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Charter School Graduation
By JOSHUA SABATINI
The four were barefoot, with flower laurels on their heads as they
walked down the aisle beneath the white tent to take their seats center
stage on Saturday afternoon, as Aretha Franklin's Respect boomed
from the sound system. Close to 200 people stood, roaring in support of
Walker Blackwell, Sarah Maxner, Elana Robinson-Lynch and Indaia
Whitcombe, celebrating these first graduates of the first-ever
commencement day in the five-year history of the Martha's Vineyard
Public Charter School.
"It is a special day for the graduates, the founders and many
others who believed in the dream of a public school option on
Martha's Vineyard. Today is a celebration of that dream and a
special opportunity to be thankful to the many family and friends who
believed in the dream and brought the dream to fruition," said
director of the school Robert Moore in his opening remarks. A
kindergarten class was established this year, fulfilling the
founders' dream by completing the full spectrum of grades, from
kindergarten through 12.
After the ceremony, Paul Karasik, one of the school's eight
founders, said: "Seven years ago when we were dreaming about the
school, our dreams were great, large and wonderful. None have come close
to the wonderful vision it has turned out to be."
The four pioneering graduates invested much of their time in the
school, adding richness and guidance to their young classmates. Advisory
groups walked up to the graduates, presenting them with significant
gifts and exchanging embraces. Many in the audience wiped away tears as
they witnessed the strong bond the graduates had with their fellow
One advisory group presented the graduates with gifts that
represented the dreams of each honored student. Mr. Blackwell, who will
pursue a career as a photographer, received a portable camera. Miss
Maxner was given a small model of a sail boat, since the love of sailing
she discovered while at the school has propelled her to work as part of
a crew aboard a sailing vessel in California. Miss Whitcombe was given a
statuette of an elephant; after she studies at Bennington College, she
hopes to travel to Africa to study indigenous tribes. Miss
Robinson-Lynch was given a tie-dye kit, a symbol of one of her class
portfolios that commented on sweat shop labor and her desire to use her
voice to effect social change in the world, a voice she will continue to
hone next year when she attends Hampshire College.
Lynn Van Auken, president of the board of trustees, told the
attentive audience how moved she was when speaking with the graduating
class and how each one exemplifies the school's aim to create a
lifelong learner out of each child.
Lori Shaller, a teacher at the school who has worked closely with
the four students, said: "They taught me how to teach them and
what our charter means. They are committed to democracy, community,
learning and directing their own learning. They are all photographers,
writers and artists with their own voice. They are special because of
who they are as individuals."
Miss Robinson-Lynch told the students who remain behind: "Now
it's time for you to be leaders of your own lives and the
The graduates, who have contributed so much heart and soul to the
institution, presented a bell to the school, showing their support of
the democratic process, which ensures every voice at the charter school
is heard and respected equally. The bell, which was mounted inside the
school building after graduation , will be rung for every meeting
"in honor of democracy."
"This has been a big year for us. It is the end of stage one;
this event is the curtain on it. A day like today makes us feel like all
the hard work done was the right hard work," said Mr. Karasik.
The state has recertified the Martha's Vineyard Public Charter
School for another five years, allowing the school to grow in its
strengths and to continue to provide valuable resources for Island
Mr. Moore sent the graduating class off into the world with great
honor. "This school is your school. This school stands tall today
due to your ideas, intellect and care. The public charter school is a
special place because you studied, discussed and analyzed in these
classrooms, and because your caring hearts have had an overwhelming
influence on all of us. I thank you for sharing yourselves with us and
helping us build and mold a school that lets young people grow, develop
and learn in a healthy and caring environment. Your humility and
thoughtfulness will always be a part of the rainbow which hovers above
the school to guide all of us in our work and study."


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The links below take you to dynamically generated lists of Natasha Walker's peakbagging activity.
Reports showing a climber's buddies and other climbers. Click for More Info
Lists personally created by Natasha Walker. (Search for Lists from other climbers).
These reports show number of peaks climbed, highest point reached, and other statistics grouped by year or month.

subset: commoncrawl


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An investment banker pled guilty Thursday to charges he broke into a Sydney, Australia mansion and strapped a fake "collar bomb" around an 18-year-old girl's neck in a failed extortion attempt.
Paul Douglas Peters, 51, appeared in the Sydney courtroom by video-link from prison, while his lawyer, Kathy Crittenden, entered the plea on his behalf.
"Mr. Peters deeply regrets and is profoundly sorry for the impact that this incident has had on Ms. Pulver and her family," Crittenden told The Associated Press Thursday.
Peters, a former Kentucky resident, reportedly entered the home of Madeleine Pulver in a wealthy suburb of Sydney on Aug. 3 wearing a ski mask and carrying an aluminum baseball bat. After telling her, "Sit down and no one needs to get hurt," Peters strapped a bomb-like device around the girl's neck. He then left her with a note and a computer thumb drive. The note gave instructions to transfer money to Peters and warned that the bomb would explode if removed.
Pulver's father, Bill Pulver, is the chief executive of the software company Appen Butler Hill that specializes in voice recognition software, causing speculation that the extortion attempt specifically targeted the girl's family. Though Peters reportedly worked for a company linked to the Pulver family, they deny ever meeting him before. Observers have also speculated, however, that Peters may have been targeting an affluent acquaintance who also lived in the neighborhood and simply went to the wrong house.
New South Wales police and the FBI arrested Peters at the five-bedroom home of his ex-wife in a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky, on Aug. 15. He was later extradited to Australia where formal charges were made. Peters is a successful investment banker, whose international business caused him to travel often between Australia and the U.S. An Australian native, he had also worked in Hong Kong and Malaysia.
"A poor decision by one man has prompted a truly extraordinary and inspiring response from many thousands of people and we will be forever grateful," Bill Pulver said following Thursday's hearing.
Peters will appear in court later this month for sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Source: The Associated Press


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The annual Consumer Electronics Show is typically a hotbed for embedded automotive technologies and cutting edge gadgetry. But next week's Las Vegas-based proceedings will feature the debut of two automated cars from major manufacturers, kicking the arms race for driverless vehicles into high gear.
While Google's self-driven Prii have been stealing headlines for the better part of two years, upcoming offerings from Audi and Toyota will likely focus on vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology. Details are still under wraps, but this five second clip reveals what appears to be a heavy amount of radar and camera equipment strapped onto an autonomous Lexus LS600h L contributing to an unmanned lane change.
Will tomorrow's driving enthusiasts embrace a brave new future in which car reins are handed over to computers? Active safety features, drive-by-wire steering, and lane/vehicle sensing technology are already reality-- in fact, Ford predicts autonomous cars are coming as soon as 2017 thanks to developments like Traffic Jam Assist-- but manufacturers will likely focus on themes like freeing drivers to sip their coffee with both hands, rather than highlighting the inevitable fact that the act of driving will gradually become ceded to machines.


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Virginia Cavaliers stand up front in the ACC tournament
GREENSBORO, N.C. - This week's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament has a new look, from more teams and an extra round of games to the school holding the No. 1 seed.
Sixth-ranked Virginia is hoping to pair its first outright regular-season title in 33 years with its first ACC tournament title since winning its only other one in 1976.
The Cavaliers (25-6, 16-2) finished two games ahead of No. 11 Syracuse. Yet coach Tony Bennett said the top seed, only the second for the program, doesn't mean much.
"There's such a small amount of separation and most of these teams will have a chance at it," Bennett said Tuesday. "Who's playing well, and executes, and is the hungriest is going to have the best chance."
The tournament starts Wednesday with the lowest-seeded teams, while the Cavaliers and the rest of the top four seeds - the Orange, No. 7 Duke and No. 15 North Carolina - don't play until Friday's quarterfinals.
Virginia hasn't reached the semifinals since 1995 and has lost four straight games dating to 2010.
"It seems like the teams that always do well in the postseason, the Dukes and Carolinas, those guys always seem to take a step up when they get into the ACC tournament, the NCAA tournament, whatever it might be," Virginia guard Joe Harris said. "I think that's a step that this program has to take and hopefully we can try to make that stride this year."
This is the first year for the league with 15 teams with the arrivals of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame from the Big East. That meant adding a fifth day of competition for the first time in the event's 61-year history, with Wednesday's first-round games at the Greensboro Coliseum featuring teams seeded 10th and lower.
Teams seeded fifth through ninth earned a bye into Thursday's second round.
It also marks the final tournament run for Maryland, which is headed for the Big Ten this summer. The Terrapins, who won their last title a decade ago, play Florida State in Thursday's second round.
Here are five things to watch at this week's ACC tournament:
WARREN'S TEAR: North Carolina State's T.J. Warren was named the ACC player of the year on Tuesday after leading the league in scoring (24.8) and shooting percentage (53 percent). He's scored 41 and 42 points in his last two games - the first ACC player to go for 40 in consecutive games in more than 23 years - and has scored at least 36 in three of the past four. He could be a headache for a higher-seeded team like Syracuse or Duke in bracket's bottom half.
SYRACUSE'S SLUMP?: The Orange stood at 25-0 and No. 1 in the country in mid-February, and then lost four of six to close the regular season. Plus, sophomore forward Jerami Grant was battling back problems. Still, coach Jim Boeheim said he didn't think his team was slumping. "Every team in the country loses games ... and sometimes your schedule gets really hard, and that's what happened with us," Boeheim said. "But overall I think we've played consistently well all year."
THE OTHER NEW KIDS: Notre Dame has the No. 13 seed and faces No. 12 seed Wake Forest in Wednesday's opener, with the winner facing fifth-seeded Pitt. Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey said the three new arrivals won't have any problems with the reconfigured tournament format since it's similar to their previous Big East home. "As far as the format," he said after practice on Tuesday, "maybe the teams coming from the Big East are more comfortable because we lived with a crazy schedule."
SECOND-HALF PAIGE: Can Marcus Paige keep up his second-half run for UNC? The sophomore has repeatedly come up big after halftime, going from averaging 5.9 points and shooting 37 percent in the first half to 11.3 points and 50-percent shooting afterward, according to STATS LLC. "By nature he's trying to run the team more," coach Roy Williams said. "And then all of a sudden he realizes, 'Hey, my part to help this team today might just be scoring again."'
UNCERTAIN FUTURES: The ACC tournament will be the last chance for bubble teams like Clemson, N.C. State, Maryland and Florida State to make a case to be in the NCAA tournament. There's also uncertainty over whether this will be the final stop for fourth-year Wake Forest coach Jeff Bzdelik, who has struggled to turn around the Demon Deacons. "I'm not going to talk about anything regarding my job," Bzdelik said Tuesday. "Let's talk about the basketball game."


