two-game lead over New York for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Paul Millsap had 24 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which had won three of four.
Monroe finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds and Drummond had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons, who were eliminated from playoff contention when the Hawks won Sunday at Indiana.
Detroit has won two straight after dropping five of six.
Atlanta trailed by three when Drummond blocked Millsap's jumper in the lane and tipped in Kyle Singler's missed fast-break layup to put the Pistons up 96-91 with 1:36 remaining.
The Pistons were up by 13 twice in the second, the latter coming on Peyton Siva's 3-pointer at the 8:47 mark, but Atlanta cut the lead to four on Kyle Korver's 3 in the final minute.
Detroit played without leading scorer Josh Smith, who was sidelined by patella tendinitis in his left knee. Stuckey replaced the former Atlanta star in the starting lineup and had 15 points in the first half.
Jeff Teague finished with 15 points and nine assists for the Hawks.
Korver overcame a turnover midway through the third by hitting a 3 on Atlanta's ensuing possession to force a 67-all tie.
The Hawks took their first lead of the game on their next possession as DeMarre Carroll took on outlet pass from Teague and hit a fast-break layup at the 6:24 mark.
But after three more lead changes, Detroit began the fourth ahead 81-78 and never trailed again.
Atlanta gets another chance to pad its lead over New York on Wednesday when Boston visits Philips Arena. The Knicks' next game is Friday at Toronto.
NOTES: The game was played Tuesday after getting rescheduled from Jan. 29 because of a snowstorm. … Smith missed his first game since signing a four-year, $54 million contract as a free agent. He has started 76 of 77 games. … Detroit won in Atlanta for the first time since Feb. 12, 2008. … The Hawks missed 26 of 35 attempts beyond the arc. … Stuckey, who made his second start in 70 games, gave the Pistons their first double-digit lead by hitting a 3 to make it 40-29 with 10:20 left in the second. … Hawks reserve G Lou Williams was in uniform, but he sat out for a second straight with a sore left hamstring. … The Hawks dropped to 22-16 at home. … Detroit improved to 13-27 on the road. … John Loyer improved to 8-20 as Detroit's interim coach.


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Sports Medicine
Injury prevention and management as well as mental health and wellnesss are important focuses of U.S. Ski & Snowboard with its national teams. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sports Medicine Department is a division within Athletics with its main focus to provide effective athlete medical management including health, injury prevention, acute injury, injury rehabilitation and return from injury. The division also works for improved safety in event organization and equipment, and maintains a level field of play through anti-doping policy – all critical components to achieving the goal of "Best in the World."
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is dependent on the commitment of dedicated partners and volunteers who provide additional resources to ensure the best possible medical care for our athletes.
All athletes in all Olympic Sports in the U.S. are subject to the rules of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Our mission at U.S. Ski & Snowboard is to empower athletes to achieve excellence, including providing the resources and tools necessary to ensure mental well being.
Everyone has a role to play in creating a healthy setting for sport and U.S. Ski & Snowboard requires SafeSport training every two years for staff, coaches and officials.
All U.S. Ski & Snowboard members are required to review and acknowledge the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Concussion Policy.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard requires all members to have valid and sufficient primary medical/accident insurance coverage.
Education and research is integral to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of injuries in the sports of skiing and snowboarding.


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Neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois
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Lessons Learned From the School of Life
When your formal education ends, the learning really begins
Every autumn I am flooded with childhood memories. The reds and golds of the season instantly transport me back to playing in piles of leaves and feeling the breeze in the air. But the most potent fall memory for me can be summed up in three words: back to school.
I loved school, and I was a pretty good student. In English class I became an avid reader (in class: Young Abe Lincoln; at home: Nancy Drew!).
I was also fascinated by science.
I didn't know back then that my education would continue for the rest of my life. All of us learn new lessons every day — and not just small ones, like how to operate the remote. I'm talking about those big life lessons that encourage us to look at the world in a different way.
When I became an actress, I quickly discovered that the best way to take the reins of my career was to venture behind the camera and become a producer, even as I continued to act. It wasn't always easy — sharp elbows were everywhere — but the lesson was simple: What good is having a voice unless you use it?
I started using that voice in other ways. My first taste of activism was voter registration, which brought me into a circle of brilliant and fearless women who invited me to join them on the front lines of the feminist movement and behind the scenes of political campaigns, including Bobby Kennedy's and George McGovern's.
Through all of this, I learned that we can change our world. I learned about the power of coalitions. And I learned about the invincibility of dreams. I'll never forget the crushing grief the nation felt when Bobby was assassinated in 1968, and how after that first wave of horror, we decided to channel our sadness into carrying on his legacy, particularly the fight for racial equality.
And then, of course, it was back to school again for me when, at midlife, I joined the work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which my father had founded. It was there I learned that, for all the blessings we count every day, the most blessed gift is life itself.
We run through life so fast that sometimes it takes a loss to learn how precious it really is. For me the lesson hit home when I lost my darling father. But the preciousness of life becomes especially profound when you've held a dying child in your arms, as I have at St. Jude. I've looked into the faces of parents, their eyes weary from sleepless hours of pacing waiting rooms. I've witnessed the unbendable spirit of the children, whose strength and optimism burn within them. Only then do you understand the real and fragile beauty of life. That lesson is probably the most powerful one I'll ever learn.
And so I'm excited for the kids across the country who will once again buy new book bags and plan that special outfit for the first day of school. But I'm equally excited for us grownups, as we wake each morning and ask ourselves: What can I learn today?
What new lessons — the tough ones and the fun ones — will make me a better student tomorrow?
Actress, author and activist Marlo Thomas blogs at marlothomas.com.
Also of Interest
- How you can make new friends
- 10 drugs that may cause memory loss
- Share your wisdom and experience — help a child learn to read
See the AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more


