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More coverage on the shootings from affiliates KOLD, KVOA, KMSB, KPHO and KGUN.
[Updated at 10:30 p.m. ET] A man who helped subdue the gunman in Saturday's Arizona shooting spree said the man was trying to reload when he was tackled to the ground.
"He was ready for war. He was not playing around," Joe Zamudio told CNN. "He was going to keep shooting. It was not over. He had just ran out of bullets."
The gun, which another bystander had wrestled from the gunman, was empty and cocked open, and the shooter had another magazine at the ready, Zamudio said.
Zamudio pinned him to the ground until police showed up. The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, and authorities are obtaining search warrants for a residence and his vehicle. Authorities also are seeking a person of interest but his suspected connection to the incident is unclear.
Loughner is accused of shooting 18 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a third-term Democrat who had organized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet and greet. Authorities believe the gunman had specifically targeted Giffords. She is in critical condition after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head, but doctors said they are optimistic over her prospects for recovery.
Eleven others were wounded in the shooting and six are dead, among them U.S. District Court Judge John Rolls, a friend of Giffords' who had stopped by the event to say hello after attending Mass, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said.
Also killed was Giffords staffer Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach who had coordinated the event to introduce Giffords to her constituents.
A 9-year-old girl also was killed.
The shooting sent shock waves through Washington, where Giffords was regarded as gracious and kind, a moderate Democrat known for her dedication to her constituents and willingness to work across party lines.
In light of the shootings, all legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced in a statement.
Americans also struggled to come to terms with the event. Many of them showed up to a vigil at the Arizona State Capitol to pray together and share their thoughts.
In the Twitterverse, theories abounded as to the gunman's motivation. Meanwhile, while speaking to the press , the sheriff lamented "the vitriolic rhetoric" in American political discourse, suggesting it played a role in the shooting.
"This has not become the nice United States of America that most of us grew up in and I think its time we do the soul-searching," he said.
"The anger, the hatred the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous and unfortunately, Arizona has become the capital. We have become the mecca of prejudice and bigotry."
[Updated at 10:00 p.m. ET] A House vote scheduled for Monday on whether to repeal health care legislation has been postponed after Saturday's shooting.
All legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed in a decision by leaders of both political parties in the House so "we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today's tragedy," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement.
[Updated at 9:13 p.m. ET] Some who knew Giffords and others who just wanted an outlet for emotions in the wake of the shooting rampage gathered on Capitol Hill Saturday night to honor the victims.
More than 50 marchers braved subfreezing temperatures and gusty winds to march to the Capitol and up the west steps to hold the vigil.
[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET] A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says the Glock model 19 used in the shootings was purchased legally. The official did not have details at this time as to when and where the gun was purchased.
The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The official said it is likely the extended magazine used in the shooting was purchased separately and at a different time. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and that it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.
The official said the suspect had purchased another gun a few years ago but this person did not know the details about what happened to that weapon and if the alleged shooter still owned it.
[Updated at 8:23 p.m. ET] Officials are not convinced that the suspected gunman acted alone, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik told reporters.
Law enforcement is actively searching for a "person of interest" who is a white male in his 50s believed to have assisted the suspect in a shooting, Dupnik said.
A suspect who Dupnik would not name is in the custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, he said. The suspect has had previous contact with law enforcement "regarding threats" to kill, Dupnik said, and described him as having a "troubled past."
CNN has confirmed that the suspect's name is Jared Lee Loughner, 22, whose apparent online footprint professes an distrust of government and a fondness for books such as "Mein Kampf," "The Communist Manifesto," "Peter Pan" and "The Republic."
"There's reason to believe this individual has a mental issue and I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," he said.
"Vitriol" in public debate was a recurring theme in Dupnik's remarks as he blasted the media for "the vitriolic rhetoric" heard on television and radio.
[Updated at 7:57 p.m. ET] Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was among those killed in Saturday's shooting at a constituents meeting outside a Tucson Safeway, Gifford press secretary CJ Karamargin said.
Zimmerman was the staff member who set up today's event in Giffords' district, Karamargin said. The Tucson native was engaged to be married.
[Updated at 7:43 p.m. ET] The Army said in a statement that the suspect in the shooting was never in the Army.
"He attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for service. In accordance with the Privacy Act, we will not discuss why he was rejected," the Army said in a statement.
[Updated at 7:21 p.m. ET] Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect, had a limited presence on social-media sites, including YouTube and MySpace. Here's a sampling of some of the messages that CNN found on Loughner's pages:
December 26, 2010: I'm not going to change the mistakes, you don't know – funny! (I think the CIA watches my-space)
December 30, 2010: I now understand a certain word - Cult!
December 15, 2010: If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon.
I define terrorist.
Thus a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially
as a political weapon.
If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
You call me a terrorist.
Thus the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
December 15, 2010: The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution.
You don't have to accept the federalist laws.
Nonetheless, read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws.
You're literate, listener?
Read more about Loughner's digital footprint on CNN.com
[Updated at 7:12 p.m. ET] The University of Arizona's men's basketball game against Stanford University has been postponed following the shootings.
"The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy," Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne said.
The game will be played at 12:30 p.m. MST Sunday.
[Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET] Saturday's deadly shootings at an Arizona constituency meeting outside a Tucson Safeway appear to have "no nexus to terrorism," a law enforcement official said.
This official did not know if there had been any recent threat against Rep Giffords but said there are frequent threats to various members of Congress, mostly via phone calls or e-mails, or mailed threats.
[Updated at 6:30 p.m. ET] U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts released this statement on the death of U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll, who was killed in the shootings:
"Chief Judge John Roll was a wise jurist who selflessly served Arizona and the nation with great distinction, as attorney and judge, for more than 35 years. I express my deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his children, as well as the other victims and their families. Chief Judge Roll's death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."
[Updated at 6:16 p.m. ET] The Tea Party released this statement regarding the shootings:
"We at the Tea Party Express are shocked and saddened to hear about the terrible tragedy that took place in Tucson today. It is appalling that anyone would commit such unthinkable violence against Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, her staff, a sitting federal judge and the many other victims and families impacted.
"These heinous crimes have no place in America, and they are especially grievous when committed against our elected officials. Spirited debate is desirable in our country, but it only should be the clash of ideas. An attack on anyone for political purposes, if that was a factor in this shooting, is an attack on the democratic process. We join with everyone in vociferously condemning it."
Read the full story on CNN.com
[Updated at 5:41 p.m. ET] Who is Gabrielle Giffords? She's a Democrat who was first elected in 2006. She has served as chairwoman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and also holds seats on the House Science and Technology and Armed Services committees.
She won her third term in a closely contested race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate and was one of three Democratic legislators who reported vandalism at their offices following the March vote on health care reform.
She is married to Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut who is scheduled to lead a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The two married in 2007, after meeting four years prior in China, as young leaders selected by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Giffords told the New York Times in her wedding announcement.
The article described their courtship as a drawn-out affair between two deeply committed civic servants who slowly found their way to each other. When they met, Giffords was seeing someone and Kelly was married.
After Giffords split from her boyfriend, she invited Kelly to join her on a tour of the Arizona State Prison in Florence.
"I'd been working on legislation dealing with capital punishment. Mark is the son of police officers — well, he just really wanted to sit in 'the chair,' " she told the newspaper.
The two married three years later, they married at an organic produce farm in Amado, Arizona, called Agua Linda. An avid recycler, Giffords wore a Vera Wang gown borrowed from a friend.
"To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour," a wedding guest said in a toast to the couple.
[Updated at 5:20 p.m. ET] Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer expressed condolences for the shooting victims - 6 are dead and 12 injured.
"I am just heartbroken. Gabby (Giffords) is more than just a colleague she is a friend. She has always been a noble public servant," an emotional Brewer said, pausing for composure.
"I ask the people of Arizona and the people of America to keep the victims and their families in their prayers, and pray for their recovery and pray that in Arizona we never have to experience a tragedy like this ever again."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
Judge John Roll, the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for Arizona, was among 6 people killed, along with a 9-year-old girl, officials said.
Witnesses said the gunman shot Giffords at point blank range through the head and then continued firing. The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as Jared Lee Loughner, has been taken into custody.
[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] Chief Judge John Roll was among 6 people killed at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery store Saturday.
[Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET] The suspect in a shooting at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery story is a white male born in 1988, CNN's Jeanne Meserve has confirmed from a federal law enforcement source.
Six people have died, including a 9-year-old girl, and 12 were injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, authorities said.
[Updated at 4:07 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition and a young child has died after a shooting at a political meeting at an Arizona grocery store, a hospital spokesman said Saturday.
