text:
(An image of a blue the'u rang or tebrang spirit from a Tibetan manuscript. Scanned images from this manuscript of many Tibetan worldly spirits described in the post that follows can be found here at himalayanart.org but unfortunately the name and date of the source-text is not given. If anyone knows these details, please do let me know!)
I came across the following condensed directory of worldly spirits, gods, demons and other non-human Tibetan persons that go bump in the night in a book of essays which deal with the history and controversies surrounding the Tibetan protector-spirit Dolgyal, which I briefly discussed here. The book, whose short title is 'The Impurity-Dispelling Mirror – An Investigation into the Origination and Controversy of Dolgyal' was compiled by the Office of the Central Executive Committee of Dhomay (Amdo) Province in exile. The Committee spent some four odd years conducting research into the contentious spirit's origins and nature and has penned a series of excellent essays explaining the role of spirit-protectors in Tibetan Buddhism and the development of the controversial sectarian issues associated with this spirit in particular. The essays in the book provide much needed context for a very complex issue, part of which revolves around divided opinions on the theological status of the spirit in question. Supporters of the spirit claim that it is a legitimate protector that is upholding its vows and deserving of propitiation; whereas His Holiness the Dalai Lama and numerous other authorities consider the being to be a harmful and demonic presence, a difficult to control hyper-zealous (and hyper-sectarian) force of violence and evil that should be avoided altogether. Continue reading


text:
Q&A: Cult Star Mink Stole on Working with John Waters and Divine
As Waters' crew continued to shock by playfully portraying rape, murder, abortion, and seemingly every form of filth and debauchery ever imagined (and then some), Waters won nicknames like the Pope of Trash, Prince of Puke, and Sultan of Sleaze, and the bigger-than-life Divine (seriously, 300 pounds), who was Waters idyllic cross of Jayne Mansfield and the clown from Howdy Doody, went on to a global stage as a disco singer. But just as their cinematic work began to flirt with mainstream success in 1988 with Hairspray, Divine died suddenly from a heart attack.
Along with his pencil thin mustache, Waters' has two trademarks that all of his features share: they're all filmed in Baltimore, and they all cast actress Mink Stole. One of the original Dreamlanders, Stole has played leading roles (Desperate Living), Divine's various nemeses (Pink Flamingos, Female Troubles), and myriad other parts as Waters' film grew slightly more glossy and palatable (Cry-Baby, Serial Mom, Cecil B. Demented, and A Dirty Shame). And with a lengthy resume beyond Waters' outrageous oeuvre, Stole has become an indie icon of her own.
We're excited to announce that QDoc, Portland's queer documentary festival, opens on May 16 with the first doc to tell Divine's larger-than-life story, I AM DIVINE. Stole will be in the audience seeing the film for the first time and will stay for a Q&A, along with director Jeffrey Schwarz.
QDoc will announce the full schedule and put tickets on sale shortly. [Ed. note: the program and tickets are now up].
In utter anticipation, we caught up with Stole by phone to talk about the early days, what it was like to work with Divine, the one thing she wasn't willing to do on film, and moving back to Baltimore after many years away.
Mink Stole: We're having our first day of hot weather today. It's going to be 90. There's a cardinal out my window right now. I love where I live.
Culturephile: You live on the street you grew up, right? What was it like to move back to Baltimore after all your films and their notoriety?
When I was feeling like it was time to make the big move out of LA and thinking, where would I go, the only place that made any sense was Baltimore. My mom was getting very old and only lived two months once I got here. Had I not come back, I would've missed her.
What's it like to walk the streets where you all made your films now, 40 years later?
It's all incorporated into who I am. I don't think of it as 'History,' but as history with a small h, personal history. It is nice to go, 'that's where so-and-so lived,' but as far as going to old movie sites, I would never do that. That's like watching my own movies in the dark.
John still has a house there, right? Do you see him much?
Yes, his main office and house are here. We had dinner last week. When we go out to dinner, people ignore me completely, but he is so famous, it never fails to happen that people will stop him. They're always nice, but it can be difficult to enjoy an evening alone with him.
How did you two first meet?
We didn't meet until he was 20 and I was 18. We were both in Provincetown. We met at the beginning of summer, and by the end he and I and my sister and like four others were living together in this incredible place that was at the end of town that no longer exists.
We clicked right off the bat. There were lots of things that we had in common: Baltimore, a certain societal anger, a loathing for Catholicism. I hate the word 'values'…
Those sound more like anti-values.
We had certain anti-values that were similar. I found John fascinating from the beginning. He was amazingly charismatic then, as he is now. He was smart and so well read; he was incredibly influential to me.
What about Divine? What's your first memory of Divine?
At the end of the summer, we [John and I] both came back to Baltimore and moved back in with our respective families. We used to get together periodically on weekends and all take LSD and have great parties. I met Divine at one of those parties.
So much was going on; my life was changing so drastically. The neighborhood I grew up in was very socially conservative: wraparound madras skirt, cardigans, and knee-highs. When I started wearing jeans and had my ears pierced, it was a huge social statement. I'm one of 10 kids, but I felt as big a misfit as anyone else, so when I met John and the other people, I was like, 'oh my god, you're weird too.'
So a bunch of outsiders together on LSD. What was it like to film those early movies? Did you know what you were getting into?
I had no idea. John called up and said, "I want you to do scene." The first movie that I did was Roman Candles. It takes three 8 mm projectors and a tape recorder to show. It was very much influenced by Chelsea Girls, the Warhol film with triple projection. We showed it in a church basement, but people came and liked it. It was a very exciting thing to have going on in my life that had been very dull up to then.
The next movie was Mondo Trasho. That was Divine in a gold lame capri outfit. I've always loved watching Divine work and loved working with Divine. He was an amazing performer.
You say in the documentary that it required 100 percent commitment to be in John's films. What did you mean?
You were expected to show up on time, camera ready, knowing your lines, prepared to do what you needed to do. We had a good time, we had a lot of laughs, but when the camera was rolling, we were working. Look at Pink Flamingos: it's all done in master shots. The scenes are long with no cutaways. If you do a five-minute long scene, and someone blows their line four-and-a-half minutes in, the scene had to be started over. We were all aware of the budget we had—film was expensive—so none of us wanted to make John mad. John ran a very tight ship.
Mink Stole as Connie Marble in Pink Flamingos:
[The language in this video is not appropriate for all audiences]
Back to Divine. You said you loved working with him. What was it like?
He was a very generous actor. If he was having dialogue with me, he would look at me and not cheat to the camera. It made it easy to work with him, although I had to work very hard because he was so visually staggering. If I wasn't strong, I wasn't going to be seen at all.
Particularly in Pink Flamingoes, where the very plot was a fight over being the filthiest person alive, involving one-upmanship of the nastiest kind. All of you did some very wild, provocative, and even dangerous stuff—stuff that hasn't really been topped—from a sexual encounter that involved a live chicken to Divine's infamous consumption of dog poop. Was there ever anything that was too much for you?
John always asked. In Pink Flamingos, I agreed to set my hair on fire and didn't fully realize what that meant. When the scene came closer, I started to panic. What he wanted was for me to sit in a chair and have dialogue and not notice when someone put a match to my hair and have someone standby with bucket of water. The people that would be doing it were not practiced stunt people; there were friends of ours. All I could think was: I'm going to be bald. I will have burned scars on my head, and it will hurt, and I'M NOT DOING IT! But I had told him I would, and he expected me to hold to my agreement.
In retrospect, if it hadn't worked the first time, there wouldn't be a second time, and there I would be bald and nobody would remember it anyway, because what people remember about Pink Flamingos is that Divine eats dog shit at the end of it. I never regretted not doing it.
You've said before that John was a one-man band, handling every aspect of production, including picking everybody up in a van. What did you tell your parents you were doing when he would come get you for shoots?
My dad was no longer living. My mother was mortified—absolutely mortified. She had come to see the first movie, Roman Candles, and in one of the scenes a woman is dressed as a nun in full makeup smoking and drinking a beer and making out with a priest. My mother was a devout Catholic, and she didn't come to another film until Polyester. Which was fine—I didn't need her seeing me f**king someone's toes in Pink Flamingos.
Throughout all of this time, she always adored John. It was so hard for her because she didn't want to like him, but she was charmed. I would get ready to go, and she'd just look at me and sigh. She really, truly hated it, until the world at large started talking about John being a genius, and the city of Baltimore started making a big fuss, and then my mom wanted to go to all the premieres and parties. She changed. She's an extra in Hairspray.
That's amazing. Speaking of roles, what was your favorite?
Taffy Davenport [in Female Troubles]. I say that automatically because I relate to the misunderstood child. But I've loved every one. Peggy Gravel [in Desperate Living] was a wonderful character to play. She got to be so hateful. John always liked me hateful; he likes me to cuss and be mean and nasty.
So often in the films with Divine, I played the foil. I always knew in films with Divine that I was going to come out on the losing end.
The opening scene in Desperate Living with Stole as Peggy Gravel:
What is something people never ask about Divine but should?
He was good to his mom. I think people know that. One thing people do ask: did I call Divine 'he' or 'she,' and I always called Divine 'he.' Off camera he was male. He enjoyed very much playing men's parts. My biggest regret is that he didn't get to explore that more and become better known as an actual actor.
Where were you when you heard about his death?
I was home in New York. I lived right around the corner from Divine. I had just come home from the premiere of Hairspray in Baltimore. His mother was there, and it was the first premiere she had ever attended to my knowledge. He looked wonderful, so happy. A week later, I came home and there were a lot of phone messages, a lot of 'call me' messages, and then one from my mom that said, 'I'm so sorry about Divine." And I knew.
It was such a shock. I had just seen him—it can't be true. Those of us who lived in New York stayed home together the next few days until we came down to Baltimore for the funeral.
What do you think his most enduring impact is?
I think it's the triumph of the outsider—the triumph of the other. It's that somebody who was picked on in school, who was perceived to be fat and effeminate, was able to take the negatives and transform them—with the help of John—into amazing positives that have had an enduring affect on so many people who have come after. I can't tell you how many drag artists tell me they wouldn't be who they are if not for Divine.
Divine had such a zest for life, such energy about him. He threw himself into whatever he was doing with total commitment and enthusiasm, and it shows. He took effeminacy and the desire to wear woman's clothing into a whole other world that wasn't about passing as a woman. It became a larger-than-life personality, and so drag becomes a cultural thing.
I totally think that for those people who feel they have no where and no one, for those people who live in places where being gay is still not okay, still villified, you can look at somebody like Divine and say, 'this person made it big, and 25 years after his death people still care about him.'
Periodically I visit his grave, and there's always a token of tribute that someone has left there. I find this to be so lovely, and who knew? I think Divine would be more than pleased to know that even after he's gone, he's very much alive.
Are you surprised that the movies you all made as kids have had such an incredible, enduring life?
We all knew we were going to do things other people found odd, but that was part of the fun of it. None of us, Divine included, expected while making these films that they'd have the life that they had and the importance they had in other people's live. I didn't anticipate that. I'm glad I didn't, because I probably would've been insufferable if I thought people would care in 40 years.
You've been working on an album with your Wonderful Band for a couple years now, and I've read it's almost done?
The recording is finished, the cover is with the designer, and after that it will get pressed and it will be available on Amazon and iTunes. It's called Do Re MiNK. It's almost three years in the making. I'm very happy with it. The first song on the album is my version of "Female Trouble" [the theme song to the 1974 movie that Divine sang].
Bagdad Theater and the Kennedy School
May 16–19You've never been to Portland, right? What are you expecting?
I've watched Portlandia, which spoofs the hippie-dippy side. So I'm aware that it's not as much a—what I've called an 'earth shoe' environment. So if there's a Culturephile blog, there's culture in Portland, but I'm totally unaware of it. I'm coming to Portland as a Portland virgin, but I have a feeling I'm going to feel very comfortable there.
Stole sings "Female Troubles" with SF drag performer Peaches Christ:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning
of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into
princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses, who are only
waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is in
its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us.
So you must not be frightened, dear Mr. Kappus, if a sadness rises up before
you larger than any you have ever seen; if a restiveness, like light and cloud-shadows, passes over your hands and over all you do. You must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand; it will not let you fall.'
~ Rainer Maria Rilke