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A couple of months ago, tempted by Julie from Anglers Rest, I signed up for the Faith, Hope and Charity Swap 2012. Bloggers who put their hands up to join in were matched up by FHC Queen Lakota so that you got a blogger gift twin from somewhere else, possibly with different interests from yours. I was twinned with Alison from The Fat Dormouse and View from the Teapot. We share a love of cats so that certainly made it easy to find some common ground, as well as presents 🙂 The rules were simple: three to five gifts, at least one hand-crafted and one with a Jubilee theme to celebrate QEII's Jubilee. One or all should be pre-loved or second hand but the total value had to be under £12 (thank heavens for a good exchange rate!).
My gift arrived while I was interstate with family commitments and by the time I got home I'd almost forgotten what was awaiting me. It was such a lovely surprise! So much so I forgot to photograph my gifts before I started unwrapping.
Alison had sent me these gorgeous hand-crafted gifts all of which I love. She sells cards and does calligraphy at the local markets in France and I can see why they're successful. I received four cards themed with "friendship", "love", and "for you".
The Jubilee items were a flower brooch made from red, white and blue felt and a similar magnet. The crafted bookmark also had a jubilee theme and given my addiction to books will get a work-out.
The last item in my gift pack was a hand-painted photo frame which now hosts a photo of my grandchildren.
I'm glad I sent Alison a typed letter with my gifts as her hand-written letter has such beautiful script I'd have been embarrassed otherwise.
It's been great fun to source gifts for Alison and to receive her thoughtful presents. I'd recommend the pleasure of this swap to other bloggers when it comes around again.


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After dominating in the WEC as a long-reigning welterweight champion, Carlos Condit made his UFC debut in 2009 and fought established contender Martin Kampmann.
You can now watch their full fight above.
The bout, which still elicits debate among fight fans, will get another go-around next week when Kampmann (20-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and Condit (28-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) headline UFC Fight Night 27, which takes place Aug. 28 at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It airs on FOX Sports 1.
Check out the first meeting, which took place at UFC Fight Night 18, above.
And for more on UFC Fight Night 27, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.