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It was my birthday on Wednesday. Not a particularly special birthday, although I believe all birthdays are special. I took the day off work as I was told we were going for dinner somewhere in London. Since we were going into town, I decided to make a day of it and booked two tickets to the first day of the Pre-Raphaelite exhibition at the Tate.
The exhibition was breath-taking. So many beautiful paintings, all in one place. Some I knew well and some I had never seen before. Some artists totally unknown to me too. We spent a couple of hours there, entranced and transported by the ethereal quality of the colours and the beauty of the compositions.
I did know by now where dinner was to be – we were dining at The Ritz!
And WOW it was! Stepping through the doors was like stepping back in time. There is an elegance, a serenity, an atmosphere that cannot be described in words. The lighting, the mirrors, the high ceilings – it felt as if we had walked straight back into the 1920s.
Dinner was fabulous. Seated in the most beautiful room, with a quartet playing gently in the corner, we were served by waiters in lovely waistcoats who made us feel as if we were the only guests. The meal was delicious, I had salmon, and it was mouth-wateringly beautiful, both to eat and to look at. A sommelier served us the wine of his choice to compliment the food and that was the icing on the cake for me. Everything just felt so 'right'.
I imagined my great-aunt and uncle visiting the Ritz in the thirties, socialites that they were, and I saw a room full of ladies in beautiful long dresses and men in tuxedos with live music playing gently in the background. On Wednesday, there was no such splendour but, in it's hey day, the Ritz must have been dazzling.
We finished with a glass of Calvados and walked back through the building to the reception area and then back out onto the busy street again, back to reality and 2012.
The whole day was like a time travel experience to me. I won't forget this birthday.
Like I said, all birthdays are special but this one was just that little bit more special to me. Thank you, KD x


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About Anti-Racism and Anti-Defamation Alliance (ARADA)
Anti-Racism and Anti-Defamation Alliance (ARADA) is a registered non-profit organization (501(c)3 status pending) that is dedicated to fighting against racism and defamation across the globe. We fight against racism and defamation that affects people, groups and organizations. We are open to any and all individuals and groups who share our vision and those who have been directly or indirectly affected by racism and defamation.
We have no affiliations based on race, religion, politics, religion, ethnicity, or otherwise. We welcome partnerships with anyone who shares our vision.
We research various topics and issues related to racism and defamation in order to educate the public and raise awareness. We address issues such as hate crimes, internet or cyber bullying, bigotry, and human and civil rights violations.
We invoke a novel approach to anti-racism and anti-defamation advocacy by applying recommendations from our network of leading researchers in the field. Two areas of particular focus are: 1) the psychological effects that racism has on children and 2) the economic roots of racism.
We have the following news sites related to human rights and news sites:
We seek a world free of racism and defamation; a world where everyone is seen and treated as equals and with the utmost respect.
ARADA's mission is to bring people together to help put an end to racism and defamation. We will inform and educate by conducting research to bring issues to light. We will form partnerships through various networks and the use of media to achieve our goals.
In our efforts to create partnerships with like-minded persons to end racism and defamation, to defend various democratic ideals and ensure the protection of the human and civil rights of all; we maintain the following core values:
Integrity: We will conduct all research and all efforts to fight racism and defamation with the utmost level of integrity and professionalism. We will maintain transparency and conduct our operations with honesty and pride.
Diversity: We believe that the fight against racism and defamation is a fight that must include everyone, so ARADA will maintain a diverse staff and champion issues that affect people of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, etc. We will always welcome all who are willing to fight racism and defamation.
Respect and Humility: We believe that every individual has value, so we will treat all with the utmost respect. We also believe that humility is a key to service so we will remain humble in our efforts to fight racism and defamation and to serve underserved and underrepresented individuals and communities.
Empathy: We will conduct our work with a constant level of empathy for those who suffer racial and defamatory injustices even when they are different than ones we may have personally encountered. We believe that all people are connected and have certain traits that allow us to be compassionate to all human life.
Open-Mindedness: Because we are an organization made up of individuals and groups from all walks of life, we will maintain open-minds as we devise strategies and implement policies to fight racism and defamation. We welcome those with different views on how best to effectuate change in society and are open to trying new methods of fighting systematic injustice.


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After months of testing and refining, we're pleased to introduce TimeformUS pedigree ratings. They appear on the "Fast PPs" page for every horse on TimeformUS.com. Here's what we're delivering in this "phase 1" introduction of this feature (and here's where you can read about phase 2):
1) Pedigree ratings for every horse in every race, based on the surface/distance of today's race. Example: If a horse is running in a 6 furlong race on the main track at Del Mar, the rating you'll see in his PPs will measure his pedigree for synthetic sprint races.
2) These ratings are displayed as a single rating on a 100 pt scale for today's distance and surface, allowing you to easily compare the pedigrees of all the runners in a given race.
3) These ratings are based on the TimeformUS speed figures assigned to the horses in the family of today's runners, numbers earned as far back as 10 years ago and as recently as one week ago, and they're specific to today's distance and surface.
Later this spring we'll kick off "Phase 2" of our pedigree ratings introduction, which will include access to a comprehensive set of ratings for each horse. This will give you an even better sense of a horse's surface and distance preferences—is he running in a race today that better suits his pedigree than his previous races did?
How to use our Pedigree Ratings
- First things first: Like any other attempt to quantify pedigree, these numbers are helpful primarily when a horse is trying a surface or distance for the first few times. After a horse has established form in various situations, your personal assessment of this form deserves to take precedence over pedigree ratings, since pedigree ratings are necessarily speculative.
Here is an example of the pedigree ratings in action, taken from a recent Gulfstream maiden turf route race:
Stadion was recently entered in a turf route race for his 2nd lifetime start. His solid 87 pedigree rating for turf routes shared the highest rating of any horse competing in this Gulfstream Park maiden race. The rest of the field comprised a horse with an 84 rating and several entries with a rating of 80 or lower. Stadion's first race was not inspiring, a 6th place finish, beaten more than 7 lengths in a dirt sprint. He figured to improve on the turf with the strong rating from his sire Lemon Drop Kid. His dam has also produced 3 winners in turf routes and a 4th runner who recently placed in his first try at a turf route. Although the dam was unraced, four progeny from her give us enough information to give a confident pedigree rating. This is why the box is shaded in yellow.Here's a recent Saratoga maiden turf sprint race where the pedigree rating is in a white box:Aireofdistinction has a strong rating both from his sire (Songandaprayer) and broodmare sire (Storm Cat) but his female family has no immediate history of talent on turf–his dam was unsuccessful in her one turf try, and his lone sibling to race never tried turf. So, despite the broader influence of his sire and broodmare sire, his 93 is in a white box, meaning that while there is good reason to view his pedigree favorably, the evidence is not overwhelming.Aireofdistinction finished third at 5-1.
The thinking behind our Pedigree Ratings
- Our pedigree ratings are an expression of a horse's potential on a distance or surface, based on the TimeformUS speed figure data associated with his family. By using speed figures instead of win/loss records, we avoid situations in which horses drop in class and win races with inferior performances, and instead focus on a stronger measure of surface preference—the speed of a horse's efforts on various surfaces.
- By normalizing these efforts on a 100 pt scale, we make it much easier to compare horses. For example, if two horses are making their turf debuts today, handicappers will be able to tell at a glance that the horse rated 95 is licensed, by his pedigree, to be better than the horse rated 73.
- TimeformUS pedigree ratings incorporate both the male and female family into a single number to assess the horse—no more looking up ½ sisters and brothers (unless you insist)! Our belief is that pedigree ratings are simply not that actionable unless the data that populates them is robust—it must include solid data sets from both the sire's side of the family and the dam's side.
- Similarly, any runner who is from a female family that has had a lot of success on the racetrack at today's surface and distance should be strongly upgraded—and that's reflected in our ratings.
How We Create Them
TimeformUS Pedigree ratings assess the following elements of a horse's pedigree:
1) Sire: We evaluate today's runner based on the success of his sire's other runners on today's surface/distance. Sires are evaluated based on the top performances of their offspring (again, at today's surface and distance), and they are also bonused if they have a history of siring horses who ran figures in the top 1% of our speed figure results over the last decade. If the data on the sire is limited, such as when a sire is new or youthful, we rely on his father (the grandsire) as a proxy, but we proceed with caution here, slowly ramping up the influence of the sire as it becomes more apparent what the new sire's true stature is. In these situations, we'll put a white box around the pedigree rating to let you know the data is limited.
2) Female Family: We evaluate today's runner via the lens of how his dam (mother) and any brothers and sisters have done at today's surface and distance. If his dam has produced a series of runners who have tried today's surface and distance, we weigh these siblings' results heavily. If no such data exists, we rely more on the dam's results. If neither exist, we simply rely on the results of the sire and broodmare sire, but ONCE AGAIN employ a white box to let you know: the data's limited here.
3) Broodmare sire: The smallest factor in our pedigree ratings, we consider the sire of today's runner's mother, to see if he has a history of contributing to successful bloodlines as a grandparent.