text:
Herman Miller
Hello Design, Culver City, California, 2009
Herman Miller partnered with Hello to form a digital strategy and design a new web site embracing the brand idea of "for a better world around you." The visually driven website incorporates a flexible modular layout that accommodates interactivity, research and tools while weaving in storytelling with videos and a Discover blog of Herman Miller's insights and stories on how they work "for a better world around you."
Juror Notes
The site represents the brand values while reaching beyond the main audience group with excellent layout and photo editing. The additional design components available to architects and designers add invaluable experience.
Collections: AIGA 365: 31 (2010)
Repository: Denver Art Museum
Discipline: Promotional design and advertising
Format: Website
- Design firm
- Hello Design
- Creative directors
- David Lai, Hiro Niwa
- Art director
- Sung Hean Baik
- Designer
- Hajime Himeno
- Interactive designers
- Eunice Oh, Christine Yu
- Developer
- Justin Blackwell
- Producers
- Scott Arenstein, Szu Ann Chen
- Project manager
- Barry Chiang
- Client
- Herman Miller


text:
Have you been unable to find a gorgeous girl to spend time with while you're in London? All of that can change now that you have stumbled upon Sexy Escorts London.
It's time you learn about the benefits of working with a cheap
London escort agencyWe have some of the sexiest, most approachable girls throughout the entire area. This gives you the chance to not only meet these girls, but to spend some quality time with them. The best London escorts agency
Our cheap sexy London escorts will be to your place in a timely fashion – and they all have their own personal transportation with a private driver.
You need to first meet our girls – at least in a cyber sort of way. We have posted photos and profiles of all our girls within our gallery. This is your chance to browse through and see which ones meet your specific needs. You will find blondes and brunettes, busty and petite girls, young and mature escorts, and so much more.
It's always possible to request our girls by name or you can rely on the expertise of our phone representatives to find the girl right for you and the kind of time you want to have.
Cheap Escorts LondonNot just any girl can join our cheap London escort agency. We want the best of the best and that's why we have all of the girls go through an interview process. All of them must be at least 18 years of age, be attractive, sexy, personable, easy to get along with, and most importantly, open minded.
We have clients call us for female companionship from all over the world. Some men want a dinner companion while others want a little more.
We're happy to accommodate the needs of all our clients, like yourself. This is why we have categories known as adventures. This allows you to choose a girl based upon the level of fun you have. Our most open minded and eager to please girls fall under the "all services" category.


text:
OutDoor by ISPO
Corporate Designsince 2017
OutDoor is a leading B2B tradeshow for the outdoor sector that was previously based in Friedrichshafen. Dorten worked with ISPO to produce and execute concepts that won ISPO the rights to host future OutDoor tradeshows in Munich. These concepts created an entirely new OutDoor that goes further than simply being a tradeshow. This meant that Dorten created concepts, developed strategies, designed promotional material and planned events.
OutDoor by ISPO is a leading tradeshow for outdoor brands. It was previously hosted in Friedrichshafen but now is primarily based in Munich. It is moving from what was just a tradeshow into a broader movement that revolves around active and outdoor lifestyles.
The new OutDoor corporate design needed to demonstrate the shifting nature of the outdoor sector and reflect OutDoor's future-oriented mantra of "ever new horizons". Digitization is central to this and thus had to be featured with prominence in the design. Yet, the traditional features of the outdoor sector could not be overlooked. Therefore, this new corporate design required a visual identity that was balanced between the traditional and modern as well as between ISPO and Friedrichshafen.
The synthesis of these seemingly disparate concepts and locations was achieved through the usage of geometric lines and orange backgrounds in our designs. Photographs of outdoor locations were digitally infused with these lines to showcase traditional understandings of the outdoor sector whilst adding a clearly visible digital and modern break from this. We utilized orange tones in the design to provide a sense of continuity as these were the colors used when OutDoor was hosted in Friedrichshafen. Together this symbolized unity of the outdoor sector by drawing together the old and new as well as tradition and modernity.
The tonality of the chosen photographs mirrored that of OutDoor's belief in "ever new horizons". Images had to present atmospheres of: new experiences, community, authenticity, motivation, and of course new horizons. The product of all of this was a carefully cultivated corporate identity that reached the very essence of OutDoor. This new identity took its basis from where OutDoor came from and showed that OutDoor is moving forward.