Giffords, who was hosting the event, is under anesthesia after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head "through and through," said Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director at the University Medical Center in Tucson.
"The Congresswoman is not deceased. She is in critical condition," Rhee said in a press conference. "I am very optimistic about recovery."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
[Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET] Six people have died and 12 - including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - were injured in a shooting at a political meeting at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store Saturday, according to Rick Kastigar of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
[Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET] A suspect is in custody in the shootings of at least 12 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, at a constituent meeting at an Arizona grocery store, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
"The suspect is in custody. No further details on the motive or other victims are available at this time," the statement said. "The U.S. Capitol Police are directly involved in this investigation. As more information is developed, it will be provided. In the interim, all Members and staff are advised to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security."
A statement from President Obama confirmed that some people had died.
"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tucson, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded," he said.
"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."
[Updated at 3:00 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the head, a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center in Tucson said.
Nine patients were brought to the hospital, including a child. All of them are in either serious or critical condition and are undergoing surgery, spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.
A federal judge was also among those shot, a law enforcement official said. It is not clear whether he was among those taken to the hospital.
[Updated at 2:43 p.m. ET] There were conflicting reports Saturday about the condition of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following a shooting Saturday at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store. Giffords' press secretary said the congresswoman remains in surgery for her injuries, disputing an earlier report from a law enforcement source saying she had died.
[Updated at 2:23 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords died Saturday after a gunman opened fire at a Tucson, Arizona grocery store, a law enforcement source said. Giffords, who had been holding a meeting with constituents, was among at least 12 people shot.
[Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among at least 12 people shot at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store, a Democratic source told CNN's Dana Bash. The source called her injuries "pretty serious."
[Updated at 1:41 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was meeting with constituents at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, where at least 12 people were injured in a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. MST Saturday, a spokesman for the Pima County sheriff's Department said. It is unclear whether Giffords was among those hurt.
"Several" people were shot Saturday at a grocery store in Tucson,
Arizona, a spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. No other details were immediately available.
I am ashamed to listen to you all comments and no one not anyone talks about gun control reform. We absolutely have no need for guns nor the need to sell them at the rate we are selling them now. The policy of selling guns must be reformed. I myself have thought about and god has given a good plan for this reform. But nontheless if we listen our gun in the streets then we have have no reason to defend ourselves at home. Who are we trying to kill or what are we trying to pretend. We already a very powerful army we dont need to prove this at home. Think all the crimes that have been commited have never been stopped by the opposite party by the use of his gun. It seems like they have always been unexpected crimes. Please gun control is necessary no matter what.
There is no possible way you could be a Dr. ....
As some one who lives in very rural Maine, I could not disagree more with your statement. Maine even though a very liberal state in recent years, has some of the most liberal gun laws. I can open carry here if I desired too, no permit required and we have one of the safest states in the Union per FBI statistics. Interesting that most States very stringent gun control laws are on the more dangerous side of those statisitics.
Not the topic here though, lets prey for the Congressman. Latest news says she is stillin surgery and not dead as earlier reported.
Doc....it is folks like you that will be crying when you're running for your life with no means of defense. Guns do not kill people, people kill people. Swimming pools don't drown kids or are you advocating we outlaw them too?
You Sir are an absolute Moron!
Ya think if MORE people HAD guns, there might have been someone at the scene to help? You'd bring a knife to s gun fight. Society is what it is – THATS what needs addressed. Doc.
You Sir, are an idiot....Guns don't kill people, people kill people....OMG somebody died in an auto accident today, we have got to ban cars, ban the damn things, ban them I say...Your argument is so weak I want to hurl, you have something for that doc?
Up over the border we are not allowed to pack our automatic weapons to the grocery store. The America we admire
should be more concerned about internal wackos and out-of-touch gun laws ...... more dangerous than external threats !
Why all the speculation without knowing any facts? I have been watching and reading about this and still I know no facts...not even one! Maybe we should wait to maybe find one fact before flying off the handle...oh well you won't and I know that to be fact.
You are correct! There have been no facts released about who the shooter is. The only thing speculation accomplishes is to feed sick minds...
The report just n on KOLD that Giffords died in surgery.
Please feel free to leave my country asap. You clearly know of a better one.
Then you sir are the root of the problem. That you take pride in the fact that you have never voted speaks to your lack of concern for yourself, your family and all of the citizens of this natrion.
Another disgruntled citizen looking for handouts. What does your rant have to do with the tragedy today
People like Sarah Palin and all of the other right wing loonies who have encouraged such violence should be held accountable. They've been preaching this type of action over and over the past few years through various winks and nods in the media.
Knock off the ignorance. You want to point blame take a peak at our current situation. We are on the verge of bankruptcy, we can't get facts straigth, we are lied to and deceived by the white house daily, poverty at an all time high, gas prices over $3 a gallon, food prices outrageous, and people are fed up. Look at the white houses policies for the past few years and look at what it has gotten us. We are a represented people by elected officials and we have been laughed at, ignored, deemed pawns, called names, ridiculed, and they have done the opposite of what we have been screaming. This is a tragic event and this administration, rather than going down the road that we need to control guns, control internet, control banks, control car manufacturers, control the radio, control what we eat, control healthcare, control everything, they simply need to listen to the majority of Americans and quit spending our darn money. You want control, go control NPR announcing Giffords was shot to death but now I'm reading that she is in critical condition and in surgery. Let's pray for her recovery and let's pray that our country gets back on a manageable track.
"..have encouraged violence?" who encourages violence???? how closed minded is that comment? I dont care what ones politics are, but learn what somebody really stands for. A terrible terrible situation has just happenned in Arizona from obviously a deranged individual. Quit politicizing the actions of horrible individuals, no matter which political figures are affected by such gruesomeness.
Mike, you are so right about Sarah, I would include Glen Beck, Rush, and quite a few of the newly elected tea party all preach violet over throw of the government. Proof positive is that SARAPAC has just removed her gun sight target map from their website all of a sudden "too late". These people need to held accountable as they are to blame.
Mike, I hope that "we the people" will finally mobilize against all the political sect that only seeks to divide us all. They have done so well in the past. Will we ever see the light; most are not elected for us but for their own personnel gain or financial enhancement. Americans simply have to understand the division and hate being thrust upon us by or so called elected officials.
This is very sad news and my thoughts go out to her friends, family, and fellow members of Congress.
On another note: I do need to mention that I am not a regular viewer of CNN anymore; mainly due to the ANTICS displayed today by putting that CRACKPOT, CARTOONIST on to spew his drivel disguised as "respected journalism". The only bright side is when the NUTJOB, David Fitzsimmons, decided to "come clean" when the CNN employee referred to him as a "journalist" with the correction of "....I'm a cartoonist/opinion writer, not a journalist. You'll get no unbiased truth from me."
REALLY, CNN? REALLY!? I would think that during this tragic incident you would have the ability, or the competent staff knowledge, to VET YOUR SOURCES BEFORE YOU PUT THEM ON THE AIR!!!!!!! This blemish is COMPLETELY disrespectful not only to Rep. Giffords, but to the viewing audience. And furthermore, for this CARTOONIST to repeatedly use the word "SURVIVED" when speaking of the recent election win of Rep. Giffords, during a "Breaking News" segment of her passing, is a further testament to the shameless ignorance of this CARTOONIST (not "journalist").
David Fitzsimmons should really sit down and do a few things in the near future:
1 – Brush up on the English language and buy a thesaurus.
2 – Realize that there is "a time and a place" for everything; this is neither the time, nor the place, to try to place BLAME on the "rabid Right". (His quoted words, not mine.)
3 – Become aware that his "enjoying guns from time to time" statement, followed by criticism of gun ownership in Arizona by calling it a "fetish", is COMPLETELY contradictory!.........(see Part 1 for further action regarding this part.)
and finally
4 – Stick to what you know: DRAWING CARTOONS, not commenting on the tragic death of a United States Congresswoman!
You should listen to the blather on Fox if you think that was bad. Poor CNN guy got snookered. Fox guys are encouraging wackos in their interviews.
Does anybody realize that most guns used in violence like this are illegal in the first place?? Nobody buys a gun outright, registers it, & goes on a killing spree like this. Do you want to be defenseless when a street-bought gun visits your house or neighborhood???
