text:
New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad
Caboose No. 0112
Caboose 0112 being delivered at Croxton, NJ 10-4-1948
John L. Treen photo
|New York, Susquehanna & Western R.R. (NYS&W) Caboose 0112 was originally constructed by the International Car Co. in 1948. It was built as part of a ten-car order to replace the NYS&W's aging fleet of wooden cabooses. It is a standard International steel NE-6 Cupola – style caboose design. Over the next 30 years, No. 0112 served the Susquehanna well until it was retired and sold to a private individual in 1979. During it's last years on the "Squeak", 0112, along with her sister cabooses, had their windows plywooded over in an effort to reduce vandalism and protect train crews from being injured by rocks thrown at the trains as they rolled along the Eastern end of the railroad.
|In 1982 the car was acquired by the Morristown & Erie Railway (M&E). Shortly thereafter, it was refurbished by the M&E shop crew and painted and lettered into the Morristown & Erie scheme and given the road number "4". The caboose features solar-powered lighting which was installed by the railroad in the mid-1980's. For the next 3 decades the caboose was a familiar sight at the end of M&E freight trains. Since 2005 the caboose has been included in the regular consist of the Museum's Summer Excursion Train Rides, but was being used less frequently on freight runs. In 2011 the caboose was retired from freight service and in January 2012, it was acquired by the Whippany Railway Museum.
|NYS&W Caboose 0119 rolls through
Hyper-Humus, NJ in 1948.
Photo: Bob Collins
|Keeping with the Museum's program to restore its heritage collection to as near original state as possible, Museum volunteers have restored the caboose to its original 1948 Susquehanna Railroad appearance (including its original number 0112), both inside and outside. The car will continue operating on Whippany Railway Museum excursion trains, while presenting visitors with yet another example of New Jersey Railroad History
"I am the private individual who purchased Caboose No. 0112 from the New York, Susquehanna & Western RR. The railroad ran an ad in Railfan Magazine offering four cabooses for sale and NYS&W Conductor John L. Treen helped me pick out the best of the lot and got me a bargain price on it. I began restoring it shortly after it arrived in Morristown, NJ and was soon approached by the demolition firm that was dismantling the old Hanover Mill complex of Whippany Paper Board Co. in Whippany. They wanted to lease the caboose for use as a night watchman's office as they had no suitable building at the entrance to the property. A deal was quickly struck and the car was placed at the end-of-track for six months at the site now occupied by the Christian Peter Business Park at 9 Whippany Road. Some time thereafter, Morristown & Erie Railway president Ben Friedland made me an offer to purchase the caboose when he saw it for the first time. I sold the car to the M&E and my wife and I used the money for our first trip to Europe in June of 1982 following our wedding in October 1981.
I still remember my fiance', Leslie's reaction when I brought her to Morristown to see the caboose. "That's nice. What the Hell are you going to do with it?" I told her I might put it in our backyard when we finally were able to afford a house. Although she didn't say anything, her facial expression said it all. By then I am convinced she figured she was about to marry a total nut-case, but marry we did, and we're happily married all these years later.
I am pleased that the caboose is now in the hands of the Whippany Railway Museum, where it can be seen and ridden by future generations who might otherwise never have known what a caboose is.
I had the best of both worlds. I not only owned this caboose and saved it from scrapping, but also got to work onboard her many times during my tenure on the M&E. It doesn't get much better than that."
Al Holleuffer (2012), NJ Transit Locomotive Engineer; former Superintendent, Morristown & Erie Railway; Whippany Railway Museum Charter Member


text: It can be approximated more and more than 67 million people India are susceptible to diabetes mellitus and another 30 million happen to be in the pre-diabetic issues phase. These stats are scary with near to one-10th from the inhabitants in america struggling with great glucose levels. Health experts check this out becoming an high… Continue reading Tips to Find a Diabetologist in Your Area

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Michael Gerson considers the implications of the Obama administration's betrayal of its Catholic allies in its adoption of Obamacare regulations requiring the provision of benefits including sterilization, contraception and abortifacients. He singles out three Obama supporters for consideration:
Consider Catholicism's most prominent academic leader, the Rev. John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame. Jenkins took a serious risk in sponsoring Obama's 2009 honorary degree and commencement address — which promised a "sensible" approach to the conscience clause. Jenkins now complains, "This is not the kind of 'sensible' approach the president had in mind when he spoke here." Obama has made Jenkins — and other progressive Catholic allies — look easily duped.
Consider Catholicism's highest-ranking elected official, Vice President Biden. Biden had encouraged engagement with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on conscience rights. Now he will be remembered as the Catholic cover for the violation of Catholic conscience. Betrayal is always an inside job.
Consider Catholicism's most prominent clerical leader, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, head of the Conference of Catholic Bishops. Dolan had pursued a policy of engagement with the administration. In November, he met face to face with Obama, who was earnestly reassuring on conscience protections. On Jan. 20, during a less-cordial phone conversation, Obama informed Dolan that no substantial concession had been made. How can Dolan make the argument for engagement now?
Gerson's anger is revealed in the middle of these three paragraphs. While Jenkins and Dolan are dupes, according to Gerson, Biden is a betrayer. That is a rather loaded charge in this context. Gerson then moves on to the larger point:
The implications of Obama's power grab go further than contraception and will provoke opposition beyond Catholicism. Christian colleges and universities of various denominations will resist providing insurance coverage for abortifacients. And the astounding ambition of this federal precedent will soon be apparent to every religious institution. Obama is claiming the executive authority to determine which missions of believers are religious and which are not — and then to aggressively regulate institutions the government declares to be secular. It is a view of religious liberty so narrow and privatized that it barely covers the space between a believer's ears.
Obama's decision also reflects a certain view of liberalism. Classical liberalism was concerned with the freedom to hold and practice beliefs at odds with a public consensus. Modern liberalism uses the power of the state to impose liberal values on institutions it regards as backward. It is the difference between pluralism and anti-clericalism.
This is a provocative column. Gerson has a point here, but I think it is too particularized in his telling. Obamacare represents the progressive assault on limited constitutional government. If Catholic leaders have lent the assault a hand in the past, one can only hope that they awaken to the implications.


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A statement from Flynn's publisher, Simon & Schuster, Inc., said he died Wednesday.
Flynn self-published his first book, "Term Limits," in 1997 before landing a publishing deal. "Term Limits" became a New York Times bestseller. Most of his books centered on the character Mitch Rapp, a counterterrorism operative.
He averaged a book a year.
Flynn announced in 2011 that he had been diagnosed with stage three metastatic prostate cancer.