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Holiday hits: Players dish out favorite winter tunes
"We listened to it my whole life," Zito said, "and it is the most warm and nostalgic version of any song for me because he was my dad's best friend."
That would be a fairly standard reply if you asked the question of many people. That American jazz legend is like anybody's "best friend" at this time of year: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire .... But for Zito, it is not a colloquialism. This list of MLB players begins with a story from the winning pitcher in the last World Series, because Zito's father, Joe, really was Cole's best friend, and No. 75 definitely would not have been pitching opposite the Tigers' Justin Verlander on Oct. 24 had it not been for Cole.
Joe was a composer/conductor with Cole back in the day. Zito's mother, Roberta, who passed away in 2008, was a singer in Cole's backup group, "Merry Young Souls." That is how the couple met, and they had Barry in 1978. Through the years, "The Christmas Song" has been a given over the holidays, reinforcing a treasured heritage with a meaning and that famously soft and smooth baritone that makes it the pitcher's clear choice still today:
Jack Frost nipping at your nose / Yuletide carols being sung by a choir / And folks dressed up like Eskimos ...
There were two other holiday songs on Zito's list. His second favorite is Kenny G's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. "It was always my mom's favorite album and a standard at the Zito Christmas," he said. "We usually listen to the record two to three times per Christmas." The third favorite, he said, is Sleigh Ride -- "Early version. My sisters and I always whistle the three-part harmony to the point of annoyance."
In cases where the individual player did not respond with the actual recording artist who performed it, we'll take the liberty of picking out our own iTunes renditions. For example, that Sleigh Ride link goes to the version performed by The Ronettes. Here are other players' favorites, so feel free to download any of them and build your own holiday playlist, baseball-style:
White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy's three favorites are Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Bruce Springsteen (also the choice of new Orioles reliever Adam Russell); Christmas in Dixie by Alabama; and Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen.
A couple of respondents went with "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Mets first baseman Ike Davis gets the Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer version, and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle gets the Louis Jordan and Ella Fitzgerald track.
Cardinals right fielder Allen Craig: The Little Drummer Boy. Artist unspecified, so let's celebrate the 35th anniversary of that entirely unexpected and entirely memorable music video featuring Bing Crosby and David Bowie. "Are you the butler?"
Former player Matt Stairs: O Holy Night by Martina McBride. No matter how often you listen to it, you get chills at the end.
What does a 6-foot-7, 245-pound pitcher listen to during the holidays? (A) Anything he wants. (B) Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms. That's what Jared Hughes told us when we asked him at the record-drawing PirateFest last weekend.
Astros pitcher Bud Norris texted this: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. After downloading Burl Ives' version, we shouted out with glee.
And also carrying the Rankin-Bass theme song banner is Astros right-hander Lucas Harrell, who suggests Frosty the Snowman by Jimmy Durante.
Padres reliever Brad Bach: Where Are You Christmas? by Faith Hill.
Like Zito, Rockies infielder Eric Young Jr. goes with Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song.
Ask some of Young's teammates, and Jordan Pacheco is listening to The Little Drummer Boy while Michael Cuddyer prefers Crosby's recording of Carol of the Bells by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Explaining his choice of White Christmas, Reds reliever Sam LeCure said: "The person I like singing it is Elvis Presley and the Jordanaires. It's like a gospel group singing. I like how they do 'White Christmas.' I got that CD the other day."
And in the "Jingle Bells" department, we have two versions to pass along. Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said his daughter loves that traditional song (at least she did last year when he said that). Meanwhile, his reliever, Vinnie Pestano, said he grew up with a particular fondness for Batman Smells, Jingle Bells.
Antonetti also offered Silent Night and Oh Come All Ye Faithful as musts.
Finally, we have this exchange between Indians rookie reliever Cody Allen and MLB.com Indians beat reporter Jordan Bastian:
Do you have a favorite Christmas song?
"That's a tough one, because I honestly don't like Christmas music. I mean, I like Christmas, but I don't like Christmas music. Probably the only one I can bear is the Alvin & The Chipmunks Christmas tape. Remember that one?"
You don't like Christmas music, but you like The Chipmunks' songs?
(Laughing) "I was young, man. I was little. That was funny to me! All the other ones, I didn't like. Actually, Jeff Foxworthy's song, Redneck 12 Days of Christmas. That one is pretty good."
If you like players' musical selections, then you also will love the MLB.com At the Ballpark app's music pages that just launched Wednesday as a desktop version. If you want to know what entrance music your favorite player goes with, look for the updated list there and just click through to the iTunes page to download it.


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It has only been recently that I have realised just how much I now mistrust doctors, and how little faith I have in the medical system.
I am the worst kind of patient. I spend hours trawling through medical journals before appointments, comparing random control trials. It must be the researcher in me. I project my point of view in a fairly assertive manner. I am not afraid to ask for what I want. I am not afraid to offer my view on the treatment protocol and dosage. I don't want to be told "you're fine", or "you're not fine". I want to be given print outs from all my tests and all my procedures and given my exact blood levels so I can determine for myself my exact level of "fineness".
I, with absolutely no medical training, believe I know more than doctors about my body and mind. And I really wish I could dampen this line of thinking. I wish I could trust the people that are responsible for my care. I wish I didn't question every damn aspect of my treatment.
But you see, my past experiences have made me this way. Over the years I have had to learn how to navigate the medical system. I am used to having to fight tooth and nail for the treatment I need. I expect to be dismissed. I expect to be turned away. I expect to be denied treatment. So I arrive at each appointment on the defence and ready for battle.
Amongst other nitwitish behaviour, I have had the privilege of doctors telling me that:
– I was just a new mother who needed a bit of sleep. Actually I was psychotic and suicidal, and had just spent 45 minutes describing my symptoms in detail to the doctor. My baby was seven months old and had been sleeping through the night for at least five of them. A week later I was admitted to a mother and baby unit where I was kept for 2 months. The hospital told me I was one of the worst cases they had seen.
– That I had a case of gastro, and perhaps some endometriosis pain. I was actually in agony due to my autoimmune disease. And when I say agony, I mean that I had to be tanked up on IV morphine. I feel this instance is partially forgivable since my disease is so incredibly rare. But surely the fact that I was screaming in pain and had to be administered morphine was a clue that this wasn't a case of "normal" gastro, and warranted further investigation.
– When admitted to the psychiatric ward, I was initially refused treatment for my autoimmune disease. Apparently, despite having a formal diagnosis from biopsy results from another doctor, and despite my diagnostic doctor giving explicit written instructions on the type and dosage of medication I needed, my 25 year old registrar didn't believe my condition existed as she hadn't heard of it. Bitch, please. My specialist with decades of experience hadn't heard of it until recently. And despite the fact that I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person I highly doubt I could fabricate such an elaborate diagnosis involving the infiltration of certain white blood cells.
– as a psychiatric inpatient, my gastroenterology team continually avoided seeing me. My nurses called them repeatedly. It was made abundantly clear that I was their least priority. I dunno. Maybe I smelled?
– as an inpatient my surgical team repeatedly prepped me for the surgery and procedures I needed, before cancelling at the last minute. I understand hospitals are busy places and things get bumped. But I was an inpatient at that hospital for 9 weeks, and each time I was told I was at the top of the list. To this day I am not sure why I wasn't given the treatment I needed and why I eventually had to be referred to entirely different hospital to receive it. And how that hospital managed to conduct the surgery on the day and time they said they would.
– I was explicitly denied nutritional treatment because I was a psychiatric patient. Even though my autoimmune disease is heavily related to diet. They did tell me that if I were on a medical ward I could receive the treatment. Which didn't improve the situation. Or my attitude towards them.
– I was left in severe pain, for eight hours, because an the on call doctor basically couldn't be bothered to come down to the psych ward. When he did arrive the next morning it eventuated that I was actually extremely ill, and was rushed off for an emergency CT scan. Not a hypochondriac after all!
I believe the core of the problem was that I was a psychiatric patient.
When you are a psychiatric patient you lose your voice. You lose your power. You are considered to be "crazy". I was in a no win situation where I was given poor and sometimes downright neglectful medical treatment, but if I tried to object I was seen as over reacting, or causing trouble. I was "not in my right mind" after all. What the hell do I know? If I objected,I was medicated, because that's what happens in psychiatric wards. And if I objected to that I was threatened with injections and security guards. I was silenced.
This would not happen to someone with a physical illness, and a physical illness only.
I often feel sorry for my newer doctors today. The ones who have done nothing wrong. The ones who are incredibly helpful and supportive. The ones who listen to me. The ones who are being punished for the actions of others.
But there is just this large part of me that refuses to hand over my trust to them. I NEED to be in control over my care. I never want to be in the powerless situation I was last year.
I just have this overwhelming feeling that to ensure my own wellbeing I need to keep fighting these Dungeons and Doctors.


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Teen feels pressure to choose between friends
DEAR ANNIE: I am 13 and an avid reader of your column. I have been working at a summer program, and I ride a school bus there and back. Two young men ride the same bus. I have a crush on one of them (I'll call him "Liam"), but I happen to know he likes another girl. The other guy (I'll call him "Noah") seems to like me. I had a crush on Noah last year, but I'm not sure I still have those same feelings. Noah sometimes sits next to me on the bus and talks to me.
Here's the problem: One day, it seems they both like me, and then another day, Liam seems interested in that other girl, and I am laughing and giggling with Noah. I am hopelessly confused about these mixed signals. I told two of my girlfriends about this situation, and they concluded that both of these boys like me, but Liam likes the other girl better.
Is it wrong for me to like both of these boys? If Noah says he likes me, what do I do? Please help. — OMAHA, NEB.
DEAR OMAHA: Please don't think you have to choose between these two boys right now. They probably both enjoy your company, although Liam seems interested in playing the field a bit more. That's OK. Don't be pressured to make any kind of decision. It's perfectly fine to like both of them, at least until one of them expresses an interest and the feeling is mutual.
DEAR ANNIE: For the past several years, I've resigned myself to the fact that my wife and I aren't going to have sex, so pornography and self-gratification are the alternative.
I understand that she can be tired, ill or angry or just not feel like it. But that's all the time. She says I take it too personally when she turns me down. Yet when she insists she likes sex and wants me to initiate, I get slapped and turned away as soon as I approach her. How can I not take that personally? I finally realized I am better off accepting that we aren't going to have sex, and I no longer get frustrated.
I send flowers, take her out to dinner, make her coffee in the morning, make her lunch for work, clean up after dinner and make breakfast on weekends. I'm in good shape. Her interest declined when our children were young. She told me if I don't like it, I can leave, but we both know that would be bad for the kids. We talked about counseling, but she wouldn't go, so I went by myself. The counselor wasn't too helpful, saying suck it up or leave.
I guess I'm angry. It's no use talking to her about it anymore. So why am I writing? I want someone to change my wife. But I know she's the only one who can do that, and she doesn't have much interest. Men like me lead lives of quiet desperation. — IN PAIN
DEAR PAIN: Please understand that your counselor was right. In situations where the other person is unwilling to make changes, your choice is to stay or to go. But although you decided to stay, you didn't truly deal with the emotional fallout and became increasingly resentful, lonely and bitter. Additional counseling may help you let go of some of that and be more at peace. Our condolences.
DEAR ANNIE: My question for "Just Saying" is: Why all the anger? I have been a chef for 32 years and often have cooked food for those on a special diet.
The next time you go to a restaurant, simply phone ahead with your special request. I even have gone to the market to buy what my customer needs. A simple call to the chef will make your evening out a success. — CHEF P.
Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to email@example.com, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.


