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Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted in the death of pop star Michael Jackson, was released from Men's Central Jail at 12:01 a.m. Monday, authorities confirmed.
Upon his release, Murray, who served two years behind bars for the 2011 involuntary-manslaughter conviction, eluded a waiting scrum of TV cameras and die-hard Jackson fans.
The 60-year-old was sentenced to the maximum four-year term for his role in Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, which the doctor had administered
Under state sentencing rules, Murray was eligible for parole well in advance of the end of his sentences, but he has nonetheless has endured a long ordeal since Jackson's death, said his attorney Valerie Wass.
"They didn't release him one minute early," she said, speaking outside the jail early Monday. "I'm just happy he's finally out."
Wass implored members of the media to respect Murray's privacy as he reacclimates to his life. His first priority was seeing his family, she said.
She added that she believes Murray will one day practice medicine again.
He has challenged his conviction, and that effort will continue in the state Court of Appeal, Wass said. He is seeking to have the verdict overturned because of insufficient evidence. Wass also appealed to undo the conviction on other grounds.
A Los Angeles jury this month found that concert promoter AEG Live was not liable in Jackson's death, capping a marathon civil trial that laid bare the troubled singer's health problems, struggles with drugs and fateful attempt at a comeback tour. The issues in court included who was responsible for hiring Murray and overseeing his treatment of Jackson.
Wass' claim that Murray has a contingent of "loyal" patients garnered heckling from a cluster of fans who had hoped to give Murray a piece of their minds as he walked free.
Wass turned to face the pop star's supporters.
"Do you guys mind?" she asked, her voice rising. "This group of fans isn't respecting [Jackson's] legacy."
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore, who briefly addressed reporters early Monday, offered few details about Murray's exit, except to say that he was released to "representatives," and that such releases are allowed on a "case-by-case" basis to ensure certain inmates' safety and security.
He would not confirm whether Murray was driven away in a Sheriff's Department vehicle.
The covert release riled Jackson supporters who said Murray received undue "special treatment."
Laura Sherwood, 27, said she moved from Phoenix to follow Murray's trial. She said she had hoped that Murray would show remorse.
"I just want to know why he won't admit and take responsibility for what he did," she said.
Julia Thomas said she wanted to tell Murray that "he's going to be taunted as long as he walks this earth."
Karlene Taylor, who wore a T-shirt that read "Thriller Killer" in red lettering, jumped in.
"If you go to any corner of the world," she said, "they know Michael Jackson and Jesus."
[For the Record, 5 a.m. PDT Oct. 28: An earlier version of this post stated that a reversal of Conrad Murray's conviction would entitle him to regain his suspended medical license. A proceeding on that matter before the Medical Board of California is a separate administrative action.]
Twitter: @jillcowan
Times staff writer Howard Blume contributed to this report.


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Helping Workers Get back to Work
Steps you can take to help your patient get back to work
- Evaluating your patient's work restrictions carefully.
- Filling out the Activity Prescription Form completely.
- Communicating work restrictions promptly to the employer, worker, and claim manager.
- Contacting L&I's Early Return to Work program for their help developing options very early in the claim.
- Using physical, occupational, and massage therapy to restore your patient's physical ability to work.
- Using Work Hardening therapy to restore your patient's ability to perform a job.
- Reviewing and signing job analyses/job offers for light or modified duty work.
Additional Resources
"Doctors play a key role in return to work.'
Watch a 3-minute video narrated by an occupational medicine physician.
Getting Back to Work: It's Your Job and Your Future
For injured workers, briefly explains steps to return to work quickly and minimize the economic impact of time-loss.
Attending Doctor's Return-to-Work Desk Reference
Discusses best practices in occupational medicine and explains how to bill for return-to-work services. Offers 3 hours of Category 1 CME credit.
Stay at Work Program
L&I will pay employers to help get their worker quickly and safely back to work in a light-duty or transitional job.

