text:
I believe it's very important to have a sense of purpose as a photographer. If it's not clear exactly why you're photographing, or what the aim of your output is, you run the risk of not only making weak images, but not knowing they're weak, or even worse, not being able to step up and move on. However, only you can decide exactly what that purpose or aim is; and in the past couple of years since starting this site, I've realized two things: firstly, you're going to evolve, so don't be afraid to say 'my objective has changed'; secondly, you're not going to satisfy everybody (and some of those people are bound to be extremely rude and vocal about it, but really have nothing more than hot air). The latter is easy to rationalise but difficult to accept if you care about your work.
In 2010, I thought frankly that I'd both hit a brick wall creatively and technically; as a result, I landed up hanging up the camera for about six months. This was partially due to work, but I think the semi-forced break was actually a good thing because it forced me to start again and reassess what it is I was shooting, and why. Until that point, I'd pretty much chosen a topic or subject and then gone out and saturated myself with it – watches, wildlife, reportage. Or gone to a place and photographed everything that I thought was photographable – and been a pack mule for ten kilograms of Nikon's finest in the process. In hindsight, my work lacked focus or had too much focus: balance was missing.
The reason I'm writing this article is because I recently received a message from a flickr contact who thought the little essay I posted on my flickr profile page encapsulated the gestalt of photography for him quite neatly. The problem is, I didn't quite have the heart to say a) that was written a while ago, and b) I'm not sure I entirely see things that way anymore. I'm sure part of that is simply own to an increase in my own experience as a photographer, plus the switch from being an amateur and hobbyist to being a professional; mind you, nothing fundamentally changed in the way I shot at the start, but I did find there started a slow but increasing schism between personal and professional work.
However, any professional reading this who is still passionate about photography will agree with me that not often do our personal creative preferences intersect with those requested by the client; we are always therefore going to be subject to this internal conflict. Yet we cannot abandon our personal drive entirely, because if we do, we run the risk of losing what gives us a creative edge in the first place. It's the old situation of 'we hired you because we liked your portfolio, now can you shoot something totally different?' The only situation I think is sustainable over the long term is to ensure that you have clear goals for both, and only permit crossover when it's not going to be detrimental to either. In fact, there are photographs I take for my own personal enjoyment or experimentation that I'm happy with – for now – but will probably never show anybody; it's not that the material is sensitive or explicit, it's just that I'm not necessarily comfortable with sharing it because I don't entirely understand it yet.
So here goes: thirteen-something years since I started, and two and a half years into this professional gig, here's my photographic philosophy: professional and personal.
- There are no excuses for not delivering. I must always be prepared for contingencies – be it light, time, equipment failure or something else.
- The purpose of commercial photography is to portray the subject in the most flattering manner possible. To make the best images, I need to understand the subject so I understand what to look for, what to capture, and which angles/ perspectives work best. I also need to continually refine my technical skills – lighting, processing, printing, output, etc.
- Try to translate the business objectives of the client into photographic and stylistic objectives; if the client does well, they'll probably have you back again.
- I personally will try to avoid compositing images, but accept that in certain situations there is no choice. If I have to do it, I will at least do it in the most realistic manner possible.
- Any postprocessing must be believable, of high quality, and as close to pixel perfect if possible. I may post process documentary assignments, but I will not change any of the contents of the image in the interests of integrity. I will not overdo the processing.
- Ultimately, my job is to at least deliver what the client wants, and preferably more; however, if there's a conflict between what I think is best and what the client thinks is best, they win.
- I will do my best to educate clients about the profession, what is possible, what isn't possible, and aesthetics.
- I won't take jobs that I know will be a serious conflict of aesthetics, working styles, professionalism or fees. No party will be happy and the result will be a disaster.
- But I also won't decline jobs just because they're not super exciting: it's important to remember that the industry is unpredictable, and being able to do this reasonably successfully for a living is already something to be thankful for. All opportunities must be given serious consideration.
- I will actively look for and accept jobs that give me full creative control, and strive to go the extra mile and do my best in those – both to deliver what I believe pushes the game a level higher for me, as well as the best of what is technically possible.
- I will not compete on price, both in the long term interests of the industry and to ensure that I do not set up an unsustainable business model.
- Finally, a new one for 2014: I will seek some sort of sustainable balance rather than working myself to death…
- Never settle with an image that has less than 4 out of 4 things
- Always continue to tighten my curation: that's the only way to up your game.
- Aesthetics are personal. So long as I'm happy with the output, who cares what anybody else thinks?
- Always push the limits of what can be done, where it can be done, to what level of quality it can be done, and how it can be done.
- Try to photograph subjects that interest you on some level beyond photographically and aesthetically to develop a connection to the subject, and hopefully a stronger image. But don't walk past and ignore a visually great scene because the subject doesn't speak to you on an emotional level.
- Look for something out of the ordinary, in the ordinary – it can be order in disorder, disorder in order, juxtaposition in spatial position or something else. There has to be a 'why' to each image, otherwise it's just a snapshot.
- Aesthetic considerations alone can be a why, though not always.
- Attempt to understand other forms of art in an attempt to understand how human psychology is affected by various stimuli, visual and non-visual; photography is a one-way conversation – or perhaps an oration or performance – you must therefore understand your audience to improve your performance.
- Always keep practicing, but don't force yourself to shoot if uninspired – that's a waste of shutter cycles and curation time.
- The moment a style or subject or something starts to get boring, move on and shoot something else. Concentrate on whatever intuitively feels interesting and let your visual style evolve to meet it. You won't lose the ability to produce your previous work, though you might find it less multidimensional or satisfying.
- Look before you shoot; photography is really about seeing – not necessarily recording.
Only The Clouds Are Truly Free
The headline image I've chosen to illustrate this post is from Cuba; firstly, I thought it might be appropriate given the idea of any kind of manifesto, but more importantly, I think it currently represents the kind of photographic direction I want to go in personally: on first impressions, it is definitely a photograph, though the image might have been created using other media; it doesn't necessarily have spatial cues, or it has slightly confusing ones; tonal control is present throughout the entire image; there's plenty of detail to hold attention in an Ultraprint, but more importantly, there's an idea there which is both strong and open to some interpretation. There is a rigid order in the buildings above, but the decay suggests a system or society that perhaps isn't working quite perfectly; the men – generic people – underneath it are both proud but somewhat oppressed (notice their postures); there are hints of modernity (air conditioning) but a lot of colourful veneer hiding something with no substance (empty windows/ facades). Freedom – the sky and clouds – are as far away as possible from the people; out of reach. To some, such an image may appear flat and boring, but like Only The Clouds Are Truly Free (above), these are images that are intentionally meant to be visually curious but encouraging and rewarding of further contemplation.
Now, do you know why you shoot? MT
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text:
Amsinckia acuticarpa Suksd.
First published in Werdenda 1: 68 (1931)
This name is a synonym of Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia
POWO follows these authorities in synonymising this name:
- Govaerts, R. (1995). World Checklist of Seed Plants 1(1, 2): 1-483, 529. MIM, Deurne. [Cited as Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia.]
Other Data
Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:
Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
- The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
- © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Though the conversation was nearly fifteen years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. We were talking about a new megachurch that was experiencing meteoric growth, and the pastor said, "That church is a house of cards. As soon as ________ leaves, the whole thing collapses."
This is something I've heard expressed before in other contexts. And it came to light again this week as Christianity Today considered the multi-site church model. Mega and Multi are often seen together holding hands.*
But first, a diversion, as one pastor defines the phenomenon:
Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of Anacostia River Church in Washington, D.C., summed up this concern in a 2011 blog post for the Gospel Coalition titled, "Multisite Churches Are from the Devil."
"Try as one might," he wrote, "I can't escape the conclusion that those who take the multisite option are effectively saying, 'My preacher is better than your preacher, so we're gonna brand him and export him to a theater near you.' That's crass, I know. But that's really the bottom line."
Okay. Back to our discussion. This is the quote from the piece I really wanted to highlight:
…Given Mars Hill's highly visible collapse, questions remain about the long-term viability of multisite churches.
Chuck North, an economics professor at Baylor University, said the fall of Mars Hill mimicked what happens with successful startup businesses and their founders…
One of the big challenges for such businesses is succession planning. Who will take over when the founding or longtime CEO leaves? Likewise, "the pastor is the face of that church," he said. "How do you get a successor who is going to fill that role?"
That would resonate with the aforementioned pastor with whom I had my discussion. We tend to use terminology like, "Bill Hybel's church;" and "Rick Warren's church;" and "Kyle Idleman's church;" and "Pete Wilson's church;" losing the bearings of the people listening to us if we reference Willow, Saddleback, Southeast or Cross Point. Right now, if someone says to me, "Ed Young's church," I can't name it.
Which got me thinking of A Prairie Home Companion, the long-running Saturday night radio show that started back in the days when they had to hand-deliver radio shows to each house by truck.
Last week it was announced that iconic show runner and host Garrison Keillor would step down to be replaced by Chris Thile (pronounced THEE-lee) who guest hosted earlier this year. Not everyone is thrilled.
For many, the show is G.K., and they can't imagine it without him. Others are excited.
In church life, we do tend to associate the pastor as being the brand. It's hard to imagine certain churches without the key man — in business, you can take out insurance against such losses, called key man insurance — but life goes on at Mars Hill Bible Church without Rob Bell, at Cornerstone without Francis Chan, and was, until recently going fine at Coral Ridge Presbyterian without James Kennedy.
The CT article hinges largely on the situation at Mars Hill Seattle, post-Mark Driscoll. That one fulfilled my pastor friend's prophecy, and whether or not you want to call it a house of cards, it definitely collapsed.
How can churches mitigate against that happening? How do they prevent the church from being personality-driven?
The A Prairie Home Companion situation is made easier by Keillor's retirement. He will transition out slowly he says, returning to do key characters and narratives. In church life we don't always have that luxury, if the pastor feels called to another location. Flying and back and forth to your old church is generally frowned upon. The ties usually become severed, and the congregation looks forward, not back. It's often ten years later that the former pastor is freer to return for a special anniversary or similar event.
Small groups also make a huge different. If you are closely knit to the people in your home church group, what's happening at the weekend services is of diminished importance. At Canada's The Meeting House, teaching pastor Bruxy Cavey tells his people, "If you have to make a choice this week between Sunday and home church, attend your home church."
Serving also helps. People who work on music, tech, greeting, parking, children's, youth or counseling teams are invested long-term; they have a commitment that goes beyond who is preaching the sermon.
Finally, I suppose much has to do with viable alternatives. Sometimes it's hard for people who have been friends of Mega and Multi to feel comfortable again in the closer surroundings of a 250-seat or 500-member fellowship. Without strong ties, it may be easier to drift through a time of pastor transition, but even the largest cities can only support so many mega-churches.
Personally, I think the Saturday night NPR radio show will survive the transition, and as for Thile as host, I'm going to trust Keillor's judgement. In church life, outgoing pastors generally don't name their successors, but it would be ideal if they could put their rubber stamp on whoever is ultimately selected.
*As a writer, I really liked that sentence; but in the interest of full disclosure, not all satellite (or shall we say secondary) campuses attract huge crowds. While North Point (Andy Stanley's church) tends not to start a new campus without critical mass, the branch of Harvest Bible Chapel (James MacDonald's church) we attended in Elgin, IL in 2009 was in development at the time; we worshiped with a crowd I would estimate at around 200 max; though that location has grown considerably since we were there. Some of The Meeting House's locations are still running under 100 according to some reports, and I am told that LifeChurch.tv (Craig Groeshel's church) a leader in multi-site, has often had softer launches in order to serve a particular geographic area sooner than later.