text:
200 OK :: Internet Information Services, ASP.NET and other sundry things
In Part 3 of this series we look at setting up Kerberos Authentication in the simplest possible scenario. If you missed Parts 1 (What is Kerberos and how does it work) and 2 (Service Principal Names) they may be worth reading first. In this scenario, we have a client, a DC and a single IIS server. As we progress through the series, we will progressively add more elements into the mix.
In this very simplistic example a client wishes to authenticate to a website hosted on the webserver. The sequence of events is illustrated in the diagram:
1) The client makes a HTTP Request2) The server denies the request with a 401 Authorization Required. It includes the WWW-Authenticate: Negotiate header and/or the WWW-Authenticate: Kerberos header indicating that it supports Kerberos authentication3) The client requests a Service Ticket from the KDC hosted on the Domain Controller4) The Domain Controller returns the Service Ticket5) The Client generates the Authenticator, and sends this plus the Service Ticket in a new HTTP request to the web server6) The webserver determines the identity of the client, checks the ACL on the resource and either permits or denies access to the resource.
In order for this sequence of events to work the following need to be configured.
The BrowserFor Internet Explorer to use Kerberos to authenticate to IIS the following must be configured correctly:
The Domain ControllerFor the Domain Controller to generate the appropriate tickets to give to the client an appropriate Service Principal Name (SPN) must be registered in Active Directory. When a Windows Server 2003 machine is added to a domain, a HOST SPN for both the NetBIOS name and the FQDN of the server is automatically added to Active Directory. If your website is accessible at http://servername or http://servername.domain.tld (tld = Top Level Domain, such .com or .local) and the web application pool is running as Network Service, Local Service or Local System, you do not need to change any SPNs.
If the web application pool hosting the site is running under a custom account, the SPN HTTP/servername or HTTP/servername.domain.tld needs to be registered under that custom user account. If those HTTP SPNs exist under any other account, they need to be removed.
And lastly, if the website is accessible at an arbitrary hostname that is unrelated to the actual server's name (e.g. www.domain.tld) then a SPN needs to be registered for that hostname. If the web application pool hosting the website is running as Network Service, Local Service or LocalSystem, then the SPN needs to be registered under the server's computer account. If the web app pool is running under a custom user account, then the SPN needs to be registered under that user account in Active Directory.
SPNs can be added using a GUI-based tool such as ADSIEdit. Or can be added programmatically using an interface to AD (such as ADSI), or can be added using the SetSPN.exe command line tool (SetSPN is discussed in Part 2 of IIS and Kerberos listed earlier). To add an SPN using SetSPN for:
The IIS ServerThere isn't a lot to configure on the IIS Server. Firstly Integrated Windows Authentication (IWA) should be enabled for the website or application you are seeking to protect. By default this enabled both the Negotiate and NTLM Authentication Providers in the IIS metabase. If you have edited the metabase to remove the Negotiate provider, you will need to add it back in. The installation of some products (e.g. Sharepoint Portal Server 2001) removes the Negotiate provider – you may need to manually add it back in. See Microsoft KB Article 832769 for your options.
Secondly, all web applications hosted at the DNS name in question need to be running in one or more web application pools that are all running under the same user account. It's easiest if all the web applications at that DNS name are running in a single web app pool. However if you do need to split web applications into multiple pools, those pools need to be running under the same user account.
SummaryAnd that should be all that is required for your Internet Explorer browser to authenticate to IIS using Kerberos. To verify whether this is occuring, you can use the tools described in my previous post on determining whether the browser is using NTLM or Kerberos to authenticate to IIS.
Delegation is a feature of Kerberos authentication that allows a server to obtain a Kerberos ticket on
I actually managed to find your articles on Friday afternoon and they
explained everything to me quite nicely. Thank you
Protocol Transition is a new feature in Windows Server 2003. The Kerberos implementation in Windows Active
Hi Kedar,
Thanks for your comments. I only included the WWW-Authenticate: Kerberos header because ISA Server 2006 returns this header (from memory - I will need to verify this). Perhaps there are other browsers out in the world other than IE that support such a header? :-)
I didn't modify my blog post - all I did was respond to your comment. Not sure what you think I may have been doing here :-) If I modify a post (other than spelling mistakes) I put some "Edit:" text in as a change log.
In terms of ISA Server 2006, I have a packet capture here that shows it is definately sending back a WWW-Authenticate: Kerberos header.
The three WWW-Authenticate headers that it is sending back in this packet capture are (in order):
WWW-Authenticate: Negotiate/r/n
WWW-Authenticate: Kerberos/r/n
WWW-Authenticate: NTLM/r/n
I am happy to send your the .cap file if you can send me your contact details. Use the Email link up the top of the page to send me your preferred contact address.
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Coraz częściej w pracy stykam się z koniecznością ustawienia autentykacji poprzez protokół Kerberos ,
As an extension of the previous article on Cross Forest (or Cross Domain) Kerberos Authentication this
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text:
Supreme Court Takes No Action Yet On Same-Sex Marriage Appeals
by Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer
WASHINGTON (CNN)—The Supreme Court took no action Friday on a pending series of appeals over the divisive issue of same-sex marriage.
The justices had a closed-door conference to consider whether to accept for review several challenges to federal and state laws restricting the ability of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed.
But the court, without explanation, had nothing to report on the pending appeals. It was perhaps a sign it needed more time to consider the complex legal and constitutional questions.
If the high court has merely delayed consideration of the same-sex marriage cases, it may be prepared to revisit them as early as next Friday, when the justices hold another private conference.
The political, social, and legal stakes of this long-simmering debate would once again put the high court at the center of national attention, a contentious encore to its summer ruling upholding the massive health care reform law championed by President Barack Obama.
Three separate issues on same-sex marriage confront the justices, including federal benefits, state benefits and state referendums.
Although there was no certainty the court was prepared to announce it would be tackling the issue, there was building anticipation among advocacy groups on both sides of the debate.
The Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders had set up temporary offices in a building next door to the high court to await word. Officials there privately expressed a measure of anxiety as the hours passed with no announcement.
The organization represents a broad group of gay and lesbian individuals and families in New England who were denied a range of federal benefits under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.
For federal purposes under the 1996 law, marriage is defined as only between one man and one woman. That means federal tax, Social Security, pension, and bankruptcy benefits, and family medical leave protections—do not apply to gay and lesbian couples.
Earlier this month, voters in Maryland, Washington, and Maine approved same-sex marriage, adding to the six states and the District of Columbia that already have done so. Minnesota voters also rejected an effort to ban such unions through a constitutional amendment.
The court on Friday did accept for review two unrelated cases, including an appeal of whether human genes are patentable.


text:
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This elegant recycled plastic Rainbow Tote Bag is skillfully handwoven by Rajiben Vankar, an artisan-entrepreneur from Kutch, Gujarat. 70 single-use plastic bags are woven into every meter of hand-woven sheets. The long-drawn process of collecting plastic waste, cleaning, cutting and weaving plastic, once a family effort, now supports 15 women artisans. An elegant look of this eco-friendly collection keeping the simplicity alive which makes it universally appealing.
Upcycled Plastic Waste
16in x 13in41cm x 33cm
RABE-21-11A Tote BagDisclaimer
All our products are meticulously handmade by master artisans one piece at a time. Due to this process, there may be a variation from one item to the next. Such variations are inherent in the manufacturing of handmade products, so you may expect minor distinctions that will make your purchase special and truly one of a kind.
Dispatched within 3 days of receiving your order. No refunds or returns.