subset: commoncrawl


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The introduction to this trip and day 1 are covered here by Emma Bernard as we're both taking you through our adventures in Morocco.
Friday 20 September started out very sedately, we got into the jeeps and began our 235km drive to Arzou. However, about an hour into the drive we started to smell something terrible. In the rear of the jeep we assumed it was something being burnt somewhere, it was only when we saw the middle jeep pull over we realised different.
Out leapt the passengers from the smoking jeep. Luckily we were near a town with a garage where the driver managed to take the stricken jeep. We all crammed into the remaining two vehicles, with the luggage on the roof rack and continued our drive. The plan upon reaching Arzou was to split the group, with mineralogists going to a volcano and the palaeontologists going to Bakrit to search for sharks teeth. However, just before we got to the volcano we had a quick stop in a cedar forest to visit the monkeys that live there.
The Monkeys near Arzou
As I've never been to a volcano and collected scientific samples, I asked whether or not I would be able to disband from the palaeontologists and go with the mineralogists. Luckily, this request was granted and I was whisked off with Dr Emma Humphries-Williams, Mark Graham (a fellow palaeontological deserter!) and the Ores Curator. Emma was looking for mantle xenoliths as part of her research on understanding how volcanoes form.
Team Mantle Xenolith.
From left to right: Emma Humphries-Williams, Me (Zoe Hughes), Mark Graham and the Ores Curator.
Both groups arrived at the volcano and we had an initial wander about with a quick description of how it had formed. Then back to the jeeps for a field work spread of tinned tuna, the most amazing olives and a traditional Moroccan flatbread (since arriving back to the UK I have been missing these simple but fantastic lunches!)
The quarry dug into the side of the volcano. You can see our jeeps in the distance and some of the group in the centre. The cone itself is off to the right, beyond the edge of the photograph.
The quarry from a different angle. Behind me (I took this photo) is the crater.
This is the crater, constructed from a series of photos. The quarry above is now behind me.
After lunch the rest of the palaeontologists got in their jeeps in order to go to Bakrit to search for sharks teeth. We descended into the quarry next to the volcano. We hunted for xenoliths, with Emma instructing us on which rocks were likely to contain them (the heavy ones). When we had a pile we all took in turns to break them open to (hopefully) reveal the green xenolith inside. There were some small lava flows present that we took samples from for Emma's research into the volcano.
Mark Graham and me taking some rock samples.
Mantle xenoliths are fragments of rock from deep below the Earth's surface (up to 70 kilometres deep!). These fragments have been picked up by the magma as it ascends from the mantle. Explosions fragment the surrounding mantle and allow it to be carried in the magma to the Earth's surface within a matter of days. Emma is interested in these fragments because they tell us about how the magma travels to the Earth's surface and also where the magma comes from. She does this by using lasers and acid (not together) in the lab to reveal the chemistry of the minerals within the rock.
Most mantle xenoliths are made of olivine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and spinel; garnet can be present depending on the pressure present when the xenolith was extracted from the mantle.
What a mantle xenolith looks like and the minerals it contains. This one was found at the volcano in Arzou on this trip. It has been cut and polished since we returned to the Musuem.
With the xenoliths we found in Morocco, Emma hopes to find out whether or not there are any unusual minerals present which will tell her about any processes that may have changed the mantle composition and therefore may result in volcanoes forming in the area more easily. This is particularly interesting in this area of Morocco as most volcanoes normally form at the edges of tectonic plates, where either the plates are moving apart (like at the mid-Atlantic ridge) or where one plate is colliding with another creating a subduction zone. However Morocco is far from the edge of a tectonic plate (The closest active one is the mid-Atlantic ridge or the East African rift). Emma is using the mantle xenoliths to work out why there are (extinct) volcanoes in Morocco (and Africa as a whole).
The tectonic plates outlines in black. The arrow shows the approximate location of the volcano at Arzou and its location at the centre of the plate.
While we were at the volcano it started to rain rather heavily. As my rain coat had been driven off in the jeep with the palaeontologists, I had to use my imagination to keep warm and dry by fashioning a bin bag into a coat.
My high fashion attempt to keep dry in the rain.
When our time at the volcano was drawing to an end, Emma had a final sort through of her samples for the best ones to bring back to the Museum. As each xenolith takes some time to process and they are rather heavy, only really good xenoliths are particularly useful.
Emma happily sorting out her haul of xenoliths.
Off we went to meet the palaeontologists so we could drive to our hotel in convoy for the night in Midelt...
Don't forget to check the Fossil Fish blog and come back here for more as Emma and I are writing about each day in turn. Many, many thanks to Emma Humphries-Williams for helping me to write this post (making sure I got the science of xenoliths correct because it is not my field of expertise) and providing the lovely xenolith images!