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Redmond O'Neal jailed after Calif. drug arrest
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The son of Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal is in jail in Southern California after police stopped him for a traffic violation and allegedly found heroin in his car.
Santa Monica police Sgt. Richard Lewis says Redmond O'Neal was pulled over about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday after an officer saw him fail to stop for a red light. Police say a search of his car uncovered the drug.
O'Neal, who is on probation in a previous drug case, was jailed without bail.
His lawyer, Richard Pintal, declined to comment.
The 26-year-old has a history of substance abuse problems. He completed a drug diversion program last year but remains on probation for bringing drugs to a Los Angeles County jail in 2009.
Tuesday's arrest was first reported by the website RadarOnline.com.


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Camarillo Pacific Railroad fires up rebuilt steam locomotive to visitors' delight
Colin Camarillo, who operates Camarillo Pacific Railroad in the front yard of his Menlo Park home, kept his many diesel engines in the train barn this afternoon in favor of his recently rebuilt steam locomotive (two far right bottom images).
"The locomotive was one of the first I bought when I built the railroad in the early 2000s," he says. "Kevin Anderson, one of the original builders, and I ran it every day.
"It got a lot of use, and then for four years, it just sat in a state of disrepair. But my Dad always like the steam locomotive, and we found a guy who could not only restore it but do some customization. We're all thrilled. It looks great and has a lot more oomph."
The engine not only drew a crowd of young admirers from the neighborhood but was joined by two other steam locomotives for a super display of railroading.
Here's a video of the trains in action:
Photos and video by Scott Loftesness


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Hey, remember when the US almost detonated an atomic bomb (260 times more powerful than either Fat Man or Little Boy) over North Carolina?
The document, obtained by the investigative journalist Eric Schlosser under the Freedom of Information Act, gives the first conclusive evidence that the US was narrowly spared a disaster of monumental proportions when two Mark 39 hydrogen bombs were accidentally dropped over Goldsboro, North Carolina on 23 January 1961. The bombs fell to earth after a B-52 bomber broke up in mid-air, and one of the devices behaved precisely as a nuclear weapon was designed to behave in warfare: its parachute opened, its trigger mechanisms engaged, and only one low-voltage switch prevented untold carnage.
Each bomb carried a payload of 4 megatons – the equivalent of 4 million tons of TNT explosive. Had the device detonated, lethal fallout could have been deposited over Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and as far north as New York city – putting millions of lives at risk.
Though there has been persistent speculation about how narrow the Goldsboro escape was, the US government has repeatedly publicly denied that its nuclear arsenal has ever put Americans' lives in jeopardy through safety flaws. But in the newly-published document, a senior engineer in the Sandia national laboratories responsible for the mechanical safety of nuclear weapons concludes that "one simple, dynamo-technology, low voltage switch stood between the United States and a major catastrophe".
It really is a wonder we made it out of the Cold War alive, considering.
Bonus: Schlosser on Democracy Now, talking Damascus (the other one, natch):
and in the Slaughterhouse:
(Oh, and yes, Schlosser's latest has vaulted to the top of my looming tower of must-reads.)


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It's that time again! All my favorite DIY and store-bought natural hair products that I've been loving and constantly reaching…
Tag: Best Hair Products for Natural Hair
Hello! I'm Whitney
Otherwise known as Naptural85 on Youtube! I'm a Graphic Designer, Vlogger, Blogger, and Natural Hair Enthusiast! I'm also a wife in my twenties, married to my loving husband, Filipe, and a proud mother of a beautiful baby girl, Olivia, and two kitties: Chubs and Bella! #meow
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Encryption was once the province of the paranoid. But no more.
With the revelations from Edward Snowden of widespread spying by the government, many people are more interested in cloaking their online activities. Even if you're not be worried about the government reading your email or getting access to your browsing history, there are plenty of other reasons why you might want financial, legal or health information private and secure, whether from unscrupulous hackers or online marketers.
Here are some key technologies you can use to protect your online activities:
Tor. This is a set of linked pieces of software that helps to cloak users' online identities. "Tor" stands for "the onion router," a name that is emblematic of the layers of protections the software uses to anonymize users.
When users seek Web pages through a Tor-enabled browser, their requests are encrypted and then go through a random series of computers on the Internet. Each computer, which has been set up by volunteers, relays the requests until they reach their end destination. Thanks to the design of the system, none of the relays nor the end server knows both who requested the Web page or what Web page was being requested.
Tor has been used by everyone from whistle-blowers to cyber-thieves to disguise their identity. It helps prevent people from learning what sites you visit or where you live. It's mostly used for accessing the Web, but the underlying relay network can also be used for instant messaging, email and other Internet applications.
Of the three encryption technologies discussed here, Tor is by far the easiest to set up and use. On a PC or an iPhone, you simply have to install one application. On an Android phone, you'll need to install two.
Although it's easy to configure, Tor does come with some frustrations that could limit how much you want to use it. The main drawback is that because requests go through multiple computers, some of them located half a world away, loading Web pages can be very slow, making your broadband connection feel like it's the dial-up Internet.
Because the relay network is global and your Internet address appears to be the one from the last server that relays your request, the websites you access may think you are a resident of Germany or Japan or some place other than California. So some websites, such as Google or eBay, may show you pages in a language other than English.
OpenPGP. This is the open source version of PGP, aka Pretty Good Privacy, the famed encryption software designed by Phil Zimmerman that the federal government attempted to restrict and compromise. The software is used to encode communications, typically email, using a system of public and private "keys."
Users publish their public keys on their websites and on servers that act as repositories. The public keys are used by OpenPGP software to encrypt messages that can only be opened with their corresponding private keys, which, as their name implies, are held only by their creators.
Encryption only works if both sides of a conversation use it. Even if you have OpenPGP installed, your outgoing messages won't be encoded unless you know and use your correspondents' public keys. Likewise, none of your incoming messages will be encoded unless those writing to you know and use your public keys.
Installing and configuring OpenPGP can be a complicated process that involves the installation, not only of software that supports the technology, but also potentially a plug-in for your mail client. You'll also need to generate and publish your keys and protect them with a password.
Once you have everything configured, you can connect with key servers to find and download other users' public keys. And whichever mail program you are using should indicate whether you are sending an encrypted message.
Note that the recommended way to use OpenPGP is with a mail client, like Outlook. That means that if you are used to checking your mail through a webmail interface, you'll need to change your habits. It also means that if you use multiple computers, you'll have to configure each one to use OpenPGP. That can be a time-consuming process, in part because to read messages encoded with the same key on all your computers, you'll need to copy the key and import it on each one of them.
Right now, OpenPGP is not easy to use on smartphones. You'll find programs on the iPhone, for example, that will store your private key and allow you to use it to open encoded messages, but they often require you to copy the message and paste it into a separate decoding app.
OTR. Also known as Off-The-Record, OTR is encryption for instant messages. It scrambles the content of messages so that they can only be read by the sender and the recipient and not by any messaging service provider or anyone who may intercept the messages.
OTR basically acts as a plug-in to a messaging client. The client allows you to connect to various messaging services — Google Talk, Facebook chat, Yahoo Messenger — and OTR allows you to put an encoded wrapper around any messages you send through those services.
Security experts advise using Pidgin as the messaging client on Windows computers and Adium on Macs. Adium has built-in support for OTR, while Pidgin users will have to install the OTR plug-in separately. Android and iPhone users can install ChatSecure, which includes support for OTR. All three messaging clients support multiple chat networks, so you can use them in place of dedicated apps for Facebook chat or AIM.
As with OpenPGP, OTR only works if both sides of a conversation are using it. But once it is installed, OTR will typically attempt to make a secure connection automatically.
Contact Troy Wolverton at 408-840-4285 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him at www.mercurynews.com/troy-wolverton or Twitter.com/troywolv.
Protecting online communications
Here are some tools you can use to conceal what you do and say on the Internet:
Tor. Typically used to anonymize Web surfing. Available for PC and Mac users as a free download from the Tor Project www.torproject.org. Android users can access Tor via Orbot and the Orweb browser, both available for free from the Google Play store. Tor is available on the iPhone via Onion Browser, available for $1 in the App Store.
OpenPGP. Encryption technology typically used to scramble email messages. PC users can install it with the Gpg4win software, available as a free download from www.gpg4win.org. PC users of Mozilla Thunderbird will also need to install the Enigmail add-on to use OpenPGP in that mail application; it's available for free at www.enigmail.net. Mac users can get OpenPGP through GPGTools, available as a free download at www.gpgtools.org.
OTR. An encryption technology used to encode instant messages. PC users can use it by installing the Pidgin messaging client, available as a free download at www.pidgin.im, and by then installing the OTR plug-in, which can be downloaded for free from otr.cypherpunks.ca. Mac users can get OTR by downloading the Adium chat client from www.adium.im; Adium includes support for OTR. Android and iPhone users can access OTR via ChatSecure, which is available for free from both Google Play and Apple's App Store.
Mercury News research