text:
How to Build a Screened-In Patio
Enjoy bug-free summers.
Multiple Days
IntroductionLove your patio but hate the bugs, wind and glaring sun? Our screened-in, post and beam patio enclosure with removable awning top solves it all.
Tools Required
- Circular saw
- Cordless drill
- Drill bit set
- Forstner drill bits
- Framing square
- Hammer
- Handsaw
- Hearing protection
- Jigsaw
- Level
- Miter saw
- Orbital sander
- Paintbrush
- Safety glasses
- Spade
- Speed square
- Stepladder
- Wood chisel
Materials Required
- See Materials List in "Additional Information"
Screened In Patio Overview
Our 14 x 16-ft. enclosure is a big project, but it's the best of any do it yourself screen porch kits around! Although it's fairly simple structurally, it requires careful work with a lot of large-dimension lumber. The trickiest part is getting all these components square and plumb, which probably calls for more than a beginner's skills. And you'll spend a lot of time building—two or three weeks going at it full time, or much of a summer in your spare time.
We built our screen room roof high enough to preserve a pleasant view through the sliding doors. In summer, the awning top shades the bright sun, yet allows plenty of light to pass into the house. And here's the biggest selling point for this project: You can easily remove the awning in winter and let the sunshine in. The structure is designed to look good even without the awning top. Of course, you could leave the awning on all year in many parts of the country, but it won't support a heavy snow load.
The awning is attached as shown in Fig. E and Photos 15 and 16. A slide-in channel at the peak and turnbuckle clips along the edges make for a quick, no-hassle on-and-off in spring and fall. The approximately 16 x 16-ft., one-piece, vinylized canvas weighs only about 10 lbs., so it's easy to handle.
We had our screen room awning top made by a professional awning maker, who also handled the initial installation. As an alternative, you can also consider metal or plastic roof panels, which are sold at most home centers.
Before beginning any work, be sure to have your local building inspector look at your plans. Your town may have special requirements for a structure such as this, and will probably require a building permit and inspection. Your inspector may also require the enclosure to be checked by a structural engineer. Even if it's not required, the cost of an inspection is a worthwhile investment in peace of mind. NOTE: Building codes in some regions require additional seismic and highwind anchors for a patio screen room like this. Ask your building inspector about local requirements for a screen room.
For a furniture-quality interior, use D-grade (nearly blemish-free) cedar for the entire structural framework, with the exception of the laminated 1-3/4 x 12-in. beam (Photos 5 and 6) at the peak. You can substitute treated lumber for the framework, which will cut costs substantially, though the wood will show some imperfections. The foundation timbers are pressure-treated 6x6s. Bolts, screws, door hardware, paint and other miscellaneous hardware will add several hundred dollars to the cost.
We first painted our enclosure with a stain-blocking primer coat—make sure the label says that the product blocks cedar stains—to seal the cedar so it doesn't discolor. We followed that with a topcoat of white latex paint. Do your painting before mounting the screens and doors. NOTE: If you choose not to paint, you'll probably want to have your screens made of bronze-colored aluminum frames rather than white.
Screen for screened in porch
Measure for the screens after the structure is completed. Buy custom-made screens for the enclosure and the doors, or make your own. If you live in the Sun Belt, you might want to consider using a sun-blocking screening material (available at some home centers or online).
As an alternative to custom-made screens, you might want to consider securing the screening directly to the framing. However, this system does not allow the screens to be taken down and put back up easily.
The total cost for our patio enclosure will range from several thousand if you use less expensive materials to two or three times that amount (or more) for premium lumber and professionally made screens.
Figure A: Foundation and Post Layout for a Closed in Porch
Family Handyman
Adapt this 14-ft. by 16-ft. plan to your backyard. For a large, printable version, see Additional Information, below.
Figure B: Screened Patio Overview
Family Handyman
This cutaway diagram explains the framing details. For a large, printable version, see Additional Information, below.
Project step-by-step (16)
Laying the Foundation
Establish the Perimeter Lines
Family Handyman
Lay out the perimeter lines of the closed in porch enclosure with mason's string for the outside of the foundation timbers (Photo 3). Check the layout for squareness: Diagonal measurements should be equal.
Remove the Pavers
Family Handyman
Remove the pavers to a width of about 1 ft. Stack the pavers neatly so you can later cut and replace them in the same slots. Then dig a trench 8 in. wide x 8 in. deep and fill it with crushed gravel. Level the gravel and tamp it smooth.
Set the Timbers on the Gravel
Family Handyman
Lay 6×6 treated (.60) timbers on the crushed gravel base. Level the timbers if necessary by adding or removing gravel. Predrill holes, and nail the timber corners together with 10-in. spikes. Cut the pavers with a masonry wet saw and reinstall them so they fit tight against the timbers. The paver patio on which we built our enclosure was already in place, and we designed the enclosure to accommodate its shape. We extended one corner into the circular planting bed, as shown in Photo 1.
Lay out the perimeter lines with mason's string. Make sure the perimeter is square by measuring diagonally from corner to corner in both directions. The diagonals should be equal.
We then removed the pavers along the entire patio enclosure perimeter (Photo 2), and dug a trench 8 in. wide and 8 in. deep. Fill the trench with crushed gravel of 3/8-in. or smaller rock. To accommodate any slope in the patio, level the gravel so that the foundation timbers will sit about 1/2 in. above the patio surface at its highest point, then tamp the gravel thoroughly. Since our 6×6 foundation timbers (Photo 3) rest directly on the ground, we bought pressure-treated timbers with a higher .60 preservative level rather than the standard .40.
The structure of our enclosure is not attached to the house anywhere; it is supported entirely by the foundation timbers. This exempts the entire screen room structure from the more stringent building code requirements that would otherwise apply. However, it's important to firmly embed the foundation timbers in gravel and on top of soil that won't sink, compact or suffer severe frost heave.
After the foundation timbers were level and securely in place, we replaced the pavers, cutting them with a masonry wet saw (available at most tool rental outlets) to fit tightly against the foundation timbers. Fitting the pavers tightly anchors the timbers against shifting.
Assembling the Framework
Notch the Vertical Posts
Family Handyman
Mark and notch all the vertical posts into which the horizontal framing cross members fit. Cut as much as possible with a circular saw, then complete the cuts with a handsaw. For the notches that receive the intermediate horizontal 2x4s, make multiple cuts with the circular saw, then break out the thin remaining waste strips and smooth the inner surfaces with a sharp wide chisel.
Install the Rear Posts
Family Handyman
Mount the laminated peak beam to the two rear posts with lag bolts, then raise the assembly into place. Strips of 1/2-in. thick foam tacked to the back sides fill in the irregular siding gaps to keep out bugs. Secure the assembly temporarily with two diagonal braces.
Install the Front Corners
Family Handyman
Install the front corner posts and secure them with temporary diagonal bracing. Then fit the upper horizontal 2x6s into the post notches and secure them with one screw at each joint. Measure diagonally from corner to corner on all four sides, and move the temporary bracing as necessary to ensure that all the sides are square, and all posts plumb.
Cut the Side Posts
Family Handyman
Place the intermediate side posts temporarily with one screw, letting them run long. Then temporarily place an end rafter that has a bird's-mouth notch, and mark the posts for cutoff flush with the top of the rafter. Take the posts down and cut them to length.
Bolt the Frame Together
Family Handyman
Lag-bolt all the framing members securely together with two 3/8-in. x 4-1/2 in. lag bolts at each joint. Predrill 3/16-in. pilot holes into the posts to prevent splitting, then 3/8-in. clearance holes in the horizontal members. Countersink the washers and bolt heads. Begin your screen room framework assembly by notching all the 6×6 and 4×6 vertical posts to receive the horizontal framing members (Photo 4 and Fig. C).
Mark the position for all the vertical posts on the foundation timbers. Drill 1/2-in. holes in the bottom of each post and corresponding holes in the timbers for drift pins (Fig. A). These pins, cut from 1/2-in. steel reinforcing rod (normally used to strengthen concrete slabs), hold the posts in position on the foundation.
To obtain the necessary span strength, we used a pressure-treated 1-3/4 x 12-in. laminated beam at the peak (Photo 5), which you'll probably have to special-order at a full-service lumberyard. Mount the laminated beam to the notches in the two rear vertical posts with lag bolts. Use washers, and countersink the washers and the lag bolt heads. Tack sill seal—1/2-in. thick foam strips to block bugs and water drips—to the back of the posts and beam. Then raise the assembly in place, dropping the posts onto the drift pins. Hold the posts in place with temporary 2×4 diagonal braces.
Raise the two front corner posts into position, fitting them onto the drift pins. Hold the posts plumb, and secure them in position with temporary diagonal bracing, as shown in Photo 6. Then install the upper horizontal 2×6 framing members, and temporarily fasten them in place with one screw at each joint. Note that the front upper horizontal 2×6 is notched into the posts; the upper horizontal 2x6s on the sides are flush-mounted to the posts.
To obtain the correct length for the three intermediate vertical posts on each side, tack them in place with one screw at each joint, leaving them overlong. Then temporarily place the two outside rafters in position, and mark the posts for the angled cutoff, as shown in Photo 7. Note that the rafters have a small "bird's-mouth" cutout at the eave, as shown in Fig. D. Unscrew the posts, take them back down and cut off the excess post tops with a circular saw.
Cut the bottom horizontal 2x6s and intermediate horizontal 2x4s to length (we mitered these corners for appearance, as shown in Photo 8) and tack them in place in the post notches.
After all the vertical and horizontal framing members are in place, predrill all the holes for the 3/8-in. x 4-1/2 in. lag bolts—two at each joint—and countersink the washers and bolt heads, then lag-bolt the entire screen room structure together (Photo 8).
Figure C: Post Detail
Family Handyman
Notch the posts as shown. For a large, printable version, see Additional Information, below.
Framing the Roof
Place the Rafters
Family Handyman
Mount the rafters to the peak beam with the ends resting on a 2×6 ledger. Carefully sight along the length of the rafters so any bows are placed "crown up." The upper rafter ends are cut to 13 degrees (or adjusted to your project) and the lower ends rounded on their bottom edges and notched for bird'smouths. Secure each rafter with angle-driven 3-1/2 in. deck screws—three at the peak and two at the eave.
Add Cross Supports
Family Handyman
Install roof cross supports to the posts, first with one screw at each post, then two tightly secured all-the-way-through bolts at each joint. Then angle-screw each rafter to each cross support with two 3-1/2 in. screws. Screw a 2×6 ledger board to the laminated peak beam to support the upper ends of the rafters (Photo 9 and Fig. D). Cut all the rafters to length, making 13-degree angle cuts (or adjusted to your project) at the upper ends to fit against the peak beam. Use a jigsaw to cut the concave ends on the rafter tails, as shown in Fig. D, and the bird's-mouths at the eaves.
Mount the two end rafters first, then the center rafter, then divide the space evenly on both sides of the center rafter to position the others. Secure the rafters with angle-driven screws to the peak beam and the ledger board, and to the horizontal eave beam.
To rigidly brace the roof and the entire freestanding screen room structure, cut the 2×8 roof cross supports (they're painted red in Photo 10 for clarity). The top edges of these cross supports are beveled 13 degrees (or adjusted to your project), and the cross support on the lower side of each post is cut narrower so that the bottom edges of the paired supports are flush. Mount the cross supports in place with one screw at each post, then secure the rafters to them with angledriven 3-1/2 in. deck screws—two screws for each rafter into each cross member. To give the structure lateral strength, the cross supports are secured to the posts with tightly fastened carriage bolts rather than lag bolts—two at each post.
Figure D: Rafter Detail
Family Handyman
Cut the rafters as shown. For a large, printable version, see Additional Information, below.
Figure E: Soffit Detail
Figure E shows the soffit and awning details. For a large, printable version, see Additional Information, below.
Assembling the Doors
Construct the Doors
Family Handyman
Build doors from straight 2x4s and 2x6s. Make sure the doors are square by adjusting for equal diagonal measurements. Cut lap joints by making multiple cuts with a circular saw, then cleaning out the waste with a sharp chisel. Sand the joint surfaces smooth, then glue and clamp them with waterproof two-part resorcinol glue.
Hang the Doors
Family Handyman
Hang the doors with four 3-1/2 in. butt hinges, and install latches and handles and pneumatic door closers. Note the 1/2-in. x 3/4-in. deep rabbets routed into the inside door edges for screens.
Add Screen Frames
Tack screen frames in place in the doors with 3/8-in. x 3/8-in. wood strips and 3d finishing nails. The two screen room doors are constructed from clear, straight cedar 2x4s for the side rails and center crosspiece, and 2×6 pieces for the tops and bottoms (Photo 11 and Fig. F, p. 48). The doors are 1/2 in. smaller than the door opening in each direction for clearance. Cut lap joints at the corners and for the center crosspiece, and glue the joints with resorcinol glue, which is waterproof and super-strong. Square the door by measuring diagonally in each direction, as shown, then clamp the joints until the glue dries.
Rout 1/2-in. wide x 3/4-in. deep rabbets on all the inside edges of the doors to receive the 3/8-in. thick aluminum screen frames. The door screens are held in place with strips of wood that are tacked in place with 3d galvanized finishing nails after painting is completed, as shown in Photo 13.
Mount the doors with four butt hinges, and install latches and handles, and if desired, pneumatic door closers. Note that we installed horizontal lengths of 2×4 to the frame for headers above the doors, and 3/8-in. thick door stops along the sides and top (Photo 12).
Figure F: Screen Room Door Detail
Family Handyman
Build the doors using this plan. For a large, printable version, see Additional Information, below.
50 Breathtaking Patio Designs to Get You Thinking About Summer
Mounting the Screens for Screened-In Porch
Install the Screens
Family Handyman
Place screens in the openings, held in place on the outside by 1×1 stops nailed flush with the outside of the framing. A single 1×1 stop on the inside provides a slot for one side of the screen frame to slide into, then the other side is secured with two small screws through holes drilled in the screen frame. The custom screens were made 1/4 in. smaller than the openings in each direction. The white aluminum-channel frames are 3/8-in. thick x 1 in. wide.
The screens are held in place on the outside using 1×1 stops nailed along the outer perimeters of the openings (Photo 14). The screens are secured on the inside using a 1×1 along just one side, leaving a slot for the screen frame to slide into. Then the screen is tacked in place with two small screws through the opposite aluminum frame. Note the 1×6 cap rail on which the upper screens rest. This cap rail also provides a convenient place to set your iced tea while you're enjoying a summer breeze.
Installing the Awnings
Install the Awning
Family Handyman
Secure the awning to the tie-down flap with rope. The tie-down flap, with grommets, and the soffit flap are sewn onto the inside front edge of our custom-made awning. The 1/2-in. dia. metal tie-down bar slides into place through holes drilled into the rafter ends.
Attach the Soffit Flap
Family Handyman
Attach the soffit flap with grommets and turnbuckle clips mounted on the rafter bottoms (Photo 15 and Fig. E). To ensure an exact fit, our awning maker took his measurements after the screen room enclosure was built. It then took two weeks for the awning to be made and installed. The awning has an 8-in. apron dropping down vertically along the front edge, with this bottom edge line continuing along the sides, slightly above the tops of the doors. It's the perfect addition to our outdoor enclosed patio.
Photo 15 shows two flaps sewn to the awning's front edge in addition to the apron: The rear tie-down flap has grommets along the edge through which rope is threaded. The rope is wound around the tie-down bar that slides in through holes drilled in the rafter ends. This allows the awning to be pulled taut. The longer soffit flap, intended to keep out bugs, attaches to the horizontal eave frame member with turnbuckle clips (Photo 16).