text:
Fort McCoy deploys new training, expects increase in numbers
FORT MCCOY, Wis. — For the first time in nearly a decade, Fort McCoy will finish this calendar year without preparing a single soldier for deployment. The base's war-time mobilization mission ended last year.
However, that has not slowed the training numbers one bit. Fort McCoy continues to be one of the most used training sites in the country.
Officials at Fort McCoy say that's because the base continues to offer the latest training technology.
In recent weeks, the base has deployed virtual training for infantry soldiers. The equipment places a team of soldiers in a virtual mission. A visor allows them to experience the sights and sounds of combat in 3D.17670912
"This is very comparable to Call of Duty: Black-Ops (a popular video game). As you turned your head, you turned as an avatar on the screen," said Captain Adam Kirschling, a soldier stationed at Fort McCoy.
"It was unbelievable. It was like you're in a video game body. It was pretty neat and lifelike," said Kirschling.
Virtual training technology has been around for awhile but experts say there's never been a reliable system for foot soldiers until now.
"You're saving money on fuel. You're saving money on ammunition," said Mike Borchers, a trainer on the Dismounted Soldier Training System.
"There's a lot of advantages. Plus, I'm in an environment where I don't have guys out there getting themselves hurt," he added.
The technology won't replace traditional live fire training but it does supplement it. That's why officials say Fort McCoy continues to be a popular training destination for reserve units around the country.
"You're seeing as much activity now as during the war-time mobilization," said Brad Stewart, director of Fort McCoy's plans, training, mobilization and safety.
Stewart says training numbers are projected to be 150,000 soldiers a year by 2015. That would be up significantly from the 122,000 soldier trained this last calendar year.
Reserve units can choose where they want to do their training and Stewart says many continue to pick Fort McCoy because of what the base has to offer.
"Everything you do before mobilization and those units accomplish in this environment is what sets them up for success," he said.
Fort McCoy's war-time mission may be over but it's training mission will continue and is even expected to grow.
"I expect Fort McCoy to be around for a long time," said Stewart.


text:
Metallica have announced the following:
A few months ago, our own Kirk Hammett hinted at a new Metallica project that's "not really 100 percent a Metallica record."
While Kirk may have jumped the gun a little (and has since been properly punished with a series of push-ups!), we are more than proud to announce that we have just completed recording a full length album that is a collaboration with none other than the legendary Lou Reed.
Ever since we had the pleasure of performing with Lou at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009, we have been kicking around the idea of making a record together. Some of you astute Bay Area residents may have picked up news of recent Lou Reed sightings in the greater San Francisco area and we have indeed been working at our home studio at HQ on and off over the last few months.
In what would be lightning speed for a Metallica related project, we recorded ten songs during this time and while at this moment we're not exactly sure when you'll hear it, we're beyond excited to share with you that the recording sessions wrapped up last week.
A true innovator and easily one of the most influential songwriters, musicians, and performers in rock music history, Lou's work with the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist has such an enduring quality that he has long been revered and respected by us and many of our peers. We can't wait for you to listen to the finished record, so as we like to hear ourselves say around here, keep watching this spot for updates . . . we'll be back with more details as they come together.
Metallica with Lou Reed – Sweet Jane
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert
Madison Square Garden, NYC – October 30, 2009
See also:
Metallica starting to think about writing new music
Metallica Monopoly coming next week
Metallica voted Most Influential Band Of The Past 30 Years
VIDEO: Metallica's James Hetfield honored at his high school
VIDEO: Bride rocks Metallica's Master Of Puppets at wedding
Metallica confirm Halifax date


text:
Some guy called John Waters says bloggers are stupid and can't string two words together. Now, we all know that's a bare faced lie, but maybe he had been trawling Bebo when he came up with that freakish idea?
I missed the radio interview where he said that and frankly I couldn't care less. I only picked up on it when Irish bloggers went gaga over it. I did get a kick out of John's new blog though. That's funny. Thanks Niall.


text:
Tooth decay is more prevalent than diseases like cancer, heart disease or influenza. It doesn't have to be—brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, less dietary sugar and regular dental cleanings can lower the risk of this harmful disease.
Hygiene, diet and dental care work because they interrupt the disease process at various points. Daily hygiene and regular dental cleanings remove dental plaque where oral bacteria flourish. Reducing sugar eliminates one of bacteria's feeding sources. With less bacteria, there's less oral acid to erode enamel.
But as good as these methods work, we can now take the fight against tooth decay a step further. We can formulate a prevention strategy tailored to an individual patient that addresses risk factors for decay unique to them.
Poor saliva flow. One of the more important functions of this bodily fluid is to neutralize mouth acid produced by bacteria and released from food during eating. Saliva helps restore the mouth's ideal pH balance needed for optimum oral health. But if you have poor saliva flow, often because of medications, your mouth could be more acidic and thus more prone to decay.
Biofilm imbalance. The inside of your mouth is coated with an ultrathin biofilm made up of proteins, biochemicals and microorganisms. Normally, both beneficial and harmful bacteria reside together with the "good" bacteria having the edge. If the mouth becomes more acidic long-term, however, even the beneficial bacteria adapt and become more like their harmful counterparts.
Genetic factors. Researchers estimate that 40 to 50 hereditary genes can impact cavity development. Some of these genes could impact tooth formation or saliva gland anatomy, while others drive behaviors like a higher craving for sugar. A family history of tooth decay, especially when regular hygiene habits or diet don't seem to be a factor, could be an indicator that genes are influencing a person's dental health.
To determine if these or other factors could be driving a patient's higher risk for tooth decay, many dentists are now gathering more information about medications, family history or lifestyle habits. Using that information, they can introduce other measures for each patient that will lower their risk for tooth decay even more.
If you would like more information on reducing your risk of tooth decay, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article "What Everyone Should Know About Tooth Decay."


text:
Derek Jeter gave me the only baseball I ever got at a game. It was spring training in Tampa, and I was watching the Yankees practice from behind the dugout. Jeter jogged in with a ball, about to give it to the crowd. At first, I started to wave for it, but then, noticing the other 20 similarly aged kids around me doing the exact same thing, I figured it was pointless. I just sat there with a wry smile as Jeter looked around to see which pair of frantic, gesticulating hands seemed most deserving. But none of them got it. He looked at me, matched my expression, and flipped me the baseball.
That moment says very little to me about Jeter. It could have happened with any player and any personality. Imagine Barry Bonds doing the same thing. "Of course that jackass gives the ball to the least-interested kid," the parent two seats away would have said. I don't know Jeter. I won't draw any conclusions about his personality from this moment, just as I won't draw any conclusions about his abilities from the leadoff home run in the 2000 World Series or his November walkoff in 2001. They are all small sample sizes.
So was Saturday. Going by his career norms, Jeter's 3,000th hit shouldn't have been a home run. He shouldn't have had the best offensive day of his life. It was a coincidence. That is far from a knock on the Captain; it's a criticism of the people who think it is possible for a player like that to exist. He treats every situation the same, we're told, and yet he also rises to the occasion. He was always a great fielder, yet he deserves credit for correcting a severe, long-standing fielding flaw. He ages less than a year per year. Jeter has always been too many fantasies at once.
He was lucky this weekend, just as he was lucky that Jeremy Giambi didn't slide after The Flip and that he fell to the sixth spot in the '92 draft, and there's nothing wrong with being lucky. He's also really good. The problem with The Derek Jeter Story is that it doesn't concern itself with making that distinction. It treats his getting drafted by New York ("He wanted to play for them since he was a kid!") in the same way that it treats his ability to hit to the opposite field about as well as anyone ever has — as a matter of Jeter bending the universe to his will. This media-driven phenomenon clouds his true value, which is that he's one of the 100 best players ever, one of the five best Yankees ever, one of the five best shortstops ever. It's the Ecksteinification of a Hall of Famer. Conflating serendipity and skill does a disservice to the skill.
Then there's the other crime: It ignores the joy of the fluke itself. When the 3,000th hit landed in the seats, I probably wasn't happier than the people who genuinely thought he would homer, but I felt like I was: I saw something improbable. Michael Kay merely saw Derek Jeter do what the Derek Jeter of his imagination always does. It was one of the best games of Jeter's career without any context, a performance that would have been a one-in-a-thousand thing in his prime. The beauty of the moment wasn't that it should have happened, but that it shouldn't have.
Saturday says little about Jeter and more about the frantic, gesticulating media around him. In their hands, it's another piece of a phony narrative that obscures the player being wreathed in praise. In mine, it's something else. I still have that ball.


text:
30 Fabric Colors
Design your own custom creation from our vast selection of over 30 colors and 4 different material types. We have what you need to build a bag that meets your specific needs – from fitness/cheerleading to hockey/football and anything "team" in between.
Made In USA
Ryno is one of the few remaining textile manufacturers still producing products domestically. We are committed to supporting our local economy and the future success of domestic manufacturing by offering all custom products – proudly "Made in America".
Easy Customization
We make it effortless – follow our simple "build-a-bag" 4-step process to create your custom creation and place your order. It's easy. If you need a little help, our trained customer service specialists are available to assist you.