text:
COVID-19 updates, including vaccine information, for our patients and visitors Learn More
Each year, millions of Americans become ill from foodborne illnesses and thousands die. To
help prevent foodborne illness, you can take steps to ensure the safety of the food you eat. To learn more about food
safety, take this quiz, based on information from the FDA.
Francesca Torriani, MD
Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Clinical Epidemiology
UC San Diego | School of Medicine


text:
Many CIOs will be keeping a close eye on Boeing Company's efforts to roll out Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) voice, video and data services to more than 157,000 employees worldwide and Verizon's July 22 announcement to launch a similar phone service for consumers.
These recent announcements could be just the tip of an iceberg of pent-up demand among corporations for a seamless network of digital capabilities. But the complexity of getting real value from a VoIP initiative could also put companies on a slippery slope towards a multi-million dollar mistake if they simply race to keep pace with innovation without managing the effort effectively.
According to a recent estimate by the Aberdeen Group, the Fortune 500 spend, on average, $116 million annually for telecommunications. Cutting that budget looks attractive but it's really only a one-time dividend — any cost advantage will eventually be competed away.
For large enterprises, switching to an effective VoIP system could require an investment of $20 to $40 million or more. One reason to make the move to VoIP is that traditional networks are aging and suppliers like Nortel, Lucent and Alcatel have yet to introduce their next-generation circuit switching technology.
VoIP technology has hurdles to overcome, as well, but its strategic potential is compelling and, with companies like Boeing placing big bets on the technology, other companies may feel obligated to follow suit.
Key Questions
With various vendors from hardware manufacturers to cable companies to the traditional carriers rolling out VoIP services options, CIOs would be wise to rise above the hype over features and functions.
The debate about VoIP should be part of a larger, strategic discussion about the value of technology to the enterprise. For some companies the technology might provide incremental value. Others might decide that VoIP has the potential to drive change for their entire business.
Coming to the right conclusion will require some experimentation to explore VoIP's potential. But in return, CIOs should expect a rock-solid business case for any major VoIP initiative.
Before they get swept up in the hype CIOs need to answer questions fundamental to the business:


text:
When I'm reading a student's essay and see a significant writing problem, I'll often write this sentence: "If you'd like some help, just ask." Alas, many students are reluctant to do so. They often believe (as I know from talking with them) that they "can't write," that they're "no good" at writing. They make that point about themselves in harsher, cruder ways too. Such students seem resigned to getting along as well as they can.
But some students do come in for help during office hours. The help that I offer sometimes involves talking through the process of organizing ideas into an essay. Sometimes it involves matters of paragraphs — stating, developing, and keeping to a main idea without getting lost in tangents. Most often the issue is punctuation. I've found that taking just thirty or forty-five minutes to show a student how to find and fix comma splices or run-on sentences can go a long way toward solving the problem.
It's useful for students to keep in mind that a college campus is in many ways a vast, standing offer of help. That offer doesn't always come in the form of a personal invitation. But it's there. So if you're baffled by a microfilm machine or by the arrangement of the library stacks, ask a librarian. If you need to get in touch with a professor who's on sabbatical, ask a department secretary (secretaries are often the most helpful and well-informed people on campus). If you're trying to cope with an impossible roommate, talk to a resident assistant. If you're in emotional or financial difficulty that threatens to overwhelm you, make an appointment with a counselor. If you're wandering the labyrinth of a classroom building in search of a room number, ask someone who works there. And if you have questions about the work of a course, talk to your professor. There are questions that in retrospect might seem naive (or even stupid), but it's better to ask them and get them cleared up than to let them go unanswered. I can remember as a college freshman mistaking the vast library reference room for the main stacks. I'm glad I asked for help.
Asking for help should never be a matter of asking someone else to assume responsibility that's yours. It's comically inappropriate to ask an instructor to proofread an essay for you before you turn it in (yes, that happens) or to step unannounced into a professor's office and ask for a stapler (yes, that happens too). But a legitimate request for help will likely meet with a generous and kind response.
That can be the case in the so-called real world too. After trying out several topics for this post, I felt stuck and asked my wife Elaine Elaine for a suggestion. Thanks, Elaine!
Michael Leddy teaches college English and blogs at Orange Crate Art.


text:
The All or Nothing Experience
på Arts Theatre
1965. A new phenomenon erupted out of London's East End. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod.
All Or Nothing– The Mod Musical follows the rise and demise of The Small Faces, the band who encapsulated all that was mod – a unique blend of taste and testosterone, clothes-obsessed and street-wise – but most of all, a dedication to rhythm 'n' blues.
This stunning new home-grown musical celebrates the unique mod sound including an arsenal of brilliant hits like Whatcha Gonna Do About It, All Or Nothing, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday, Here Comes the Nice and Itchycoo Park.
Having played to packed houses and standing ovations across the UK, All Or Nothing– The Mod Musical is coming home to London, playing a limited season at The Arts Theatre.
Bestill billetter
Bestilling fra
Bestilling til
2 hours 35 minutes (One interval)
Nearest metro station: Leicester Square Station (Piccadilly / Northern Line).


text:
To report suspected bankruptcy fraud, please prepare a written summary that contains the following information.
Requested Information
The likelihood of further investigation and possible criminal prosecution is increased for those matters where supporting documentation and specific factual information are provided. Any information you provide is voluntary and its maintenance by the United States Trustee Program is authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 586.
You can send this information via email to: firstname.lastname@example.com
or by mail to:
Office of the U.S. Trustee
Matters may also be referred directly to the local office of the United States Trustee. Complete listing of office addresses and telephone numbers.
Please be advised that it is U.S. Department of Justice policy that criminal investigations may not be disclosed. Therefore, the USTP will neither confirm nor deny whether a matter may have been referred or whether it may or may not be under investigation. This means that you will only be contacted if it is necessary to obtain further information; otherwise, the USTP will not respond to your hotline submission.
Please be advised that the information you submit may be disclosed to a bankruptcy trustee when the information is needed to perform the trustee's duties, to a law enforcement authority when the information is relevant to the recipient entity's law enforcement responsibilities, or to an entity that possesses information relevant to the investigation when disclosure of information is necessary to solicit from such entity information pertinent to the investigation. Other disclosures may be made for routine purposes. For a discussion of the types of routine disclosures that may be made, you may consult the Executive Office for United States Trustee's systems of records notice, UST-004, "U.S. Trustee Program Case Referral System." See 71 Fed. Reg. 59, 818 et seq. (Oct. 11, 2006).
A copy of the notice may be obtained on the following page: Rules, Guidelines & Notices in the Federal Register.
» Important Notices
Report Suspected Bankruptcy Fraud
Updated November 8, 2018