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Susan Sleeman here. Behind the Badge, my second romantic suspense book for Love Inspired Suspense will release on June 6th and in honor of all of you, the readers, I am hosting a special contest on my website for the month of June.
Let's face it. Without you, the wonderful readers, books would not exist and I wouldn't be able to wake up looking forward to a job that is fresh and exciting each and every day. Praise God for this incredible opportunity!
Now back to the contest. All you have to do is read the excerpt below then go to my WEBSITE and answer the following question. That's it. You're entered to win.
If you'd like to sign up for my mailing list to learn of other contests in the future you can do that at the same time, too. Full contest rules are on the entry page. Remember only one entry per person.
QUESTION: What item let Russ know the bike was street legal?
SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.
Her books include Nipped in the Bud, High-Stakes Inheritance, Behind the Badge, and The Christmas Witness. Also watch for the first two romantic suspense books in her Justice Agency series coming from Love Inspired Suspense in 2012 and featuring a private investigations firm specializing in helping those who traditional law enforcement has failed.
Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.
To learn more about Susan visit her website, Facebook , or Twitter.
A killer is threatening the life of rookie cop Sydney Tucker's sister-unless Sydney turns over evidence from a drug bust. But she doesn't have the evidence. Not that the thug believes her. Now she and the sibling in her care are under the watchful eye of Logan Lake police chief Russ Morgan…but will his protection be enough?
The killer is closing in, picking off the people and places that mean the most to Sydney. A list that now includes Russ. To protect her loved ones, will she pay the ultimate price-her life?
The Morgan Brothers - Bk 2
Love Inspired Suspense June 6, 2011
Gunshots split the inky darkness.
Deputy Sydney Tucker hit the cold ground, a jagged rock slashing into her forehead on the way down. She reached for her service weapon. Came up empty handed. She'd stopped after work to check on the construction of her townhouse and left her gun and cell phone in the car.
Dumb, Sydney. Really dumb. Now what're you gonna do?
Inching her head above knee-high grass, she listened. The keening whistle of the wind died, leaving the air damp and heavy with tension but silence reigned.
Had she overreacted? Could be target practice. But at night? Maybe. Hunters did crazy things sometimes.
Footfalls pounded from below like someone charging through the brush. No. Two people. Maybe a chase. One person after another. A loud crash, branches snapping.
"What're you doin', man," a panicked male voice traveled through the night. "No! Don't shoot! We can work this out."
Three more gunshots rang out. A moan drifted up the hill.
Not target practice. Someone had been shot.
Sydney lurched to her feet, dizziness swirling around her. Blood dripped into her eyes. She wiped it away, blinked hard and steadied herself on a large rock while peering into the wall of darkness for the best escape route.
Heavy footfalls crunched up the gravel path.
"I know you're here, Deputy Tucker," a male voice, disguised with a high nasally pitch, called out. "We need to talk about this. C'mon out."
Yeah, right. Come out and die. Not hardly.
Praying, pleading for safety, she scrambled deeper into the scrub. Over rocks. Through grass tangling her feet. Her heart pounded in her head, drowning the prayers with fear.
"I'm losing patience, Deputy," he called again in that strange voice. "You're not like Dixon. He had it coming. You don't."
Dixon? Did he mean the man she arrested for providing alcohol to her teenage sister and for selling drugs? Was that what this was about?
Rocks skittered down the incline. The shooter was on the move again. No time to think. She had to go. Now!
Blindly she felt her way past shrubs, over uneven ground. Dried leaves crunched underfoot. Branches slapped her face and clawed at her arms, but she stifled her cries of pain.
"I hear you, Deputy."
She wrenched around to determine his location. A protruding rock caught her foot, catapulting her forward. She somersaulted through the air. Her knee slammed into the packed earth and she crashed down the hill. Wrapping arms around her head for protection, she came to a stop, breath knocked out of her chest, lying flat on her back in a thick stand of weeds.
"So you want to play it that way, do you Deputy? Fine. Just remember, you can run, but you can't hide. I will find you. This will be resolved one way or another." His disembodied laugh swirled into the night.
The darkness pressed closer. Blinding. Overwhelming. Terrifying.
She was easy prey. Even with her bulletproof vest, a few rounds fired in her direction would take her out. She had to get up.
She rose to her knees, but pain knifed into her knee, keeping her anchored to the ground.
Lord, please don't let me die like this. Give me the strength to move. I need to live for Nikki. She's only seventeen. She has no one.
Sydney uncurled and came to a standing position. Taking a few halting steps, she tested the pain. Nearly unbearable. But she could-no she had to do this for her sister.
Thinking of Nikki, she gritted her teeth and set off, moving slowly, taking care not to make a sound.
Out of the darkness, a hand shot out. Clamped over her mouth.
Screams tore from her throat, but died behind fingers pressed hard against her lips.
A muscled arm jerked her against a solid chest and dragged her deep into the brush.
God, please, no.
She twisted, arched her back, pushing against arms like iron bands.
She dug her heels into the ground, but he was too strong. He kept going deeper into the brush before settling them both on the ground behind a large boulder.
"Relax Sydney, it's Russ Morgan," Logan Lake's Police Chief whispered, his lips close to her ear.
Russ Morgan? What was he doing here?
"Sorry about the hand." His tone said she was nothing more than a stranger instead of someone she'd known for years. "I didn't want you to alert the shooter with a scream. I'm gonna remove my hand now. Nod if you understand me."
She let all of her relief escape in a sharp jerk of her head. His fingers dropped away.
"Once the shooter rounded that curve, you would've been a goner," he whispered while still firmly holding her. "Good thing a neighbor reported gunshots."
Sydney started to shiver and breathed deep to steady her galloping pulse. Air rushed into her lungs. She was alive, but barely. No thanks to her own skills.
"You okay?" he asked, his breath stirring her hair.
"Yes." She willed her body to stop shaking and eased out a hiss of disappointment in her performance as a deputy. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear the shooter claim he's hit Dixon and is coming after you next," he whispered again, but urgency lit his voice and rekindled her fear. "This have to do with your arrest of Carl Dixon the other day?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "I just stopped to check on the construction of my townhouse on my way home from work."
"Off duty, huh? Explains why you don't have your weapon drawn."
"I left my duty belt in my car." She waited for his reaction to not carrying, but he simply gave a quick nod as footfalls grated against gravel.
"Shh, he's about to pass us." Russ leaned forward and drew his gun with his free hand, but didn't release his hold on her.
Crunching steps came within a few feet of their location. Halted.
"Can you feel me breathing down your neck, Deputy? I'm inches from finding you." He didn't know the accuracy of his words.
She felt Russ's breathing speed up, upping her concern and washing away the brief blanket of security his arms provided. Adrenaline urged her to move. To keep from panicking, she focused on Russ's unwavering weapon.
The shooter took a few steps closer. Her heart thumped, threatening to leave her chest. Russ tightened his hold as if he knew she wanted to bolt.
The shooter spun sending gravel flying then headed up the path.
As his footsteps receded, she tried to relax taut muscles. The warmth from Russ's body helped chase out her fear and the chill of the night. Thank God Russ was here. If he hadn't come.
She refused to go there. God had watched over her. Provided rescue, just not in the form she'd have chosen.
Not only was Russ an officer from the city police force-a team often in competition with the county sheriff's department where she worked-but a man she'd had a crazy crush on in high school. A man whose rugged good looks still turned women's heads.
She let out a long sigh.
"I know this's awkward," he whispered, "but hang tight for a few more minutes. We need to wait for him to head back down the hill."
She wanted to protest and suggest they flee now, but not Russ. He thought clearly. Taking off now gave the killer the advantage of higher ground, making them moving targets. They'd have to sit like this until he passed them again.
If they made it out of here, which the approaching footfalls told her wasn't at all certain.
They pounded closer. The shooter moved at a quick clip this time as if he thought she'd gotten away and he was fleeing. Or maybe he was heading to her car to lay in wait for her.
As the footsteps receded again, she felt Russ's arm slacken.
"Time to roll," he whispered. "Stay here."
"But I-"
"You have a backup?" He referred to a back up gun officers often carry.
She shook her head.
"Then wait here." He gave her the hard stare that'd made him famous around town and crept toward the path.
She leaned against the boulder and wrapped her arms around the warm circle on her waist where he'd held her. Without his warmth, she couldn't quit shaking. The reality of the night froze her inner core.
She should listen to Russ. Lay low. Wait until he apprehended the killer.
That was the safe thing to do.
The easy thing to do.
The wrong thing to do.
Not for everyone, but for an officer of the law, letting a shooter escape without trying to stop him wasn't an option. Even if that shooter had her in his sights, she'd make her way to her car for her gun and help Russ stop this maniac before he hurt anyone else.
Near the ditch, Russ came to a stop and fought to catch his breath. Taillights on a mud splattered dirt bike roared up the trail. He'd warned the suspect to stop, but short of shooting him in the back, Russ couldn't stop him from fleeing into the dark.
At least he'd accomplished his primary objective. To protect Sydney and keep her alive. Now he needed to alert his men and the sheriff's office to the suspect's whereabouts.
He lifted his shoulder mic and ordered a unit from his office to stake out the end of the trail for the motorcycle and an ambulance in case Dixon survived. Then he asked dispatch to patch him through to the county sheriff's department to make sure they knew he'd taken charge of the scene so none of their hotshot deputies arrived with the hope of usurping control.
He turned on his Maglight and headed up the hill. The beam of light skipped over gravel and lush plants lining the winding path. Midway up, rustling brush stopped him cold. He'd left Sydney higher up. Nearer the lake.
Was a second shooter hoping to ambush him?
He flipped off his light and sought protection behind a tree. His breath came in little pulses in the unusually cold air for a typical Oregon fall. Adrenaline with little time to ebb away came roaring back, but even as the noise grew louder, he resisted the urge to take action.
Maybe it was Sydney. The Sydney he used to know wouldn't have listened to his directive and stayed put. She'd trounce down the hill, her chin tilted at the same insolent angle as when he told her he didn't return her crazy crush her freshman year of high school. Not that he'd wanted to send a beautiful, lively girl like her away. He could easily have dated her, but he was four years older, in college. With their age difference, it wouldn't have been right.
Bushes at the path's edge shook then parted. Slowly, like a sleek panther, Sydney slipped out. He watched until she stood tall on those incredibly long legs he'd admired since she was sixteen before lowering his gun and aiming his flashlight at her.
She jumped. Peered up at him, an impudent look planted on her face. This was the Sydney he'd known as a teen and heaven help him, in less than thirty minutes, she'd sparked his interest again.
"Care to shine that somewhere other than my face." She perched her hand over her eyes, warding off the glare.
He moved the light but not before he caught a good look at a gaping wound running from her hairline to eyebrow, covered in congealed blood. He lifted his hand to check out her injury, but stopped. He wouldn't probe a wound on one of his men's faces. As a fellow LEO-law enforcement officer-he wouldn't treat Sydney any differently.
"I told you to stay put." He infused his words with authority.
"I wanted to help. Wish I'd listened. I tripped over the body." She held out blood-covered hands. Her eyes watered as if she might cry.
Man. Don't do that. Don't fall apart. He couldn't remain detached if she started crying. He'd have to empathize, maybe give her a reassuring pat on the arm. Maybe feel her pain and resurrect all the reasons he'd left his homicide job in Portland.
He changed his focus. Nodded at the brush. "Show me the body."
As a faint whine of sirens spiraled in the distance, she limped into tall grass, a grimace of pain marring her beautiful face. He followed, illuminating the area ahead of her. About ten feet in, she suddenly stopped. He shone his light a few feet ahead of her.
Diffused rays slid over a young male lying on his back. Russ swung the beam to the man's face landing on open eyes staring into the blackness above.
Sydney gasped and swung around him. She rushed toward the main path. Even though Russ knew it was a lost cause, he bent down to check for a pulse. No question, this man hadn't made it and no question about his identity. Carl Dixon, a man every LEO in the area knew from his frequent blips onto the police radar and the most recent arrest for selling drugs.
All that ended with three gunshots to the chest at close range from what Russ could see with his flashlight. Once they thoroughly processed the scene, he'd know better. But first, they needed to vacate the area before further contaminating the scene.
He found Sydney near the path, gaze fixed in the distance, hands clasped on her hips and exhaling long breaths as if trying to expel what she'd just seen.
Haunted eyes peered at him. "He's dead, right?"
"And what about the killer?"
"Couldn't catch him. He took off on a dirt bike."
Disappointment crowded out the fear on her face. "Did you at least see him?"
"From the back. He was my height or a little taller, but lean. Wore a black stocking cap. The bike has a plate so it must be street legal. I caught the first few digits."
"That's something, then."
Russ didn't want to tell her it would do little for them in terms of searching DMV records as three digits would return thousands of bikes, but he didn't think she could take any more bad news so he kept quiet. "Let's head down to the parking lot."
He gave her the flashlight and urged her to take the lead down the steep hill. Once on solid concrete, she handed it back to him. Holding it overhead, he watched her closely for dizziness or other impairments from her fall. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but a head injury could mean a concussion. He'd have the EMT's check her out when they got here.
He pointed at a rough-hewn bench. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm fine " Her voice cracked and she seemed embarrassed over reacting to the murder.
"It's okay to be upset, Syd. A horrible thing happened tonight."
"I'm fine really. I'll be back to a hundred percent by morning."
Text copyright © by Susan Sleeman
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.