NorCalGal: Do you realize that the vast majority of illegal guns started out as legal guns? Making it nearly impossible to own a legal handgun would dry up the number of illegal handguns. And even ignoring the fact that the most likely victim of a home defense weapon is the homeowner, you don't need handguns for home defense. In fact, probably the best home defense weapon is a small gauge shotgun. Most people are unable to hit their target in a home invasion scenario; the wide pattern of a shotgun would increase the odds of hitting the victim. You would be a fool to shoot with any weapon if someone in your family was anywhere in your field of view, so if you're harboring dreams of picking off a rapist's head as he holds your loved one hostage, forget it. A handgun's value is concealment, which is not a factor in home defense. So ban handguns and defend your home with a shotgun. Best possible solution.
What a sad day in America. Leaders are placed by God whether you believe this or not.As a 6th generation American, I have to say that a person who commits murder does not know the value of life. Too bad this gunman did not take his own first.
Now they are retracting the statement.
IRONY: According to sources EVERYWHERE, this woman has always been a very strong supporter of gun rights and gun ownership. She even said that gun ownership was part of Arizona's traditions. How ironic !
Hmmm I wonder what she would say now if she had survived ?
Before we waste more time ripping each other over this tragedy, why don't we WAIT AND SEE who the gunman really is? A bit of restraint, people!
So you know the assailant is and his motive?
She was on Palin's hit list:
sarahpac.com just went offline...
Well, we all knew this would happen. With-in the extreme right divisive "second amendment remedies" to the Govenor Brewer;s 'DEATH PANELS OF ARIZONA" Taking away benefits for life saving organ transplants. It is really soooooooo
sad the innocent pay the ultimate price for the far right politics of Arizona's govenor.
I agree absolutely. It is obvious what they have been encouraging since prior to the election of Obama. Now we see the fruition of such hatred.


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On July 1st Anthony Princiotti conducted the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in the open air at Sugarbush offering "Symphony Royale" with music fit for a king…or a summer evening in Vermont! Handel's fireworks began the program and Northstar's fireworks concluded it, in this musical homage to royalty. The noble procession included Scheherazade's Kalendar Prince, the King and Queen of Troy, and the King of Siam. The concert was in honor of Independence Day celebrating America's freedom from monarchical rule with their own version of royalty, Duke Ellington! The performance was crowned by the majestic 1812 Overture and selections from Sousa, the March King, which were both accompanied by an amazing fireworks display with the finale captured in this short videoby Susan.
Intriguingly the concert, being on July 1st, was on Canada Day when Canadians celebrated their royalty with the visit of its newest couple, William and Catherine, who were at Parliament Hill in Ottawa to join Canadians country wide to celebrate the 144th anniversary of Confederation.

subset: commoncrawl


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March 4th, 2013
Jamie Lynn Spears is engaged
Britney Spears' engagement to Jason Trawick may be off, but the singer still has a wedding to get ready for.
The 31-year-old's younger sister, Jamie Lynn, announced on her Twitter account Sunday that she's engaged.
"Guesssss what??????" the younger Spears tweeted with a link to an Instagram photo of her smiling with her now-fiancé, Jamie Watson. Spears, 21, and Watson, 30, have been dating for three years, Watson told the New York Post's Page Six in January.
"#Hedidgood," Spears added on another Instgram shot that offered a closeup of her engagement ring.
The former Nickelodeon star was previously engaged to Casey Aldridge, the father of her four-year-old daughter, Maddie. According to Us Weekly, her relationship with Aldridge ended in 2010.
With her younger sister ready to tie the knot, big sister Britney tweeted that she's overjoyed.
"So excited and happy for my sister," she posted Sunday night. "[C]ongrats jamielynnspears – love you."
Britney was previously set to marry Jason Trawick, but, in a mutual decision, the couple announced their split in January.
"I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends," Britney said at the time.
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text:
Tritton's Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset does something no other third-party Xbox 360 headset does: it allows players to use voice chat without plugging a wire into the controller.
How much is that convenience worth to you? Don't answer yet, I'm not finished.
Microsoft isn't exactly keen on handing out their top technology to outside companies, so when it comes to wireless voice, it's been the official Microsoft wireless headset or nothing. It's the same deal as the company's wireless controller technology. In the nearly seven years the Xbox 360 has been around, the only company that Microsoft has allowed harness that tech has been Mad Catz, the same company that owns the Tritton gaming audio brand.
And so we have the first third-party wireless headset for the Xbox 360. Rather than deliver a bare bones product at a hefty price to offset whatever it cost to secure that wire-free technology, Tritton went all out, layering on shiny features until the headset's features listed glowed with the light of a thousand suns. If you're going to go expensive, you might as well go all the way.
The most eye-catching feature of the Warhead isn't the glossy black headset. That's more of a dust and smudge catcher, the price we pay to see our reflection in our gaming hardware. No, it's the base station, the ebon monolith from which the sound signals from the Xbox 360 are beamed into your ears as if by magic.
This gleaming tower atop my entertainment center is more than just a place to rest my weary headphones at the end of the day. It's a transmitter that utilizes proprietary technology to skip the crowded 2.4GHz band used by common household electronics and ride the wild 5.8GHz, free from outside interference. Indeed, in all the hours I spent ignoring my children and wife-creature in the name of headset reviewing, never once did I catch even the slightest smidgeon of interference.
Nor did I run out of battery life, thanks to the small plastic panel housing an additional battery for the unit, constantly charging thanks to the wonders of DC power. Not that the battery in the headset was in constant danger of running out. I played for at least ten hours on a single charge before swapping them out of sheer anxiety over my sound potentially dropping out.
Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset Specs
- Price: $299.99
- Wireless Frequency: 5.8GHz
- Wireless Range: 33ft / 10m
- Ear Coupling: Circumaural (Over-the-Ear)
- Xbox 360 Audio Input Type: Optical and RCA
- Frequency Response: 25Hz–20kHz
- Speaker Diameter: 50mm
- Magnet Type: Neodymium
- Batteries: 2 Rechargeable Battery Packs
The rear of the base station is home of places to plug things — the DC power cable, the optical audio cable and the standard line 3.5mm line in jack for those without optical capability. It's this minimalist rear end that serves as the entirety of the Warhead's installation process. Step one: run an optical audio cable from the Xbox 360 to the base station. Step two: hit the sync button on the headset or on the base itself. Step three: there is no step three, you're done.
The box comes packed with additional adapters and plug parts, should you need them, including an optical plug adapter for folks with older Xboxen and a collection of wall plugs from every nation. You shouldn't need much more than that. This really is the easiest-to-install third-party Xbox 360 audio device I've encountered. If you've ever opened up an Xbox 360-compatible headset and spent hours staring at confusing cables, herein lies salvation.
Now let's take a look at this dusty, smudgy bastard.
The Warhead headset proper is a striking figure, sleek and black like a portable Sony product before anyone touches it. And like a Sony product, as mentioned, dust and fingerprints love it like it donated them a kidney just before zero hour. Again, this is to be expected, especially in a home like mine containing a pair of toddlers and a magic creature made entirely of smudge and dust.
It really is a beautiful piece of work. All gleaming darkness with shining silver accents. It looks deadly an unpredictable. The orange cloth lurking within the confines of the faux leather ear cups is a bit garish, but no one is going to see that unless you've got sentient beings living in your ears, and those aren't the sort of sentient beings anyone solicits opinion from.
The unit is much lighter than I expected it to be, which makes it far easier on my pointy bald head but doesn't feel as reassuringly sturdy as one would think a $300 headset should feel. The ear cups both rotate freely to a limited degree, surely more than is really necessary. It's all a bit jangly, but when it's on your head it all comes together quite nicely.
Where the base station is home to glowing LED indicators and that familiar Xbox 360 light ring, the control of the Warhead is in the hands of the head wearing the headset.
On the right side we've got the volume control (push in to mute/unmute); the power button, which also syncs the headset with the base station; and the Dolby mode selector, which cycles through game, movie and music modes for both digital and stereo inputs.
In lieu of any real involved equalizer control, the Warhead presents those three presets for three different Xbox 360 audio situations. We've got the low frequency-loving music setting, punching up the bass to a satisfying degree. Movie mode focuses on the high frequencies, favoring vocal clarity. And game mode keeps things in the middle, safely delivering as much clear sound as its 50mm drivers can handle. You can, of course, mix those up as you see fit. Think of them as aural serving suggestions.
The audio served up is quite lovely and intricate, especially during multiplayer gameplay sessions in titles like Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and Battlefield 3, where hearing where your enemy is incredibly important. Dolby does its best impression of a physical 7.1 surround setup, though of course it's no substitute for the real thing. There's only so much ear trickery a bundle of plastic, wires and metal can perform.
The warhead makes extra-fine sound go into your ear holes, which is good as that's part of what you'd be paying it to do. It's not quite as crisp as some of its competitors — it's not the apex of listening pleasure — but it's near the top, hanging out with the sherpas and getting dizzy from lack of oxygen.