text:
Richie Incognito is going after Jonathan Martin on Twitter.
Incognito, the Dolphins offensive lineman who was suspended for the second half of the regular season after he was accused of bullying Martin, took to Twitter on Wednesday and went on the attack against Martin.
"Dear Jon Martin….. The truth is going to bury you and your entire 'camp'. You could have told the truth the entire time," Incognito wrote.
Incognito also referenced the infamous voicemail in which he used the N-word toward Martin. According to a tweet, Incognito, Martin and teammate Brian Hartline had all joked about the voicemail, and Martin's agent, Ken Zimmerman, was simply stirring up trouble by releasing the voicemail to ESPN.
Incognito described himself as "betrayed" and "railroaded" by Martin.
"I'm ready to move on with my life and career. I've been dragged through the mud for months by my 'best friend,'" Incognito wrote.
What remains unanswered is this: If the truth exonerates Incognito, why did the Dolphins suspend him? And if Incognito did nothing wrong, why did he accept the suspension, instead of fighting it?
Months after Martin left the Dolphins, many questions remain unanswered. Ted Wells, the man the Dolphins appointed to investigate the matter, may answer some of the remaining questions when he releases his long-awaited report.


text:
While many longtime game fans sneer at mobile gaming, I've always tried to keep an open mind about it. Done right, a touch-based game is perfectly valid as a form of interactive entertainment, and while there are plenty of banal and pointless titles clogging up app stores, there remain surprisingly wonderful offerings.
A game's quality is defined not by its platform, but by how it uses that platform to provide an entertaining experience. With that in mind, I was hoping Borderlands Legends would be one of those enjoyable surprises, and not the limp little spin-off everybody had expected it to be.
Oh well … limp it is, then.
Borderlands Legends (iOS)
Developer: 2K China
Publisher: 2K Games
Release: October 31, 2012
Borderlands Legends eschews the first-person perspective of the series' main entries to instead provide squad-based combat of a more tactical leaning. In essence, it takes all its cues from Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, giving us our four vault hunters — Lilith, Roland, Mordecai, and Brick — to command on an isometric battlefield.
Issuing commands is as simple (in theory) as touching a character and touching a target, after which the designated hero will automatically attack. Each of the four characters unlock and use up to three special abilities, engaged by touching the corresponding icons underneath their name. These abilities are in keeping with the character's role in the original game, with Mordecai able to send out his pet Bloodwing to score extra damage, Brick able to pound enemies with powerful melee attacks, Lilith phasewalking to avoid fire, and Roland summoning a turret. As characters level, they can gain new passive and active abilities, allowing them to taunt foes, engage a stealth mode, or create a fake target to draw fire.
In addition to offensive skills, each character also has a support ability, used by touching one ally before touching or dragging to another. Roland can heal his teammates, while Lilith increases their running speed, Mordecai boosts damage, and Brick launches a protective shield.
Missions are made up of sequential screens that spawn enemies from different sides of the map. The objective is basically to wipe everything out, with the occasional extra goal being to destroy certain objects or protect an NPC. After a number of screens, players are taken to a vendor where they can buy new weapons, shields, or ability-enhancing utilities, as well as spend any skill points earned from level gains. Like in the main games, if a character is downed, it can still attack for a limited time, and get a "Second Wind" with a sliver of health if it kills anything. Placing an ally near a downed team member can also revive him or her.
That's … it. After each mission, you get some extra cash, and are thrown into a waiting screen to buy more gear, spend points, and do it all again. Naturally, each mission brings tougher challenges and harder enemies, and there are a few boss-level creatures, but eventually you get the feeling that you're walking in circles, rotating through the same few screens and fighting the same few enemies, with no real objective other than to keep doing it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provided the action is fun in the first place — it isn't.
On a technical level, Borderlands Legends is too cluttered and messy to really work. You have to command each character individually, and getting the right target selected can be a pain when enemies pile in and you're trying to pinpoint the correct, tiny character model. The squad is pretty unreliable, too. Sometimes they'll simply ignore commands, or get stuck on bits of scenery (or each other). Half the time it's better to let the protagonists deal with enemies however they see fit, letting them automatically attack whatever comes close while you dish out combat skills when necessary.
Relying on the A.I. to do half the job is made doubly worse by the fact that, all told, Borderlands Legends is tedious in all of its elements. Lacking the pace, versatility or tactical slant found in Dawn of War, this effort from 2K is a tepid recreation, as small waves of cloned enemies wander aimlessly into view to be popped off by the Vault Hunters in unspectacular ways. It's playable, inoffensive, but ultimately boring.
While there is some simple compulsion in the form of loot-nabbing between rounds, there are many better games to feed one's hoarding urges. Even on iOS, I'd say the leveling and loot system found in something like Infinity Blade is worth your time over this. Outside of the mobile platform, pretty much anything is more rewarding. The real Borderlands games, for example.
Beyond the poorly implemented interface, there's nothing particularly wrong with Borderlands Legends. It's a serviceable little iOS spin-off that provides the most basic and fundamental of playable experiences. However, it's still a monotonous and unexciting slog through a game that plays out like a stuck record, and even the most hardcore of Borderlands fans will find little of interest, lacking as it does the series' trademark personality.
If you ever spot it available for a dollar (and it will be available for a dollar at some point), then it's worth picking up for those days when you're really, really bored. There's nothing in here worth any greater investment than that.


text:
Is That A Bird? #Twitter
I had purchased music software a couple years ago that I had totally forgotten about. That is because I upgraded from Netbook to Desktop to Laptop, and during the transition some of my software was buried.
Ok, so I come across my forgotten software by the name of MAGIX Music Maker (and no I'm not doing a review for the company, but I do like it) and start to mess around with it. I check out some of the loops and come across one titled Twitter. I play it and let it loop a few times and I begin to put a little something together, but even before it's finished I need to give this mix a title. I wasn't sure if I could name it #Twitter and I didn't want to spend the time researching that idea. So I titled it Yeah, It's A Bird. It took me a few more days to finish it and a few more days after that to finalize it. To be honest, I may do a bit more tweaking even though I have it uploaded to SoundCloud.
I actually have three more mixes completed now for a total of 4 but they are not uploaded at this time. I do have them on a disc and play them in my car. I will say that the quality of the sound is better on disc than I had expected. The format uploaded is MP3, while I burned the WAV format to disc.
By the way, did mention that there are no lyrics? I don't sing, but I do plan some experimenting in the future. This mix is 8 minutes and 6 seconds in length. I would love it if you were to hop over and have a listen and by all means, please come back and let me know what you think.


text:
I'm staying home and resting. I'll get on my recumbent bike in a few. I have no ambition to fight crowds to spend money I don't have.
I am not a Black Friday shopper. My dislike of large crowds generally trumps my love of good deals, unfortunately. Plus I couldn't bear for my mother to see me on the front of a newspaper as the poster child for shopping madness, trying to wrestle the last Barbie doll at Target away from some mother hopped up on turkey leftovers, adrenaline, and coffee. (See also: Why People Go Crazy on Black Friday)
This is why I plan to not leave my house on Black Friday. If you're in the same boat (the boat that is anchored at home), there are still plenty of ways to spend Black Friday that will help you get an early start on the holidays.
Winter gift-giving means you'll potentially have lots of new things coming in. Take the day to go through your closets and drawers and get rid of anything you don't use. You might find some re-giftable items, or at the very least a bag of things you can bring to Goodwill next week (don't forget to get a receipt so you can deduct it from your taxes!).
While I love giving homemade gifts, I often leave myself too little time to make everything I want to. This year, my hope is to spend Black Friday knitting, sewing, and infusing alcohol. Wise Bread's writers have plenty of other great homemade gift ideas as well, including homemade gifts for young children, gorgeous silk-flower brooches, and 25 things you can make from old jeans.
Cyber Monday is all well and good, but that doesn't mean there aren't Black Friday deals to be had online. If you haven't already subscribed to our daily deals newsletter, do so now; we'll be sending out emails both Friday and Monday with deals for those days.
Okay, this doesn't help you with your gift-giving, but it does help you get an immediate start on curbing the holiday weight gain so many of us complain about.
The day after Thanksgiving might seem like a bad time to mix up some sweets, but if you make and freeze cookies, you're halfway to having your holiday baking done. Check out Linsey's article on batch cooking for some more information about making and freezing big batches.
December can be a constant whirl of holiday parties, shopping excursions, and decorating-laden weekends. Take a day off!
Are you avoiding the stores on Black Friday? If so, why?
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I'm staying home and resting. I'll get on my recumbent bike in a few. I have no ambition to fight crowds to spend money I don't have.
I'm looking forward to the homemade gifts I can give this year. I never could get the hang of knitting, but I recently learned how to pickle and feel totally empowered to pickle pretty much anything. My dad loves having brined and pickled stuff for his martinis, so that will make gift baskets much easier this year.