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As you may have noticed, I didn't end up using this blog during our travels like I thought I would. Come visit me at Nomadtopia instead!
Visit me at Nomadtopia!October 11, 2013
RedwoodsAugust 4, 2012
The trip is off to a great start! We left Portland last Tuesday, and have slowly been making our way south to California. We spent two nights with Couchsurfers in Ashland, Oregon, a great little town where they hold a months-long Shakespeare festival (which actually includes lots of non-Shakespeare theater too). Then we headed toward the California coast, stopping on the way to see some giant redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
Thursday night we stayed at a little motel right on the coast in Crescent City, California. It was really cold and windy for a walk on the beach when we got there, but we did it anyway! (And were really thankful for our new windbreakers/rain jackets we bought in Portland.) Luckily the wind died down overnight, and despite the fog, it was a much more pleasant walk in the morning.
Then we kept going south, through more redwood trees, the highway darting in and out of the fog as we headed inland and then out toward the coast again. We took a little hike along the water, ate lunch at a secluded picnic area outside the state parks, and saw some elk right on the coast. We arrived in Arcata, California, to stay with more Couchsurfers, and had a fun night out with them last night for Mexican food and drinks at their favorite bar (with lots of deer and elk trophies on the walls!).
We're here until Monday, when we head to stay with friends in San Francisco. Today I think we'll be hitting the farmers market, a blues festival, and, if we're not too worn out, an art walk tonight! Tomorrow will be a more mellow day, with perhaps another visit to the beach (about 4 miles from here) and some working and relaxing.
Back on the Road!July 29, 2012
We've decided to revive this blog! A lot has changed since I last wrote (in case you're really out of the loop, Roberto and I got married!), and we're back on the road, so we figured it would be a good way to keep people up to date on our whereabouts, our impressions about the places we visit, upcoming plans, and more. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the other two blogs I'm now writing (here and here), but it's nice to have a place with no pressure, no need for SEO, no worries about visitor statistics, where I can post updates and share my thoughts. Good practice to get more writing done, too! Roberto will also be posting, so you'll have a chance to work on your Spanish. :)
We're in Portland, Oregon, right now, housesitting for my brother and his girlfriend. On Tuesday, we start our epic adventure south to San Diego and back. In a stroke of luck, we've managed to score a loaner car for the next few months, and we're thrilled to have the freedom to go where we want, when we want.
After almost a month in the States, I think we've slept in something like eight different beds (more for me, since I went to Vancouver by myself and stayed in two more places!). It's been great visiting with friends and family in New Jersey, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, but we've also learned the value of staying put. As usual, it's all about balance, tempering movement with stillness. We'll continue to seek that in the coming months (and years), no matter where we are.
We're in the States until early December, but our plans are more up in the air than ever. We had planned to be on the West Coast until late September, when I was supposed to be back on the East Coast to co-lead a retreat. But the retreat has been canceled (the location fell through), so we've suddenly found ourselves a little less sure and a lot more flexible, with no totally concrete plans until Thanksgiving in New Jersey. It's fun to have a wide-open itinerary, but it's also rather daunting, especially when we know we don't want to moving around constantly. All the more reason to find more housesitting gigs and other opportunities to stay in one place for longer. We've been invited to visit people all over the country, but the cost in getting to some of those places is a bit of a deterrent, so we're still figuring it all out.
For now, I'm excited about the road trip, and I can't wait to see old friends and new, and to show Roberto around San Francisco and other treasured spots in California. It's going to be a great adventure!
P.S. Our place in Buenos Aires is for rent while we're gone! If you know anyone interested in a vacation rental, check it out.
Check out my new blogFebruary 16, 2011
In case you haven't heard, I've started a new blog called Nomadtopia. It will still include a lot of my personal experiences, but presented in a way that I hope will appeal to a more general audience and help and inspire others who'd like to live an unconventional life of travel and adventure. Check it out, sign up for email or RSS updates, and let me know what you think!
The Pros and Cons of Christmas AbroadDecember 25, 2010
Anyone who lives a fairly nomadic life will likely spend some major holidays outside their home country eventually. It's an enlightening, interesting, and yes, even challenging experience that can vary a lot depending on what your own traditions are like, and the traditions of the place you're spending the holiday. Here's my thoughts on spending yet another Christmas abroad.
I've spent three of the last four Christmases in Buenos Aires, where I've discovered some of the pros, as well of the cons, of spending this holiday abroad, and in Buenos Aires in particular. Since Argentina is in the Southern Hemisphere, one of the biggest differences for those from the North is celebrating Christmas in the summer. Those images of Santa Claus that are becoming more predominant here are pretty hard to relate to when it's 90-plus degrees outside! And it's a real challenge to get into the Christmas spirit if you grew up associating this time of year with cozy nights spent in front of the fire, getting bundled up to play in the snow, and decorations with winter-themed images.
Over the last month, locals have been preparing for summer vacation, and they waited until December 8, Día de la Virgen, to even think about doing any decorating. Meanwhile, online, I saw articles from U.S. sources describing ways one can avoid the stress of the holidays, and was bombarded with comments about how many shopping days were left until Christmas. I sweat through most of December feeling truly thankful to be away from the world of a million holiday parties and the pressure to buy lots of presents. I suspect that those who, like me, would rather move away from the consumerist traditions that have overtaken Christmas in the States find that spending the holiday season abroad is a great way to shift the focus back to the things that really matter, like spending time with family and friends – and eating plenty of tasty food (but not getting stressed out about preparing it all)!
However, it is exactly this focus on "what matters" that can make holidays abroad difficult. For the first time since I moved to Buenos Aires, none of my family came to visit for Christmas, and I didn't go back to the U.S. I didn't think it would be that big a deal – after all, I do have family here now – my fiancé and his family – and I knew we'd spend December 24th, Nochebuena, together. But in Argentina, at least, Nochebuena is celebrated a lot like New Year's Eve – a big dinner with family as the anticipation builds until midnight, when people set off fireworks in the streets and everyone makes a toast to a Feliz Navidad with sparkling wine or cider and some traditional treats. December 25th is then a lot like January 1 – a day to sleep off the food and alcohol of the day before and just relax – and not much more. I found myself feeling pretty sad yesterday, realizing that being in a place where the traditions are so different made me feel even farther from my family and friends than normal.