text:
June 4, 2010 -- Boaz Drain, a seven-year-old from Topeka, Kan., and his six-year-old sister Faith are the picture of typical American children, chock full of energy, fun and imagination. They watch movies like "Shrek" and enjoy playing with the standards like "Star Wars" light sabers and ray guns.
Yet ABC News' Chris Cuomo was shocked to hear some of the things Bo told him when he visited the Drain family recently.
"I don't think you'll go to heaven, I think you'll go to hell," Bo told Cuomo, adding those who were destined for eternal damnation included "gays, fags, hundreds and hundreds of Jews," among a wide swath of other people that Bo has been taught since birth were hated by God and bound for Hell.
Bo's family belongs to the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, led by Pastor Fred Phelps. Members believe the Bible is the literal law of God, and the penalty for violating the rules and lessons put forth in the scriptures is eternal damnation.
Westboro, based out of Topeka, Kan., spreads the message that because the United States condones homosexuality, abortion and divorce, all Americans are going to hell. It's a message they hammer home to their children from birth.
"He [God] only loves his elect that obey and he doesn't love the people that don't obey," Bo told Cuomo.
While his father, Steve Drain, stood nearby and occasionally coached his son on the beliefs of the church, Bo went into the ideology he said he firmly believes in.
"You get destroyed and you get put in hell. Hell is like a burning place where it can never be stopped, burning, and it can burn millions of people every day," Bo said about homosexuals.
Bo also considers "enablers" of homosexuality, including all citizens of the United States, to be destined for hell.
Steve and Luci Drain have four children -- Bo, Faith, 19-year-old Taylor Drain and 24-year-old Lauren Drain. Steve Drain was filming a documentary on Fred Phelps and the church in 2000 and came to accept the church's beliefs, uprooting his family from Florida and moving them across the street from Westboro's compound in Topeka.
The Children of Westboro
Most of Westboro's 70 or so congregants are Phelps' family and relatives living in or near the church compound. Their children often can be found playing in the backyard together before joining the parents in their daily task of picketing the streets.
Westboro members made national headlines in 1998 when they arrived at the funeral of Matthew Shepard of Wyoming. Shepard was beaten to death by two men because he was gay and the church held signs proclaiming Shepard was in hell because of his sexuality.
Aside from daily pickets in Topeka, the children of Westboro accompany their parents across the country, arriving at funerals and other events holding signs against the country, gays, other religions and specific public figures -- damning them all to hell, proclaiming God hates anyone not in line and praising God for taking lives.
Church members insist they actually love everybody, and that is why they and their kids picket events. They say they are warning everyone of God's anger in hopes people will change their ways. However, that message often riles up crowds and can put the church's members and their young children in danger.
"We've had knives or guns waved at us, and lots of violent angry people," Lauren Drain told Cuomo.
A particular target of the church is fallen soldiers, according to Steve Drain, who said the church arrives at the funerals to let families know their loved ones are in hell because they fought for a supposedly damned country.
"Military people mostly do the nastiest stuff ... and they, like, let their kids be raped and stuff like that," Bo said when asked why he thought members of the military were going to hell.
His dad, however, clarified their beliefs off camera.
"Remember what we all say: No God fearing man or woman would lift a finger fighting for a country awashed in sin like this," Steve Drain said to his son.
Church Produces Music Videos to Propagate Beliefs
The message is reinforced to Bo and his sisters every night when they sit at home and go over Phelps' fire and brimstone-filled sermons. Steve Drain also has cast the children in the wide variety of music videos the church produces that lampoon popular music and ideas, with their own beliefs on every topic imaginable.
The children of the Westboro Baptist Church can be seen singing enthusiastically to the tune of songs like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," saying instead, "Santa Claus will take you to hell," as well as the Beatles classic "Hey Jude" ("Hey, Evil Reprobate Jew").
One video features little Faith Drain, with bright blue eyes and blond hair, smiling brightly through a verse of "God Hates the World," that her parents are proud to say they taught her.
"How many people teach their daughter to gyrate and do some Britney Spears song?" Steve Drain said. "I'm teaching my daughter what the scripture says."
"And the scripture says if you don't obey the Lord, your God, you're going to hell," Luci Drain added.
According to their oldest daughter, Lauren Drain, the songs and the pickets and the constant lessons on Phelps' sermons are all part of the church's constant indoctrination.
"They sing lullabies about people going to hell," she told Chris Cuomo in an exclusive interview. "I remember I did that with Faith, and I was teaching her songs and stuff. I was trying to please my parents."
As Lauren Drain reached her 20s however, she said she began to question the gospel she was surrounded by, questions that quickly drew the ire of her follow congregants.
"I saw some hypocrisy, and I mentioned them and they hated it," she said. "You're not supposed to question anything."
Lauren Drain said her natural curiosity drew rebukes from Pastor Fred Phelps.
Eventually, she said, when she was 21 the members voted her out of the church and out of her home, including her own parents.
"My dad didn't cry, my sister didn't cry, my mom cried, she said. "I'm bawling and like out of my mind, you know, and they're laughing. I'm telling them I'm sorry. I'm telling them I'll do anything, what is it going to take, when can I come back."
But her pleas fell on deaf ears, and the same night she was voted out she said her family sent her to stay at a hotel and cut off all communication.
A week later, Lauren Drain returned home to pick up her belongings and said she found that her youngest sister Faith already had been taught to hate her.
"I was gone a week, came back to get my stuff, and my little 3-year-old sister told me, 'You don't live here anymore.' Mocking me," Lauren Drain said. "I raised her from the time she was born. I used to watch her every day. And a week later, she is happy I'm gone."
A Family Divided Over Message of God
Lauren Drain said it was very hard to come to terms with what had happened to her. She has tried to move on and start a new life, working as a nurse over a thousand miles away.
It's been three years, and she still greatly misses her family and yearns for contact. But she said she could never go back to her former life. After struggling with her beliefs, she now rejects the hate she was taught by the Westboro Baptist Church. She hopes her siblings one day can make the choice she did. If they do, they too likely would be cast out.
"The people who are spiritually bound to one another because of a shared fear of the Lord, that's really your family," Steve Drain said.
Drain said if Bo decided he wanted to stop believing, he'd simply say goodbye to him and be done with it.
So far, Bo and his sisters are keeping in line. Bo said he doesn't play with other children at school who are not in the church, although it can be hard. And he seems, at least at his young age, firmly planted in his church.
"I'm preaching and I'm going with this church, and that's what the church says. I'm going to go with that my entire life," Bo said.
As for the daughter they have lost, Steve and Luci Drain said they don't miss her and don't think they would ever allow her back.
"Why would I miss her?" Steve Drain asked.
"She chose a life that is contrary to the Scriptures. She chose that life," Luci Drain said.
The daughter they now say is bound for hell seems to be the only one still talking about love.
Lauren Drain said she wishes she could speak to her younger brother and sisters, to tell them she loves them and that the hate they spread is not the true message of God.
"I miss them and I love them and I really care about them, and God doesn't hate everyone. God has mercy on people, God forgives people," Lauren Drain said she'd tell her siblings.
As for her parents, she said that, no matter what, she still loves them.
"There are horrible things I went through, and I don't hate them," she said. "I forgive them. They're my parents. How can I not love them?"
A book by Lauren Drain about her life will be published in 2012.


text:
In the U.S., high levels of development activity and impressive market demand will buoy the multifamily property market. Investment activity in 2019 will also come close to the peak volumes achieved in recent years and exceed US$150 billion. Across much of Europe, strong demand and a robust economic backdrop mean that prospects for the rental housing market are broadly positive heading into 2019. With multifamily residents spending an average of 25% of incomes on rent, most markets have headroom to deliver further rent growth. Rising home sale prices will also curtail renters' ability to move into homeownership.
Global Outlook by Sector
Key Takeaway: There are several reasons to be optimistic about the global economy in 2019. Despite the recent volatility in equity markets and negative news flow, consumer and business confidence is high, China is already stimulating economic growth, the U.S. economy remains above trend, and major economies in Europe should perform better, especially if the U.K. comes to an agreement with the EU on Brexit.
Key Takeaway: Investors to move down the risk spectrum for long-term holds and stabilized returns. The era of overall yield compression is over, and we expect stable prime yields and strong capital flows for most of 2019. We forecast a global average total return of 5.1%. Investors will continue to diversify into secondary markets in search of yield.
Key Takeaway: Demand for office space will slow while agile strategies accelerate. Technology companies and flexible space providers will continue to dominate the market. Completions will pick up in EMEA and the Americas, loosening supply-side conditions in some cities, resulting in generally weaker rent growth.
Key Takeaway: Despite stronger consumer fundamentals, retailers will need a winning omnichannel strategy to survive and thrive. Retail stakeholders will need to offer consumers a compelling experience that drives foot traffic and sales. For owners, some hard decisions will have to be made, especially in second and third-tier locations.
Key Takeaway: Industrial & logistics continues to expand and integrate further with retail. The focus on last-mile and city logistics will intensify in 2019. With consumers expecting even faster delivery times, there is a shortage of infill sites for last-mile delivery, prompting developers to build vertically, with markets like Seattle, New York, London and Paris leading the way.
Key Takeaway: Steady multifamily demand continues to drive up rents, attracting sustained investment. Investment activity in 2019 will come close to peak volumes achieved in recent years, with the forecast exceeding US$150 billion for the year. Rising home sales prices will continue to curtail renters' ability to move into homeownership.
Key Takeaway: Structural economic and technological forces will support continued growth in alternative property sectors in 2019. Sectors such as seniors housing, health care and student housing are projected to provide more opportunities, though options vary significantly by region.