text:
Customize your JAMA Network experience by selecting one or more topics from the list below.
Cohen LS, Soares CN, Vitonis AF, Otto MW, Harlow BL. Risk for New Onset of Depression During the Menopausal Transition: The Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63(4):385–390. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.4.385
© 2023
Transition to menopause has long been considered a period of increased risk for depressive symptoms. However, it is unclear whether this period is one of increased risk for major depressive disorder, particularly for women who have not had a previous episode of depression.
To examine the association between the menopausal transition and onset of first lifetime episode of depression among women with no history of mood disturbance.
Longitudinal, prospective cohort study.
A population-based cross-sectional sample.
Premenopausal women, 36 to 45 years of age, with no lifetime diagnosis of major depression (N = 460), residing in 7 Boston, Mass, metropolitan area communities.
Main Outcome Measure
Incidence of new onset of depression based on structured clinical interviews, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores, and an operational construct for depression.
Premenopausal women with no lifetime history of major depression who entered the perimenopause were twice as likely to develop significant depressive symptoms as women who remained premenopausal, after adjustment for age at study enrollment and history of negative life events. The increased risk for depression was somewhat greater in women with self-reported vasomotor symptoms.
The current study suggests that within a similarly aged population of women with no lifetime history of depression, those who enter the menopausal transition earlier have a significant risk for first onset of depression. Further studies are needed to determine more definitively whether other factors, such as the presence of vasomotor symptoms, use of hormone therapy, and the occurrence of adverse life events, independently modify this risk. Physical symptoms associated with the menopausal transition and mood changes seen during this period may affect many women as they age and may lead to a significant burden of illness.
Transition to menopause has long been considered a period of increased risk for depressive symptoms. However, the extent to which this period is one of increased risk for major depressive disorder is less clear. Some1,2 but not all,3,4 studies suggest an association between the menopausal transition and significant psychosocial impairment with concomitant vulnerability to depressive symptoms. These inconsistent findings may be due at least in part to variability in study designs and other methodological limitations. For example, there has been little uniformity with respect to selection of study participants, with some studies targeting specialized menopause clinics, while others have included subjects from community-based samples. Another source of inconsistency across some studies has been the definition of menopausal status. Menopausal status has frequently been assigned based on 1 single criterion (eg, age) or by a combination of various criteria including age, presence of menopause-related symptoms, hormone levels, or history of menstrual cycle irregularity. Last, some studies have lacked a standardized assessment of psychiatric symptoms or disorders and/or rigorous criteria to delineate severity of depressive episodes.5-7
The Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles is a population-based prospective study of premenopausal women with and without a lifetime history of major depression. The specific aim of the initial study was to examine the association between lifetime history of major depression and the decline in ovarian function as measured by an earlier transition to the menopause based on prospectively assessed reproductive endocrine and menstrual cycle changes.8 The design of the study included prospective documentation of menstrual cycle changes and new onset of psychiatric morbidity over time as women approached the menopausal transition. In the current report, we examine the association between the menopausal transition and the onset of first lifetime episode of depression within the group of women from the original cohort who had no history of mood disturbance.
Participants in the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles were selected from a population-based cross-sectional sample of women 36 to 45 years of age residing in 7 Boston, Mass, metropolitan area communities. After achieving a 73% response rate to a self-administered questionnaire that assessed menopausal status and past and current depressive symptoms, 4161 women composed the target population used to identify a sample with and without a lifetime history of major depression. Details regarding data collection and other characteristics of the target population can be found elsewhere.8-10 Briefly, about 30% each of women initially screened with and without depression were eventually enrolled in the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles. Among the remaining women not enrolled, about half were unwilling to make the sizable commitment required for participation in this prospective study. The remaining subjects were ineligible for enrollment because of pregnancy, menopausal status, misclassification of depression status, mania or psychoses, or loss to follow-up after the initial screening assessment. Thus, a sample of women who did (n = 333) and did not (n = 643) meet criteria for past or present major depression, based on structured clinical interviews for DSM-IV (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Outpatient Version [SCID]),11 were prospectively followed up with respect to changes in mood and menstrual status.8
The Brigham and Women's Hospital Human Subjects Research Committee (Boston) approved the study protocol. Study procedures were fully explained to all participants prior to their written consent. On enrollment, in-person interviews were conducted with all study participants regarding their demographic and lifestyle characteristics, menstrual and reproductive history, and past and current medical conditions at study entry. Telephone interviews were conducted every 6 months during a 36-month period, and a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to participants approximately 72 months after study enrollment to track menstrual and medical history changes. We restricted the current analysis to the cohort of women with no lifetime history of major depression.
The World Health Organization defines the perimenopause as the time immediately preceding the menopause, beginning with endocrine, biologic, and clinical changes, and ending a year after the final menstrual period.12 At each follow-up interview, we determined whether a study participant had remained premenopausal or had entered the menopausal transition. A participant was classified as having initiated this transition at the time of the follow-up interview if any of the following events occurred during the previous period: an absolute change of 7 days or greater in menstrual cycle length as compared with cycle length reported at study enrollment; a change in menstrual flow amount (≥2 flow categories [eg, from light or moderately light to moderately heavy or heavy]) or duration (absolute change of ≥2 days); or self-report of skipped periods. These menstrual cycle changes were used to indicate the menopausal transition; similar methods had been previously used in the Massachusetts Women's Health Study,13,14 the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study,15 and other related epidemiologic research.16 The criteria are also consistent with a more recent construct used to characterize the menopausal transition as proposed by the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop.17
We also had an opportunity to examine self-reported vasomotor symptoms during the last period of follow-up and whether the use of hormonal therapy (ie, oral contraceptives or hormone therapy) had been initiated to alleviate hot flushes or symptoms of menstrual irregularity. If so, subjects were categorized as having initiated a "hormone-modulated" perimenopause, in contrast to "natural perimenopause." This information was obtained using a menstrual, reproductive, and general medical history questionnaire completed at the last follow-up interview.
Information regarding the presence of significant adverse life experiences was collected with the Life Experience Survey (LES), a questionnaire assessing the presence of 57 events in the past 6 months, with the impact of these events rated on a 7-point scale.18 Consistent with previous studies, we submitted for analysis the sum (absolute value) of the negatively rated items as our index of negative life stress, with higher scores indicating higher levels of negative events.19 In assessing the influence of LES on the association between the perimenopausal transition and risk of new onset of depression, we used the most recent LES questionnaire that preceded both the menopausal transition and new onset of depression. We used a trichotomous distribution (none, 1 or 2, ≥3 negative life events) when adjusting for LES in our logistic models and a dichotomous variable (none, ≥1 negative life events) when assessing the effect modification of LES on our association of menopausal transition and new onset of depression.
During the first 3 years of follow-up, new onset of depression was defined based on telephone-administered SCID interviews. The last follow-up occurred between 59 and 92 months from study enrollment and took into consideration the period following the initial 36 months of follow-up. At that point, assessment of depressive symptoms during the past month was based on self-reported Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale20 (CES-D) scores; the occurrence of depression at other times was captured based on responses to 3 questions about experiences subjects may have had including (1) a 2-week period of feeling depressed or down nearly every day, (2) a loss of interest or pleasure in things usually enjoyed, or (3) having been bothered by depressed mood more than half of the time. Subjects were considered to have had a new episode of depression if they had CES-D scores of 16 or higher or responded positively to at least 1 of the 3 questions mentioned earlier. The occurrence of a more severe episode of depression was considered if the CES-D scores were higher than 24 or if the subjects positively endorsed questions 1 and 2 mentioned earlier. The operational definition for depression used during the last follow-up assessment had shown high sensitivity and specificity when data were compared with those of women enrolled in the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles who met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder based on SCID interviews.
To identify potential confounders, we compared the distribution of age, education, parity, and prior use of oral contraceptives between those who did and did not transition to the perimenopause. We used unconditional logistic regression to examine the relationship between menopausal transition and first onset of depression. Women who did and did not make the menopausal transition were not matched on any covariates. However, differences between the 2 groups by age at study enrollment were controlled for in the logistic regression models. We also assessed the risk of new onset of depression within the perimenopausal subjects stratified by presence or absence of vasomotor symptoms and by occurrence of natural perimenopause (without any hormonal intervention) or hormonally modulated perimenopause. Additionally, we stratified all subjects by history of adverse life events and examined the relationship between menopausal transition and any first onset of depression within each group. Vasomotor symptoms among perimenopausal subjects were also examined by this stratification.
Of the original 643 cohort members, we excluded 31 women who were taking oral contraceptives at study enrollment because they could not be assessed for onset to perimenopause; 17 women who became menopausal; and 7 women who were lost to follow-up after baseline enrollment. Of the remaining 588 women, we also excluded 128 who failed to provide the last follow-up interview because critical information on the presence of vasomotor symptoms was only obtained at that follow-up visit. Thus, based on the criteria established for menopausal transition, 134 women remained premenopausal at the end of the last follow-up period, while 326 women had entered the perimenopause.
As presented in Table 1, women who entered the menopausal transition were similar to those who remained premenopausal with respect to education, parity, and history of oral contraceptive use. However, as expected, women who entered the perimenopause were older than women who remained premenopausal.
Premenopausal women with no lifetime history of major depression who entered the perimenopause were nearly twice as likely to develop depressive symptoms as women with no history of depression who remained premenopausal, after adjustment for age at study enrollment and history of negative life events as recorded on LES (Table 2). Entering the menopausal transition was more strongly associated with risk of new onset of depression in women who reported the presence of vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes). We further stratified the group of women who entered the perimenopause based on use of hormonal therapy to ease perimenopausal symptoms or to regulate menstrual cycles. A similar association between menopausal transition and risk of new onset of depressive symptoms was observed in those women whose transition occurred with and without hormonal intervention. A greater percentage of women with "severe" first onset of depression were naturally perimenopausal (ie, without reporting use of hormonal interventions); however, the small numbers in each subgroup could potentially explain this difference.
Table 3 shows that women with a history of negative life events were at a significantly increased risk of developing a first episode of depression as they transitioned to perimenopause compared with those who remained premenopausal. This increased risk did not appear to be attributable to the presence of vasomotor symptoms.
Several epidemiologic studies have now demonstrated the substantial prevalence of mood disorder in women at distinct periods across their life cycle. The current investigation demonstrated high rates of serious mood disturbance in premenopausal and perimenopausal women (9.5% and 16.6%, respectively), consistent with some prevalence estimates from other community-based samples21,22 but higher than other prevalence estimates for women in the same age group.23
Recent reports have consistently documented that the perimenopause is a time of increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms in women. Results from a multiethnic community-based cohort of premenopausal and perimenopausal women (SWAN study) showed that mood symptoms and irritability are more likely to occur in perimenopausal than in premenopausal women. In addition, reports of persistent mood symptoms remained higher among perimenopausal women after adjustment for potential confounding factors such as vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbances.24 In a recent community-based study by Freeman and colleagues,25 an increased likelihood of depressive symptoms (as assessed by CES-D scores) was noted among women transitioning to menopause and a decreased likelihood, after onset of frank menopause (based on increasing follicle-stimulating hormone profile). Similarly, Schmidt and colleagues26 prospectively assessed 29 premenopausal women until the occurrence of amenorrhea for at least 6 months. The risk observed for new episodes of depression was significantly higher during the 24 months surrounding the final menses.
Other investigators have previously suggested an increased risk for depressive symptoms during the transition to perimenopause.1,4,24 However, in most studies, menopausal status has been defined solely on menstrual regularity or age and, in some cases, information regarding presence of vasomotor symptoms. Information regarding concurrent hormone therapy (if any) used to alleviate such symptoms has not been systematically studied.1,2
Our study suggests an increased risk for the development of a first episode of depression among women entering the perimenopause. To our knowledge, this prospective documentation of increased risk for depression among women without a history of depression is unique, particularly given our more rigorous efforts to define menopausal status and to characterize the presence of significant depression.
In the current study, the increased risk for depression during the menopausal transition appeared to be accentuated by the presence of vasomotor symptoms. This association between vasomotor symptoms and occurrence and severity of reported depression, particularly among perimenopausal women, is consistent with some,27 but not all,24,25 previous investigations. The relationship between hot flushes and depression during the menopausal transition is not yet fully understood and may result from a number of factors. Hot flushes frequently lead to a significant sleep disruption, severe enough to adversely affect daytime functioning and to impact quality of life.28 Thus, the presence of mood disturbances during the perimenopause could be secondary to hot flush–induced sleep disturbance—the so-called domino theory.29 Alternatively, the occurrence of depression and hot flushes during the perimenopause may represent a distinct phenomenon caused by changes in the reproductive hormonal milieu to which some, but not all, women are particularly sensitive.12,30 This hypothesis is supported by evidence suggesting that both estrogen and serotonin may modulate hypothalamic thermoregulatory function. Thus, abrupt changes in neuromodulatory function and/or in reproductive-hormone levels could contribute to the constellation of mood and vasomotor symptoms seen in some perimenopausal women.31,32
Women in the current sample who entered the menopausal transition and who concurrently initiated hormonal therapies to alleviate symptoms or to regulate their cycles demonstrated a similar risk for developing any depressive symptoms but a somewhat decreased risk of developing depression (ie, severe depressive symptoms) compared with those who did not take these agents. This difference could easily be due to chance, given the small numbers; however, there is growing evidence to suggest that estrogen-based preparations (oral contraceptives, hormone therapies) may have an ameliorative effect on mood, particularly in perimenopausal subpopulations,33-35 aside from a well-established positive impact on vasomotor symptoms.36 Given the various effects of estrogen on the central nervous system,37,38 hormonal therapies may have a direct and positive impact on mood independent of any effect on vasomotor symptoms.33,39
The putative ameliorative effects of estrogen on mood are also particularly noteworthy given the recent reports from the Women's Health Initiative study and the extent to which these reports have influenced clinical care with respect to use of estrogen in women at various stages of reproductive life—and not only in postmenopausal women.40-42 The Women's Health Initiative study has prompted important safety issues with respect to the use of hormone therapy in nonsymptomatic, postmenopausal women. However, the extrapolation of these findings may have also affected the use of estrogen for its primary indication—the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic, younger women.43,44 The findings described in the current report may underline the importance of still considering estrogen-based therapies for the treatment of symptomatic, perimenopausal women. The putative association of vasomotor symptoms and risk for depression in this subpopulation also underscores the importance of identifying safe and efficacious nonhormonal strategies for the treatment of symptomatic, perimenopausal women who are unable or unwilling to use estrogen preparations.45-48
In the current study, we also noted a greater risk for developing depression among women who experienced major life events proximate to the inception of perimenopause, regardless of concurrent vasomotor symptoms. When we assessed the proportion of LES assessments that were antecedent, as opposed to subsequent, to the menopausal transition, we observed that a similar proportion reported negative (defined as ≥1 item) life events (72.6% and 77.5%, respectively). Furthermore, among women with LES assessments prior to perimenopause, 32% reported any first new onset of depressive symptoms compared with 28% of women with LES assessments subsequent to perimenopause. Thus, our association of menopausal transition and risk of new onset of depression is not likely due to an association between negative life events and new onset of depression. These results are also consistent with previous findings49 and with diathesis-stress models of depression onset50 where, in this case, a changing hormonal environment during perimenopause may lower the threshold for depression should negative life events be encountered. These results also support the hypothesis that many factors may contribute to an increased risk for new onset of depression among perimenopausal women, with vasomotor symptoms and life events appearing to independently contribute to the increased risk of depression in this group of women.
The current study has some important methodological limitations. First, data used to prospectively assess and classify subjects as having "depression" were not based solely on structured clinical interviews. However, previous work with the initial cohort of women with and without history of depression revealed that by using the same construct to characterize the occurrence of depression, we observed adequate sensitivity with respect to the diagnosis of major depression as compared with the SCID.9 Second, the presence of vasomotor symptoms was determined based on self-reported questionnaires. It has been suggested that women experiencing hot flushes may underestimate the frequency or severity of these symptoms, particularly if the assessment is retrospective.51 Ideally, investigations should include the use of hot flush composite scores,45,48,52 which are accompanied by objective measures of core body temperature variations.53
Third, women were interviewed every 6 months through the initial 3 years of follow-up. However, between the 36-month interview and the last follow-up assessment, there was a substantially larger interval—between 59 and 92 months. Therefore, the third limitation of the study was our inability to assess a more precise temporal relationship between menopausal transition and new onset of depression among those women who made the transition to perimenopause and also developed new onset of depressive symptoms during this larger interval. However, when we limited the analysis to the first 36 months of follow-up, we still observed that 7.2% of women who made the perimenopausal transition developed new onset of depression compared with 2.9% of women who remained premenopausal (odds ratio, 2.7 [95% confidence interval, 1.0-6.9]; P = .04).
Last, as noted in Table 3, we were unable to collect information from all participants with respect to vasomotor symptoms and their association with new onset of depression among perimenopausal women with or without a history of adverse life events. Although subtle increased risk for developing depression was noted among those perimenopausal women who had reported both heightened frequency of adverse life events and vasomotor symptoms, it is possible that missing data contributed to an underestimation of the relative contribution of vasomotor symptoms for the occurrence of depression in this subpopulation. Prospective studies where missing data are minimized would be able to more completely clarify this issue.
Despite the fact that most women do not develop depression during the menopausal transition, the current study suggests that, relative to women who remain premenopausal, similarly aged women who begin the transition to menopause appear to be at an increased risk for first onset of depression even in the absence of a history of depression. If confirmed by other studies, this finding will carry important public health implications. In the United States only, approximately 1.5 million women may reach menopause each year. A spectrum of symptoms and syndromes has been extensively described in women during the menopausal transition including severe vasomotor symptoms, loss of bone density, sexual dysfunction, a decline in cognitive function, and a potential increased risk for cardiovascular disease.54-56 Thus, the comorbidity of these problems with perimenopause-associated depression could affect many aging women, leading to a compounded burden of illness.
Correspondence: Lee S. Cohen, MD, Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry Clinical Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman St, WACC 815, Boston, MA 02114 (email@example.com).
Submitted for Publication: January 31, 2005; final revision received May 20, 2005; accepted July 28, 2005.
Financial Disclosure: Dr Cohen receives research support from Forest Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, and Sepracor; is a consultant for Eli Lilly and Company, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals; and is on the Speaker's Bureau for Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, Forest Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, and Berlex Pharmaceuticals. Dr Soares is on the Speaker's Bureau for the Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and has received honoraria as a research consultant for Sepracor, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, and Neurocrine.
Funding/Support: This research was supported by grant R01-MH-50013 from the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.