As we create independent lives and families apart from the immediate family we grew up with, we all have to create our own traditions, and many of us have to get used to not having all our friends and family together at every important event or holiday. Creating new traditions might be even more important for nomads, who will likely find themselves a long distance from familiar ways of doing things but may be seeking some sense of tradition. Or perhaps the best solution is just to throw yourself completely into whatever traditions you find around you, and give up trying to make it something it's not. Roberto suggested yesterday that we spend Christmas in a different country every year, sampling different ways of celebrating that we can incorporate as we create traditions that are uniquely ours.
What's your experience been with spending holidays abroad, or far from friends and family? Wherever you've celebrated, have you combined family traditions with new ways of doing things?
NomadtopiaDecember 20, 2010
I'm starting a new blog! It's not live yet, but I just had to share. Nomadtopia is about, as the current draft of my tagline says, "Creating your ideal life, wherever you are, wherever you go." This means that I'll write about a lot of the same things I've written about here – traveling, freelancing, finding community and enjoying domestic pursuits abroad, and more – but in a more universal way, and on a more regular basis, with the goal of appealing to an audience beyond friends and family (nothing personal!). I'd like the blog to attract enough readers and interest that I can eventually make some money from it. (I won't go into all the nitty-gritty of that, but in most cases that means creating products like e-books or courses, as well as participating in affiliate marketing programs, where I'd sell other people's products and earn a commission.)
My current plan is to eventually retire this blog, perhaps after moving/reviving some of its content for the new site. I hope you'll continue to follow my adventures on Nomadtopia!
The Excitement of Arriving, the Comfort of StayingDecember 19, 2010
Today I really just wanted to curl up and read a book, but it hasn't quite happened (yet, the day's not over!). Roberto and I watched Eat, Pray, Love a few days ago, and one of the images that has stuck in my head was of the main characters having a quiet evening at home, reading and listening to music. Yes, they were in Bali, and the gorgeous open-air design of the house might have been part of the appeal, but when I saw that scene I thought, When was the last time I (or we) did that? Relaxing with a good book, being in the company of a loved one but not talking, in comfortable surroundings with nice lighting – that's a pretty great way to spend an evening, in my opinion.
Of course, my inner struggle is apparent yet again when I think of the other images that have remained in my mind since I watched the movie, of each time she arrived in a new country (first Italy, then India, then Bali, for those not in the know). Those first-day-in-a-new-place sensations are so palpable for me–that first day of wondering where the heck you are, everything new and different and wonderful, trying to figure it all out, and hardly able to believe that you're really, finally, there. I think that yearning for new experiences is a big part of why I travel, what makes me so eager to get back on the road.
We're both antsy to do more traveling together. I guess I better bring a good book with me, so when we find a spot of comfort somewhere along the way, we can curl up for a nice evening "at home."
Simple Living, RevisitedNovember 25, 2010
If you've been following my adventures over the years, you may remember hearing me talk about the concept of voluntary simplicity, or simple living. I wrote a post about it on this blog in October 2007, The Satisfaction of Enough. At the time I felt it was one of the most important/meaningful posts I'd ever written, and I remember being a bit disappointed by the lack of response from my readers (all 10 or so of them)–though it did bring out of the woodwork a kindred spirit that I'm still in touch with, though we've never met in person (hi, Leigh!).
I gradually "forgot" about simplicity again after I wrote that post. Although I was reading blogs like Zen Habits and The Simple Dollar that were based on similar philosophies, I guess I figured, "I moved abroad with only two suitcases – how much simpler can one get?" But somewhere along the way, while "simplicity" morphed into a whole new movement called "minimalism," I bought an apartment and furnished/equipped it, mostly by filling those same two suitcases with more things every time I went back to the States. (Amazingly, the TSA agents hardly blinked an eye when they had to hand-search my carry-on because it contained a stainless-steel stockpot!)
After my fiancé, Roberto, moved in with me in July of this year, I tried not to take it personally when people would sometimes ask him how it was going, and he'd say "Fine, but the apartment's too small." Around the same time I read an article in the New York Times about how buying things doesn't make us happy ("Duh," was my general reaction). The article led me to the blog of a woman mentioned in the article, and then to a whole slew of new minimalism-related blogs that had cropped up while I was busy filling my new apartment with stuff. And I turned to Roberto one night and said, "The apartment's not too small, we have too much stuff! (And haven't figured out where to put anything.)" Intrigued, he agreed, and I started telling him more about this whole concept of simple living/minimalism. We now often talk about the choices we make regarding our spending, etc. in terms of minimalismo, and are slowly beginning to work on paring down our possessions as well as better organizing the ones we want to keep.
I'm hoping you'll come along for the ride as Roberto and I begin our life together, motivated by minimalism, travel, and so much more–we have a lot of exciting plans in the works, and I hope that in some way we can inspire others just as we have been inspired. Stay tuned!
And… we're back!November 19, 2010
My apologies for the blog silence… there's been a lot going on at Nomad headquarters! The last few months have seen two really big changes in my life, one that has had a significant impact in the short-term, and one that will have a major impact in the long-term: I took a full-time contract gig in an office in Buenos Aires until March or so, and Roberto and I got engaged!
It's been crazy trying to balance my return to a regular work schedule, freelancing, and Roberto's work and classes (he's been in school three nights a week, studying graphic design). But he's nearly done with school for the year (it's nearly summer here, remember!), and my freelance work has gotten a little more tranquilo, so it's the perfect time to bring this blog back to life and work on a bunch of other projects we have pending. Stay tuned for news, musings, and more!
Three years and countingMay 21, 2010
Three years ago tonight, I was heading out to a pub quiz at Sullivan's bar, on my first night (living) in Buenos Aires. I remember being proud of myself for being out on the town right away, and for finding my way to the bar on the bus (when I called South American Explorers about the event that night, the girl said, "OK, do you have a Guia T?" Not yet wise to this incredibly handy guide to BA's amazing bus system, I said, "What's that?"). I probably said over and over again that night as I met new people, "I just got here this morning. I'm not sure how long I'll be in Buenos Aires; we'll see."
I certainly never dreamed I'd still be here three years later, sitting in my very own apartment, waiting for a group of great friends and my awesome boyfriend to come over and help me celebrate my time here. It's been quite a ride! Here's to many more years of adventure, friendship, and love, wherever I am.