text: Back Indispensable Health Insurance Glossary Understanding your health insurance policy and the benefits to which you're entitled can improve your health care and reduce your costs. The following glossary of health insurance terms can help you employ your coverage to the fullest. Allowable expenses: the necessary, customary. and reasonable expenses an insurer will cover. Alternative treatment plan: provision in managed-care arrangements for treatment outside of a hospital. Average length of stay: measure used by hospitals to determine the average number of days patients spend in their facilities. A managed-care firm often will assign a length of stay to patients when they enter a hospital and will monitor them to help make sure they don't exceed it. Case management: a managed-care technique in which a patient with a serious medical condition is assigned an individual who arranges for cost-effective treatment. Coinsurance or co-payment: the amount a health insurance policy requires the insured to pay for medical and hospital service, after payment of a deductible. Deductible: the amount of a covered expense that must be paid by the insured before the insurance company begins to pay benefits. Exclusions: medical conditions or treatments—specified in a policy—for which the insurer will not provide benefits. Exclusive provider organization (EPO): a health care payment and delivery arrangement in which members must obtain all their care from doctors and hospitals within an established network. Gatekeeper: term given to a primary-care physician in a managed-care network who controls patient access to medical specialists. Hospital pre-authorization: a stipulation that the insured obtains permission from a managed-care organization before entering the hospital for non-emergency care. Managed care: a term that applies to the integration of health care delivery and financing. Major medical policy: a type of health insurance policy that provides benefits for most medical expenses, usually subject to deductibles, co-insurance, and a high maximum benefit. Mandated benefits: certain coverage, such as prenatal care and care for newborns, that states require insurers to include in health insurance. Pre-existing condition: a physical or mental condition that an insured person has developed before the effective date of coverage. Policies may exclude coverage for such conditions for a specified period of time. Preferred provider organization (PPO): a health care payment and delivery system with networks of doctors and hospitals. Members aren't always required to choose a primary-care physician and can go outside the network for care, but they will receive lower reimbursement if they do. Usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR): amounts charged by health care providers that are consistent with charges from similar providers for the same or almost the same services in a given area. Waiver: a provision in a health insurance policy in which certain specific medical conditions a person already has are excluded from coverage. For more information, contact your health insurance policy representative or employee-benefits representative.


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Pilot killed in Hawley plane crash
HAWLEY, Minn. -- Roz Randorf didn't worry about her long-term boyfriend, Kevin Ferris, piloting small planes from their home in Duluth to Moorhead. But Friday afternoon, she got the call she least expected. Friends at Twin Ports Aviation in Super...
HAWLEY, Minn. -- Roz Randorf didn't worry about her long-term boyfriend, Kevin Ferris, piloting small planes from their home in Duluth to Moorhead.
But Friday afternoon, she got the call she least expected.
Friends at Twin Ports Aviation in Superior, Wis., told her Ferris' plane was missing. He had taken to the skies from Superior around 9 a.m. en route to Moorhead to see his parents on Easter weekend.
The 48-year-old Ferris, best known in the Duluth area as "The Rose Man," never arrived. He was found dead by Clay County authorities Friday after his airplane crashed about four miles south of Hawley.
"You kiss him goodbye and you don't think you won't see him again," Randorf said Friday night as she drove to Moorhead, where both she and Ferris lived until moving to Duluth seven years ago.
His family last heard from him when he was flying over Park Rapids, about 60 miles east of Hawley and 150 miles west of Superior, Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist said.
The last contact of any sort with Ferris was made around 10:15 a.m. near Detroit Lakes, Randorf said.
The Clay County Sheriff's Department began helping with a search for the missing plane when the first call came in around 12:30 p.m., Bergquist said.
Bergquist said a search plane spotted the wreckage from the air about 4:15 p.m.
Randorf said she had taken the day off work to man The Rose Man, a Duluth flower shop the couple bought in April 2011.
After the wreckage of Ferris' plane was found, Randorf began the long drive to Moorhead, staying in constant contact with Ferris' mother, Sharon, and hoping rescuers would find Ferris alive.
She received a call from the sheriff's office after searchers located the single-engine, two-seat Cessna.
Bergquist speculated that Ferris may have tried to land the plane because of the fog. Fog also complicated search efforts, he said, as the aerial search didn't start until midafternoon. The crash site was difficult to see from nearby roads.
Ferris was a Moorhead High School graduate who had a 10-year-old son, Simon Randorf, with Roz and is also the father of Michael Ferris, 23, and Brandon Ferris, 20. He is also a stepfather to Roz's 21-year-old son, Spencer.
After working 25 years at KXJB-TV in Fargo, Randorf and Ferris moved to Duluth in 2006. Randorf is the advertising director at the Duluth News Tribune, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.
Randorf said Ferris had always wanted to be a pilot and earned his pilot's license two years ago after learning to fly at Twin Ports Aviation, the same company he rented the plane from Friday.
"He wishes he would have started flying earlier in life," Randorf said.
She said the couple usually made the drive together back to Moorhead, but the short plane trip between Duluth and Moorhead was an appealing reason for Ferris to learn to fly.
Randorf said she had never worried about Ferris in the air.
"He was a good pilot. He took it seriously, he understood how to route a flight plan. He was very conscientious. He wasn't foolish when it came to the mechanics," she said.
Friday morning, nothing struck Randorf as out of the ordinary. The couple had joked together about Randorf working at the shop for Ferris. She said Ferris kissed her goodbye as he usually does and she expected to see him Sunday. The family had Easter buffet reservations at the Superior airport Sunday.
"It's a traditional freak accident. It changes your whole life," she said.
Randorf said Ferris will likely be remembered for his kindness and gentle touch that reached far past his corner rose shop.
"He was a great businessman. We were increasing sales at the shop," Randorf said. "(He was) a real gentleman, very giving."
Bergquist said investigators will likely be at the crash site again today. Authorities did not officially identify Ferris on Friday as the victim of the crash.
Funeral arrangements are pending, Randorf said.
By Wendy Reuer, Forum News Service
Reporter Charly Haley contributed to this report


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Rustic Staircase
A rustic staircase incorporates organic textures and shapes, and natural warmth. People are drawn to this style of staircase due to its ability to bring a natural feel to a busy city home, all while mimicking the engrossed style of a home out in the woods. Rustic stairs evoke an honest and simple feeling within a home, for a unique style.
Our team of craftsmen at Artistic Stairs specialize in wood and steel stair carriages for rustic staircases that incorporate all types of balustrades available in limitless finishes. Balustrade materials include hand forged iron, glass, stainless steel, cable rail, wood, and metal.
Contact us today for more information regarding our rustic staircases.
Rustic Staircase Ordering Process
- Items Needed for Quote:
- Floor plans of each staircase.
- Elevation and design drawings with specifications, including and not limited to, handrail systems and wood species.
- Simple line sketches showing basic staircase dimensions if prints are not available.
- PDF and CAD file formats are acceptable.
- Inspiration photos.
- Upon receipt of floor plans, a formal estimate will be prepared in a timely fashion for your review and consideration.
Rustic Staircase Measuring Process
- Upon acceptance of formal estimate, the design process will begin using one (1) of the following measuring options:
- Dimensions specified on your architectural plans.
- Dimensions provided from actual field measurements.
- Dimensions we can obtain by visiting your jobsite (optional service).
- NOTE: Conceptual drawings can be drawn to begin the process.
- Upon approval of drawings, the staircase carriage is fabricated in the shop with finished treads, risers, and skirt boards.
Rustic Stairs and Handrail System Delivery Process
- Bronze Package:
- Staircase to be crated and shipped to the job site for installation by your trim subcontractor.
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- Staircase delivered to job site and installed by our expert craftsmen.
- Pre-fit Handrail System delivered to job site for installation by your trim subcontractor. This prefabricated (dry-fit) solution consists of the handrail system being cut to fit and installed on the staircase in our shop, complete with newels, balusters and fittings. Handrail system is then packaged in a kit form for easy installation.
- Platinum Package:
- Turn-Key Installation: Staircase and complete handrail system delivered to job site and installed by our expert craftsmen.
Why Southern Staircase?
From Inspiration to Installation
- Commitment for over 30 years to building the highest quality, custom commercial and residential staircases.
- Industry-leading design team with extensive capabilities to turn your vision into reality.
- Innovative approach, embracing the challenges of designing creative, one-of-a kind staircase projects.
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- Seamless project management with a commitment to meeting schedules and delivering results.
- Trusted reputation for meeting the high expectations of our clients, ensuring the staircase makes an impactful statement.
- In-depth knowledge of codes and regulations, ensuring a smooth construction process, perfect measurement and installation.
- National from coast to coast, our brand remains strong.


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Oh internet, what would you do without our wisdom? Here's answers to things you didn't know but wanted to.
Q: how to get rid of all your stuff and travel
A: Wow, you really came to the wrong blog. You will have to pry our filled bookcases out of our cold dead hands. We recommend checking out ramble-crunch's blog instead.
Q: can hoa inspect indoor cat
A: We hope not. That's the kind of thought that almost makes us support the NRA.
Q: i wonder what else can do if don't talk about food
A: sex? eat? um…. music? I guess if you're from the midwest you can spend a lot of time talking about the weather.
Q: are all academics crazy?
A: No. But a lot of them do seem to be, eh?
Q: do people not work as hard after tenure
A: Ask us again in a couple of years and we'll let you know! (If we're lucky.)
Q: do people who live in a igloo have morgages
A: They pay for everything with cold hard cash. HAHAHAHA.
Q: how to get out of debt with a minimum wage job
A: Try to get promoted or to find another job where you make more money. Stay away from check cashing places– their short-term loans will keep you in debt the rest of your life. Other than that, beans and rice, rice and beans… find cheap food. Get on whatever government programs you are eligible for. Call all your debt places and bargain down for lower interest rates. Read Dave Ramsey.
Q: how to stop feeling guilty catholic
A: We're still working on this one!
Q: arguments for locking up pregnant women
A: Where do you people COME from??!?! The internet is a scary scary place.
Q: should i feel bad for having a nicer car than my parents?
A: Why?