text:
Conventional wisdom has it that net neutrality is dead. Embalmed. Buried. Covered with six feet of dirt and a mahogany lid. But just in time for All Hallows Eve, the concept has risen from the dead like a zombie and started shambling round the halls of Congress as two senators asked the Senate Commerce Committee to look into the issue of network discrimination this week.
Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) have tag-teamed in the past on the net neutrality issue, and they're still a formidable bipartisan duo. On Friday, the two senators asked the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to see if a lack of network neutrality rules were causing problems for Americans in the wake of some widely-publicized PR gaffes by some of the country's largest telecommunications firms.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. Critics argued only a few weeks back that the issue had lost traction, both in Congress and among the public, because there just weren't any actual problems to get worked into a lather about. Who needed rules when the telcos and cable operators were all behaving themselves so well?
And then came the bad behavior, the litany of minor cases, dropping like early Christmas gifts into the laps of net neutrality advocates across the country. AT&T censored political lyrics in a Pearl Jam webcast (then apologized). Verizon initially blocked a mass text message from NARAL Pro-Choice America (then apologized). Comcast was found to be delaying BitTorrent and Lotus Notes traffic (and remains unapologetic). AT&T's new terms of service appeared to prohibit criticism of the company (the company apologized and changed the terms).
The companies have all been quick to see just how bad such censorship looks from a PR perspective; even Comcast has gone on a PR offensive to convince journalists and customers that it is not monitoring, filtering, or throttling traffic (it's just... delaying it a bit). But the damage appears to have been done. No matter how many apologies or explanations are offered, net neutrality backers now have solid examples of the ways in which ISPs can affect the lives of ordinary netizens.
Whether the renewed Congressional interest in the matter will lead anywhere is one of the world's great imponderables, right up there with "How far past its expiration date can I drink from this carton of milk?" Several federal agencies that might be charged with implementing network neutrality laws have already made their stances clear, though. The FTC has weighed in with its opinion on network neutrality ("No"), and the Department of Justice wrote a less-than-convincing position paper of its own that came to the same conclusion, but in stronger terms ("Hell, no!"). The FCC is still looking into the issue.
Despite this federal skepticism, Dorgan and Snowe's letter will come as a relief to network neutrality backers, who could only be more pleased if Ed Whitacre came out of retirement and started shooting off his mouth again.