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DucatiDayDaytona 2008
"What are you going to do if it rains?" seemed to be the only thing I heard all week. "Ducs like water!" was my general response, We're having a party, rain or shine. Friday morning dawned to overcast skies and a tornado watch, it really looked bad but never underestimate the passion of Ducatisti - darned if we didn't have a party anyway. Photos by Steve Leukanech and Vicki Smith. Story by Vicki SmithRead More


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47% of Tea Partiers Pay No Federal Income Taxes!
Taxed Enough Already? Or not taxed at all?
One of the striking ironies of Fox News running with the statistic that 47% of Americans might not owe federal income taxes is that Fox News also moonlights as the unofficial station of the Tea Party movement, which clamors for lower taxes. You might ask: half of the country pays no income tax, how much lower do you want? Here's a more troubling point: if the Tea Party movement has a similar share of Americans making under $50,000 as the broader population (as a recent Gallup poll suggests), then why is this movement rallying under the banner "Taxed Enough Already!" when half of them aren't taxed at all?
Forty-five percent of self-identified "Tea Partiers" make less than $50,000 per year, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll. Similarly, 50% of the total population makes less than $50,000 in the same poll. Despite this author's lack of direct access to the tax returns of the Tea Party movement, it seems safe to assume that if about half the country avoids federal income taxes, a similar percentage of the Tea Party movement gets away with the same even as they march and scream about their tax burden.
This is a gotcha point. But it's a gotcha point worth making, if only to shine light on the sad intellectual bankruptcy of the Tea Party, a political movement that has taken over the news cycle like a particularly aggressive strain of ragweed. Tea Partiers want lower income taxes. But many of them probably don't pay income taxes. If we listen to them and bring even more Americans into the zero-income tax pool, we would only concentrate more of the tax burden on wealthy earners ... which conservatives are against. Tea Party apologists on TV will explain that what they're really asking for is lower rates and a broader tax base to diffuse America's tax responsibility. But if half the Tea Party doesn't pay income taxes today, a broader tax base -- even with minuscule rates -- would raise many of their taxes!
The party's labyrinthine position on tax policy isn't worth untangling any further. It's a Gordian Knot that deserves a guillotine. When liberals and conservatives in Congress and think tanks and conference rooms debate tax policy in the coming months, they should consider a wide buffet of reform options -- but hold the tea.


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The "Why Not Both Sides?" Romney we dreaded in 2008 is back in 2011:
Campaigning in Ohio today, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney stopped by a Republican Party phone-bank making calls in support of Gov. John Kasich's government union reform referendum, but refused to endorse the actual referendum. CNN's Peter Hamby called the scene an "incredible moment in politics."
Incredible is an understatement. What bright light failed to anticipate a question about Romney's view on the referendum? And if Romney doesn't want to stand by his earlier views, why put him on the spot at that spot?
Romney was alredy challenging Republicans to hold their nose with one hand and vote for him with the other. Now he expects us to hold our nose, close our eyes and mark the ballot. Giminy.
LEADING FROM BEHIND: Now Romney supports the Republican side:
FAIRFAX, Va. — Mitt Romney on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for efforts to crack down on unions in Ohio, apologizing for causing "confusion" by appearing to waffle on the issue in that state a day earlier.
During a stop at a local Republican headquarters here, Mr. Romney said that his refusal to take a position on Tuesday was meant to be directed at other Ohio ballot initiatives that he was unfamiliar with.
But he insisted that he supported the ballot initiative that would ratify the legislation signed by Gov. John R. Kasich, a Republican.
"I'm sorry if I created any confusion in that regard," Mr. Romney told a crush of reporters as he stood next to Virginia Republicans. "I fully support Governor Kasich's, I think it's called Question 2 in Ohio. Fully support that."
On Tuesday in Ohio, after visiting a call center with volunteers urging passage of Mr. Kasich's ballot measure, Mr. Romney said, "I'm not speaking about the particular ballot issues, those are up to the people of Ohio, but I certainly support the effort of the governor to rein in the scale of government."
On Wednesday, Mr. Romney said he was speaking about other initiatives, including one on changes to Ohio's health care system.
"I know there are other ballot initiatives out there in Ohio and I wasn't taking a position on those," he said, adding: "I am 110 percent behind Governor Kasich."
There are three issues on the state-wide ballot - is that really so confusing?