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Trainer Tips For Faster Results
Fitter, Faster: Training Tips You Can Try Today
Need to Spring clean your fitness routine? Self asked top trainers and athletes how they turn up the heat on their workouts — and how you can use their secrets to get serious results.
Admit it: the polar vortex forced you to miss more than one spin class this winter. Don't worry— we've asked a few of the country's fittest professionals for some advice on how to shape up A.S.A.P. Here's how to give your everyday routine a boost.
When you have NO time. Nike master trainer Holly Rilinger says all you have to do is HIIT it — that's high-intensity interval training —with these five functional movements: Push, pull, squat, lunge, rotate. That could be push-ups, a plank with a row (hold a plank while you row a dumbbell with one arm, then the other) jump squats, side-to-side lunges, and a dumbbell wood chop. Do each move for 45 seconds, going all-out, and rest 15 seconds at the end; immediately start the next exercise. It only takes five minutes! Have a little more time? Double down.
When you think you can't make it a second longer. Basketball star and guard for the WNBA's Tulsa Shock Skylar Diggins thinks of this phrase whenever it seems impossible to do one more rep, "'You may feel winded, but your muscles are ready.' A coach told me that a long time ago, and it stuck with me. Your brain always wants to stop before your body."
When you want to hoff that donut. You know all the smartest training in the world can be undone by eating bad food— but that doesn't stop you from wanting to inhale cupcakes at work. How do you beat the urge? Take this advice from Sadie Lincoln, creator of barre3, which she says works for preventing mindless eating: "Simply say in your head: 'This is important to me.' Once you remind yourself why you want to act a certain way, it's much easier to actually do it."
When you know you're half-assing it. Once, when choreographer Derek Hough was leading a crowd through a cardio dance session, he noticed a few dancers who were just going through the motions. His quote? "Hey! Doing this [mimes a lackluster shuffle and hip pop] won't get you anywhere. If you're not in it, it's not worth it. And if you want to burn, if you want to change, if you want to have fun, you've gotta work it." His point rings true for any session: You made the time to be here! Give it all you've got.
When you've hit a plateau. You have to kick your movements up a notch. Doing the same exercises over and over and expecting new body results IS insanity. That's why Nike Master Trainer Marie Purvis always includes progressions in her workouts, and you should too. How to do it? Say you've started with a backward lunge. Now add a kick at the top. Easy? Make it a jumping lunge. You can bang out 20? Take it back to a standard lunge, but hold 10-pound dumbbells in each hand. You can gradually progress any movement you're doing to refresh your go-to workout. For more ideas, check out the Nike Training Club app; Marie designs every workout.
When you're tempted to do more, more, more. If a good amount of working out is healthy, then a ton of working out must be uber-healthy. That's the fraught workout trap we can all fall into. Take it from gold-medal gymnast Gabby Douglas, an athlete who's constantly judged on her form, body and performance, that reserving rest days isn't just smart— it's part of training: "If I don't take a day off to relax and let my muscles bounce back, my training suffers. My performance suffers. I start to feel sluggish, and I'll start slacking in the gym." Remember, more isn't more when it comes to exercise. If you're tired, if you're second-guessing whether you need a workout, take a day and get back at it hard the next time.
When you need to make a workout a little more fun. Grab a friend for these tag-team exercises designed by Marie Purvis. And before you roll your eyes and think, "Partner moves?!" know this: These babies are a challenge. You use each other's resistance and bodyweight (and enthusiasm!) to get even more of a burn than you could on your own.
Get into a wide, low squat three feet away and facing your partner, extend your opposite arms (your right arm, her left arm), and grab hands. Begin to pull, increasing the resistance until you're both trying to throw each other off balance, while maintaining the squat. Continue for 30 seconds. Repeat twice.
One partner holds a plank with legs together, while the other partner hops back-and-forth over her legs. Up the challenge: Have the partner holding plank go up and down onto her forearms. Continue for 30 seconds, and then switch roles. Repeat twice.
One partner lies faceup on the ground and holds a bridge with hips high; the second partner plants her palms on her partner's knees, facing away, and starts doing triceps dips. Continue for 30 seconds, then switch roles. Repeat twice.


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One of my favorite short films in recent memory, the Oscar nominated 2006 live action short out of Belgium Tanghi Argentini probably borrows a little from Shall We Dance? (the wonderful, original Japanese version, I mean), but is so charming and so well told that it hardly matters. It's 14 minutes long, so maybe wait 'til lunch, but otherwise I believe it's safe for most workplaces. (There's no nudie bits, and if there's any swearing in it, it's in Dutch.)
Archive for May 19th, 2011
"Tanghi Argentini" by Guy Thys
Thursday, May 19th, 2011


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When I was a kid, my mom made big to-dos out of planning birthday dinners. She would always cook an elaborate version of Whatever We Wanted! I remember one year on my birthday, sitting at the round kitchen table, pine cabinets and burnt red laminate floor panels lining the perimeter of the room, an aura of dim orange light seeping out of the Tiffany pendant lamp my grandfather had welded years before. I fidgeted in my chair while my mom stalled, adding a dash of this or that, buying time so my sisters could tear away from their homework and slide into their chairs. Then she placed the mounded platter onto the center of the table, and I got to serve myself first.
Ah, chicken cutlets.
I don't even remember what type of cake I liked. Ice cream, I think.
But that chicken. Oh, man. The golden brown salty crust, craggy corners filled with nothing but crunch and the inside all juicy and soft. I still swoon.
I'm sure my childhood addiction was part novelty. Fried cutlets weren't in the weekly, or even the monthly rotation, which fed the craving. My dad had a heart attack at 45, when I was nine. It was scary enough that my mom did two things: Dusted off and passed around her resume, and swept the salt (and vegetable oil) right out of her kitchen. Fried, salted, buttery foods were replaced with brown rice stir-frys, baked chicken, salad greens spritzed with lemon juice, and plain steamed vegetables (at least for a little while). So, on the day I turned ten, that first bite of salty, crunchy chicken felt more extravagant than licking three inches of buttercream icing off a gooey chocolate cake.
I remember silently willing the rest of the family to stop eating that night, so I could bring a leftover chicken cutlet sandwich to school the next day, and maybe pop a piece in the toaster for an afternoon snack. I may have wished for more dinners starring chicken cutlets as I blew out my birthday candles.
It's been twenty-seven years to the day after that tenth birthday party, and the craving hasn't ebbed. Yesterday, to celebrate, we went out to dinner because, honestly, there's no better present than being served a meal and not having to clean up afterward. But, I made cutlets a few days ago, an early Happy Birthday to Me!
I also made them a couple of weeks ago, and a few weeks before that. Chicken cutlets aren't all that uncommon in our house. As I am pulled farther away from my childhood, or maybe as my kids become more firmly entrenched in theirs, I find myself cooking more of the foods my mom used to cook for me. Maybe I'm trying to preserve my childhood memories, or maybe my subconscious is pushing me toward the safety of what I know, but I'm slowly backing away from trends, and spending more time riffing on my childhood favorites – pasta with pesto or meatballs and red sauce, simple roasted chicken and vegetables, the occasional stir-fry, and of course, chicken cutlets.
Still, my chef side won't let me make anything exactly the same way twice (or at least twice in a row). So, sometimes I indulge the kiddos and serve crunchy cutlets with a puddle of ketchup for dipping, and sometimes I serve them with a dollop of pesto. Today's recipe is a little more grown up, with browned butter, fried capers and a spritz of lemon juice.
It comes from Ben and Karen Barker's Magnolia Grill restaurant cookbook, Not Afraid of Flavor, and regularly appeared on their family dinner table when their son Gabriel was growing up. I've cooked one version or another of this sauce so many times, but this particular one is in perfect balance, with salty capers, sour lemon juice, nutty richness from the butter, and grassy notes from the parsley. The sauce is the perfect, bold foil for crunchy, white meat chicken, and makes it even more addictive than I ever thought possible.
This dish is a bridge between my childhood and the one I hope to provide for my kids – part nostalgic and part new – and wholly delicious. It'll be hard not to make this one twice.
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2 breasts)
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons capers
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
- Pour the panko into one medium-size plate or shallow bowl. In a second, combine the flour and salt, and in a third, beat the two eggs with a fork. Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry. On a cutting board, remove the tenders from the breast, so you have 4 pieces of chicken. Lay them flat on the cutting board, evenly spaced, and lay a piece of plastic wrap over the top. Beat the chicken with a meat tenderizer or a heavy spoon until they have flattened to about 1/4-inch in width.
- Dredge the chicken by first coating it with flour. Tap off excess, then dip the chicken piece in the egg mixture. Finally, coat with panko. Repeat with remaining pieces of chicken.
- Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat until it gets good and hot, about 2 minutes. Add the olive oil and the chicken, in a single layer. Panfry the chicken, undisturbed, until it is opaque around the edges and golden brown underneath, about 4 minutes. Turn the chicken and repeat on the other side for three to four minutes, until it is cooked through and golden brown. Remove to the platter, sprinkle lightly with salt and place in the warm oven. Repeat with a second batch of chicken, if necessary.
- Melt the butter in a small 6- or 8-inch pan (light-colored, so you can see the transformation) over medium-low heat. After about five minutes, the butter will begin to foam and spit as the water content evaporates. At this point, start swirling the pan lightly but constantly, so you can see what's happening through the foam and to move the browned bits around so they don't turn black. Cook for about a minute more, until you smell a rich, nutty aroma and the butter itself begins to turn a nice amber color. Add the capers and fry for 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and add the lemon juice and parsley, stirring to combine.
- Remove the paper towels from under the chicken and arrange the meat on the platter. Pour the sauce over the top (or offer it on the side if family members protest) and serve immediately. Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, until heated through. Cold chicken is also a great next-day lunch, as part of a sandwich with lettuce, cheese, and mayonnaise.
- I like to serve this dish with roasted cauliflower and pour the sauce over everything.