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July Fourth weekend is coming up and it's time to break out the cameras and camcorders and capture the fun on film and video. One of the questions I'm asked most often is how to get those movies and pictures onto a high definition television (HDTV) for everyone in the family to enjoy. The most common response to this question is through the device's HDMI output. While, this works well for a single item, it means you have to plug in your laptop, desktop computer, camera, camcorder, hard drive, and music player individually each time when you want to enjoy content from one of them on your HDTV. Well, the WD TV Live Plus ($150) is an HD media player that lets you stream movies, music, photos and internet video to your HD TV without plugging in each one every time
Connect this small gizmo to your HDTV with an HDMI cable, an optical output, or AV cable and you can stream content from any storage device (Flash drives, external hard drives, etc.) you own via its USB ports or Ethernet port connected to your home network and experience movies, music, and photos in 1080p high definition with clear digital audio.
The onscreen interface is logically laid out and very easy to use. In addition to playing your personal content, it's able to stream from services such as Netflix, YouTube Videos, Pandora, flickr and Live365 that deliver movies, videos, and music right to your TV without the need of a computer.
Once you're ready to stream content to your HDTV, check out our tips on How to Get the Best Picture on Your HDTV.


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What is the Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature?
IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.
The Audio Return Channel (ARC) connects your TV and audio system with a single High Speed HDMI® cable and eliminates the need for an additional composite audio or optical cable.
Connecting an ARC-compatible audio system to an ARC-compatible TV allows the following:
- Send audio from the TV to the audio system.
- View and listen to movies and other content sent from the audio system and viewed on the TV.
To connect an ARC-compatible audio system to an ARC-compatible TV:
An additional optical or analog audio cable is required to send sound to the audio system if either the TV or audio system isn't ARC-compatible:
- A High Speed HDMI Cable is needed to enable the ARC function.
- Check your manual for model-specific information. Manuals are posted on your model support page.


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Thesaurus / ruled outFEEDBACK
synonyms for ruled out
synonyms for ruled out
- away
- outside
- absent
- antiquated
- cold
- dated
- dead
- doused
- ended
- exhausted
- expired
- extinguished
- finished
- impossible
- outmoded
- at an end
- behind the times
- démodé
- not allowed
- not on
- old-fashioned
- old-hat
- passé
- unacceptable
- unfashionable
- used-up
- banned
- outlawed
- prohibited
- tabu
- unthinkable
- disapproved
- forbidden
- proscribed
- reserved
- restricted
- unmentionable
- beyond the pale
- frowned on
- illegal
- off-limits
- out of bounds
- unacceptable
On this page you'll find 80 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to ruled out, such as: unavailable, unfit, unqualified, unsuitable, disqualified, and inappropriate.
antonyms for ruled out
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Word Of The Day Quiz: Help Your Vocabulary Fructify!START THE QUIZ
How to use ruled out in a sentence
And he was gone, and out of sight on the swift galloping Benito, before Father Gaspara bethought himself.RAMONAHELEN HUNT JACKSON
Most of the men leaped up, caught hold of spears or knives, and rushed out.THE GIANT OF THE NORTHR.M. BALLANTYNE
Liszt looked at it, and to her fright and dismay cried out in a fit of impatience, "No, I won't hear it!"MUSIC-STUDY IN GERMANYAMY FAY
The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.THE BIBLE, DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSIONVARIOUS
Squinty could look out, but the slats were as close together as those in a chicken coop, and the little pig could not get out.SQUINTY THE COMICAL PIGRICHARD BARNUM
"There's just one thing I'd like to ask, if you don't mind," said Cynthia, coming suddenly out of a brown study.THE BOARDED-UP HOUSEAUGUSTA HUIELL SEAMAN
But Lucy had noted, out of the corner of her watchful eye, the arrival of Miss Grains, indignant and perspiring.THE PIT TOWN CORONET, VOLUME I (OF 3)CHARLES JAMES WILLS
Sol laughed out of his whiskers, with a big, loose-rolling sound, and sat on the porch without waiting to be asked.THE BONDBOYGEORGE W. (GEORGE WASHINGTON) OGDEN
And that was that if he and his wife were to ever live together again and be happy, the family were to be kept out of it.THE HOMESTEADEROSCAR MICHEAUX
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"DAVY AND THE GOBLINCHARLES E. CARRYL
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.


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License 2 Play Toys began selling licensed toys in 2004. One of our initial goals was to provide independent retailers with the ability to find and source top-selling licensed toys. We realized that sourcing products can often be time-consuming and difficult for an already busy business owner.
Fast-forwarding 18 years later, License 2 Play Toys continues to deliver a one-stop wholesale website that offers the largest selection of licensed toys, gifts, novelty items, candies, and more.


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Alcohol dependence
Alcohol dependence is an affliction that not only affects the abusers but also those around them. Alcoholics with good health, motivation and willingness can recover from their alcohol addiction. Here are some basic ideas to help you get started. (Image source:Getty)
Acknowledge the signs
The first step in the treatment of alcohol dependence is recognising the signs of it in you. These include a need to have a drink to relax or unwind from the day with a drink. (Image source:Getty)
Admit the ill-effects
Admit that the use of alcohol is beginning to interfere with your everyday life and relationships. Admit that you have a drinking problem. (Image source:Getty)
Stay away from trigger situations
You must stay away from situations that may trigger alcohol cravings. If you are more likely to drink social situations such as gatherings with friends, don't be a part of it. Distract yourself when there is an urge to drink; take a walk, listen to music or do some house chore. (Image source:Getty)
It is an immediate method of treating alcoholism in which one has to suddenly stop consuming their normal heavy dose of alcohol. Inpatient care is recommended as bodies may react negatively with symptoms such as insomnia, irritability and tremors. (Image source:Getty)
Behavioural therapy
Behavioural therapy can help those recovering from alcoholism. Cognitive behavioural therapy teaches patient to handle the possibility of a relapse, and how to control your emerging cravings. (Image source:Getty)
Prescription medications
There are prescription medications available to treat alcoholism. These are the anti-craving drugs that help lower alcohol craving. These medications may have side-effects such as nausea, vomiting and headaches. (Image source:Getty)
Trust yourself
Tell yourself that you are doing the right thing. Realise how alcoholism has affected you and those around you. It is when you trust yourself and take the opportunity to fight your own battle. (Image source:Getty)
Begin a healthy lifestyle
A new healthy lifestyle; eating healthful foods, getting plenty of sleep, exercising exercise and developing a new attitude toward a positive life that is free of alcohol is the way to go. Take up something that you always wanted, it will keep you busy. (Image source:Getty)
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables; they tend to be higher in antioxidants. Try to eat more of a variety, with lots of green vegetables and brightly coloured fruits. (Image source:Getty)


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How are right-wingers reacting to Christie scandal?
Staff Writer
The Holland Sentinel
Here are some samplings from the conservative noise machine:
John Hayward of Human Events says this:
Conservative Republicans and Tea Party folks already annoyed with Christie, and deeply concerned about abuses of power in the Barack Obama age of vengeful banana republic government, are not going to forget this story any time soon.
John Hawkins of RightWing News says this:
Christie sounded about as good as he could have in the press conference, but this is far from over and he made a lot of specific statements. If it turns out he knew about this, it would probably be the ...


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Man arrested in car bomb plot at Kan. airport
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man accused of planning to detonate a car bomb at a Wichita airport was arrested Friday at the airport, authorities said.
Terry Lee Loewen, 58, planned to drive a car that he believed was full of explosives into a terminal at Mid-Continent regional airport, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Loewen was charged with one count each of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to damage property and attempting to provide support to terrorist group al-Qaida.
Authorities said he was trying to support "al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula."
Investigators said Loewen is an avionics technician who lives in Wichita and works at the airport. He had been under investigation for about six months after he made statements about wanting to commit "violent jihad" against the U.S.
Authorities said they believe Loewen acted alone. No other arrests are expected.
Wichita Mid-Continent Airport had 68 scheduled commercial flights on Friday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.com.


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Avast Free Antivirus 18.7.4041 { Latest }
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Landrum Human Resources Cos.
After 42 years of providing human resources services to businesses in some 31 states, H. Britt Landrum Jr. decided it was time to branch out overseas. His Pensacola firm, Landrum Human Resource Cos., this fall opened Landrum Europe in Almelo, Netherlands, teaming with EuroDev, an established European firm. Landrum Europe will assist American companies in developing European markets and offices, providing business services and consulting and working with European companies wanting to locate in the U.S. The time and place are right, says Landrum, company founder and CEO. "Florida is a big exporting market and growing. Europe is a huge market. Companies in America want to grow in that direction. Already, we have current clients that are interested."


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Welcome to the tenth meeting of The Midnight Comic Club! After the extensive look at Frankenstein over the past three episodes (and a week off due to illness), we're back with a new segment called The Sinister Sixpack wherein I grab a half dozen horror comics I've never read before and see how that goes.
Most of today's entries happen to not be available in digital formats. However, if you're interested in checking them out, I've provided the MyComicShop links here: Tomb Of Darkness #18, Night Force #1, Marvel Chillers #2, Secret Origins #15, Unexpected #166 and Vault Of Evil #7.
As I mentioned in the episode, the original Night Force series has been collected into a very handsome volume that I'm hoping to check out in the near future. For a less expensive taste, you could also try out the DC Comics Presents Night Force 100-Page Spectacular digitally which collects the first four installments. Finally, the Secret Origins issue featuring Deadman and Spectre can also be purchased on Comixology!
If you're curious to read my series of Jack Kirby-related monster posts, you can check out the Unleash The Beasts archives on Marvel.com here.
I had it in my notes, but totally forgot to say that Modred would have made a delightful Amicus or Hammer horror feature in the 70s!