Besides, what's on the left ear cup is why we're here, right?
A detachable mic plugs directly into the outside middle of the Warhead's left side, forming the bond that connects to the various controls assembled on the surface of that oddly-angled cup. Here we find an independent mic volume control (handy); the button that links up the mic with the controller (necessary); a button for swapping between digital and analog input (yup); and the control that turns on and off selective voice monitoring.
What is selective voice monitoring? Why my friend, it's the ability to control whether or not you hear your own voice when you talk. It's one of those features I never knew I wanted until I had it.
Speaking of which, the detachable mic also features a mute button at the top, which sets off a red LED at the bit you can see so you know your words are not traveling to people's ears.
It's a fine mic, with features that go above-and-beyond my wildest Xbox 360 microphone dreams. How does it sound? Well, it sounds like crap, but that's Microsoft's problem. You could hook a $3,000 studio microphone up to it and the audio reaching your friends on the other end of the internet would still sound like you were being actively strangled inside a tiny cardboard box. If it helps, my own voice sounded warm and lovely in my ears, thanks to the wonders of selective voice monitoring.
The Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Headset indeed does something other third-party headsets just cannot do, granting the Microsoft-level power of wireless voice to the Xbox 360 playing masses. More than that, it delivers premium quality 7.1 surround sound, something not even Microsoft's first-party hardware does. That makes it a product without peer, mainly by merit of not being tethered to your controller or having to spend a half-hour behind your television rerouting audio signals. That's more than enough to warrant a sexy video trailer for a sound delivery device.
It's easy. It sounds lovely. It's convenient. It's powerful. It costs $300.
As far as features go, that last one is a biggie, but I can't base my review of a product on the asking price. Money means different things to different people, and to assume that everyone reading this is in the exact same financial situation as I am would be... well, it'd be rather depressing.
So to answer the question "Is the Warhead worth $300?", I cannot answer that question.
Now were you to go back to the headline of this review and change it to, "Is the World's First Truly Wireless Xbox 360 Headset Truly Worth My Attention?" I would (a) be amazed at your editorial powers and (b) tell you yes — yes it is. It does what it says it does with a simple flair that's a success whether or not the Warhead fits your budget.
Okay, you can answer now.


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Two errors in one inning do in the Phils as they lose to the Dodgers, 6-2.
Two errors in the third inning do in the Phils before they drop one to the Dodgers, 6-2.
The Dodgers took the lead in the second as, with two men on, and with one man out, Dioner Navarro hits an RBI single, scoring Matt Kemp, who had earlier doubled, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, while sending James Loney, who had just walked, on to second base. The Phils tried to tie up the score in their half of the third as they loaded the baes via walks to Carlos Ruiz and Dom Brown, and then an infield single to Wilson Valdez, moving up both runners, and with one man out, Shane Victorino hits a grounder to the pitcher, Dodgers' starter Rubby De La Rosa, who then threw home, forcing out Ruiz, 1-2, for the inning's second out, while both Brown and Valdez would move up a base, while Victorino would stop at first. The Phils then tied the game up at one-all as Placido Polanco forced in Brown with a walk, while both Valdez and Victorio would move up a base. The Dodgers regained the lead in the third as, with runners on the corners, and with nobody out, Casey Blake hits an RBI single, knocking in De La Rosa, who had earlier walked, then went on to third on Dee Gordon's single, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead, while sending Gordon, who had earlier singled, up to second base. The Dodgers then took a 3-1 lead as Phils' starter Roy Oswalt commited a throwing error, trying to pick-off Gordon at second, who then scored, while Blake would move to third on the error. It then became a 4-1 Dodgers' lead as Andre Ethier knocked in Blake with a single. The Phils cut the lead down to 4-2 in the seventh as, with one man on, and with two men out, Chase Utley hits an RBI triple, scoring Victorino, who was earlier safe at first on a force out as Ross Gload, who had gotten on base with a pinch hit walk, is wiped out at second base, 4-6. The Dodgers would make it a 6-2 lead in the eighth as, with a runner on first, and with no one out, Kemp hit a two-run home run, his seventeenth home run of the year, scoring Ethier, who had earlier walked. That would be the final score as the Phils went down easily in the ninth.
Roy Oswalt (3-4, 3.05) went six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out a batter. J.C. Romero pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a walk, while striking out a batter. Michael Stutes pitched an inning, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk, striking out a batter. David Herndon pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit. Rubby De La Rosa (2-0, 1.80) gets the win as he pitched five inning. giving up a run on four hits and five walks, while striking out four. Blake Hawksworth received his third hold of the season as he pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Matt Guerrier collected his ninth hold of the year as he pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a run on a walk. Scott Elbert collected his third hold of the year as he pitched a third of the inning, giving up a hit, while striking out one. Javy Guerra pitched a 1-2-3 inning.
The Phils had just five hits in the ballgame, with Wilson Valdez leading the team with two hits, both singles. Chase Utley (Triple, RBI), Raul Ibanez (Single) and Carlos Ruiz (Single) had the other three Phils' hits. Placido Polanco had the other Phil RBI as he forced in a run with a bases loaded walk, as the Phils did not take advantage of Rubby De La Rosa's early wildness.
The Phils (36-25, 1st) will conclude their series with the Dodgers (29-33, 4th West) with a night game tomorrow night at Citizens Bank Park. The game will start at 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Cole Hamels (7-2, 2.83) as he received a no-decision against the Pirates on June 3, as he went eight innings, giving up just one run on a hit and three walks, while striking out four, in the Phils' 2-1 extra-inning lost. He will be going for his eighth win of the season. The Dodgers will counter with Hiroki Kuroda (5-6, 3.46), as he is coming off a lost against the Reds on June 3, as he went six innings, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks, while he struck out three, in the Dodgers' 2-1 lost. He will be trying to end his three-game losing streak. The Phils will be trying to win the series.


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Looks like Sony Ericsson is admitting defeat in the flash storage war, as TrustedReviews reports SE is going with MicroSD in future phones instead of the parent company's Memory Stick Micro format.
The announcement came straight from the mouth of Sony Ericsson Global Marketing Director Fortuné Alexander, who conceded that they're "moving in another direction" (like the X1 pictured above). It's also a better direction, considering Sony Ericsson phones has relied too much on proprietary technologies for their products (charging, headphones, storage, etc...). [TrustedReviews via CrunchGear]


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The Premature Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know about Your Premature Baby from Birth to Age One (Sears Parenting Library)
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Custom-Grade rifle dies begin as specially selected steel that's hand-inspected both before and after it's delivered. The steel is then heat-treated to ensure the durability needed to provide a lifetime of reloading. Then the inside surface of each sizing die is carefully hand-polished to a mirror finish. The result is a die so smooth, guaranteed to never scratch a case. Before assembly, every part of every die is hand-inspected and a protective coating is applied to prevent moisture damage during shipping. The result is the most advanced reloading die set available today. Elliptical Expander significantly reduces the friction and case-neck stretch associated with other expanders. It threads on so it can't pull loose and eliminates the need for a separate expander die for "necking up" to the next larger caliber. Sliding, In-Line Seating System assures in-line benchrest alignment of every bullet seated. The sliding sleeve vertically pre-aligns the bullet with the case-neck as they enter the die body. As the cartridge is raised, the bullet contacts the floating steel seating stem and is kept in perfect alignment as it's being seated. Every Custom-Grade New Dimension die set comes in a convenient box which lets you store fully adjusted dies, Lock-N-Load bushings, shell holders and a taper crimp die. Wrench flats located on the die body make adjustments much easier and eliminate damage from adjusting dies with pliers. Spindle lock design aligns the expander spindle to perfectly center itself in the die. Provides tight tolerances and precise fit. Expander spindle improves alignment and enhances accuracy for smoother operation. A solid, one-piece rod guaranteed not to bend or break. Hardened-steel decap pin will not break, bend or crack, even when depriming cases with crimped primer pockets. Elliptical expander significantly reduces friction and case-neck stretch. Threaded and replaceable. Expander die flares the mouth of the case preparing it to receive a bullet. Precision ground and polished. Seater adjustment screw easily adjusts for bullet seating depths. All-steel construction provides added strength and reduces thread wear. In-line bullet seating system includes a floating bullet alignment sleeve, floating steel seating stem and a built-in crimper for benchrest precision when seating bullets. Bullet seater alignment sleeve guides the bullet and case-neck into the die. The free-floating sleeve design assures benchrest alignment every time. Floating steel seating stem assures consistent alignment with a universal design that better seats more bullet profiles. Built-in crimper gives you the option of crimping without an extra crimp die. Sure-Loc lock rings lock the die into position and provide precise adjustment. Locking screws stay free from threads. Features wrench flats. Locking retainer spring removes in seconds for easy disassembly and cleaning of the die.