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The legendary bluesman Robert Johnson was born on the northern outskirts of Hazlehurst to Julia Majors and Noah Johnson, on May 8, 1911 (or possibly 1912). Johnson lived in Tunica County and in Memphis as a child, but in the early 1930s he returned for a stay in the Hazlehurst area, where he honed his skills playing with local blues guitarist Ike Zinnerman.
Robert Johnson whose body of twenty-nine recordings from 1936-37 is widely regarded as an artistic high point of the blues, had a close connection to the Hazlehurst area. He was born here, probably in the Damascus community north of town, later returned regularly to perform, and fathered his only known child with a local woman. Johnson's mother, Julia Majors, was originally from Hazlehurst, and after separating from her first husband, Hazlehurst native Charles Dodds, she had a child with Noah Johnson, a local sawmill worker. Robert Johnson's year of birth is frequently reported as 1911, but the ages given on two marriage licenses, school records, and his death certificate suggest birthdates ranging from 1907 to 1912. Since he is not listed in the 1910 census among his mother's children, 1911 or 1912 are more likely.
Shortly after Johnson's birth his mother moved to the Delta and sent Robert to live in Memphis with the family of Dodds, who had changed his last name to Spencer. In the late 1910s Johnson moved to the Abbay and Leatherman plantation near Robinsonville to live with his mother and her new husband, Dusty Willis. Some confusion about the details of Johnson's life has stemmed from his using the names Johnson, Dodds, Spencer, and Willis. He began actively performing music while in his teens, and around 1930 came to the attention of local blues powerhouse Son House, who later recalled that at the time Johnson could only make a "racket" on the guitar. In the early '30s Johnson returned to the Hazlehurst area, where he studied with guitarist Ike Zinnerman of Beauregard, ten miles south of Hazlehurst. Upon Johnson's return to the Delta, House recalled that Johnson's skills had increased markedly. In Martinsville, just south of Hazlehurst, Johnson had a romantic relationship with Virgie Mae Cain, resulting in the birth of Claud Johnson on December 12, 1931. In 1998 the Chancery Court of Leflore County determined that Claud Johnson was Robert Johnson's son and the legal heir to his considerable estate. He subsequently founded the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation, oriented toward arts education.
In May of 1931 Robert married a Martinsville woman, Callie Craft, and gave a Memphis address when he filed for the license. Johnson traveled widely, but continued to visit the Hazlehurst area, where he stayed with his aunt, Clara Majors Rice. Her son Howard recalled that, in addition to guitar, Johnson played piano and pump organ. Among the musicians who played with Johnson during these years was guitarist Houston Stackhouse, who recalled performing with him at the Frank Ford plantation outside of Crystal Springs. Johnson died in Greenwood on August 16, 1938.


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Decontamination of the paint surface is critical to proper auto care for a multitude of reasons. To begin with you want to remove all contaminants before polishing, so you can work on a clean canvas rather than dragging tiny contaminants across the paint during the polishing phase. Using our Decontamination Clay Towel you can remove surface bonded contaminants and use Merlins Blood to remove anything below the surface of the paint as well.
For years clay was the cornerstone of vehicle decontamination but now with our Decontamination Towels, Merlins Blood and Cerberus we offer a variety of methods to remove decontamination from the surface. Like clay the Clay Towel removes the above surface contaminants but unlike clay it is not nearly as time consuming. Also if you drop it, it can simply be rinsed off and used again. The Car Spa Car Care Clay Towel not only rinses easily but outlasts clay time and again.
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Library Friends plan spring events
ROCHESTER — The Friends of the Rochester Public Library, a 501(c)(3) non-profit group dedicated to raising funds for the Rochester library, have announced plans for a number of new events and fundraisers to start the new year. At their most recent meeting, the Friends board elected new officers and set plans in motion for a February raffle at the library and a Spring Fling to take place in early March. Library director Brian Sylvester, who serves as staff liaison to the Friends group, is enthusiastic about the coming year.
"They're off to a great start with some new people and new ideas," Sylvester said.
The raffle prize basket, which will be Valentine's Day themed, will be showcased at the library front desk and tickets are available at the Circulation desk. Proceeds from the raffle will go toward other events and programs for 2013, according to acting Friends President Katherine Parker-Wright.
In March, the Friends will host an open-house style "Spring Fling" for the community. The event is scheduled for March 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Library Community Room, is open to the public, and will have finger foods and desserts for everyone to enjoy. Friends members will circulate during the event to distribute information about the Friends' fundraising goals.
"We're hoping the event will be a good way to get the word out about who the Friends are and what they do," said Sylvester. "It'll be a nice low-key way to talk to people in the community."
Membership in the Friends of the Library is open to all, and includes a host of benefits, like early entry to the library's annual Book Sale. The next public meeting of the Friends of the Rochester Library board is scheduled for March 5 at 11 a.m. at the library. For more information on joining the Friends of the Rochester Library or to learn more about their programs, visit their website at www.rpl.lib.nh.us/friends/rplfriends.htm.