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YORK, Nebraska -- An elderly couple traveling from California to Vermont had an interesting excuse for the 60 pounds of pot deputies found in their car in Nebraska.
Patrick Jiron, who is in his 80s, and his wife Barbara were traveling from California to Vermont, according to the York News-Times, when they were pulled over in York, Nebraska.
York County Sheriff's Lt. Paul Vrbka told the Times the Jirons' Toyota Tacoma was going over the center line on Interstate 80 and the driver failed to signal.
When deputies stopped the car, they said they could immediately smell the strong odor of raw marijuana.
Dundee, the county's drug dog, alerted to the presence of the drug and a search was conducted.
The Jirons admitted they had marijuana in the back of the pickup truck under a topper, and deputies found 60 pounds of marijuana inside boxes.
They told deputies they planned to "distribute the marijuana to family and friends as Christmas gifts."
Vrbka told the Times the couple told deputies "they didn't know it was illegal to transport marijuana in Nebraska."
Patrick Jiron was arrested for possession with the intent to deliver and for not having a drug tax stamp. He has since been released on bond.
Barbara Jiron was cited in the case but was not jailed "due to some medical issues," Vrbka told the Times.
The marijuana had a street value of more than $300,000.


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After months of anticipation, the new power-packed Team Leopard-Trek was officially announced today in Luxembourg. But while many speculated on potential results in the classics and the Tour de France, team manager Brian Nygaard had more far-reaching goals. "I want to take cycling back to fans, back to its roots. We want to perform well, yes, but we want to have a team that does it with soul."
Nygaard, a former press officer for teams CSC, Saxo Bank and Sky, first fell in love with the sport while watching films like "A Sunday in Hell," directed by his Danish countryman Jorgen Leth. Today, he spoke with a clear idea of how cycling's latest super team—one that hosts not only top tour riders Frank and Andy Schleck but also classics champion Fabian Cancellara—could make its mark on the sport.
More From Bicycling
"Our motto is 'true racing,' and that's what we hope to do," he said. "I think that a lot of—if you will excuse me—bullshit has taken bike racing away from the people: too many scandals, too many political or technical issues that have taken the spotlight off of the beauty of the sport. That's not what matters. What matters is a lot of fit, healthy, clean athletes putting a number on their back and racing as hard as they can."
Nygaard has chosen many of cycling's most charismatic stars who can accomplish such a mission. Two-time Tour runner-up Andy Schleck and his brother, Frank, come from the roots of the sport, and their father was a highly respected teammate to 1973 Tour de France winner Luis Ocana. The Swiss champion Fabian Cancellara, nicknamed "Spartacus," is perhaps contemporary cycling's closest thing to true grit. He is tough to the core.
Cancellara, the sport's most versatile rider in recent years, has many objectives for 2011. "There are the classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix that I would of course like to win again (he won both in 2010), but the race I'd most like to win this year is at the end of the season. It's the world championships."
In contrast, the Schlecks will focus on the one race Cancellara can only dream of winning: the Tour de France. After finishing second in the past two Tours, Andy hopes to finally take the yellow jersey back to Paris this year. And his chances will improve greatly if defending champion Alberto Contador is not allowed to defend his title because of the traces of clenbuterol found in a test during the 2010 race. "If Alberto is there or not will change nothing for me," Schleck said. "I will still be one of the big favorites. But that's okay: I am used to the pressure and have always performed well under it.
To bring so many top talents together in the same jerseys Nygaard had to amass one of cycling's biggest budgets. Most of the money came directly from the Luxembourg real estate giant Flavio Becca, with additional support from Trek, Mercedes-Benz and a number of smaller sponsors.
The name of the title sponsor, however, came from Becca and Nygaard. "I like the Leopard," Nygaard said. "It is a slick, strong and elegant animal. If we can be something like that on the bike, I'll be happy."


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• The race for the final two or three national seeds is hot and heavy with only a couple of weeks separating us from Selection Monday. Barring a huge surprise this weekend and in conference tournaments, there are four teams we feel like are virtual locks for national seeds: Virginia, Oregon State, Florida and Florida State, with the Seminoles the most vulnerable of the four, especially if the committee only wants two ACC national seeds with Miami also in the running. Indiana has a top five RPI and is in terrific shape for a national seed with a non-conference RPI of 12, while Louisiana-Lafayette remains firmly in there as a top eight national seed. There are some concerns about the Ragin' Cajuns' resume despite a fantastic overall record and top 10 RPI. For instance, the Cajuns are just 3-1 vs. RPI Top 25 and 50 teams, combined, while they're 12-4 vs. RPI Top 100. If there's a team firmly in right now, but could get pushed out by Selection Monday, it's the Cajuns.
• Other teams in the mix for national seeds include TCU, Vanderbilt, Houston, Rice and South Carolina, while Cal Poly and Washington also could hop into the mix with strong finishes the next two weekends. The Mustangs and Huskies, of course, don't have conference tournaments, thus will participate in two more regular season series. Here's a complete breakdown of some of the national seed candidates in my latest column "The anatomy of a national seed".
• There are a few changes from an NCAA Regional hosting standpoint this week. For instance, LSU, Liberty and Louisville are no longer hosts. The Tigers are down to 20 in the latest RPI and are hindered by just an OK conference resume, while losing last weekend's series finale against Alabama due to weather hurts. Louisville dropped all the way down to 18 after losing one game of a road series against Temple, while Liberty is squarely still in the mix, but was passed over by teams such as Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Houston. OSU leads the Big 12 Conference. And though the Cowboys only have an RPI of 24, the overall resume stacks up well with a 6-3 mark vs. RPI Top 25, 15-4 mark vs. RPI Top 50 and 21-10 record vs. RPI Top 100. Meanwhile, the Commodores surged to seven in the RPI, and, too, have an impressive resume, while Houston, which has the best non-conference RPI in the country, moved in as a host after sweeping Connecticut on the road. The Cougars vaulted to the top five in the RPI after finishing a season sweep of rival Rice earlier this week in midweek action.
• One thing obvious about the current field of 64 is that it's a strong group. Some will say, "yeah, well, sure, it's supposed to be". But here's what I mean: Typically, the No. 4 seeds are teams with somewhat bad RPI figures. But that's not the case for a lot of teams right now. For instance, Columbia has an RPI of 43, Bryant has an RPI of 36 and Ball State, Evansville and Western Carolina have RPIs of 55, 56 and 57, respectively. Some would call it fool's gold, but we'll soon have our answer.
• Old Dominion, Long Beach State, San Diego State and Dallas Baptist were my last four teams in this week's postseason field, while Tennessee, Illinois, San Diego and UAB are the first four teams out.
Bids by conference: SEC (10), ACC (8), Big 12 (6), Pac-12 (4), Missouri Valley (3), American Athletic (3), Big West (3), Mountain West (3), Big Ten (2), Conference USA (2).


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Ibn `Abd al-Salam said: "Agreement has formed in subscribing to al-Ash`ari's doctrine among the Shafi`is, the Malikis, the Hanafis, and the nobility of the Hanbalis." His statement was endorsed in his time by the Maliki authority Abu `Amr ibn al-Hajib and by the Shaykh of the Hanafis Jamal al-Din al-Hasiri. [48] The Maliki imam Abu `Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Musa al-Mayurqi said: "The Ahl al-Sunna among the Malikis, the Shafi`is, and the majority of theHanafis speak with the tongue of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash`ari and argue by his arguments." Al-Subki quoted it and went on to say: "We do not know any Malikis except they are Ash`aris." [49] It is true that the Maliki school counts even more Ash`aris than the Shafi`is, although the more famous names are found among the latter. There are some rare non-Ash`aris among the Malikis such as Ibn `Abd al-Barr and Abu `Umar al-Talamanki. Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani (310-386) belonged to the Ash`ari school which he took, among others, from Abu Bakr ibn `Abd al-Mu'min, the student of Ibn Mujahid, the student of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash`ari. [50] Al-Qadi `Iyad mentioned that in the year 368 Ibn Abi Zayd sent two of his students to deliver some of his books by hand to Ibn Mujahid who had requested them, with a full license to narrate them from him (ij'aza). [51] Ibn Abi Zayd notably defended the Ash`ari school in his epistle entitled "Al-Radd `ala al-Qadariyya wa Munaqada Risala al-Baghdadi al-Mu`tazili," a refutation of the attacks of the Mu`tazili `Ali ibn Isma`il al-Baghdadi. [52] Al-Mayurqi further narrated that Ibn Abi Zayd said: "Al-Ash`ari is a man famous for refuting the people of Innovation, the Qadariyya and the Jahmiyya, and he held fast to the Sunan." [53]
Ibn `Asakir in "Tabyin Kadhib al-Muftari Fi Ma Nasaba ila al-Imam Abi al-Hasan al-Ash`ari" ("The Exposition of the Fabricator's Lies In What He Attributed to al-Ash`ari") and Taj al-Din al-Subki in "Tabaqat al-Shafi`iyya" listed the most illustrious figures of the Ash`ari scholars, starting with the biographical layer of al-Ash`ari himself.
[48] Al-Subki, "Tabaqat al-Shafi`iyya al-Kubra" (3:365).
[49] Al-Subki, "Tabaqat al-Shafi`iyya al-Kubra" (3:366-367).
[50] Al-Darqash, "Abu Muhammad `Abd Allah ibn Abi Zayd" (p. 109, 237).
[51] Al-Qadi `Iyad, "Tartib al-Madarik" (4:477). See al-Darqash, "Abu Muhammad `Abd Allah ibn Abi Zayd" (p. 240-241).
[52] Al-Qadi `Iyad, "Tartib al-Madarik"(2/4:486-494). See al-Darqash, "Abu Muhammad `Abd Allah ibn Abi Zayd" (p. 286-287).
[53] Al-Subki, "Tabaqat al-Shafi`iyya al-Kubra" (3:368).
Peace and Blessings upon the Prophet, his Family, and his Companions