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After a rather short night out on Pub Street and relaxing while watching Ancient Aliens, I attempted to get some sleep so I would be more than rested for day two at Angkor Thom. It was an early morning, waking at 4:15 am to ensure we made it out front to greet our driver at 5 am. Does anyone else struggle to sleep when you know you have to be up super early? I was terrified I was going to oversleep, and we were going to miss out on experiencing the sunrise over Angkor Wats. A score to this one blonde chick for setting eight alarms and waking our booty's up on time!
I wasn't really sure why we needed to get there so early if sunrise wasn't until around 6:45. But at 5 am there were already a ton of people trying to find the ideal spot to capture the perfect picture. Many of the people standing around swore that sunset at Angkor Wats was going to be better. The time of year we were there did not allow us to see the temple at sunset. By evening the sky was littered with clouds, and it was generally raining cats and dogs.
And so, we waited...and waited...and waited for that magical moment when the sun would disburse all kinds of amazing colours across the sky over this ancient building. There was a small window where you could see various hues of pink in the sky but nothing like some of the other photos I've seen of Angkor Wats. Nonetheless, it was still breathtaking.
After capture the iconic shot I needed, we headed into the temple to explore the ruins. We had spent a good chunk of the previous two days watching YouTube videos about Angkor Wats to learn as much as possible about the temple.
Angkor Wats was large and would have been very overwhelming if we had not watched the videos. The night prior, we watched a video about the art galleries that line the halls. Each hallway told a specific story. As I'm not very good at deciphering directions, we had a fun time guess which gallery was which. The galleries depicted stories of the gods fighting alongside the Khmer people, King Suryavarman II in battle, and other Buddhist carvings.
|This carving depicts a battle between the Khomer people & their enemies
There is so much to see at Angkor Wat. In total, we spent nearly two hours exploring the various areas of the temple. I overheard a guide saying that one could easily spend 4 hours and still not get a chance to see everything. The later it got, the more people arrived at Angkor Wat. As it started to get pretty crowded and our bellies were starting to make heaps of noise, we decided to head off for some breakfast.
Because we had done all the research on the temple, it made Angkor Wat even more intriguing. I was able to get a deeper insight to what the carvings represented, just how large the temple was, and the work that was put into building it. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend one of the guides that wait out the front, I would recommend doing some research on the temple before visiting. This way, you can have a deeper appreciation for the temple.
Have you ever visited Angkor Wat before? Share your experience in the comments below!


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A review you might have missed, on The Dallas Opera's "La boheme" with one more performance Saturday, February 21st. Mark-Brian Sonna dishes.
For that matter, another very interesting review from ConcertoNet's Paul Wooley, giving us the Classical Music Network's take on our latest production.
If you haven't already purchased your ticket; you really mustn't let this one get away. Call 214.443.1000 and ask about 1957 pricing on "The Italian Girl in Algiers" companion ticket.
Suzanne Calvin, Assoc. Dir. of Marketing, The Dallas Opera


text: Country Profiles Country Profiles Country Profiles // Main Details Switzerland - Main Details Show map Legend: CBD Party CBD & CPB Party Non Party Selected country Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity or the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Biodiversity Facts Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem servicesOver the last 150 years, 224 animal and plant species have become or are presumed to have become extinct. Today, 40% of the evaluated animal species are included on the Red Lists; 34% of flowering plants and ferns have disappeared or are threatened; for fungi, bryophytes and lichens, the proportion is 32%, 42% and 41%, respectively. If species of flora and fauna that are near threatened are also considered, the proportion requiring support rises to 50%. The greatest increase in species numbers was observed between 1970 and 1990 however rates remained constant between 1997 and 2007, with new arrivals being offset by disappearances and marked changes occurring at the regional level. Switzerland has a rather low degree of endemism. Species diversity is particularly high on the northern and southern limits of the Alps due to altitudinal differences providing numerous habitats for plants and animals. Low diversity resulting from habitat destruction from large-scale intensive cultivation is observed in the Central Plateau. Since the 20th century, genetic diversity in agriculture has declined due to intensified agricultural practices causing numerous traditional breeds and varieties to be threatened with extinction today. Since 1996, organic farming has steadily increased, being equivalent to 11% of the utilized agriculture area (UAA), however the surface of organically-managed land is shrinking slightly due to a slight decrease in agricultural areas. Forest area has grown by about 45% since the late 19th century and continues to expand. Between 1985 and 2006, forested area increased by 5% however only 3.2% of forest areas is protected which is much lower than the goal of 10% by 2030 as stated in the forest policy. In spite of increased values of wood stock in under-exploited forests, these areas are less biodiverse than intensively cultivated forests, illustrating the significance of sustainable local exploitation of forests to conserving biodiversity. Likewise, in spite of the mean number of vascular plants having increased slightly in the Northern Alps and the Jura due to nutrient-rich soils, homogenized plant communities have developed. Economic conditions continue to fundamentally shape the type of intensity of land use, explaining the differences in the state of biodiversity with respect to farmland and forests. Slightly over half (54%) of Swiss watercourses are in an eco-morphologically natural/near-natural state, while the proportion of rivers with insufficient status varies regionally (15% in the Alps, 36% in the Jura, 38% in the Central Plateau) with the rate being highest (46%) in densely populated alpine valleys below 600 m asl. High-altitude zones of the Alps have maintained their biodiversity. A study focused on the genetic data of fish populations (salmonids) revealed that, despite intensive fish stocking programmes, indigenous biogeographic populations with genetic peculiarities continue to exist. Areas of raised bog and fen of national importance have been roughly maintained however the quality of the mires has clearly declined. Species diversity is generally higher in landscapes with dry meadows and pastures, particularly in terms of vascular plants and butterflies, than in normal landscapes. This feature is particularly distinct for the Southern Alps. Since 1945, it is estimated that dry meadows have declined by 90%. Mountain ecosystems have been affected by human settlements for centuries. The breeding of domestic animals and the cultivation of crop plants, as well as various uses of forests and grasslands, have influenced the genetic diversity of the alpine region. Landscape elements like single tress, hedges and orchards have been systematically removed and important habitats for animals and plants have disappeared. Notably, the Eastern Central Alps have gained four breeding bird species. Changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperatures have resulted in the shrinking of glaciers and snow-covered areas, reducing the water holding capacity of mountain ranges. Nine glaciers lost on average 17.2 m of their ice thickness between 1967 and 2004. The flora on 37 mountain summits of altitudes between 2800 m and 3400 m were recorded at the beginning and end of the 20th century, demonstrating a strong increase in the number of plant species. On average, the number of species was about 62% higher but on some summits (Piz Mutèr, Beaufort) the plant diversity tripled. Also, today, subalpine and alpine plant species grow at an altitude 13 m higher than in 2001, on average. Species that are endemic to these areas or species that are bound to cold living conditions may be displaced upwards, can become "trapped" on the summits and will disappear as their habitat is reduced. In 2007, the total production value (goods and services) of Swiss agriculture amounted to about CHF 10 913 million to which agricultural goods contributed CHF 9 982 million. Honeybees contribute importantly to the national economy by pollinating cultural and wild plants as well as producing honey, pollen and wax. The honeybee is threatened today which has reinforced research on apiculture. Forests are natural suppliers of water with 46% of Swiss groundwater zones existing in forests. Moreover, about 40% of Swiss forest area protects infrastructure against natural hazards such as avalanches, rockfalls, landslides, debris flow. In 2007, 60% of Swiss forests were certified according to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard. Inland water resources provide many services: glaciers, surface water and groundwater store and provide water for drinking and irrigation; surface waters allow a catch of 1600 tonnes of fish a year; alluvial zones retain water and weaken flood events; waterside areas provide recreational venues; hydropower covers about 56% of the country's electricity demand. Also, as much humid air is transported to the Alps due to its proximity to the Atlantic, Mediterranean and North Sea, precipitation in the winter is stored as ice and snow, and runs off in the spring and summer. This seasonal discharge from the Alps serves as a water tower for Europe as most water flows down when precipitation is lowest in the neighbouring countries. For more than a century, mountainous landscapes have also been of high value for the tourism industry. Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)Since 1960, the rate of human-induced extinction has clearly exceeded the natural rate. Pressures on biodiversity are due to intensive agriculture, increased urbanization, land abandonment, housing construction (e.g. in dry grassland areas), increased forest coverage, etc. It is also feared that impacts of climate change on forests might occur at a rate rendering natural adaptation through genetic processes or species migration difficult. Human populations have over centuries affected mountain ecosystems through activities linked to intensive agriculture, mechanization, landscape clearing and the uncontrolled spread of settlements. Nitrogen pollution is affecting more than 90% of forests, while high ozone concentrations close to the ground are worrisome because of their effects on plant cells. Inland water ecosystems are threatened by factors such as river control, dams and hydropower plants, water pollution, nutrient deposition, invasive alien species, land use changes resulting from agriculture, forestry and tourism. Although significant progress has been made to limit the input of nutrients into Swiss lakes, especially phosphorous, these benefits may however be at risk due to increased pollution from pesticides, pharmaceutical residues and other micropollutants, but also due to the warming of watercourses and the heavy invasion of alien species, as observed in the Rhine River. The effects of air pollutants resulting from high precipitation and atmospheric heavy metal deposition on bryophytes are most apparent in the southern Alps, sometimes with values as high as those found in highly industrial areas in Eastern Europe and the Ruhr basin. Measures to Enhance Implementation of the Convention Implementation of the NBSAPThe Swiss Landscape Concept (1997) served as the original strategy for implementing the CBD based on spatial (landscape) planning. To fully comply with national obligations under the Convention, the Swiss Parliament commissioned the development of a new Swiss Biodiversity Strategy which was adopted in 2012 with a special focus on mainstreaming and ecosystem conservation. It contains the following 10 strategic objectives to be achieved by 2020: (i) sustainable use of natural resources by all relevant sectors; (ii) implementation of an ecological infrastructure comprised of protected areas and protected area networks; (iii) conservation status for species of national priority is improved (extinction halted); expansion of harmful invasive alien species is halted; (iv) genetic biodiversity loss is halted and, if possible, stopped; preservation and sustainable use of genetic resources, farm animals and cultivated plants, are assured; (v) incentives harmful for biodiversity are identified and avoided and replaced by positive incentive measures where appropriate; (vi) ecosystem services are identified and quantified and integrated in the Gross Domestic Product as an indicator of well-being; (vii) public awareness has risen to a level where all persons conceive biodiversity to be essential for life and consider it in decision-making processes; (viii) development of activities related to biodiversity and cities (ix) international assistance provided for global biodiversity conservation is reinforced; (x) monitoring of ecosystem trends, species and genetic diversity is assured. The new Strategy was developed in the light of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Through a broad participatory process, an action plan to implement this strategy is currently in development and expected to be finalized by 2014. Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity TargetsAs indicated above, the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets were taken into account in the development of the new Strategy. It is therefore assumed that actions for the 10 strategic objectives listed above, to be developed by 2014, will support implementation of several of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)A new system of financial equalization and division of tasks between the federal government and the cantons was created in 2008 whereby, together, these two levels of government agree on programmes, define the targets each intends to achieve and identify federal subsidies available for funding activities. The cantons are free to organize implementation actions as they see fit, while the municipalities are responsible for the actual implementation of the actions defined by the canton. The legal framework for implementing the CBD includes national legislation such as: Federal Constitution, Federal Act on Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage, Federal Act on the National Park in Canton Grison, Federal Act on Hunting and Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds, Federal Act on Fishery, Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment, Federal Act on Forests, Federal Act on Agriculture. National action plans and programmes are also relevant to implementation, including the Swiss Landscape Concept, Landscape 2020, National Ecological Network, Master Plan for Arable Land, General Environmental Objectives for Agriculture, National Forest Programme (2004-2015), among others. Financial incentives are being used to promote conservation activities. For example, direct payments are awarded to farmers who cultivate 7% of their utilized agricultural area (UAA) as "ecological compensation areas (ECAs)". Another successful financial incentive relates to conserving dry grasslands through contracts between farmers and cantonal authorities using the "biodiversity as a product" model which focuses more on a holistic approach to conserving dry grasslands and surrounding biotopes. Many private organizations are involved in the conservation of Switzerland's animal and plant genetic resources such as Pro Specie Rara and the Swiss Association for the Protection of Fruit Heritage. Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation"Biodiversity Monitoring Switzerland (BDM)" is a long-term monitoring programme, based on 33 indicators representing important, measurable biodiversity segments. "Monitoring of Sustainable Development (MONET)" is an indicator system to measure progress towards sustainable development. Other programmes include: Agro-Environmental Monitoring, National Forest Inventory, Sanasilva (forest health), National River Monitoring and Survey Programme, Monitoring Spatial Development Programme, National Landscape Monitoring, National Air Pollution Monitoring Network, Swiss Soil Monitoring Network, National Climate Observing System.


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by Patriots Daily Kitchen Staff
Another Super Bowl? The fifth in 11 years?
Darkest days Best days of the franchise indeed.
They're more enjoyable too without a 18-0 record hanging over them.
What to eat?
In the idea of dance with what got you there, we're turning foods from throughout the season into sliders – perfect party food
We made Pretzels for the Eagles game, and reused the recipe to make pretzel rolls for the Colts game. This time, we'll make smaller rolls. Same prep and ingredients as seen here.
Divide into 12 equal parts and roll each into a ball. Boil in a baking soda and water solution as laid out in that buffet table, but for a minute per roll instead of 45 seconds.
Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with pretzel salt, or kosher salt if you can't find pretzel salt.
Bake the pretzel rolls for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove to cooling rack, and once cool keep in a paper bag for the next day.
Double or triple the recipe from the Philly game as necessary.
First topper, Peter's Crab Hushpuppies
A change from the usual crab cake. I've added a bit of frozen corn to the mixture, and even some chopped jalapeno for a kick.
Ingredients – this makes enough for 4 people at least, so if you only have a couple people you can cut this in half
Oil, for frying
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon minced thyme
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup bacon crumbles
1 pound fresh picked or lump crabmeat
In a Dutch oven or frying-like contraption, heat oil to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, thyme, baking powder, salt, garlic pepper, baking soda and cayenne pepper.
In a small bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, and sour cream. Add to cornmeal mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in onions, bacon, and crabmeat.
Dip spoon into water and then a spoonful of the hushpuppy mixture. Drop by tablespoonfuls into hot oil, and fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Optional sauce:
This is a good sauce that gives it the Old Bay flavor
1 cup regular or low-fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
Freshly squeezed juice from 1/2 lemon (1 tablespoon)
You should be able to fit 2 on each slider bun.
2nd topper, Miz's Bulgogi
1.5 lbs. thinly sliced ribeye steak purchased from a Korean market. You can slice your own ribeye across the grain in thin slices. Freezing the beef for about an hour helps to cut clean slices.
1/2 cup of soy sauce
3 Tbl white sugar
1 Tbl sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium yellow onion sliced
2 green onions including the white parts, finely sliced into small pieces
2 Tbl toasted sesame seeds
1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp grated ginger
black pepper, note no salt because of the soy sauce
Combine all ingredients except beef and onions in a bowl. When the sugar has dissolved, add beef and onion slices and stir to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. As the beef is cut so thinly this does not need multiple hours or overnight to marinade.
Cook directly over high heat, keep an eye on it as it will cook very quickly.
3rd, Bratwurst style burgers from the Colts game
2 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons beer, see suggestions below
3/4 cup rye bread crumbs
1/2 tsp caraway seeds, ground
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, grated
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 pound ground veal
1 pound ground pork
12 slices rye bread
German style mustard & Sauerkraut to top
Combine egg, beer, bread crumbs, caraway, marjoram, garlic, salt, pepper. Add the veal and pork.
Form into twelve patties. Cook over high heat for 3 minutes, flip, cook an addition 1 minute and check for doneness.
Coat the bun with German mustard, top the burger with sauerkraut, and eat.
Pretzels, Pork, Cow, Crab: All food groups accounted for except one … beer.
What to drink?
We're going with Spring Seasonals, the only beer season that we haven't covered before. Spring already? Yes in the beer world, this term is being stretched well into winter. Some of these are called a far more accurate late winter seasonals. Most of these are available now and some will trickle into stores over the next few weeks.
Styles do vary, most of the older ones were sort of lighter versions of a winter beer. The newer ones tend to be more of heavier summer beers. Many are Irish Red ales, as this is the season when Saint Patrick's day falls.
From New York, the Sixpoint brewery started distributing to New England just a few months ago. Their Spring seasonal is Resin, a Double IPA. 9%+ ABV, 100+ IBUs and good. Unlike their standards and previous 2 seasonals this one is in a 12 ounce can instead of a 16, owing to the ABV. Still in 4 packs for around $10.