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A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
Cornea Research Reveals Unseen Layer
Eye-opening finding will lead to textbook revisions, expert predicts
Friday, June 14, 2013
The finding could help improve results for people who undergo corneal grafts and transplants, according to the researchers at the University of Nottingham in England.
"This is a major discovery that will mean that ophthalmology textbooks will literally need to be rewritten," Harminder Dua, a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, said in a university news release. "Having identified this new and distinct layer deep in the tissue of the cornea, we can now exploit its presence to make operations much safer and simpler for patients."
Dua discovered the new layer, which is described in the journal Ophthalmology. In his honor, the new layer has been called Dua's Layer.
"From a clinical perspective, there are many diseases that affect the back of the cornea, which clinicians across the world are already beginning to relate to the presence, absence or tear in this layer," Dua said.
The cornea is the clear protective lens on the front of the eye. It was previously believed to have five layers. The new layer, which is located near the back of the cornea, is just 15 microns thick but it is incredibly tough, according to the study.
The researchers proved the existence of the new layer by simulating corneal transplants and grafts on eyes donated for research.
Health News Copyright (c) 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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Orpen, Sir William
Orpen, Sir William, 1878–1931, British portrait and genre painter, b. Ireland. He is best known for his scenes of Irish daily life, his paintings and sketches of life at the front in World War I, and his portraits. His paintings Myself and Venus (Carnegie Inst., Pittsburgh) and Leading the Life in the West (Metropolitan Mus.) are characteristic of his work. Orpen was knighted in 1918. Although not a profound talent, he was the most popular painter of his day.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: European Art, 1600 to the Present: Biographies


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Mellanox to open source Ethernet software
Rick Merritt 3/4/2013 8:30 AM EST
The Infiniband leader will support open source Ethernet software in a move aimed to outflank giants such as Cisco and Ericsson.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Mellanox Technologies pledged it will support open source software for its Ethernet switches over the next several months.
The chip and system provider hopes to gain an edge over larger competitors that are only partially embracing a trend to open software for Ethernet.
Mellanox dominates Infinband networking which has a tradition of mainly open source code but a relatively small market.
It faces entrenched giants in larger Ethernet markets, many of them now resisting a push toward open source software.
As a starting point, Mellanox is supporting the so-called Quagga open source Layer 3 routing code on its Ethernet switches.
Mellanox plans to release open source versions of its Layer 2 switching code and management software for its products in the next few months.
It also aims to strike open source partnerships.
Mellanox expects to make its code available on broad licensing terms that don't require users to post back any changes. It will not, however, make available as open source the firmware or some of the driver code for its chips.
"Firmware is part of the hardware and typically proprietary—it's connected to the hardware, so there's no reason to open it," said Gilad Shainer, vice president of market development at Mellanox. "Part of the driver [code may be made] open, and part of it will remain closed because [it also is] dedicated to the hardware, so there is no reason to open it," he said.
Mellanox is currently supporting an early version of OpenFlow, a protocol that lets software on servers control and manage network functions on switches and routers.
The company also is working to support OpenFlow controllers from third parties including Floodlight, he said.
In recent announcements, large Ethernet switch makers such as Cisco Systems and Ericsson took hybrid approaches, supporting both OpenFlow as well as their own protocols.
The proprietary software will be better suited to access features in their underlying chips, the said.
Related stories:
Cisco packs ASICs at 40G, embraces OpenFlow
Ericsson to demo Gbit LTE at Mobile Congress
Google likes OpenFlow, but many comms vendors don't


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brown supplies (cardboard, milk lids, plastic bags, paper, sugar packets, clif bar wrappers, paper bags, tape…) and glue:
can you tell?
of course! it's a dr. king collage.
3 bottles of glue were used to adequately shellac dr. king's image into place.
real wool was added for hair, eyebrows and moustache.
favorite overheard: "wow. he looks just like me," said a blond girl.


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December 2nd, 2010
Why does my jaw hurt when I exercise?
Every weekday, a CNNHealth expert doctor answers a viewer question. Today, it's Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.
Question asked by Sara from Texas
When I'm exercising, I often get jaw pain. It feels like someone is pressing inward on the joint with their fingers very hard. I've been very careful to maintain a relaxed posture and avoid tensing while I exercise, but the pain still comes. The kind of exercise I'm doing is low impact on the elliptical machine. I've even stopped using the arm holds because I've been worried the back and forth motion was making me tense. I've looked online and found that this could be a sign of heart problems, but I'm only 23 with no family history. Should I be concerned?
Dear Sara:
I am glad you've asked this question, as pains in the chest, left arm and jaw are a very common concern among people beginning an exercise regimen. The bottom line is, anyone who is planning to begin working out should get clearance from a physician before starting. Even children getting into a school sport should get medical clearance. Most importantly, those who begin a regimen and have any unexpected pains and discomforts should stop the activity and seek evaluation from a physician. You should not restart the activity until the cause of the pain is determined and measures are planned to prevent it.
Angina, or pain from the heart muscle not getting enough oxygenated blood, can present as mild to severe chest pain, a pain or numbness running up the left arm, pain in the jaw or even as a headache. Angina is typical in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing strenuous exertion. Strenuous activity increases the heart's need for oxygen. Partial obstruction in the coronary arteries leads to less than adequate flow of oxygenated blood to the heart. The discomfort usually decreases or goes away with rest. If the heart is deprived of blood long enough, some of the heart muscle will die. This is commonly called a myocardial infarction or a heart attack. Death of heart muscle can lead to heart rhythm problems and difficulty in the heart pumping blood. The latter is known as congestive heart failure.
The typical person with cardiovascular disease and angina is in his or her 50s or older. In younger people, discomfort of the chest, the left arm, and the jaw during exercise is more commonly due to non-heart problems. Physicians will assess the young individual with these symptoms for abnormalities of the heart valves and congenital malformations of the heart. These findings are rare. Even rarer is the young person with coronary artery blockages. Young people with coronary artery disease usually have a family and personal history of high serum cholesterol or serum triglyceride or have a history of radiation therapy to chest for another disease such as a cancer.
Patients under evaluation may get electrocardiograms, ultrasound studies of the heart or exercise stress tests. In an exercise stress test, the heart performance is evaluated during exertion with an electrocardiogram, and often with ultrasound and nuclear medicine - use of traceable material injected into the blood vessels to look for blockages.
Among young people, chest discomfort during exercise is commonly due to indigestion, acid reflux, or even muscular and skeletal pain in the rib cage. Pain in the jaw can be due to tensing of the jaw or malocclusion of teeth (a bad bite). Numbness and pain in the forearm are commonly due to carpal tunnel syndrome from gripping exercise machines.
Again I stress that one should not self-diagnose this discomfort. It should be evaluated by a health professional.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.