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From Walkman to iPod: What Music Tech Teaches Us About Innovation
A short history of the songs in our pockets -- and how late-comer Apple came to dominate the business of portable music
Rosa Pomar/Flickr
In 1978, engineers at Sony successfully married a compact playback device with lightweight headphones to create the prototype for a product that would become a worldwide hit. In 1979, the 'Walkman' was introduced in the Japanese market, selling out its entire stock of 30,000 units within the first three months.
Sony kept apace with its rivals. For a decade after its launch, Sony's Walkman retained a 50% market share in the U.S. (46% in Japan) in a space teaming with competitors, even as it enjoyed a price premium of approximately $20 over rival offers.
Jump ahead to the late 1990s, when the sun had set on cassettes as the favored music delivery format in favor of compact discs and, for the technologically savvy, digital mp3 files. But electronic firms around the globe were betting that the CD would soon follow the cassette into extinction. Which mp3 player would get there first and become the next 'Walkman'?
In 1998, South Korea's Saehan Information Systems created the first portable digital audio player, MPMan. It sold 50,000 players globally in its first year. By the launch of the iPod in 2001, there were approximately 50 portable mp3 players available in the U.S.--and no firm had achieved anywhere near the dominance that the Walkman had enjoyed 20 years earlier.
Compared to the Walkman and cassettes, the story was very different for mp3s. You couldn't purchase them in traditional retail settings. Downloading an album--legally or not--could be a multi-hour affair. It didn't matter that MPMan was first--it wouldn't have mattered if they were 6th, 23rd, or 42nd. Without the widespread availability of mp3s and broadband, the value proposition could not come together.
The MP3 player market did eventually consolidate around a dominant product, Apple's iPod. But the iPod, launched in late 2001-- three years after the MPMan--was anything but a first mover. How can we understand the iPod's success despite its delayed entry?
Apple waited, and then waited some more--until it finally made its move, putting the last two pieces in place to create a winning innovation: an attractive, simple device supported by smart software. Steve Jobs knew that, on its own, the mp3 player was useless. He understood that, in order for the device to have value, other co-innovators in the mp3 player ecosystem first needed to be aligned. And, in October of 2001, when Apple announced the iPod, those pieces were solidly in place: both mp3s and broadband were finally widely available.
The first generation iPod for Macintosh retailed at $399, had 5GB of capacity, and could store up to 1,000 songs. It boasted an intuitive interface design and was, for its time, lightweight. But the value of the device was cemented by its seamlessness with the iTunes music management software. Despite being available only for Mac users, the iPod was the fastest selling mp3 player to ever hit the market.
In April 2003, Apple announced the iTunes Music Store, an online retail hub where customers could browse and purchase music for 99 cents per song (or $9.99 per album). By 2005, iTunes' library had grown to 1.5 million songs. Although Apple would make scant profit from selling songs at 99 cents per download (it had sold nearly 8 billion songs by the end of 2009 but, with Apple's ten percent commission, that only translates to $800 million in revenue--before accounting for the cost of running the store; trivial when compared to $22 billion gained in iPod sales at that time, the iTunes store gave the iPod legitimacy in a world of shady mp3 accessibility.
According to NPD Group, sales of portable CD players were still more than double those of mp3 players during the holiday season of 2004. But between the third quarters of 2004 and 2005, sales of the iPod had leapt 616%. As the same customer base kept repurchasing new and better iPods, Apple's profits soared: by 2008 it had captured 48% of the mp3 player market share. SanDisk's Sansa mp3 player was the iPod's closest competitor with 8% market share.
Few would deny that the iPod is a great product, surpassing any other mp3 player offering. But is it six times better? Apple was, after all, three years late. But perhaps this logic should be flipped: perhaps everyone else was three years too early. As we'll see again in the case of the iPhone, Jobs tended to be late for everything because he wanted everything to be ready for him. Reflecting on catching technology waves in 2008, he said, "Things happen fairly slowly, you know. They do. These waves of technology, you can see them way before they happen, and you just have to choose wisely which ones you're going to surf. If you choose unwisely, then you can waste a lot of energy, but if you choose wisely, it actually unfolds fairly slowly. It takes years." Jobs's discipline paid off. In the three years between the launch of MPMan and the iPod, each element in the mp3 player ecosystem turned from red to green. Instead of waiting at the red light with everyone else -- wasting precious resources and time -- Apple drove right on through a green light towards victory, becoming, according to the Economist, "the Walkman of the early 21st century."
Excerpted from The Wide Lens by Ron Adner, Portfolio Penguin, 2012.


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Message Board
Shirley A. Roe Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Roe has written!
Author Roe's Book Reviews
Of Dreams and Nightmares
Of Dreams and Nightmares is a historical romance set in the mid 1800's. Martha McGuire's arranged marriage to widower Jebediah Whittaker turns her pampered, aristocratic life into her worst nightmare. She is taken by immigrant ship across the Atlantic to the Americas. Her every waking moment is filled with thoughts of escape but to no avail. In the colonies she discovers that she is to travel the vast wilderness in a wagon train. In a foreign land, accom...


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Specializing in Quality Used Bikes
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Republican radio figure Rush Limbaugh announced Wednesday that, far from the Republican Party simply failing to turn out its base on Tuesday night, "we are outnumbered" now in the country, calling President Barack Obama's overwhelming reelection victory "the trend" from now on.
"We have to face some truths, we have to face some reality," he said.
"We are outnumbered and we are losing ground. This was not a glitch. This is the trend. That happened last night. This is the trend. We are outnumbered. Whether you want to put it in terms of, 'Have we lost the country or not?' There's no other explanation."
(Source: RawStory.com and DailyRushbo.com)


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Isner beats Mahut 70-68 in finale of marathon Wimbledon set
When John Isner finally won the longest match in tennis history, he collapsed on the Wimbledon grass and then summoned one last burst of energy, springing to his feet to applaud along with the crowd.
The American hit a backhand winner to win the last of the match's 980 points, and he took the fifth set Thursday against Nicolas Mahut, 70-68.
The first-round match took 11 hours, 5 minutes over three days, lasting so long it was suspended because of darkness — two nights in a row. Play resumed Thursday at 59-all and continued for more than an hour before Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68.
The American finished with 112 aces, and Mahut had 103, with both totals eclipsing the previous high of 78. There were only three service breaks in the match, the last coming on the final point.
With Mahut serving at 68-69, Isner hit a forehand winner for the first break-point chance of the day. Then he cracked the backhand winner for the victory — only the third service break of the match, and the only one in the fifth set, which lasted 8 hours, 11 minutes.
The finish attracted an overflow crowd on cozy Court 18. Absent was Queen Elizabeth II, who had already departed the All England Club following her first visit to Wimbledon since 1977. She watched Briton Andy Murray win his match on Centre Court.
Isner won a match that was by far the longest in the sport's history in terms of games or time. The previous longest match took 6 hours, 33 minutes at the 2004 French Open.
Four times on Wednesday, Isner was one point from victory, but Mahut saved each match point.
The crowd roared when the players walked on the court Thursday, and Isner smiled and waved. When the action resumed, both players continued to dominate with their serves. Mahut held at love five times.
But in the final game, the Frenchman committed an unforced error and netted a drop shot on consecutive points, opening the door for Isner.
With the queen watching from the Royal Box, Murray defeated Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Murray, seeded fourth, is trying to become the first British player to win Wimbledon since the queen watched Virginia Wade win the women's final 33 years ago.
Shortly after the queen took her seat in the front row, Murray and Nieminen walked onto the court. They turned toward her and simultaneously bowed as the crowd roared.
Murray, the only British player left in singles, might have been a bit nervous at the start. He faced four break points in the opening game but erased them all, then pulled away from there.
The queen joined the applause when Murray closed out the win. Both players again bowed as they left the court, and they then met with the queen on a balcony overlooking the club's outer courts before she departed.
Over on Court 1, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the third round by beating Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-1, 6-4. Seeded 16th, Sharapova won 20 of 23 points at the net.
The queen emerged from a car near the club's practice courts an hour before the day's first matches, and walked toward Centre Court along a walkway lined with spectators. When she reached the members' lawn, she met several players, including Roger Federer, Venus and Serena Williams and Andy Roddick, and former Wimbledon champions Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
"She said, 'Oh, you've been coming here a long time,'" King said. "And I said, 'Yes, 49 years in a row,' and she goes, 'Oh, that's wonderful.' ... It was really an honor and a big thrill for me, because it is on my bucket list."
Serena Williams greeted the queen with the curtsy she had been practicing. Roddick and Federer bowed. Spectators cheered as the queen then walked across a bridge to the clubhouse for lunch.
After she left Wimbledon, No. 3-seeded Caroline Wozniacki defeated Chang Kai-Chen on Centre Court, 6-4, 6-3. No. 7 Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Alberta Brianti 6-2, 6-0, No. 10 Flavia Pennetta swept Monica Niculescu 6-1, 6-1, and No. 14 Victoria Azarenka beat Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-4.
No. 23 Zheng Jie lost to Petra Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.