Representing Baltimore we turn to an old favorite Heavy Seas, formerly Clipper City. They have a strong seasonal lineup.
In the Pyrate Fleet of 7% and above beers is Black Cannon Black IPA. A darker, 7.25% version of their Loose Cannon IPA.
In their Mutiny Fleet of really big beers is Siren Noire. Holding Fast to the Late Winter instead of Early Spring tradition with this 8% Chocolate Imperial Stout.
Finally in their normal strength series, the Clipper Fleet is Crossbones "Oyster Stout". Some modern Oyster stouts are brewed with oysters. Crossbones however follows the traditional approach being an Irish style Dry Stout that pairs well
with oysters. Oysters were cheap and often used as a free bar food in the Nineteenth century. 4.7% and actually available for half the year as Clipper City only runs 2 six month long seasonals for the Clipper Fleet line.
Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head have all introduced new spring seasonals.
Sam Noble Pils goes to year round status, and in it's place as a seasonal is Alpine Spring. In the kellerbier style, similar to an unfiltered Pilsner. Very crisp and easy to drink.
Sierra Nevada retires Glissade and replaces it with Ruthless Rye IPA (no info online). Sierra Nevada always makes great hoppy beers and this one doesn't dissapoint. The only odd thing is they retired the great ESB a couple of years ago
so they could have a non IPA like seasonal to break up the string of IPAs. 6.6% ABV and the aroma smells strongly
of hops only cousin.
This is also the time of year that Sierra Nevada puts out Bigfoot. 9.6% ABV hoppy American style Barleywine.
Dogfish Head goes the gluten free route with Tweason'ale. At 6% ABV and no gluten, these beers tend to be very thin and not beer like but worth it for those with gluten allergies. It is coming out for the first time this "spring", but they'll release it every few months after this.
This is also a traditional time for Bock beers, and there are a few available as seasonals.
Representing the Patriots other playoff opponent Denver is Breckenridge with their Pandora's Bock. This one pushes the line between a Bock and Doppelbock at 7.5% ABV.
Narragansett Bock is a 6.5% ABV beer that falls into the Maibock style. Cheaper than most of the rest and just as good or
Anchor Bock has been a February release, but with so many others moving Spring to January we'll see how long that lasts. It's 5.5% and rich, dark color puts it firmly into the Traditional Bock style.
Victory St. Victorious Dopplebock is their late winter seasonal, A 7.6% ABV Doppelbock. In March it is replaced by
St. Boisterous, a 7.3% Helles Bock. Helles Bock being an even lighter version of Mai Bock.
Paper City Goat's Peak Bock is a 6.4% ABV traditional Bock.
Otter Creek Mud Bock is back after a hiatus. At 5.7% it's on the low side and amoung the lowest alcohol bocks listed here. It isn't showing on the website yet, because Otter Creek updates their website very slowly.
On to the other assorted Spring Seasonals
Berkshire Raspberry Barleywine is a 9%ABV strong ale brewed with Raspberries. Not the typical fruit beer.
Harpoon Celtic formerly known as Hibernian is a 5.4% caramelly Irish Red Ale. In the 100 Barrel series is 100 Barrel Black IPA a 7% ABV citrusy and piney IPA.
Magic Hat Spring IPA Demo Black IPA is another Black IPA and their seasonal IPA. +/- or "plus minus" is their other seasonal, a 4.2% Dark Mild.
Founder's Double Trouble is a big 9.4% 80+ IBU Double IPA. Get it while supplies last.
Wormtown goes the Irish Red route with .. Irish Red. They also just brewed a White IPA after last week's list of White IPAs was written.
Jack's Abby Hey Diddle Diddle Double India Amber Lager is their second Double IPL. 8% ABV, over 80 IBUs and amber in color. Framinghammer Baltic Porter will also be released before the 5th. It's a 10% Baltic Porter, so sip don't gulp.
Boulevard Chocolate Ale is a dark, 9.1% ABV beer brewed with chocolate.
Wachusett Quinn's Amber Ale is another Irish Red ale. 4.9% ABV
Longtrail goes with the golden pale ale Pollenator. Only 4.6% ABV so you can drink a bunch of them.
Lagunitas Imperial Red is a big, 7.6% Amber ale in the strong and hoppy west coast style. Not to be confused with the typical gateway amber ale.
It won't be available until February but probably the best Spring Seasonal is Troeg's Nugget Nectar. 7.5% and 90+ IBUs of pure deliciousness. It's their HopBack Amber taken up to 11.
Mayflower Spring Hop in some ways is similar to the previous two, being a hoppier than normal amber ale. Spring Hop however is a more drinkable 5.3% ABV without cutting out any of the hop aroma.


text:
Nishimi Kaoru (Sakamichi no Apollon: Kids on the Slope)
When it comes to Kids on the Slope characters, an excellent series, I get the feeling that the rugged-yet-sensitive Sentarou would be the most popular one. Indeed he is a great character, but there's something about Kaoru which impresses me more. More plain-looking and less-outgoing than Sentarou, the ups and downs of Kaoru's life and the process by which he gradually opens himself up to others gives Kaoru what I find to be a real sense of humanity, warts and all. What's especially important is that the story doesn't portray Kaoru as a purely passive figure who just benefits by association, but as someone who becomes a best friend and perfect foil to Sentarou. That scene at the school where the two make amends by playing a duet of piano and drums is one of the best moments in anime I've ever seen.
If anything, whether you pick Kaoru or Sentarou as a favorite, it's difficult, perhaps nigh-impossible to talk about one without the other. Overall, it's that friendship through the good times and the bad which makes Kids on the Slope and its characters so memorable.
Yanagin (Daily Lives of High School Boys)
To explain my pick this year, I would like to take a quote from an episode of The Simpsons titled "A Star is Burns":
Homer Simpson: Barney's movie had heart, but Football In The Groin had a football in the groin.
2012 was actually full of excellent female characters in contention for the title. There was Mine Fujiko, whose own spinoff series explored not only her history but also the question of what it means to be "Fujiko." There was also Urabe Mikoto, the Mysterious Girlfriend X, who comes from one of my favorite manga and whose eccentric personality I always enjoy. Takakura Naoko, the vice principal from Tari Tari, had adult charms and adult struggles which won me over. Cure Sunny (Smile Precure!), Senomiya Akiho (Robotics;Notes), Aria (Saint Seiya Omega), I could rattle off a dozen names, and yet, I just couldn't forget Yanagin, whose shrill, trauma-inducing cry kept cutting through the competition like a football in the groin.
There isn't much to Yanagin. No inspiration, moe, attraction, character development, depth, nothing like that. All it boils down to, is that she makes me laugh like no other character could in 2012.
Final Thoughts
It really wasn't easy pickings this year in either category, and that has a lot to do with an overall strong year of anime. 2012 brought us strange and experimental shows in the form of things like gdgd Fairies and The Woman Called Mine Fujiko, and it delivered shows which both reinforced and defied their supposed lineages such as AKB0048. Along the way there have been many approaches to characterization, stemming from various beliefs as to what the role of characters are, from rough templates which activate creative imagination to ones meant to reflect a sense of reality or realism whether physical or emotional. Even though this contrast is nothing new, I think this year is especially good at showing how there isn't a dichotomy at work, that these areas are not so rigid that one precludes the other, and that notions of character (as well as Ito Go-style kyara) are much more fluid. In other words, anime continues to show its potential.


text:
Ron Barrett and George Armelagos. An Unnatural History of Emerging Infections. Oxford University Press, 2013 (e-book)
This is not a traditional review. In keeping with this blog's function as my shared file cabinet, this post will be something like a précis /notes with a few of my comments in italics.
Medical anthropologists Ron Barrett and George Aremelagos argue that there have been common factors in the disease ecology that has governed all three main epidemiological transitions in human health. They argue that there is nothing fundamentally new about the driving factors of the current ecology of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. In all three transitions, human factors have created the ecology for acute infectious disease to thrive.
Concept: "syndemics: interactions between multiple diseases that exacerbate the negative effects of one or more diseases" (p. 10). Examples: co-infections of HIV, and combinations of infection and chronic respiratory disease (asthma etc).
Metaphor: "seed and soil" where the microbe is the seed and the ecology is the soil. Historically used by physicians who accepted Germ theory but practiced environmental medicine (sanitarians) especially in the gap between the beginning of germ theory and the availability of antibiotics. I really like this metaphor; it still works today.
Prehistoric baseline
- Important as our evolutionary context, first 100,000 years of human history. (that's about 90% of total human history). At its peak only 8 million people globally; small, nomadic groups rarely in contact.