text:
Savannah is a city located along the eastern coast of Georgia. The city was once the state capital and is one of the oldest cities in the state. A Savannah guide is often helpful in locating special events. The city is known for its shopping malls, ghost tales and its close proximity to Tybee Island beach. Residents have no problem finding things to do within the historic district.
Visit the shops in the City Market, which is located in the center of the historic district. The open-air market is used by local traders and farmers who wish to sell their goods. The cobblestone streets have been blocked off to traffic, but the horse-drawn carriages offer an alternative mode of transportation. Listen to the street musicians playing their guitars in the park or choose from a wide variety of favorite candies at Savannah's Candy Kitchen. Another place that should be on the list of Savannah things to do, is visiting Paula Deen's world-renowned restaurant The Lady and Sons. It features fine dining in a casual atmosphere and a variety of southern comfort foods. Reserve a spot on the ghost tour, which offers a nightly guide to Savannah's most famous haunted spots.
For individuals who enjoy socializing, Savannah is a city that is rich in nightlife. Club One offers nightly dancing and events. Hang out with friends at the video bar and sample items from the cafe. Club One has three pool tables and a large selection of video poker and game machines. Meet friends after work for happy hour to relax and unwind. The club is one of the places to find Savannah deals on drinks and southern cooking.
The city offers many special events throughout the year, and a Savannah guide can keep residents updated on new events and dates of ongoing activities.


text:
As far as I have been able to find out the Manis family did start out as a clan. They were Scottish and they started with the name Manus. They were a part of the Clan Gun Manus.
In studying the Manis family, I have found more news stories than I expected.
My 3 great grandfather was abused by his third wife and youngest daughter. The abuse brought on his death. It was written about in the Anderson paper.
I have also found articles on Perry Manis, He was my 1 cousin 4X removed. He committed a murder. He abducted a woman and killed her. They didn't find her body for a while. After he was in jail, he attempted jail break, but was caught. The murder happened in Terre Haute, Indiana, but was even published about in the New York Times.
Recently, I have found 2 more accounts of Manis's committing murder or at least killing someone. In one account two young men get in an argument and one shoots the other. Apparently in self-defense. The main witness was the brother of the man doing the shooting.
The second murder was a man, Lester Manis, who threw his wife out of the car and killed her. He left her laying on the road. He told his son that his mother fell out of the car.
With these two Manis's I am still working on them and their family connection. I know they are connected. They came from the same area as my 3 great grandfather's brother, Carter Manis. The town was very small, it still isn't large. I am sure they are related.
There is more work to do one these last two stories, but I am amazed at what all I have found on the Manis family. Thank goodness some of these are distantly related. It does add color to the family tree and the information if easily found. I'm just happy that it didn't occur in my direct line.


text:
Upon having made the practical choice to get started using printed out media as an important part of your business promoting program you then must find a great qualified duplicate go shopping to generate your published material.
What divides one particular printing store from an additional and why would one particular store better that the next 1? The actual fact in the matter, is that you have several things that you should think about when making your choice about what copy retail outlet you are likely to use.
Cost, obviously could be 1 thing to consider but cost of what? You must know all the alternatives that you are likely to have before you set out to comparing go shopping. "Counteract" publishing, is the most simple and lowest priced publishing which is offered and it is what you will use in case you are mainly enthusiastic about bulk generating at the smallest selling price possible.
"Computerized publishing, is actually a stamping process where the impression is moved digitally towards the printer from a pc plus it gives the same good quality as counteract generating, with increased attribute alternatives. "Big file format" generating is just what it appears like and can be carried out on a variety of resources like material or vinyl.
"Custom publishing" is any sort of stamping that is unusual in fact it is for this reason you should question a produce store whatever they determine as custom, since one particular go shopping may give a services or providers in training course while another shop may wish to demand added for such same providers as custom generating.
It is essential to bear in mind that any copy go shopping would like to do business with you and if you are going being possessing material published upon an continuous time frame then you certainly should tell them that. It is essential that you do not find yourself in trouble hopping from a single printing go shopping to a different one, when you will be significantly better served by getting and developing a operating connection with an excellent qualified version store.
Inspired by: ezinearticles


text:
The FCC has established September 1, 2015 date for the termination of all analog low power television service. After that date, analog television will no longer be broadcast in the United States. Until that time, low power television stations may continue to operate their analog facilities.
Low power television stations have the opportunity to seek either an on-channel digital conversion of their existing analog facilities ("flash cut") or may construct and operate a second digital companion channel during the remainder of the digital transition. However, all low power television stations will be required to decide a single digital channel to continue to operate after the September 1, 2015 transition date.
If you have an analog-only television that receives free over-the-air programming (with a roof-top antenna or "rabbit ears" on the TV), you will need to purchase a digital-to-analog ("D-to-A") converter box in order to watch digital broadcast television. If you purchase a D-to-A converter box to watch digital broadcasts on an analog TV and also wish to continue watching analog LPTV, Class A or TV translator stations, you should purchase a converter box with "analog pass-through" capability, which allows analog broadcast signals to pass through the converter box to be tuned by your analog TV. Converter boxes are still sold at some department and electronics stores and online. When shopping for a converter box, check to make sure the converter box you are purchasing has analog pass-through capability.
If you purchase a digital-to-analog converter box without analog pass-through capability, you can use an "A-B switch" and/or a "signal splitter" and some extra cable to route the analog signals around the converter box in order to watch analog channels. A set-up guide is available at www.fcc.gov/guides/digital-analog-converter-box-setup-viewing-analog-and-digital-broadcasts. Alternatively, you can disconnect the antenna from the converter box and re-connect it directly to the TV to watch analog broadcasts. Check with the manufacturer of the digital-to-analog converter box and your retailer if you need additional instructions on how to connect the box to view broadcasts from both analog and digital stations.
Print Out
DTV Transition and LPTV - Class A - Translator Stations Guide (pdf)