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The winners of the 2012 World Fantasy Awards were just announced here in Toronto, Canada - and the Best Novel Award didn't go to George R.R. Martin or to Jo Walton, who'd already swept the Nebula and Hugo Awards. Instead, it went to Lavie Tidhar's Osama, a strange pulp-oriented alt history about Osama Bin Laden.
Here's the description of Osama from Amazon.com:
In a world without global terrorism Joe, a private detective, is hired by a mysterious woman to find a man: the obscure author of pulp fiction novels featuring one Osama Bin Laden: Vigilante…
Certainly a lot more topical, and arguably a lot more experimental, than A Dance With Dragons. Here are the rest of the winners, and finalists, via the World Fantasy Awards page:
winner Osama, Lavie Tidhar (PS Publishing)
Those Across the River, Christopher Buehlman (Ace)
11/22/63, Stephen King (Scribner; Hodder & Stoughton as 11.22.63)
A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin (Bantam; Harper Voyager UK)
Among Others, Jo Walton (Tor)
winner "A Small Price to Pay for Birdsong", K.J. Parker (Subterranean Winter 2011)
"Near Zennor", Elizabeth Hand (A Book of Horrors)
"Alice Through the Plastic Sheet", Robert Shearman (A Book of Horrors)
"Rose Street Attractors", Lucius Shepard (Ghosts by Gaslight)
"Silently and Very Fast", Catherynne M. Valente (WSFA Press; Clarkesworld)
Short Story
winner "The Paper Menagerie", Ken Liu (F&SF 3-4/11)
"X for Demetrious", Steve Duffy (Blood and Other Cravings)
"Younger Women", Karen Joy Fowler (Subterranean Summer 2011)
"A Journey of Only Two Paces", Tim Powers (The Bible Repairman and Other Stories)
"The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees", E. Lily Yu (Clarkesworld 4/11)
winner The Weird, Ann & Jeff VanderMeer, eds. (Corvus; Tor, published May 2012)
Blood and Other Cravings, Ellen Datlow, ed. (Tor)
A Book of Horrors, Stephen Jones, ed. (Jo Fletcher Books)
The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities, Ann & Jeff VanderMeer, eds. (Harper Voyager US)
Gutshot, Conrad Williams, ed. (PS Publishing)
winner The Bible Repairman and Other Stories, Tim Powers (Tachyon and Subterranean Press)
Bluegrass Symphony, Lisa L. Hannett (Ticonderoga)
Two Worlds and In Between, Caitlín R. Kiernan (Subterranean Press)
After the Apocalypse, Maureen F. McHugh (Small Beer)
Mrs Midnight and Other Stories, Reggie Oliver (Tartarus)
winner John Coulthart
Julie Dillon
Jon Foster
Kathleen Jennings
John Picacio
Special Award-Professional
winner Eric Lane, for publishing in translation – Dedalus books
John Joseph Adams, for editing – anthology and magazine
Jo Fletcher, for editing – Jo Fletcher Books
Brett Alexander Savory & Sandra Kasturi, for ChiZine Publications
Jeff VanderMeer & S.J. Chambers, for The Steampunk Bible
Special Award-Non-professional
winner Raymond Russell & Rosalie Parker, for Tartarus Press
Kate Baker, Neil Clarke, Cheryl Morgan & Sean Wallace, for Clarkesworld
Cat Rambo, for Fantasy
Charles Tan, for Bibliophile Stalker blog
Mark Valentine, for Wormwood


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Under President Obama, five million federal workers are compelled to snitch on each other. Obama's Insider Threat Program has turned the federal government into an environment where every employee is responsible for 'turning in' any co-worker suspected of suspicious behavior, similar to what happened during the Nazi regime." People with marital or money problems are automatically "suspect."
"The program provides a green light for everyone to spy on each other."
George Orwell published his seminal novel Nineteen Eighty-Four in 1949, predicting the future in thirty-four years. The story takes place in a country fueled by perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public mind-control by a political system under the authority of a privileged 1% corporate oligarchy. The 1% penalizes independent thinking known as "thoughtcrimes" and citizens who would be identified today as whistleblowers. Orwell's national security state is headed by a party leader named Big Brother. This leader enjoys a cult of personality, commands unconditional loyalty and considers any dissent as a threat to national sovereignty. Sound familiar?
Mark Twain once remarked that "Truth is stranger than fiction…because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't." Many critics of US domestic and foreign policy are noting the Orwellian similarities between the current administration's war on whistleblowers and the one envisioned by Orwell, except that one is fiction and the other is reality for U.S. citizens in the year 2013.
Two years before Edward Snowden courageously exposed NSA wide-spread phone surveillance against US citizens and foreign countries, Pvt. Bradley Manning, currently facing trial at Fort Mead, allegedly downloaded hundreds of thousands of documents from a classified computer network and provided them to Wikileaks. In response to Manning's exposure of "Big Brother," President Obama signed an Executive Order on October 2011 initiating an historic sweeping "Big Brother" program in the federal government known as the Insider Threat Program (ITP.) Except for the McClatchy news organization, the ITP has received virtually no attention from the mainstream corporate media, yet it has the potential to make the government abuses profiled in Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four look amateurish.
"The Insider Threat Program Except has received virtually no attention from the mainstream corporate media."
The Insider Threat Program seeks to identify potential whistleblowers before information is leaked to the public and to coerce federal employees to participate in the program, through a cocktail of incentives and ham-fisted fear tactics.
The Insider Programs' reach exceeds US national security bureaucracies to include most federal agencies, such as, the Peace Corps, the Social Security Administration, Agriculture and Education. By Executive Order, the Administration has turned the federal government into an environment where every employee is responsible for "turning in" any co-worker suspected of suspicious behavior, similar to what happened during the Nazi regime of turning in your neighbors and colleagues. Documents reviewed by McClatchy reveal that the Insider program pits employees against contractor and vice versa by reporting "high-risk persons or behaviors' among colleagues or they could face penalties for not reporting them, including being charged criminally. Leaks to the media, such as those to Wikileaks, are equated with espionage."
According to the McClatchy report, the Department of Education has informed its workforce that employees going through difficult life experiences such as stress, divorce, financial problems or frustrated with co-workers or the organization must be reported to appropriate authorities. Essentially,the program provides a green light for everyone to spy on each other with the caveat that managers and obviously the president are excluded from profiling criteria. Federal agencies are establishing "Insider Threat" offices to implement and oversee the Executive Order. Employees are mandated to report their co-workers' lifestyles, attitudes and behaviors, including working after official duty hours or travel. Managers of the Insider Threat offices will have access to employee personnel and financial records, and disciplinary reports. Critics have charged that millions of dollars have already been wasted on attempts to develop behavior indicators to implement the program.
"Leaks to the media, such as those to Wikileaks, are equated with espionage."
A prime example is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA,) which has spent over $800 million dollars and employs 2,800 people as "behavior detection officers" to identify potential terrorist in US airports. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General's Report in May 2013 stated that this strategy was a failure. "TSA cannot ensure that passengers at United States airports are screened objectively…"
In fact, the psychological measures currently used have not proven to be useful or effective. The goal of the Insider Threat program is to predict which present and future employees might have the courage and conviction to warn fellow citizens of dangers in the food supply, environment, or public health. The program is designed to institutionalize workplace intimidation, create incentives and structures to induce suspicion and division among co-workers and finally to terminate employees who voice dissenting opinions or report corruption.
The ITP requires nearly 5 million federal employees and contractors with clearances to undergo training to identify "suspicious behavior." The U.S. Army has already expanded this program to include their entire workforce. The Insider Threat program is designed to instill fear and intimidation in the government and reward compliant employees for snitching on each other. No doubt, if this program is similar to other anti-whistleblower initiatives, employees will receive promotions, incentives and rewards for "turning in their " co-workers – making 1984 a reality instead of fiction. The Fear Factor and potential for abuse is incalculable and will sabotage any attempt by employees or labor unions to create solidarity among colleagues and eviscerate any semblance of a healthy and productive workplace.
"The Fear Factor and potential for abuse is incalculable."
In fact, the ITP has been compared to the East German secret police agency called Ministerium fur Staatsicherheit (Ministry for State Security) or Stasi. The Stasi was one of the most hated and feared institutions of the East German communist government, responsible for domestic political surveillance and institutionalized fear throughout the country. It fostered suspicion among colleagues, friends and tore families apart. The ITP is built on the framework and legacy on the Stasi. Eric Feldman, a former inspector general of the National Reconnaissance Office, a secret intelligence organization, was quoted by McClatchy as remarking: " The answer to (security leaks) is not to have a Stasi-like response. You've removed that firewall between employees seeking help and the threat that any employee who seeks help could be immediately retaliated against by this insider threat office."
A U.S. Defense Department memo dated June 1, 2012 outlines its "Stasi" strategy: "Hammer this fact home…leaking is tantamount to aiding the enemies of the United States." Compare that strategic directive to President Obama's stated commitment in his so-called support of whistleblowers. In January 2009, President Obama said: "I will also hold myself as president to a new standard of openness…Let me say it as simply as I can: Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstone of this presidency." Instead, over his tenure as president, we have hidden agendas, criminal prosecution of whistleblowers, and a program, the Insider Threat Program that eliminates the rights of American citizens to speak out against corruption and tyranny within their government and country.
This program provides us all with the opportunity to shine light on the hypocrisy and lies that have become the dominant narrative of this administration. This program needs to be rescinded if Americans are to retain any modicum of their rights under the Constitution. The Executive Order contradicts the spirit and letter of the 2002 No FEAR Act, a law that encourages federal employees to blow the whistle on corruption, racism and retaliation in the government. As George Orwell warned us:
"We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end." "Big Brother is Watching You."
Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo is the author of No FEAR: A Whistleblowers Triumph over Corruption and Retaliation at the EPA is available through amazon.com and the National Whistleblower Center. Dr. Coleman-Adebayo worked at the EPA for 18 years and blew the whistle on a US multinational corporation that endangered vanadium mine workers. Marsha's successful lawsuit lead to the introduction and passage of the first civil rights and whistleblower law of the 21st century: the Notification of Federal Employees Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act). She is Director of Transparency and Accountability for the Green Shadow Cabinet.