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Monday, November 3, 2008
at its strongest form - miagao church
57 comments:
- kegler747 said...
This is the most famous church in Iloilo, truly a unique architectural wonder despite experiencing an earthquake and countless storms
- November 3, 2008 at 5:38 PM
- Isabones said...
Wow, the details on the facade is amazing! And I love how time and the elements have added to its drama. Thanks for sharing :)
- November 3, 2008 at 6:34 PM
- mgaputonimimi said...
parang sculptured wood lang ung design ng church.. great capture!
- November 3, 2008 at 6:42 PM
- Helena de Tróia said...
hi! I like the european style mix with the native style. it makes a unique architecture. It´s very different from what we have here in Europe.
- November 3, 2008 at 6:49 PM
- Judayski said...
great photos! i was particularly amazed by the trivia on the location of the blessed sacrament
- November 3, 2008 at 6:53 PM
- RedLan said...
Sabi ko na nga ba hindi ka nakapasok kaya idinan mo na lang sa pagkuha ng kanyang labas na kaanyuan. a different style of taking pictures here. Marami pang naghihintay sa iyong pagbalik Dong Ho.
Thanks for coming in Iloilo best host.
- November 3, 2008 at 9:17 PM
- RedLan said...
*araming naghihintay na simbahan pala sa iyong pagbalik dito.
- November 3, 2008 at 9:18 PM
- escape said...
>kegler, you're right about that. this church is really worth visiting even for an hour or less travel. something the country itself can really be proud of.
>hi isabetlog, amazing indeed! i really hope that you'll be able to see it yourself because it's really beautiful.
>hi mimi, naturally beautiful! thanks.
>hi helena, im sure it's different. because the materials alone used for most of the churches here in the philippines are of limestones and coral stones.
>hi judayski, yes. i was in fact surprised to have seen a blessed sacrament box in the shape of the church's belfry.
>redlan, oo nga. dami ko pang dapat makitang simbahan kaya babalik talaga ako.
naghintay pa ako ng isang oras doon pero hindi talaga nagbukas. sayang pero babalikan ko talaga yung simbahang yon. iloilo best host, eh ikaw nga ang host namin. hahaha...
- November 3, 2008 at 9:38 PM
- tr3nta said...
beautiful church and details... nice colors to, looks like very humid kind of place... or season.
- November 4, 2008 at 12:19 AM
hi thanks for visiting my blog..
i have added u in my blogroll..cheers
i will keep u in touch always
- November 4, 2008 at 12:28 AM
- Erick said...
hay! ganda talaga dyan. pinakamagandang simbahan na nakita ko up to date.
- November 4, 2008 at 1:04 AM
- x said...
these churches are so regal! there is so much beauty about them. gotta love old churches, ne. :D
- November 4, 2008 at 2:08 AM
- Phivos Nicolaides said...
I enjoy it! Very good!
- November 4, 2008 at 2:44 AM
- gmirage said...
The mosses would attest to the age of this structure! I wonder when was the last time they scrubbed off the tower :D
Great details there! Thanks to you I am able to see something I might not see soon.
- November 4, 2008 at 3:17 AM
- Eki said...
That a fabulous place and architectural heritage, Dong Ho. Would love to see it for myself.
- November 4, 2008 at 3:29 AM
- Antoine Greg said...
hmm... i knew it.>..! the church hoppoing in Iloilo is not complete without passing by this grande galore... lurv the pics doNG>.>!
- November 4, 2008 at 7:29 AM
- Carver said...
That's an amazing church. It does look so solid and strong but also very beautiful.
- November 4, 2008 at 7:35 AM
- Hilda said...
Galing! The details of the facade are really unique — never seen anything quite like it. Nakakatuwa. My favorite shot's the second to the last one. Nahahalata ko sa sarili ko that I seem to have a thing for belfries — ngayon ko lang napansin dahil sa series mong ito.
Maraming salamat! You went to Iloilo to go church-hopping? Pagbalik mo sa Maynila, meron akong Heswitang ipapakilala sa iyo. He's into church history, art and even restoration. ;D
- November 4, 2008 at 8:35 AM
- SandyCarlson said...
I love the many angles from which you took these pictures, friend. They are powerful!
- November 4, 2008 at 8:53 AM
- Sidney said...
Wow....what a beautiful Church !
Thanks for sharing. You did a good job in capturing its beauty!
- November 4, 2008 at 9:12 AM
- alicesg said...
Another nice sets of photos of the churches. It is amazing how the people from the past could built so lovely and beautiful buildings without the new technology of machines. Thanks for sharing.
- November 4, 2008 at 9:17 AM
- Julienne said...
the first photo looks like a still from some movie. gave me chills! amazing shot!
- November 4, 2008 at 9:17 AM
- Traveling Bells said...
Very unique combinations of architecture to make it distinctly native to your country. Wow!
- November 4, 2008 at 9:49 AM
- eunice said...
Another great church? Wow. Somehow I don't see similar churches in Europe. Perhaps they are of Spanish style? Is it?
- November 4, 2008 at 10:08 AM
- Unknown said...
An amazing landmark!
- November 4, 2008 at 10:09 AM
- Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...
The architectural of the church is really great. Though it's not looking it's best right now. I'm sure it had it's share of glory once :)
- November 4, 2008 at 10:15 AM
- Grace said...
hi dong, it makes me think, are you a travelling photographer? your camera must be the best in the world... :)
- November 4, 2008 at 11:42 AM
the facade of the church is really unique. hope you could take pics of its interior next time. ganda ng pics kuya dong!
- November 4, 2008 at 12:19 PM
- Heart of Rachel said...
It's a beautiful church. Thank you for sharing those beautiful angles. It helps me appreciate it even more.
BTW, I have an award for you.
- November 4, 2008 at 3:11 PM
- Bryan Anthony the First said...
sana ma preserve sla forever
- November 4, 2008 at 5:11 PM
- Vic said...
i don't know whether the church is just simply beautiful or you're just an awesome photographer... maybe, both! hehe! :)
ganda! :)
- November 4, 2008 at 7:04 PM
- Unknown said...
Wow! The façade is absolutely gorgeous! I've never seen a catholic church with palmtrees used in architecture. Great shots!
- November 4, 2008 at 8:18 PM
miag-ao church is really gorgeous. other than serving the spiritual needs of the community, it also doubled as a fortress against muslim slave raiders.
- November 4, 2008 at 10:30 PM
- escape said...
>tr3nta, yes it was quite humid that time.
>rajesh, thanks! adding you on my blogroll too.
>erick, i agree. ito rin yung pinakamagandang simbahan na nabisita ko as of this day. ganda nga talaga.
>hi acey, really beautiful! you'll actually find other beautiful churches around the island of panay.
>philip, that's great! thanks.
>hi gizelle, not sure how often they get the structure cleaned and repaired.
you're welcome and thanks too for dropping by.
>eki, you won't need passport to visit the philippines. we're waiting for you.
>antoine, exactly! you really know what's best in iloilo.
>hi carver, true!
>hi hilda, hehehe... kakatuwa naman at dito mo pa napansin na nagugustuhan mo ang mga belfries.
nasa maynila na ako. delayed lang tong mga posts. i would love to meet that priests because i have a lot of questions to ask.
just email me email@example.com. thanks!
>hi sandy, thank you very much! im glad you like it.
>sidney, thank you very much. quite an inspiration to hear those words from you.
>hi alicesg, that's what i'll be researching about in the future! ill definitely share it here.
>aracir, hehehe... horror movies you mean?
>hi sandy, you're right about that. it made it unique to the other beautiful churches that you normally see here.
>hi eunice, yes. this church is a mixture of spanish and native design making it unique from the other churches.
>luke, yes it is.
>hi napaboaniya, yes it may not be that beautiful as it was first constructed but the moss and the cracks makes this church a symbol of strength and glory.
>hi grace, i love traveling but it's not my profession. i use a point shoot camera sony dsc-p150 i beleive you too can get the same shots.
>beero, oo nga. kaya talagang babalikan ko to.
>hi rachel, im really glad that the different angles help you recognize how beautiful it is.
so happy to receive that award!
>bryan, oo nga. pero ito siguradong hindi basta bastang mapapabayaan kasi UNESCO world heritage site na sya.
>hi vic, the church itself is very very beautiful. thanks vic!
>jm, not sure if this is the only one with such a facade. but im sure it's one of the most unique christian structure.
>estan, you're right. that's why i really like its structure. such a beautiful fortress.
- November 5, 2008 at 12:37 AM
- Photo Cache said...
what a fabulous series, very informative. i enjoyed it very much. there's plenty that i have seen for the very first time.
- November 5, 2008 at 1:02 AM
- Luis Batchoy said...
wow! You did go to miagao!
- November 5, 2008 at 1:46 AM
Visited Miag-ao too in Dec 07 and was just awed by its beauty and historical significance.
Thanks for sharing more facts about this architectural gem! Loved your pics too!
- November 5, 2008 at 2:34 AM
- Pietro Brosio said...
Very intense images of this magnificent church.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful places.
- November 5, 2008 at 3:11 AM
- Nina said...
sana mapuntahan ko ito :) ang ganda nya!
- November 5, 2008 at 4:48 AM
- Oman said...
wow dom. gustung gusto ko puntahan yan. lalo na ngayun sa pinakita mong mga photos dito. galing.
- November 5, 2008 at 10:36 AM
- escape said...
>photo cache, thanks a lot! hope you'll keep in touch for the next series.
>luis, yes. the beautiful town of miagao.
>hi pinky, that's great! im glad that you are also visiting some of the country's best sites. let's keep in touch. thanks for dropping by.
>pietro, thanks too for visiting.
>hi nina, oo. puntahan mo ito. ganda talaga. medyo iba kasi sa typical na church sa pilipinas dahil sa facade art nito.
>oman, oo bro. ganda talaga nito. by far the most beautiful churhc i've seen.
- November 5, 2008 at 11:17 AM
- pusangkalye said...
really looks very sturdy. We need sturdy churches because a lot of our churches were witness to very strong earthquakes. A lot of them destroyed and restored as a matter of fact. Nice church hunting DONG. Talagang di mo tinantanan mga churches nila dyan ha......
BTW. I used your name in my latest post ha./ Hope you don't mind.
- November 5, 2008 at 11:36 AM
- Rintjez said...
I love all the pictures :) You got them in best angles and made it more artistic and beautiful :)
I need to do churches hopping when I go to PH again :) That's a promise :)
You won't be dissapointed if you go to Sumatera Island :) The nature is well preserved, not too touristy and best for taking pictures! You will love it :)
I will recommend you to go to North and West Sumatera!
- November 5, 2008 at 11:44 AM
- Jinjiruks said...
salamat nga pala sa everyday visit sa aking blog. kakainggit ka seems like you travel everyday. hehe. sana makasama ako minsan. so that I could know more about u. ^^;
- November 5, 2008 at 12:57 PM
- Nyl said...
great architectural design..and wonderful sculpture.
another very good capture dong..speed on!
- November 5, 2008 at 2:21 PM
- Borneo Falcon said...
I always had interest in UNESCO World Heritage Site. I just got back from Penang, which is also an UNESCO heritage site. Will post on it in near future
- November 5, 2008 at 3:36 PM
hello dong! :)
naman! speechless na naman ako sa photos dito sa site mo. :)
- November 5, 2008 at 4:09 PM
- Joy said...
Those are fantastic photos of a really historic structure.
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments.
A Pinay In England
Your Love Coach
I, Woman
- November 5, 2008 at 4:29 PM
- Raft3r said...
churches are always fun to visit
their structures always leave me in awe
- November 5, 2008 at 4:46 PM
- Lalaine said...
ganda ng mga kuha... tuwing bibisita ako sa blog mo eh lagi na lang ako namamangha sa ganda ng pinas na nakikita ko... keep it up! =)
- November 6, 2008 at 12:33 AM
- escape said...
>salingpusa, maraming salamat sa pagsama sa amin ni lawstude doon sa post mo sa capones.
oo ganda kasi ng mga simbahan sa iloilo. hindi talaga pwedeng hindi makita since nandun na rin lang naman ako. bitin na nga kasi tatlo lang nabisita ko sa dami ng magagandang simbahan doon.
>rintjez, thanks a lot. as you can see the church itself is already picturesque at almost any angle.
visiting the philippines again will be great! we can be your tourist guide. hehehe...
ill definitely add sumatra in the soon-to-go places in southeast asia.
>jinjiruks, iniisa isa kasi ang pagpost kaya parang araw araw bumabyahe pero yung apat na last post ay nagyari lamang sa isang araw. salamat din sa pagbisita sa blog ko. sige hopefully ma invite ka namin sa mga byahe.
>hi nyl, we all owe it to the people who made these structures.
>borneo falcon, that's true. heritage sites declared by UNESCO are surely beautiful and valuable. looking forward to your post on that of penang.
>hi joshmarie, maraming salamat talaga sa laging pagbisita.
>hi joy, thanks a lot!
>raft3r, true. this is something the philippines can really be proud of.
>hi lalaine, ganda naman kasi talaga ng mga simbahang ito kaya kahit anong kuha ganda talaga. salamat laine.
- November 6, 2008 at 1:07 AM
- KRIS JASPER said...
talagang larger than life antique building... beautiful shots, dong.
- November 6, 2008 at 5:38 PM
- Rio said...
wow...sobrang ganda ng simbahang ito..sana nexttime pagbalik mo ay makapasok ka na sa loob...kung maganda ung labas siguradong mas maganda yung loob..
ito kaya yung church na pinag shootingan ng pelikulang maruja?..yung kay rustom at carmina.
- November 7, 2008 at 2:20 PM
- Tikno said...
Hi Dong, do you have a travel company?
Seems you know many places to visit.
- November 9, 2008 at 2:01 AM
- Marites said...
i just love this church. i've seen this church before it was renovated. while they've done a lot in their renovation, i still love its old facade.hey, i love your blog for featuring philippines' off the beaten tracks! wanna xlinks?
- November 10, 2008 at 6:32 AM
- dodong flores 도동 플로오리스 said...
Hi, dong Ho. Excellent narrative of the Iloilo adventure. Excellent set of photos as well. I'd like to share with you my most recent Iloilo travel if it's okay. It's here and here.
- November 11, 2008 at 4:04 PM
wow dong, these are really, really nice photos of the church ;-) i love the native accents that they carved into the facade
- November 12, 2008 at 12:26 PM