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A Tribute to Fallen Police Dogs, Dox and Lyon
A tear-jerking tribute to two fallen police dogs, Dox and Lyon, in Brazil who died in the line of duty.
CURITIBA, Brazil – Quick, determined and with impeccable senses of smell and hearing, Dox and Lyon lost their lives during a recent police operation. The two dogs were fatally shot while pursuing suspects in a forest near the city of Ribeirão das Neves on behalf of the Minas Gerais Military Police on May 17, 2011.
As soon as the trained German Shepherds located the hiding criminals, they started barking to alert officers they had located the suspects. "One of the fugitives fired nine rounds and five hit Dox and four hit Lyon," says Capt. Paulo Roberto Alves, commander of the Minas Gerais Military Police (PMMG) Shock Brigade, where the dogs had trained and served. "They gave their lives to protect police officers."
Prior to their cremation, the officers spent a few minutes with the Dox and Lyon's remains, paying respect to their fallen heroes.
"It was one of the saddest moments of my life," says Officer Luís Antônio de Castro Maciel, who was assigned to work with Dox five years ago. "It was like he was family to me."
Officer Welly Lucindo, who was assigned to work with Lyon more than two years ago, says he "lost a friend."
"What happened was a real tragedy," he says. "I'm never going to forget him."
According to Infosurhoy, a permanent memorial is being built in memory of the fallen heroes.
The courage shown by Dox and Lyon, who had been on the force for six and two years, respectively, inspired the organization to create a Hall of Heroes. It's expected to be built this year at the headquarters of the PMMG's 1st Company for Special Missions, in Contagem.
The hall will contain the ashes of dogs lost in service, as well as plaques and their photographs.


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We use the best quality HD and IP CCTV Systems to give you the best possible image results. The better the image the better the chance of identifying someone.
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Graduate School Information Fair
Wednesday, November 5
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia
College Recreation Center Gym
Free and open to the public
Representatives of more than two dozen graduate schools from Washington, Oregon and beyond will be on hand to field questions and provide counseling. Learn about Evergreen's Master of Public Administration, Master in Teaching, Master of Environmental Study and Master of Education programs as well as a wide range of other graduate degree opportunities. The fair will feature nearly 50 degree options from the Northwest and across the country. Some of the participating schools include the University of Washington, University of Puget Sound, Seattle University, St. Martin's University, Prescott College, Willamette University, Lewis and Clark College, and Vermont Law School.
Prospective graduate students will learn about undergraduate requirements, the importance of standardized tests, transcripts and other credentials needed for graduate school admission, and interdisciplinary study options.
For information, visit www.evergreen.edu/career/events, call 360-867-6193 or email.


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(This borrows arguments and facts from Dinesh D'Souza's book Life After Death.)
Neuroscientists study the physical brain, but they also want to understand the non-physical mind. Yet thoughts cannot be collected, weighed, measured, sniffed, or even observed, at least not directly and clearly. They try to reduce the mind to merely physical cause-and-effect relationships. But is it even possible to do so?
Neuroscience has shown that brain states and mental experiences are correlated and that in many cases that certain mental states are dependent on certain brain states, but it HAS NOT shown that brain states cause mental states.
The famous American philosopher William James correctly thought of the brain not as a causal device but as a gateway, receiver, or transmission vehicle for the mind.
As an analogy, consider a radio and music. If the radio breaks and one can't hear the music anymore, does that prove that the radio causes the music? Of course not. The music/radio waves are actually distinct from and have an independent existence from the physical radio itself. The radio merely channels and manifests the music/radio waves that already exist all around us.
Similarly, music CDs require CD players, but the players don't cause the music. Software requires hardware, but the hardware doesn't cause the software's programs. A fine paintbrush is needed to paint a fine painting, but the paintbrush doesn't cause the painting but the artist using the paintbrush.
The question materialist atheists have to answer is this: "How do material objects, such as neurons with their associated apparatus of axons and dendrites, cause immaterial outcomes such as sensations, emotions, and ideas?… How can we be confident that the brain is a manufacturing plant for the mind and not merely a gateway or transmission belt?"
If minds are shadows/epiphenomenons that don't do anything, why do we have minds? It is unlikely evolution would provide mental functions if they were irrelevant.
And if the mind is just an illusion with no existence, then the very thought, idea, and truth of "the mind is just an illusion with no existence" doesn't exist either. It's self-contradictory.
The notion that the mind is the brain (Daniel Dennett) doesn't work either. Mental states are private, known only to the person; brains are not private and can be known by an outside observer. Mental states cannot be spatially located; brain states can. Mental states are about something and intentionally refer to something external to themselves; this is not the case with brain states. A person is infallible concerning their mental state, about their own thoughts; a person cannot be infallible concerning their brain state. A person cannot be mistaken about what they themselves experience mentally; a person can be mistaken about their own brain state, which a neuroscientist may know more about through technology and observation. Moreover, if two different people have the same mental state, that does NOT mean they have the same brain state. Human brains are wired differently from individual to individual.
The mind is not what it makes a person do either. One can remove actions or cease to act and the mental experience still be there. Mental experiences can exist apart from any behavior and perhaps from any physical manifestation.
Philosophers like Thomas Nagel (click here for more info) and Frank Jackson have soundly argued that even a full understanding of brain physiology will never reveal mental states, that mental states can never be reduced to purely physical terms.
The mind is not the output of a computer either. We cannot build computers that do what the mind does and experiences. Of course, the notion of the mind as a computer doesn't preclude the notion of life after death since one might download and upload the mind. Moreover, a computer merely manipulates symbols; it isn't really conscious of what it is doing like the human mind. Computers can do syntax but not semantics; they can follow rules but can't discern meaning. No computer, however complex, will ever be able to think and be conscious.
Neuroscience has only shown its own inherent limitations and blindspots. Science is limited to the study of material things that are objective and publicly observable. The "scientific" argument against the soul (mind/consciousness) collapses because the soul is not material or objective. Neuroscience thus makes life after death a plausible notion, though perhaps not persuasive and credible on its own.
Neuroscience has also shown that mental activity actually reconstitutes and reprograms the neurons in our brain. The mind, the person, the human will, shapes and forms the physical brain.
Physician Jeffrey Schwartz treats OCD patients and developed what he calls "cognitive therapy." This therapy involves patients learning to refocus their minds away from their compulsions and toward other thoughts and actions. Not only has the therapy been successful in many cases, but it has shown that a person can willfully rewire and bring order to their own previously disordered brains. The mind is controlling the matter, not the other way around!
The placebo and nocebo effects also demonstrate how the mind changes the body, including the brain.
The concept of neuroplasticity is a relatively new term to describe how the mind can change the physical arrangements in the brain. Psychiatrist Norman Doige has employed this concept and a therapy similar to Dr. Schwartz's to successfully treat a variety of mental disabilities.
If the mind is independent enough to create changes in the body, especially the brain, it seems reasonable to suppose the mind can survive the dissolution of the body, including specifically the brain.
Dr. Schwartz and physicist Henry Stapp are using discoveries in quantum physics to explain these mysterious/miraculous phenomena/treatments. They believe that consciousness operates at the quantum level to create a physical force. They believe the patients can, through trained volition/consciousness, fix and rearrange the position of subatomic particles and thus transform the physical reality within the brain.
Consciousness is perhaps the most perplexing and mysterious subject in science, and yet it is the most obvious and self-evident thing to the ordinary person. Human consciousness has no physical explanation yet we can see its physical consequences in medicine. Consciousness has no good evolutionary explanation either.
Consciousness must exist. If consciousness doesn't really exist, than we can't be conscious of the fact that consciousness doesn't exist. To deny consciousness is self-contradictory.
Philosopher David Chalmers argues we should accept consciousness as an irreducible element of reality, just like matter and energy in physics.
Quantum uncertainty creates rational/scientific room for free will.
"Thus a strict materialism refutes itself for the reason given long ago by Professor Haldane: 'If my mental processes are determined wholly by the motion of atoms in my brain, I have no reason to suppose that my beliefs are true…and hence no reason for supposing my brain to be composed of atoms." -C.S. Lewis, Miracles
If we presume morality, we must presume free will too. And free will is inherently spiritual and supernatural by definition (i.e. not a result of physical cause and effect). Free will and atheistic materialism are incompatible. Thus morality and atheistic materialism are incompatible.


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SAN JOSE, Calif. » Benson Henderson kept his UFC lightweight crown, outpointing Gilbert Melendez with a split decision Saturday night in a fight that lived up to its promise.
Both fighters raised their fists in triumph and pointed to the crowd as the final bell sounded.
When the decision was announced, the crowd roared its disapproval. The fight was that close.
Henderson has won all seven of his UFC bouts and is 19-2 overall, while Melendez, the top challenger, showed he deserves another chance at the title despite making his UFC debut. He's 21-3 overall.
Henderson left the ring with his girlfriend, who was hanging onto his belt. As he passed the front row of seats, he wiped his forehead, smiled and put his fingers together to indicate how close it was. Then he shrugged and left the floor.
Melendez, who had his seven-fight winning streak snapped, fought as if he studied Henderson's every move, looking for a counterattack at every opportunity. He seemingly wanted Henderson to make the first move every time.
Henderson appeared frustrated at times, but maintained his composure. He used his athleticism to get him out of several tight spots.
Melendez could match Henderson's stamina, but not his quickness and agility.
Strikeforce heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier beat former UFC champion Frank Mir by unanimous decision in his debut in the UFC. Cormier, who calls San Jose home, is 12-0 overall.
Cormier continually pushed Mir into the ropes and delivered blows. He never allowed MIr to counter punch.
San Jose native Josh Thomson earned a TKO in the second round of a lightweight challenge match, beating Nate Diaz, who lost in a title match, to Henderson, his last time out.
In a welterwight bout that opened the main card, Matt Brown recorded a TKO minute into the second round over Canadian Jordan Mein. Brown (10-5 UFC) won his fifth straight, recording four TKOs or KOs in that span.