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House Speaker Joe Straus' warning Monday that Republican leaders would ask for U.S. Supreme Court intervention into the state's redistricting squabble triggered a strong response Tuesday from the House Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Caucus Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, reminded Straus that Republicans dominated the judicial panels that have ruled against the state's redistricting maps on the basis the new boundaries don't comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Minorities accounted for 89 percent of the state's population growth during 2000-2010, but the new GOP-drawn maps hardly reflect the huge surge in minority population. Martinez Fischer told his San Antonio colleague that it was poor form to attack independent federal judges.
And, in an ominous note, Martinez Fischer told Straus that "most members do not know the role you, your staff, and certain allies outside the House played during the redistricting process – but we are willing to have that debate publicly, if necessary."
Stay tuned.


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Planning Your Pre-Genetic Counseling Curriculum
The following serves only as a guide for most genetic counseling program prerequisites; if you have concerns or questions, you may contact Dr. Reagan.
In principle one can choose from a variety of majors, such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Social work, or Nursing, and enter a genetic counseling program. Whatever the major, you must be sure to complete the recommended coursework for genetic counseling programs.
The requirements for Genetic Counseling programs are not as standard as the requirements for medical or dental school, so students thinking of applying to these programs should investigate the requirements for schools to which they may likely apply. Most genetic counseling programs require:
- Chemistry
- The chemistry requirement is one in which there can be considerable variability from school to school. To have the widest possible selection of schools, two years of chemistry should be taken. At most schools this would be one year of general chemistry and one year of organic chemistry. At CSB/SJU it would be Chem 125, 250, 251, 255 and labs 201, 202, 203, and 205. (Some programs do not require Chemistry labs, although upper level Biology courses such as Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics have some Chemistry labs as prerequisites.)
- One year of General Biology (Biol 101, 201)
- Biochemistry (Biol 317)
- Genetics (Biol 316 or 318)
- Statistics (Math 124). In addition, many schools will accept Psych 221 or Sociology 201 for their statistics requirement.
- Psychology (Psych 111)
- Advocacy experience or crisis counseling. This might be volunteer work or paid internships/jobs but will definitely include working with people in stressful situations.
Other courses that may be required or recommended often include
- Developmental Biology (Biol 322)
- Physiology (Biol 323, or Biol 325-326)
- Philosophy, especially biomedical ethics (Phil 245)
Most schools have eliminated the requirement for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or made it optional. Refer to specific programs for their policies.


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All News Releases By Date
Texas Refinery WIll Pay $8.75 Million for Failing to Comply with Enforcement Settlement to Resolve Air Violations
Release Date: 09/20/2013
Contact Information: Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard at 214 665-2200 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
WASHINGTON – Total Petrochemical USA, Inc. (Total) will pay an $8.75 million penalty for failing to comply with the terms of a 2007 settlement with the United States that resolved alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its Port Arthur, Texas refinery, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
Between 2007 and 2011, Total violated numerous requirements of the 2007 settlement, including failing to comply with emissions limits for benzene, a harmful air pollutant. The company also failed to perform corrective actions or to analyze the cause of over 70 incidents involving emissions of hazardous gases through flaring. EPA discovered the violations through a review of the quarterly compliance reports required by the 2007 settlement.
The 2007 settlement required that Total pay a $2.9 million penalty and make upgrades to its facility to reduce emissions of harmful air pollution to resolve Clean Air Act violations. The 2007 settlement further required that Total upgrade leak detection and repair practices and implement programs to minimize flaring, which can result in emissions of gases that can cause serious respiratory problems and exacerbate asthma.
"Total failed repeatedly to adhere to obligations they willingly took on when they settled with the United States in 2007. These are court-enforceable requirements for the protection of the health of their Texas neighbors, not simply the cost of doing business," said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Companies that settle with the United States must meet their obligations or there will be consequences, as this significant penalty demonstrates."
"EPA has been working with local officials, community leaders and organizers, and local industry to improve living conditions for residents of Port Arthur. These efforts have already produced results, especially with the opening of the Westside Health Clinic," said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. "Clean air is essential for keeping communities healthy. EPA will continue its efforts to hold companies accountable for violating our nation's environmental laws and meeting our enforcement orders and decrees."
In addition to the penalty, today's action extends the requirement that Total comply with a lower benzene emissions limit for an additional two years. The enhanced limit for benzene, which is 30 percent lower than the federal limit, was initially required by the 2007 settlement. In addition, Total must hire a third-party to audit its compliance under the settlement and must implement a company task force to monitor its compliance.
Reducing illegal emissions of toxic air pollutants at facilities that have a significant impact on air quality and health in communities is one of EPA's national enforcement priorities.
Exposure to high concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a key pollutant emitted from refineries, can affect breathing and aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, particularly in children and in the elderly. SO2 is converted in the air into fine particulate matter, which can harm health through decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Chronic exposure to benzene, a volatile organic compound which EPA classifies as a carcinogen, can cause numerous health impacts, including leukemia and adverse reproductive effects in women.
Total is a refiner and petrochemical manufacturer whose products include automotive fuels, lubricants and liquefied petroleum gas. Total processes approximately 230,000 barrels per day of crude oil.
The settlement, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval. The settlement will be available for viewing at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. The claims resolved by this settlement are only allegations and there has been no determination of liability.
# # #
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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The Truth About Gluten
Why are millions of Americans forgoing wheat?
En español | Everywhere you turn — from the corner bakery to the stadium concession stand — you're increasingly likely to find gluten-free foods. Americans spent $2.6 billion on gluten-free products in 2010, 30 percent more than four years earlier.
Clearly gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye — is today's ingredient non grata.
Is gluten-free just another foodie fad? Or is it a potentially dangerous ingredient?
The answer is complicated. For the estimated 3 million Americans with celiac disease — an auto-immune illness that damages the lining of the digestive tract — exposure to gluten can trigger a host of serious symptoms, including vomiting and severe abdominal pain. For the millions more who test negative for celiac but insist they feel better after eliminating gluten, the scientific evidence is less convincing. Those people may be legitimately gluten-sensitive. Or perhaps they're simply eating a healthier diet, says Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Joseph Murray, M.D., who notes that junk food tends to have high amounts of gluten. "Sometimes when I see someone who feels better off without gluten, I say, 'That's a very healthy diet. You could probably add some gluten to that and not feel any different.' "
Suspect you're gluten-sensitive? Give up gluten for two weeks, then reintroduce it and see how you react, says Trudy Scott, president of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. "That's a very powerful way to find out if gluten affects you."
Also of interest: Snacking tips for diet success.


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Moscow, January 30, 2012
The website of the Orthodox Christian Church in Thailand reports that translation and publication of the book began with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. He visited Thailand in 2001 as chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations and noted the absence of fundamental catechetical materials in Thai.
The Tomsk diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and Archbishop Rostislav of Tomsk and Asinov provided material support. USD 15,000 has been provided for this endeavour during the last two years.
It was not only necessary to translate the text in order to adequately explain Orthodox teaching, but find equivalents, since the Thai language lacks many religious and philosophical notions, or the notions are translated inadequately thus failing to bring their meaning to the reader. The translation was accomplished through several means. The Russian-language version of archpriest Slobodskoy's book and its English version and – when in doubt – the English-Greek explanatory church dictionary was used.
The translation was made by Rev. Danai (Daniel) Vanna, the first Thai Orthodox priest, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Theological seminary, by Ms Napatra Aphichapthong, a former official translator of English at the Parliament of Thailandm who now studies at the St. Petersburg Theological seminary, and by Mr. Yingsak Satsen, a specialist in the Russian language. Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin), representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Thailand, acted as editor-in-chief. The Orthodox Church Foundation in Thailand provided organizational and technical assistance.
The Foundation's Committee decided to send several copies of the book to the University of Thailand, where the Russian language and culture are studied, to non-Orthodox theological schools in the country, and to the theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Free copies of the book will be given to all Orthodox Thais, as well as to those who are preparing for Holy Baptism in the Orthodox Church.
The presentation of the book will take place on 9 February 2012, during a visit to the Kingdom of Thailand of Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk, head of the Moscow Patiarchate's Management of Institutions Abroad.
In consideration of the work done for the benefit of the Church in translation and publication of the book in the Thai language, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia awarded archpriest Danai (Daniel) Vanna with a golden pectoral cross and Ms Napatra Aphichaphong with a medal of St. Euphrosynia, Grand Princess of Moscow.
For more information on the Orthodox Church in Thailand, please see its official website.