text:
Roundup causes Plant, Soil Disease
August 15, 2011
The heavy use of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide appears to be causing harmful changes in soil and potentially hindering yields of the genetically modified crops that farmers are cultivating, a government scientist said on Friday.
by Carey Gillam
August 15, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – The heavy use of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide appears to be causing harmful changes in soil and potentially hindering yields of the genetically modified crops that farmers are cultivating, a government scientist said on Friday.
Repeated use of the chemical glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup herbicide, impacts the root structure of plants, and 15 years of research indicates that the chemical could be causing fungal root disease, said Bob Kremer, a microbiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.
Roundup is the world's best-selling herbicide and its use has increased as Monsanto, the world's biggest seed company, continues to roll out herbicide-tolerant "Roundup Ready" crops.
Roundup Ready corn, soybeans and other crops are beloved by farmers because farmers can spray the herbicide directly onto their crops to kill surrounding weeds, and Roundup Ready corn and soybeans varieties make up the vast majority of those crops grown in the United States.
But as farmers have increased their use of Roundup Ready crops and Roundup herbicide, problems have started to rise. One of the biggest problems currently is spreading weed resistance to Roundup. But Kremer said the less visible problems below the soil should also be noted and researched more extensively.
Though Kremer said research to date has not shown that glyphosate directly causes fungal diseases that limit crop health and production, but the data suggests that could be the case.
"We're suggesting that that potential certainly exists," Kremer said in a presentation to the annual conference of the Organization for Competitive Markets, held Friday in Kansas City.
As well, Kremer said that research shows that these genetically altered crops do not yield more than conventional crops, and nutrient deficiencies tied to the root disease problems is likely a limiting factor.
Kremer said farmers should take heed and consider more crop rotations and tighter monitoring of glyphosate usage.
Kremer is among a group of scientists who have been turning up potential problems with glyphosate. Outside researchers have also raised concerns over the years that glyphosate use may be linked to cancer, miscarriages and other health problems in people and livestock.
Monsanto had no immediate comment on Friday, but has said in the past that glyphosate binds tightly to most types of soil, is not harmful and does not harm the crops.
The company has said that its research shows glyphosate is safe for humans and the environment.
Neither the USDA nor the Environmental Protection Agency, which is reviewing the registration of glyphosate for its safety and effectiveness, have shown interest in further exploring this area of research, Kremer said Friday.


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November 5, 2013— -- The first time Leslie Morgan Steiner's husband attacked her was five days before their wedding. He choked her so hard he left handprints on her neck, she said.
After that, Morgan said he beat her regularly. She said that during their two-and-a-half year marriage, he threatened her with a loaded gun and pounded her head against walls. Once he threw her down a flight of stairs. Twice he choked her until she blacked out.
After a beating that lasted more than two hours, Steiner said she finally had the courage to file for divorce and take out a restraining order.
Yet 20 years later, Morgan said she still deals with the psychological damage, the fear and physical pain inflicted on her by her ex.
She said her joints constantly ache, and she has some short-term memory loss. Her doctor told her that at 48 years old, she's too young and healthy to experience these kinds of problems.
"I am still terrified of my ex-husband," Steiner said. "It makes perfect sense that my body is suffering."
Tweet Chat on the Health Impact of Domestic Violence, Today at 1 p.m., ET
The research suggests that Steiner is not an isolated example. Once the immediate bruises and broken bones heal, there's evidence that the majority of the 3 million to 4 million women who report a domestic violence incident each year, according to the American Medical Association, have an exceptionally high rate of health problems.
A newly released Verizon Foundation and More magazine survey asked more than 1,000 women about their health and well-being. The 44 percent who identified themselves as survivors of domestic abuse were 20 percent more likely to experience a chronic health condition compared with women who said they'd never been abused. Domestic abuse victims also reported up to twice as many chronic conditions compared with those who said they were not abused, the survey found.
Recommended: Biden Visits Austin Domestic Violence Hotline
More than 80 percent of domestic abuse survivors, and nearly 90 percent of those who said they had also been sexually abused, reported such problems as low back pain, chronic headaches, arthritis and more. They also reported a higher than average incidence of depression, diabetes, asthma and digestive disease, as well as elevated rates of impaired brain, immune or endocrine system dysfunction.
"We now know from science that exposure to violence leads to significant poor health outcomes across the life spectrum," said Kristin Schubert, the director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Vulnerable Populations Portfolio.
"When you make this connection and understand the health, economic and social repercussions of intimate partner violence, it becomes clear that this is a problem that should concern everyone," Schubert said.
One of the stumbling blocks to treatment, the survey found, was that women don't make the connection between their health and the abuse. Survey respondents were more likely to blame other things, such as smoking and alcohol for any of their health problems rather than the domestic abuse they had endured.
Health care providers often fail to pick up on the signals, according to the survey.
Seventy-five percent of the women surveyed said they'd never been asked about domestic violence during a physical exam. Only 6 percent said a doctor or nurse had ever made a connection between their abuse and health problems. And less than 20 percent of abuse victims were offered any resources or referrals from a health care professional.
Rose Stuckey Kirk, Verizon vice president of global corporate social responsibility, said that the long-term health consequences of domestic violence couldn't be properly addressed until an association between the two was acknowledged.
Recommended: New Law Protects Domestic Violence Victims' Jobs
"This research is important in that it opens up a new way to understand how health care providers can play a significant role in preventing domestic violence and chronic health problems," she said.
As for Steiner, she's remarried and has three children, and she's written several books, including the bestseller "Crazy Love," about her abusive relationship.
But she's aware of the toll the violence has taken on her well-being.
"The fear, it's like it got into my bones. I feel it on an emotional level but even more so on a physical level," she said.
Tweet Chat on the Health Impact of Domestic Violence, Today at 1 p.m., ET
The effects of domestic violence on its victims don't stop once the abuse is over. It has a bearing on every aspect of victims' lives, including their long-term health.
Please join ABC chief health and medical correspondent Dr. Richard Besser for an ABC health tweet chat today at 1 p.m. ET on the health implications of domestic violence.
We'll be joined by representatives from organizations that support domestic violence survivors, including the authors of the Verizon Foundation and More magazine survey, the Department of Health and Human Services and more than 40 hospitals and research centers. We'll also be joined by survivors who will share their stories with the hope of helping other women, men and children who've been victims of domestic violence.
Click here to find out how easy it is to join the chat or follow along on the live blog during the chat. Mobile users can use this link for the live blog.


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A Photographer's Life, 1990-2005
Annie Liebowitz is a world famous photograph known mostly for her magazine photographs of celebrities. Although trained as a painter at the San Francisco Art Institute, she went to work for Rolling Stone as a photographer in 1970. It was while working for them that she took her photograph of a naked John Lennon wrapped around the clothed Yoko Ono, the day before his death, in 1981. Since 1983, she's been working for Vanity Fair. It was for them tha...