- Temporary shelter and carried little with them to carry vectors (or fomites?). Hunter gatherers maintained near zero population growth. More diverse nutrition but could not support large groups. Little hierarchy within the group so few inequalities (at least not consistently detectable in the osteological record.)
- Nutrition is closely tied to immunological competence. Protein deficiencies reduces competence to the level of AIDS patients. Nomads can move to find better nutrition, avoiding 'famine foods'. Diets higher in lean meats and fiber, but low in carbohydrates.
- Too small to support acute epidemics (ran out of hosts too soon) but at an increased risk for parasites. Heirloom parasites like pin worms and lice; souvenir parasites picked up while foraging like ticks and tapeworms. Mostly chronic infections that could remain with the nomads until they could be transmitted to new groups. New zoonoses that can be passed human to human contracted from hunting would 'flash out' in a small group. Groups too small for diseases like measles, smallpox or influenza.
First epidemiological transition – Agricultural revolution
- The first transition comes with people settle down and form villages. Settlement and agriculture allow populations to grow large enough to support acute epidemic disease and animal domestication brings humans in prolonged contact with animals sparking some important zoonotic diseases.
- They note that agriculture and settlement begin in multiple parts of the world independently but not at the same time. It took about 9000 years for 99.99 % of the population to shift to farming and domestic animals as their primary nutrition source. Once the shift to agriculture comes, there is no going back. They debate which comes first, settlement or agriculture, but they note that in the end for heath it doesn't matter. (The length of time here has important implications for the incomplete nature of the second transition.)
- Decrease in overall health seen in all societies that shifted to agriculture. Correlations between more/better grave goods and better health; ie. social inequity was bad for health as early as the neolithic. Very high childhood mortalities bring the overall lifespan down considerably. Settlement increased densities of humans and newly domestic animals making conditions ripe for the first acute epidemics and zoonotic transfers. Most zoonotic transfers in this period come from domestic animals.
- Nutrition suffers with settlement. Reliance on a monoculture makes them vulnerable to bad years and nutritional deficiencies of essential nutrients not found in the monoculture. There is a general reduction in stature, increase in signs of anemia, and increase in osteological signs of infection. Examples: Nubia and Dickson Mounds, IL, USA. Correlation of age with skeletal pathologies shows that is health declines are not due to the 'osteological paradox' (more pathologies in stronger people because they survive what would have killed others).
Second epidemiological transition – Industrial revolution
- Transition marked by decreasing deaths due to infectious disease and an increase in chronic diseases. Increasing life expectancy due in large part to decreasing childhood mortality. Total human population soars.
- Germ theory vs. Sanitation reform: Germ theory is associated with quarantine tied to power of the church and state. (??) Sanitary reform has greater success in controlling diseases like cholera and food-bourne diseases. Sanitary reformers focused on building infrastructure, improving living conditions and personal hygiene. "Germ theorists had begun a revolution in medical thinking, but in the realm of medical practice, they could do little more than agree with existing recommendations of the miasmists." "with the exception of a few vaccines and surgical asepsis, Germ Theory offered little…until well into the 20th century". Not surprising that germ theory didn't make much difference until antibiotics came along.
- McKeown Thesis: "identifies nutrition as the primary determinant in the decline of infection-related mortality" Improved nutrition best explains increasing population growth in different countries in a short time period; improved agricultural methods and transport of food. Urban growth with industrialization increased crowding and decreasing sanitation leaving nutrition as the cause for decreasing infectious disease. Correlation between increasing height and decreasing infant mortality, increasing maternal height (indicating good nutrition) increased indicators of infant health so that improving nutrition improved health from generation to generation.
- McKeown's critics: error rates in bills of mortality obscure particularly respiratory infections in the elderly. They also believe that he underestimates the significance of smallpox vaccination in decreasing death rates. Greatest criticism is that McKeown places too much emphasis on nutrition over non-medicinal factors.
- "Comparing the Agricultural Revolution with the Industrial Revolution, we find the same human determinants of infectious disease: a) subsistence, via its affects on nutritional status and immunity; b) settlement, via its effects on population densisty, living conditions, and sanitation; and c) social organization, via distributions of these resources and their differences within and between groups…. As such, the First and Second Transition could be seen as two sides of the same epidemiological coin with human actions as the basic currency." (p. 61)
- Second transition is incomplete in many countries. Only seven nations began the transition before 1850 and 17 more by 1900 with most transitioning after World War II. "The 'low mortality club' consisted of richer nations whose life expectancies converged at around 75 years old at the turn of the millennium. The 'high mortality club' consisted of poorer nations whose life expectancies converged at the same time around 50 years of age." (p. 66) The poorer nations have relied more heavily on vaccines and drugs as a buffer against living conditions to achieve the transition. Drug resistant pathogens removes this buffer for poorer nations. High childhood moralities continued in the poorer countries for the same reasons as in the first transition.
- Chronic diseases make people susceptible to different infections. example: diabetes + TB, infectious diseases causing cancer: HPV, H. pylori, EBV (lymphoma).
- Developed world vulnerable to "reimportation epidemics" from poorer nations with agents like smallpox (prior to eradication). Increased speed of air travel allows people to travel between high and low disease areas during the incubation period through entry ports without detection.
Third epidemiological transition (current)
- Convergence of chronic and infectious diseases in a global human disease ecology marks the Third epidemiological transition.
- Human health determinants remain subsistence, settlement and social organization.
- 335 novel pathogens discovered 1940-2004, mostly after 1980, 60% of which are zoonoses and 70% of those come from wild animals. With long exposure to zoonoses from domestic animals it makes sense for most new pathogens today to come from wild animals; also due to encroachment and habitat destruction.
- Challenges of new zoonotic pathogens: establishing animal to human transmission, then human to human transmission, and finally human population to population. Chatter is a pathogen trying to establishing the animal to human transmission but not yet getting the human to human. Chatter is often viral but can be other microbes as well. Viral chatter is a transitional moment in evolution; purely biological for the pathogen but primarily cultural for humans (human practices that help the pathogen make the transition by our behavior).
- Attenuation hypothesis: evolutionary interests favor microbes not killing their hosts too soon. Works for the first transition when population groups were widely scattered.
- Virulence hypothesis: Ewald's concluded that evolution favors virulence for pathogens with multiple hosts. (ex. plague). We can't take either hypothesis too far as both have contradicting examples.
- We need to shift from just looking for drugs to combat pathogens and spend more time on factors of human ecology.
- An interesting chapter on antibiotics and evolution.
Concluding focus: To dispel three myths
- Emerging infections are a new phenomenon. They are not. This is why the emerging infections page on this blog begins with emergences in Antiquity / Prehistoric.
- Emerging and re-emerging infections are a natural or spontaneous phenomena. We have a part to play in microbial co-evolution. Epidemiological transitions are intended to balance microbiology in understanding these infections.
- Determinants of disease are different today than in the past. They are not.
"The purpose of this Unnatural History is to reveal the macroscopic determinants of human infection just as the germ theorists once revealed their microscopic determinants…. our approach has been one of both seed and soil, acknowledging the importance of pathogens while stressing their evolution in response to human activities: the ways we feed ourselves, the ways we populate and live together, and the ways we relate to each other for better or worse." (p. 111)
I'm not an anthropologist so I'm not really going to look at this like an anthropologist. Demographics shifts are what they are, facts. The underlying factors / variables – subsistence (nutrition), settlement (living conditions/infrastructure), and social inequalities –are the same under all three transitions. As these conditions vary, so do the demographics. This is very useful; a reminder of the importance of human disease ecology. The Unnatural History of the title is reference to human manipulation of the environment creating the conditions for emerging infections. Epidemics are not 'acts of god', or simply a natural process that we are helpless to stop. We play our part. Often drugs are the easy way out of the problem, far easier and cheaper than building infrastructure or improving living conditions.
The paradigm of epidemiological transitions is an anthropological tool. I don't really have a practical use for labeling 'transitions'. As both the second and third transitions are incomplete, they are not of much use to me as concepts. The shortness of these transitions makes me wonder if we are not really looking at just one transition since ca. 1800 that is yet incomplete. It is more important to me to look at these underlying variables and their outcomes at specific times and places. From my point of view, taking generalizations about epidemiological transitions as more than a guide for research or a teaching paradigm can be problematic.
This is a short book and yet I probably highlighted more than any other e-book that I've read. The focus here is more theory than details. Some of their plague information is a little out of date but it doesn't really detract from their main points. It's a valuable resource for thinking about microbe-human co-evolution.