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Farmers from Wales and Oz join forces to showcase 'lightning lamb'
A 'LIGHTNING LAMB' cooking challenge featuring award-winning sheep farmers from both sides of the globe was one of the highlights of the recent Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Builth Wells.
Surveys show that families in Britain have only 32 minutes on average to prepare an evening meal nowadays, as opposed to an hour in 1980. Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) is taking steps to emphasise lamb's quick-cook credentials, so enlisted the help of Australian farmer Jamie Heinrich and Breconshire's own Richard Roderick in a 'cookoff' to prove it!
Jamie Heinrich hails from Kangaroo Island near Adelaide in South Australia, and operates a 2000-acre holding farming Poll Merino and White Suffolk sheep. His visit to Wales is part of a Nuffield Australia scholarship to study how to encourage young entrants to the industry.
Richard Roderick lives at Newton Farm near Talybont-on-Usk in the Brecon Beacons. He is a past HCC Scholar, and has won several farming accolades including the Silver Lapwing Award in 2016 for his environmental management. Earlier this year he featured on the BBC series 'Nadiya's British Food Adventure'.
With the help of HCC cook Elwen Roberts, Jamie rustled up a rapid Welsh Lamb stir-fry with oriental flavours, while Richard's creation was a pan-fried leg steak with red wine sauce. After tasting and judging by members of the audience, the two delicious dishes could not be separated, so the Wales vs Australia match ended in an honourable draw.
"When I came over to Wales I certainly didn't anticipate getting involved in a cookoff to promote lamb!" said Nuffield Australia Scholar Jamie Heinrich. "Many of the challenges for the industry – recruiting younger farmers and making sure that lamb is appealing to young consumers who are pushed for time – are the same the world over. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of my trip to Wales and Europe."
HCC's Elwen Roberts commented: "It was great fun to challenge two farmers to come up with a quick and tasty lamb recipe. They both did extremely well, and the Winter Fair audience loved seeing and tasting the food."
"It's important to emphasise that lamb can be an excellent choice for a quick evening meal," she added. "HCC has recently launched a mobile-phone-friendly recipe selector on the eatwelshlamb.com website, to help give consumers inspiration for lamb dishes while on the move."
Last Golden Eagle of Wales found dead
WALES will no longer see the golden eagle fly through the skies after the last of its kind was found dead by a walker in Abergwesyn Valley, near Llanwrtyd Wells.
The Golden Eagle was native to Wales, Europe and North America and due to human persecution had begun to die out, the last breeding pair being found in Snowdonia in 1850. It is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere, but unfortunately Wales will not see the bird in action for a very long time.
The female bird of prey was being watched and followed by the presenter of Spring Watch, Iolo Williams, and will appear in the last episode of the latest show 'Iolo: The Last Wilderness of Wales.'
The company behind the television show which captures the highlights of Welsh wildlife, Aden Productions, commented on the extinction of the Golden Eagle. Taking to twitter, a statement read:
"Our whole crew was shocked and saddened to hear about the demise of our beloved Cambrians golden eagle, the last golden eagle to fly wild in Wales. We hope our final episode of Iolo: The Last Wilderness of Wales is a fitting tribute to her."
It is still not known how the female bird died, leaving questions for bird lovers, but plans are being made by the Eagle Reintroduction Wales project to reintroduce the bird of prey back into Welsh wildlife is under way. However, it is explained that this is not a simple process. They will firstly need Natural Resource Wales to issue a license which does take time.
The Golden Eagle has not left the UK completely and can still be found in the far North of Scotland.
Big Farmland Bird Count returns
JIM EGAN has sent out a rallying cry for people to pick up their binoculars and go bird-spotting for the Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) which returns on Friday, February 8.
The passionate organiser of the count, organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), is urging farmers, land managers, gamekeepers and all wildlife enthusiasts to spend 30 minutes recording what species they see on their patch of land from February 8th to the 17th.
Your support will help identify the farmland birds that are flourishing due to good conservation methods and ones in need of most support.
"It would be fantastic to see even more farmers to take part in the count this year," said Jim.
"Counting birds on farms is a great way to recognise what species are there as well as being an opportunity to take time out and see the benefits of work such as wild seed mix and supplementary feeding.
"Taking part and submitting results enables us at GWCT to shout about the important conservation work many farmers are doing.
"We want landowners to be proud of their efforts. We will make sure that the public and policymakers hear about what can be achieved on Britain's farms. The BFBC is a very positive way to showcase what can be achieved."
Backing this vital citizen-science project, running for the sixth successive year, is the NFU, which is this year's sponsor.
President Minette Batters is vowing her support to the count by going bird-watching on her farm in Downton, Wiltshire.
She will be joined on day one with GWCT biodiversity advisor Pete Thompson, an advocate of the count, both of whom will be ready with their binoculars, notepads and sharpened pencils, recording what they see.
"I am delighted to be taking part in this year's GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count which the NFU is pleased to be sponsoring for the very first time," she said.
"It's becoming an important national event where thousands of farmers and growers around the country are able to take stock of and importantly, take pride in what they find on their land.
"The NFU supports initiatives like the Big Farmland Bird Count as without sound management of the environment, enhancement of habitats, protection of wildlife and support for pollinators and soils, we do not have farming businesses.
"So, I would encourage all farmers to take part, and also remember to submit your records to the GWCT, so we can pull together a vital national snapshot of the state of the nation when it comes to farmland birds."
A record-breaking 1,000 people took part in last year's count, recording 121 species across 950,000 acres.
A total of 25 red-listed species were recorded, with five appearing in the 25 most commonly seen species list. These include fieldfares, starlings, house sparrows, song thrushes and yellowhammers. The most plentiful of these were fieldfares and starlings, which were seen on nearly 40% of the farms taking part.
At the end of the count, the results will be analysed by the Trust. All participants will receive a report on the national results once they have been collated.
New Flock and Herd Health Officers
HYBU Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has appointed two new Flock and Herd Health Officers to its ambitious five-year Red Meat Development Programme, designed to equip Wales's lamb and beef industry for a changing future.
The posts are key to delivering the programme's commitment to helping farmers achieve on-farm efficiency and drive best practice in proactive animal health planning.
The programme is supported by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Lowri Reed hails from a farming background near Llanon in central Ceredigion, whereas Lowri Williams is from Llanfihangel y Creuddyn near Aberystwyth, and is a graduate in Animal Management and Welfare from Harper Adams University.
Dr Rebekah Stuart, the coordinator of the Flock and Herd Health Project at HCC, said: "We're delighted to have recruited two officers with experience and knowledge of agriculture and flock management to this important strand of work.
"There are few things that can have as great an impact on the efficiency and bottom line of a livestock enterprise as a proactive and coordinated approach to animal health and eradicating disease.
"The project will help farmers to work with vets to put health plans in place and monitor their effectiveness. Since opening an initial expression of interest window late last year at the Winter Fair, we're encouraged by how many farmers are keen to be involved. We look forward to working with them to put this exciting project into action."
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It has been confirmed that counterfeit lithium-ion battery packs for digital cameras, made to look identical to the camera manufacture's genuine products, have recently been circulating in the market. Incidents of safety hazards that cause serious equipment damage and/or personal bodily injury have also been reported. These incidents are believed to have been caused by counterfeit battery packs.
High level sophisticated technology is incorporated into the design and manufacture of genuine lithium Ion battery packs that are used in digital cameras.However, it is evident that many "counterfeit battery packs" do not contain any safety components or protective devices that satisfy the usual minimum of quality and safety standards.
Genuine lithium ion battery packs are designed and manufactured for safety as shown in the figure below.
The external appearance of a "counterfeit battery pack" is very skillfully copied making it difficult to tell a genuine battery from a counterfeit battery.
You can make inquiries to website of some manufacturers. If you are concerned about your battery pack, please contact the manufacturer's service center.
You may inadvertently receive a counterfeit battery pack in situations where you are unable to check the goods first such as purchases through online auctions.


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For most of us, discovering a new species is a big deal. So it's always a little startling when you hear about some expedition rolling out of bed and stumbling into 300 undocumented species in one trip to the Philippines.
The California Academy of Sciences claims they found a "new species during nearly every dive and hike" during their expedition, which really sounds more like bragging than anything else. Even though the team documented their findings with some pretty gorgeous photos, the species will still have to be confirmed under microscope before the number is official. But considering scientists estimate 90 percent of the world's species are still undiscovered, the number isn't too hard to swallow.
We'd be lying if we didn't admit that "photos of a never before seen slug" are a lot more alluring than "pretty pictures of some slug we found," so fingers crossed that they come back positive. [CAS via IBTimes]


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Yesterday there was several sightings of an iridescent cloud in Scotland shared with us on Twitter and Facebook.
As we did not observe the cloud ourselves and are only seeing the pictures, it's not possible to be 100% certain, however it is most likely that these are nacreous clouds, also known as mother of pearl clouds.
This eye-catching cloud is rarely seen, and has only been sighted in polar regions (such as Scotland and Norway) in the winter months, especially when there is a low over northern Scandinavia with a strong west/north-westerly wind blowing over Scotland. They only form in the lower stratosphere – around 15 miles up – when temperatures here are below -78 °C.
Although nacreous clouds are brightest when the sun is just below the horizon, illuminating them from below, they can also still be seen several hours after the sun has gone down.
Have you seen any interesting weather phenomenons lately? Add your pictures to our Facebook page or tweet them to us @metoffice.
Visit our website for more information on cloud spotting.