text: Best gift for someone who will start a new chapter and embark on a new adventure in life. Items are hand-arranged by our Florist using 10 white carnations with misty blue as fillers. Beautified using the warmth color of maroon and comfort of white color Korean wrappers. Comes with our signature ribbon design to add more elegance to the bouquet.


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What's Up with Duct Tape?
New tests for duct tape include testing the strapping that holds duct connections together and testing the longevity of duct sealants.
It's been a couple of years since we last wrote about duct tape in the pages of Home Energy, and it is time to revisit this ever-popular subject. When last we left duct sealant durability issues, the Energy Performance of Buildings Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) had done an accelerated longevity test;we found that most everything worked except standard, clothbacked rubber adhesive duct tape (see "Duct Lab Does Duct Tape,"HE Sept/Oct '02, p. 13). In response, the state of California had limited the use of such tapes in new construction, and manufacturers were considering developing new products.
Several things have changed in the world of duct tape over the last couple of years. LBNL has completed another round of durability testing.There is a new version of Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) 181B that now includes testing the strapping that holds duct connections together.And there is a new American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E2342-03 standard for testing the longevity of duct sealants.
Core-to-Collar Joints
Rather than the collar-to-plenum connection we tested previously ("Can Duct Tape Take the Heat?"HE July/Aug '98, p. 14), tape manufacturers—primarily TYCO and Shurtape—and UL wanted the latest LBNL tests to evaluate standard core-to-collar joints of flexible duct to sheet-metal collars. Their reason for changing the test joint was that the UL 181B listing is valid only for this application, and the focus of the study was to evaluate UL-listed products. Furthermore, the joint was to have no mechanical stress on it, because the Uniform Mechanical Code, sealant manufacturers' instructions, and industry guidelines from the Air Diffusion Council require separate mechanical support for ducts.
The core-to-collar duct connection consisted of a 6-inch-diameter round collar inside a flex duct core (an example is shown in photo above). Each sample had two collar-to-flex connections, one at each end of a short (about 12-inch) piece of flex duct core. One of the collars was open ended for connection to a plenum that supplied hot air. The other collar had an end cap that was internally sealed with mastic.
Four different UL 181B-listed duct tape products were tested: two conventional duct tapes; an oriented polypropylene (OPP) acrylic adhesive tape; and a foil-backed butyl adhesive tape. A range of samples was assembled.The test samples had different numbers of wraps and/or used multiple pieces of tape for a total of 18 different combinations. A nylon strap was used to hold the connection together for 10 of the 18 samples; the other 8 samples had no strapping. For the UL listing to be valid for these tapes, they must be held in place using straps.
The test samples were exposed to heated air at 200ºF and were pressurized to 0.35 inches of water (85 Pa).The exact value of this pressure is not significant,we just wanted a pressure that was within a reasonable range for residential duct systems.The surface temperature of each sample, the air temperature, and the pressure across the leaks were continuously monitored, using a data acquisition system that also controlled the temperature in the apparatus. (The top photo on p. 22 shows samples mounted on the test apparatus.)
Periodic air leakage tests and visual inspection were used to document changes in sealant performance over a two-year period.The air leakage measurements were conducted periodically (typically on a monthly or weekly basis) by removing the samples from the test apparatus.
A separate leakage-testing device pressurized the samples to 0.1 inches of water (25 Pa) and measured the air flow rate required to maintain this pressure difference. The failure criterion for air leakage was set at 10% of the unsealed sample leakage because this was the leakage level after which samples tended to fail rapidly in the previous testing.
A key difference between this testing and the earlier LBNL work was that in this testing there was no quantitative baseline of unsealed joint air leakage from which to objectively determine acceptable air leakage.A joint that had mechanical support including straps had relatively low leakage to begin with, so that the durability of duct tape could not be objectively measured. Nevertheless, some interesting conclusions can be drawn from the test results.
The leakage results over the two years of testing showed no systematic increases in leakage and none of the catastrophic failures seen in our previous studies. Most of the samples showed small changes in leakage (either increases or decreases) of 0.2 CFM or less.The exception was one of the foil tape samples, which showed an increase of 0.4 CFM after the first month of testing. However, this sample then stabilized at this leakage level and did not show any significant further leakage increases. Several of the samples showed leakage reductions.Visual observations indicated that this was probably due to the flowing of the adhesive at high temperatures; the adhesive sealed more of the small cracks and leaks as it flowed.
In order to systematically record the visual deterioration of the samples, monthly pictures of all 18 specimens were taken.Typical minor deteriorations observed were discoloration, wrinkling, and oozing. Major deteriorations observed were shrinking, peeling, delamination, and cracking. Like the visual inspections of the UL 181B test, these evaluations are subjective, but they do serve to give a relative rating for each tape. Observations showed that the OPP tape had the most deterioration, while foil-butyl tape had the least deterioration. Although the OPP tape appeared to be almost disintegrated, it still maintained a good air seal. This was because the tape was not being asked to form a mechanical connection—only to seal the gap between the collar and the flex duct.
Strap Failure
One unexpected result of the testing was the failure of the nylon straps. Discoloration of the nylon strapping was observed within one month of the start of testing and the first strap broke after four months. Two different nylon strap materials were used and both showed the same brittle failure.The straps usually failed at the point where the strap passes through the ratchet of the zip-tie mechanism—where the mechanical stresses are greatest.
Two straps were used—one at the cap end and one at the open end of each sample. The failure times for each end were recorded separately. The results show no significant pattern of failure for either end; the two straps on each sample generally failed within a couple of months of each other. Similarly, the failures were independent of the tape they were used with. All but two straps had failed by the end of our testing. The two remaining straps showed the same discoloration as the failed straps, but they had not broken and fallen off. Strap failure is a major problem, because mechanical attachment thereafter is maintained only by the duct sealant. If ducts are not well supported, significant mechanical stress can occur to cause the sealant to fail after the strap fails. In extreme cases, the duct connection may separate.
The materials used for the straps were typical of those used in the field, which have an unknown temperature rating. Product literature from strap manufacturers shows that there are other strap materials that have higher temperature ratings—such as Heat Stabilized Nylon 6/6 for continuous exposure above 185ºF and TEFZEL for even higher temperatures. Straps made of these materials may have improved high-temperature durability. As an alternative, the authors recommend metal straps, because they have no temperature degradation.
UL181B Revisions for Straps
In 2003, perhaps in response to LBNL's preliminary reports, UL 181B was revised to include a new set of tests for fasteners, including straps. Products that pass this set of tests are to be marked UL 181B-C. Because LBNL testing started before the revisions for straps were added, the researchers were not able to evaluate the performance of UL-listed straps. The tests cover tensile strength, smoke spread, heat production, mold growth, tension (mechanical integrity of the connection), air leakage, and low- and high-temperature aging.
The most relevant test for longevity is the one done under high temperatures. In this test, the straps are heated to 212ºF for 60 days. The straps are tested for tensile strength before and after they undergo heating, they must retain 75% of their initial strength after they have been heated for 60 days. The tensile testing itself is not conducted at high temperature; the straps are conditioned for 48 hours at 73ºF (23ºC) and 50% relative humidity (RH) and are then tensile tested at some unspecified temperature. In other words, their performance at elevated temperature is not evaluated.The object of the UL test is to learn how exposure to high temperature affects the properties of the material.
The new UL test is a good step forward, but it falls short of being a good indicator of strap performance. There are several reasons why:
• The straps are not tested in the failure mode that is observed, such as brittle failure in bending.We do not know if the strapping materials show greater or lower tensile strength as they become more brittle; many ductile materials, in fact, show greater tensile strength as they become brittle. In addition, the straps are not subjected to any strain during the UL high-temperature baking. In real applications (and in laboratory testing), the straps are under the influence of combined heat and strain. Without additional testing,we do not know if strain is a factor in failure, but in general, we would expect that it is.
• The testing is for 60 days only. In the LBNL study, none of the straps failed in 60 days. Testing for only 60 days appears to be insufficient. Given the relatively arbitrary nature of selecting time limit criteria,we should select an appropriate time limit that allows us to differentiate between acceptable and non-acceptable performance.
• The wording of the test is somewhat unclear.This makes it extremely difficult to know whether one is following the testing procedure exactly.
New ASTM Standard
Because the UL tests do not sufficiently address durability issues, researchers have worked with ASTM to develop a new standard:ASTM E2342-03 "Standard Test Method for Durability Testing of Duct Sealants." This standard tests sealants on a collarto- plenum connection. This connection is much harder for tapes to seal, because the tape must conform to a complex three-dimensional shape, and because this shape mechanically stresses the tape. In the future we hope that the ASTM standard will be used to specify durable duct sealants, so that builders will not have to rely on the UL listing, which does not sufficiently address durability.
Recommendations for Better Duct Sealing
Our recent research suggests that almost any tape can be made to work for a core-to-collar joint when perfectly applied. Given all the better choices available and all the problems that can and do occur in the field,we would not recommend that cloth-backed rubber adhesive tapes be used, unless they can pass a suitable E2342 test.
If visual degradation is an important factor,OPP and cloth-backed tapes should be avoided. While tapes that fail usually show visual degradation, the converse is not always true. We speculate, however, that visually degraded tapes are more likely to be susceptible to damage from vibration and other mechanical stresses.
Conventional nylon straps are quite prone to fail at higher temperatures, but no systematic studies have yet been done across product classes. UL has proposed a new standard for straps, but the protocol for the current UL test does not suggest that it would be a good indicator of durability. Products meeting the new UL standard for straps should be independently tested for the failure modes observed in the field and laboratory to determine if that test is a reasonable indicator of durability.
Until a suitable test for strap durability exists,we recommend that only high-temperature nylon or metal straps be used—especially in cases where tapes may be sensitive to mechanical stresses.
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Social situations are hard for me. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and find crowds particularly daunting. When I am in a social situation with a lot of people that I don't know it is really easy for me to shut down. I have to fight really hard to talk to anyone and, often, have to fight all of my instincts to keep from running out of the room. Noise is the worst. If everybody is talking while I am surrounded by people, or there is loud music playing, it can be too overwhelming for me to handle. These situations are when I feel at my weakest. The biggest problem is that people don't understand. People often say things like "everybody is uncomfortable, you just have to ignore it and start talking to people." Often I want to shout "why aren't you listening to me? It's not that easy" at them, but what good would that do? People don't understand because it's not something that they deal with. It's a mental health issue, so it is still highly stigmatized and ignored. Many people assume I'm lying when I tell them my issue, so I have only really just begun to trust people enough to talk about it.
My volunteering as well as my interest in writing have forced me to have to fight my anxiety in order to attend conferences and galas and other such events. I'm lucky to have one of the more mild forms of anxiety. I can sit in a room with 10 people and not know any of them without feeling much in the way of anxiety. I ca talk to the people around me and enjoy myself. The anxiety doesn't tend to be unbearable until there are about 100 people around. That is when I begin to panic. But even then, I don't have a lot of the issues that others have. I don't become physically sick, I've never fainted. Given how weak I feel when I am suffering from my own anxiety, I can't imagine how bad that feeling must be for those with the worse forms of anxiety.
It is hard for my partner as well. When we are at a conference we are there to meet people. It's a networking event. My partner wants to walk around and talk to people, but he feels tied to me. I view it as a victory if I manage to talk to a hand full of people in a day, because it's more than I used to be able to manage. But for my partner it is a wasted day. He could have talked to three times as many people on his own. It is upsetting to me, because those are the days that I am at my strongest. Those are my best days, the days when I feel like I have conquered my fear. When I am at my weakest, when I feel like a failure, is when I can't get over the feeling of being overwhelmed. The days when I separate myself from the crowd and don't talk to anyone.
When do you feel like you are at your weakest? How do you conquer that weakness?