text:
Friday Philosophy – Should I Be a Twit? October 21, 2011Posted by mwidlake in Blogging, Friday Philosophy, Perceptions.
Tags: Blogging, perception, private, Twitter
Something I have been pondering for a while now is should I join in with the "happening crowd" and sign up to Twitter? I know, I'm two or three years behind the times on this, but more and more people who I like have signed up – even Doug Burns now uses twitter and he used to be negative about it in the same way as I. I've asked a few of these friends what they think.
I've always resisted the whole micro-blogging world, probably due to the comments made by people about how much dross is tweeted and what a time sink it can be, something the people I asked all mentioned. And partly, being candid, because I know one of my faults is to shoot my mouth off before engaging my brain, especially if annoyed. If it takes 20 seconds to do a tweet, I shudder to think some of the things I might have put out there in the heat of the moment or when in the pub. Pub talk is fine, so long as it is kept in the pub. With a blog, it takes me so long to write them I tend to calm down before sending, if I am angry.
Also, tweets are not my style. I don't know if you have noticed but I can be a little verbose {this means I spout several sentences where 5 words would do}. Can I be succinct enough to say anything anyone else would want to read?
That's the writing of tweets, what about the following? I could just be a passive follower. But how many? This is part of the advice given to me by Neil Chandler and also Doug, to only follow a few people so that you do not just drown in an endless feed of stuff. I guess that anything good gets re-tweeted and so you see stuff not just by those you follow but the best bits of what they follow? Neil also suggested that part of what makes twitter work is joining in, don't just be passive.
Something about Twitter that does bug me a lot, and this is just part of the whole texting/smartphone/constant communication thing of modern life, is when people you are spending social time with just sit staring at their bloody phone. I just find that really rude and I also think it's a bit depressing when you see three or four people in the pub or restaurant, all staring at their smartphones and not communicating with each other. You might as well stay in bed. Alone. {Oh good grief what a terrible thought! Do couples who do social media now just sit in bed with their phones in front of them, ignoring their supposed love of their life?}
But of course there are advantages to Twitter. There is a lot of interesting stuff that goes on only in the twitter world and some of the tweets I have seen have been hilarious. It's far more lightweight than blogging, something you can do in a quiet moment. Though Doug suggests this is why you get so much dross about travelling, people catch up on twitter when bored and also tweet then. Niall Litchfield made a very interesting point to me in that it allows you to keep up on a large range of topics and see new ideas and thoughts more. I like that. In fact, Niall sent me an excellent list of reasons for and against, which I'll {almost} finish on.
From Niall:
Reasons for :
– I get vicarious updates from a large number of sources on a large number of subjects. (Oracle,SQL,Science,Politics)
– It can suit my short and acerbic style from time to time.
– More people are doing it
– It indirectly promotes me (albeit with a somewhat misleading image)
– I find stuff I wouldn't otherwise have found
– I have engaged with product managers I probably wouldn't have done
Reasons not:
– time wasting
– addictive
– it promotes me in a misleading way
– it can annoy others
I like it because I'm an information junkie and like to keep abreast of stuff in several areas. It can be a colossal waste of time and irritate immensely.
I think I might well give it a go and that leads to my last thought. If I am going to enter the world of twitter, I am going to have to get a new phone. My current one is so basic that it does little more than just make and receive calls. But a single charge lasts a week.
- 2. David Harper - October 21, 2011
You don't need to sign up to Twitter to justify buying a smartphone. If you get an Android phone, there's a WordPress app which will allow you to share your wit and wisdom, wherever you happen to be.


text:
Mission Impossible Fallout review: ACTION FEST!
Tom Cruise's inspiring dedication to daredevilry is the backbone of the Mission Impossible series. Many jaw-dropping, eye-popping, spectacles have come off it unswervingly, unbelievably. In the age of instant gratification and waning memory, the greatest challenge is to rouse repeat value. Ethan Hunt's … Continue reading


text:
In this section
Request an appointment at Franklin Pediatrics
Fill out the form below, and you will be contacted to set up your appointment within 1-2 business days. If you are a MyChart user, you may schedule an appointment online.
Note: Do not use this form for urgent or emergency situations. Please call your doctor's office right away, or if this is an emergency, please visit your nearest emergency room. Learn more about Children's Wisconsin's ER.


text:
Austin City Limits Taping – Radiohead
This was my second trip to the Moody Theater for an Austin City Limits taping. I was back in section 1 in the balcony on the left side. We were on row A, right in the front of the balcony. That row has a slightly obscured view of the stage due to the height of the wall that runs around the edge of the balcony. It's necessary to lean forward to see the entire stage.
This time, it was Radiohead who are playing tonight at the Erwin Center. I had tickets for that show as well in the upper deck. When I got the chance to attend the ACL taping, I sold the tickets to a friend. They'll get a longer set at the Erwin Center, but it won't be as intimate and the sound won't be as good.
Terry Lickona introduced the band and also announced that the development on Block 21 that includes the Moody Theater where the show has been taping for a year has been awarded the LEED Silver Certification for Commitment to Sustainability, the first such award to a mixed use development of its size.
Comparing last night's set list with the one from Houston, we didn't get one of my favorites, "Everything In Its Right Place". However, we did get three b-sides: "Daily Mail", "The Amazing Sounds of Orgy" and "Staircase". Thom Yorke introduced "Orgy" as a song he'd written 10 years ago that disappeared like a "wet fart in the wind". It's about the banking industry and how it appeared poised for a collapse. It seems that Mr. Yorke was a little early, but still correct. They also played a few new numbers including "Identikit" which has been played throughout the tour and a new one called "Skirting the Surface". Looking at the rest of the list, they played the first 5 tracks from The King of Limbs, three from Hail To The Thief, two from In Rainbows, one from Kid A, and one from OK Computer.
The sound, as always, was amazing, particularly during "Daily Mail" which starts with just Thom Yorke on piano. (I highly recommend picking up the Daily Mail / Staircase single). There was a lot of switching out of instruments between songs. The double drummer setup made for some interesting cross-rhythms throughout the show. Bass player, Colin Greenwood, stayed between the two drummers in the back for much of the set while Thom Yorke danced around like a crazed Leprechaun. They did two takes of "Reckoner". Yorke wasn't happy with the first take and had the band start over again.
The show will air sometime in October on KLRU (Channel 9) locally or your PBS affiliate.
Set list:
- Bloom
- Little by Little
- Daily Mail
- Myxomatosis
- Morning Mr. Magpie
- The Gloaming
- The Amazing Sounds of Orgy
- Staircase
- Reckoner
- Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
- Identikit
- Lotus Flower
- There There
- Feral
- Idioteque
- Skirting on the Surface (encore)
- Paranoid Android (encore)
1 Comment so far
[…] Radiohead taped an episode of Austin City Limits last night
at the Moody Theater in Austin and we have the setlist for you. No
word on when the show will air on TV, but we're hearing October.


text:
- Details
Rebounding is among one of the most important basketball skills, and this ReBound Dome is an awesome tool for developing this skill. Built from heavy-duty clear lexan molded plastic. Seven durable rubber mounts snap on/off for quick installation. Dome works on all regulation rims.
- Constructed of heavy-duty clear lexan molded plastic
- 7 durable rubber mounts snap on and off for easy installation
- Fits all regulation rims
- 5 year warranty
- Additional Information
Material 1298819 SKU 1298819 Pid 65682 Weight 3.2050 LB Brand N/A Ship Method Ships FedEx Manufacturer Part Number No
- Warranty
Warranty : 1 Year
Every item is guaranteed to be free of defects in workmanship or materials for one year from the original date of delivery when installed and maintained properly. We agree to repair or replace without charge, at our choice, any product judged defective for either of these reasons and to return the item (or its replacement) freight prepaid. Products that do not have a special guarantee carry up to a one-year guarantee which is honored only when the product is inspected and found to have experienced normal use.
- Reviews
Write Your Own Review
- Tags