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We're heading into the finals of the Seasonal Canvas Class – only Fall left to do! If you want to check out the others we've done, there's Winter and Spring.
For summer I did a clothesline, with a pretty common Newfoundland phrase, "Good day on clothes!" That's what you'd say to neighbour over the clothesline when there's a nice day for hanging out the wash.
Of course, since Molly's favourite thing is Feel Bunny, I had to add her to the line – she smells so good after we hang her up by the ears!
The clothes are traced through a stencil by Nathalie Kalbach and then I added details to each piece:
The sun is made by rubbing Inca Gold Old Silver into the texture made by the molding paste through a stencil:
The seagulls have a bit of dimension so it looks like they're flying off the canvas:
For me, the best part of these canvas classes is seeing how people look at what I made and then change it to fit their style – I love seeing their completed canvases!
I'm working on a new two layout page kit for the Paperie – Back to School – and I'm hoping to have that to show you in the next day or so. We're hoping to get you several of these page kits over the year and they're awesome! Everything you need to complete two full LO's and maybe a couple of cards as well. Of course, they come with full colour instructions too – they're the perfect thing to take to a friend's house or crop if you don't want to drag all your gear with you!


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"That's tough, but I'd say it would have to be Garth Brooks because I wrote them with him," Williams said. "He was part of the songs, too, before he sang them. We had so much fun writing together."
They had a load of fun together Sunday night, too.
Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood were on hand to help celebrate this year's inductees -- Williams, Tony Arata, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Larry Henley. Brooks saluted Williams and Arata, while Yearwood paid tribute to Carpenter and Henley, the writer of the enduring hit "The Wind Beneath My Wings."
"Over 200 artists have recorded `The Wind Beneath My Wings,' so it's kind of how do you do a new twist?" Yearwood said before the ceremony. "And with Chapin, I've just known her a long, long time, so it was a no-brainer when she asked me. It's the Garth and Trisha show and we're just going to have a good time."
Brooks sang "New Way To Fly," "Papa Loved Mama" and "Three Wooden Crosses" to Williams during a moving and hilarious induction speech, then sang Arata's "The Dance." The appearance comes a year after Brooks' own induction.
"I cried the whole time and I'm going to cry all night tonight, too, but now it's for one of your brothers," Brooks said. "I think I'm more excited for Kim and Tony going in. For me it's long overdue. I was thinking about Kent Blazy, and I wonder where his face is. I think it's only a matter of time for him, too. These are the guys I grew up with. They moved here at the same time and we're all brothers."
Marc Cohn also helped pay tribute to Carpenter, who noted she's just the 14th female inductee among 188 hall of fame members.
"And that feels like an honor in and of itself," Carpenter said beforehand. "I know that I stand on a lot of shoulders just to get to this place. I'm just so happy."
The Nashville Songwriters Association International also gave out its yearly songwriting awards. Taylor Swift won the songwriter/artist of the year award for the fifth time in six years and remains at 22 that award's youngest winner. Dallas Davidson was named songwriter of the year. And Dolly Parton's enduring hit "I Will Always Love You," which reached No. 1 again this year after Whitney Houston's death, was named song of the year.


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FAA Orders No-Fly Zone Over Boston Explosion Site
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration created a no-fly zone over the site of two explosions at the annual Boston marathon on Monday, and briefly ordered flights bound for Boston's Logan International Airport held on the ground at airports around the country.
About an hour after the explosions the FAA issued a notice to pilots that a no-fly zone with a 3.5-mile radius has been created over 811 Boylston Street. The zone was later reduced in a subsequent notice to a 2.3-mile radius. The zone is limited to flights under 3,000 feet in altitude, which is lower than most airliners would fly except when taking off or landing.
The no-fly zone was effective immediately, and will remain in effect until further notice, the agency said. Pilots planning flights are urged to call their local flight service station.
In order to prevent planes from violating the no-fly zone, the FAA briefly held planes bound for Logan around the country on the ground while air traffic procedures at the airport were reconfigured to bring planes in from the northeast and send them out to the southeast over Boston harbor.
Security for outbound international flights at Logan has been stepped up in the wake of the bombings, federal law enforcement officials said. Numerous runners were expected to leave Boston after race, and the additional security has been added as a precaution, they said. The officials requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.
Transportation officials at airports and train stations around the country also reported stepped up security. In Washington, transit officials said in a Twitter message they knew of no specific or credible threat to the city's subway system, but "extra officers are on duty for increased security" anyway. It was the same case in New Jersey, where the state's transit agency said it was in operating "a state of heightened alert."
"While there has been no specific threat made to our transit system at this time, NJ Transit police have deployed both uniformed and plain clothed officers to further patrol our system and keep our customers safe," the agency said in a statement.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Since the 1990s, zines have played a crucial role in bringing awareness of feminism to young women. But with the publication of a new book devoted to Zine culture, one has to wonder, are zines obsolete?
In her review of Alison Piepmeier's book Girl Zines: Making Media, Doing Feminism, The American Prospect's Jessica Clark does some fan-girl reminiscing of her own. Like Piepmeier, Clark recalls her first encounter with feminism, which was facilitated in part by the proliferation of grrrl zines. While zines are closely related to the punk movement and its hardcore, tough-guy posturing, riot grrrls and DIY-feminists turned to the photocopied pages as a way of ripping apart pop culture and pasting it together again in collages and text that was at once both rebellious and celebratory. Piepmeier zeroes in on the physical process of creation as a way in which zines can be connected to earlier gendered forms of media:
[Piepmeier] connects them with what she identifies as earlier forms of feminist "participatory media": the scrapbooks kept by suffragettes to document and respond to sexist characterizations of their work; the pamphlets that transmitted contraband information about contraception and sexual health to women in the early 1900s; the mimeographed flyers that called women's libbers to consciousness and revolt. "Participatory media represent a way of engaging with unfriendly mass culture and transforming it — if not always on a broad scale, at least at the level of the local," she notes.
Zines are perhaps one of the most democratic forums for disseminating ideas and concepts. In contrast to glossy fashion mags, zines provide a rough-edged place in which to cut and paste, tear and build. The almost Dada-ist aesthetic of haphazard construction plays with and speaks to "feminine" arts and crafts while also partaking in the angry sneers of the punk/grunge/riot movements. While the material inside is fascinating, Clark rightly focuses on the unique form. She writes,
It's not just the content of these zines but their form, their look and feel, their "girl style," that make them noteworthy. Early-'90s grrrl zines made liberal use (and fun) of both contemporary and retro sexist images — apron-wearing housewives with vacuums, tattooed pinup girls, bikini models torn angrily from ads, ironically juxtaposed with princess and Hello Kitty cartoons — developing a distinctive visual vocabulary that set them apart from both earlier feminist newspapers and zines about other topics. Piepmeier describes them as "sculptural media," notable for the pleasure that their makers experience in constructing them and for the small thrill the recipient gets in opening up a hand-decorated envelope or finding a tiny, raging, perfect zine in a crammed independent bookstore.
But like print media in general, zines have been threatened by the rise of new media. Clark cites feminist blogs including Feministing and the women's writing community She Writes as progenitors of the energetic third-wave feminism found in zines. In a way, there's a certain sense to this: Zines evolved as a way to quickly and easily spread a message. Like blogs, they give anyone an opportunity to be the writer/editor of their own stories. And blogs make it even easier to borrow and steal material, taking images from one source, throwing them casually into another. They also provide the opportunity to reach a much larger, almost unlimited, audience.
Both Piepmeier and Clark are quick to point out that they don't believe zines are going away anytime soon. Despite the fact that the muddling and mixing of pop culture, retro reappropriation and punk symbolism has "mutated in the toxic sludge of commercial culture" and become as commercialized as anything else, Clark argues that there is hope for the zine yet. This debate is somewhat reminiscent of the whole Kindle vs. Book crisis that has been popping up in op-eds on and off for the past few years. Yet like books, zines have the something that blogs don't: Presence. Blogs may offer a large audience, but they're still somewhat distancing and intangible. And this may be purely anecdotal, but it seems that the prevailing trend in blogging is a kind of twee girlishness that bares little resemblance to the anger and energy of riot grrrl culture. Perhaps most importantly, blogs provide a certain polish that zines purposefully lack. Both forums may give an outlet for confessional outpourings, but there is a strange intimacy to be found in an object so carefully constructed and stapled, delivered from hand to hand. As much as I love blogs (and Kindles, and iPods) there is something to Piepmeier's argument for the fragility of the real thing. So if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy some glue sticks and glitter.
Girl Talk [The American Prospect]
Image via Steve Rhodes Flickr


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There are Bermuda shorts, of course. But local designers, jewelers and artists are collaborating to redefine island style in Bermuda.Learn More »
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Bermuda's beaches are legendary, but beyond the pink sand you'll find a mid-Atlantic island packed with a rare combination of experiences. Go sailing or shipwreck diving, explore ancient caves and subterranean lakes, uncover British colonial heritage in the island's historic towns, celebrate with Gombey dancers, feast on one of the world's best fish sandwiches and wash it all down with one of the island's signature rum-based drinks.