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Meredith Whitney predicts that we'll see 50 to 100 municipalities debt defaults next year. Experts within the industry are saying they can not reconcile her numbers with the situation they see on the ground. Some go as far as to say that her prediction does not make sense. First of all, when it comes to the number, my sources tell me that her numbers needs to be defined — are those muni's unrated? Rated? There is a big difference between the two and the spread of defaults is huge: 39 defaults that were rated vs. 1,400 unrated. Investors need to remember not all munis are the same in the 2.8 trillion market. I decided to sit down with Robin Prunty, Team Leader for State Ratings for S&P whose team recently did an extensive report on the health of the muni market.
LL: Should investors be panicking about muni's?
RP: In our view, there are significant challenges out there but we do not see wide spread defaults in the universe we rate. There is almost 90,000 government entitles in the United States and many of them have authorization or capacity to issue debt. It's a tremendous universe out there. Yes Harrisburg is in fiscal distress and there are many other governments that are in fiscal distress and even some state level issuers but that does not mean they are not paying their debt.
LL: Your recent report goes into great detail of why you do not think the muni market will see a wave of defaults. Why?
RP: 99 Percent of the muni's we rate are investment grade. We feel based on current criteria our outlooks and where our credit outlooks are we are comfortable with the sector. That's not to say there have been downgrades that has occurred steadily in the last year and a half. We would expect there would be a continued level of credit downgrade activates and that there will be some credit deterioration but we don't expect that to translate that into widespread defaults.
LL: Not all munis are created equal correct?
RP: Correct, you see a lot of general obligation credits, essential service type of bonds that have a specific revenue pledge dedicated.
LL: How would you characterize the health of the muni market?
RP: I can only speak to the credit equation of the muni market. It is a very difficult budget climate. The duration of this recession is long by historical standards, and the longer the duration, the tougher the choices are. Governments are very used to managing through economic cycles. States in particular have a more volatile revenue stream than local governments generally. They have a very long history of managing through economic cycles. They have made a lot of changes to their budget structure based on lessons learned in prior recessions including formalize reserve levels. So it is difficult from a budgetary standpoint and on the pension and other post employment benefit side. Government has a history of weak funded ratios and they have made different reforms over time and you are starting to see some movement there.
LL: So is this more of a policy crisis versus a debt crisis?
RP: We don't see this as a debt crisis and the primary reason for that is most state and local governments issue amortizing debt — which means they pay principal and interest each year. They are typically not issuing debt with balloon or bullet maturities like we are seeing in other parts of the globe and they also don't as a first line of defense in a budget deficit situation turn to debt obligation to manage that. They are required to balance a budget and we all know there are different definitions to what "balance" means — some states will rely on debt-like mechanisms to be part of the solution of budget balance but it won't be the primary solution.
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Below are the results we could find for Joseph Morais. You can view 1 entry, complete with personal details, location history, phone numbers, relatives and locations for Joseph Morais. See the links below for more info.
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Flexible Gift Annuity
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- You transfer cash or securities to Sam Houston State University. Our suggested minimum gift requirement is $10,000.
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The Porsche Engineering Group will take over the Nardò test track in Apulia, Italy, from current owner Prototipo SpA. The property covers almost three square miles of the Italian peninsula and includes a 3.8-mile handling course and a 7.7-mile, high-speed test track. The latter can be seen from space.
The facility also houses a 4X4 emissions laboratory, a noise track and a few extra spaces for more tracks if necessary. It has a workshop on the premises for engineering duties. In the past it was rented out to manufacturers, but we figure that Porsche now will use the facilities free of charge. The track currently operates 363 days per year, on three shifts, seven days a week.
Porsche has been a regular at the circuit, along with other manufacturers. "The Nardò proving ground, with its high-speed and vehicle-handling circuit, ideally complements our facilities in Weissach," Matthias Müller, president and CEO of Porsche AG, said in a statement. "With the systematic development of the company in Nardò as part of Strategy 2018, Porsche is proving to be a reliable employer and business partner in Apulia as well."
The Nardò Ring was built and paid for by Fiat in 1975. The high-speed portion has four lanes for traffic. The lowest handles a baseline speed of 62 mph, while vehicles in the top lane can travel at 149 mph or faster. When testing higher speeds, the entire track needs to be rented out by a manufacturer. There has only been one fatality at Nardò in its 37-year history.


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Pick Up The Garbage Left In The Park And Stop All The Litterbugs Before The Time Runs Out!
Hey Kids!
Wanna be this months "Earth Hero"??
Share your story about how you are helping planet Earth and become the Earth Hero of the Month!
Have you and your classmates put together a recycling plan? Do you grow your own food? Do you help clean up the garbage in your neighborhood? We want to hear from you!
Submit your name, age, and what you are doing to save Earth to [email protected]. Also include your picture if you want!


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Who would have ever seen this one coming: Action-sport icon Travis Pastrana led Friday morning's only
Nationwide Series practice session at Richmond International Raceway. In a Ford from Roush Fenway Racing, the X-Games and Global Rallycross star led the 2.5-hour session at 122.856 mph. Tonight's Virginia College Fund 250 will be his ninth career Nationwide start, his first for RFR.
Roush Fenway teammate and defending series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was second at 122.789 mph. Toyota driver Denny Hamlin was third at 122.460 mph, Chevrolet driver Kevin Harvick was fourth at 122.371 mph and Toyota driver Brian Scott was fifth at 122.332 mph. Kurt Busch, Michael Annett, James Buescher, Ty Dillon and Brad Sweet rounded out the top 10.
Among others: Rookie Austin Dillon, Sam Hornish Jr. and series point-leader Elliott Sadler were 11th, 12th and 13th. Drive For Diversity driver Darrell Wallace was 15th, Ryan Blaney (Dave's son) was 17th, Ryan Truex (Martin's brother) was 19th, Joe Nemechek was 21st and Danica Patrick was 23rd.
Teams will qualify this afternoon at 4 p.m. ET and run their 250-lap, 187.5-mile race tonight at 7:30. Sadler takes a 12-point lead over Stenhouse into the race. Hornish trails by 32 points and Austin Dillon by 37. Fourth-place Justin Allgaier is 94 points behind and considered all but officially out of the championship battle.