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How to
Use the Activities
Inquiry Question
In Federal Courthouses and Post Offices: Symbols of Pride and Permanence in American Communities, students have examined federal services in three American cities and the role of the General Services Administration in constructing and maintaining the buildings that house those services. The following activities will help students better understand the operation of the U.S. court system and also consider what different building functions tell us about how a community's needs change over the course of its history and how government adapts to those changes.Activity 1: The Federal Judicial System
Ask students to conduct research and then make a chart describing the different branches of the U.S. court system (U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Courts, and U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals). The chart should explain briefly when and how each type of court was created, the types of cases heard by each court, where they operate, the number of judges for each, and the procedure for selecting judges. Next, ask students to gather information about their state's court system and compare the federal and state judicial systems in terms of types of cases heard, how judges are selected, etc. Conclude the activity by discussing as a class why it is important to have federal courthouses throughout the country. The following websites provide useful information: Understanding Federal and State Courts and Federal Judicial Center.
Activity 2: The National Register of Historic Places
Ask students to visit the National Register of Historic Places website and then describe in their own words the process by which a building is nominated and listed. Next, tell students to read the online National Register nomination for the Pioneer Courthouse, the Byron R. White U.S. Courthouse, or the Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse and Custom House. Students should then answer the following questions: What are the basic components of the nomination? Why do you think the nomination includes details on the building's physical appearance as well as its history? Which criteria for listing did the building meet? Which area(s) of significance? Based on the nomination, do you agree that this building is eligible for listing in the NRHP? Explain your answer.
Next, students should research how historic buildings are recognized at the state and/or local level and discuss how the designation process differs from that of the National Register. Finally, the class as a whole can debate the value of documenting and officially recognizing historic resources.
Activity 3: What If . . .


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210.00€ Inc. 19% Vat.
ENERpower softpack battery 36V 11.40Ah for Pedelecs and eBikes DIY.
Powered by Samsung SDI INR18650-29E
The 36V batteries in softpack, which we assemble, have 2 formats – square and rectangular. The batteries are assembled with cells-holders made of plastic.
Charging is enabled with a DC round plug (5.5 mm / 2.5 mm); discharging is enabled with a discharge cable with XT90 connector. A safety fuse of 30A in a water resistant holder limits the current rate.
In the square version, 8 cells are used as the longest side (160 mm). We assemble this type of battery in formats 10S3P (8×4), 10S4P (8×5), 10S5P (8×7) and 10S6P (8×8).
In the rectangular version, 10 cells are used as the longest side (200 mm). We assemble this type of battery in formats 10S3P (10×3), 10S4P (10×4), 10S5P (10×5), 10S6P (10×6) 10S8P (10×8).
The BMS (Battery Management System) is always mounted on the longest side of the battery. At this point the battery is approx. 10 – 15 mm thicker.
The softpack batteries are manufactured with FR4 isolation, inflammable and flame-retardant composites consisting of epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth. FR-4 is used, inter alia, as an electrically non-conductive carrier material for electrical printed circuit boards.


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Membership in NACDL saves you time on research by providing access to our Resource Counsel and a searchable Brief & Motion Bank that contains almost 400 documents on over 50 topics – and more are being added every day.
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May is National Stroke Awareness Month
Amy W.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
By: Amy Wooddell
My name is Amy Wooddell. I have been a dancer since I was three years old and went on to graduate with a BFA in Modern Dance. I graduated, got married, and thought I had my life planned out. However, life took a 180 turn on May 23, 2010.
At 24 years old, I suffered a severe brain stem stroke from a dissected vertebral artery. The doctors were able to go in and break up the clot but later that night I hemorrhaged into my cerebellum. I fell into a coma for a week and woke up completely paralyzed and unable to speak. These symptoms persisted for 2 weeks (Dr.'s were afraid I had fallen into the locked-in syndrome and wouldn't be coming out of it) until I made the smallest movement with my pinky. That was just the beginning but to make a long story short after complications like a decompressive craniectomy, bacterial meningitis, a stomach ulcer, orthostatic hypotension, a month in ICU, a month in in-patient therapy at RIC, 6 months of out-patient therapy and 10 months post-stroke I was fully functioning with no assistive devices!
I lead a normal life with the occasional bout of mild vertigo and fatigue. I have no other residual effects! I won't ever dance like I once did (for safety reasons) but I am back to dancing and have found a new path... physical therapy. I recently returned to school to become a PTA. I want to help others in the way I was helped.
My husband has been my rock and we both thank God for the chance to share our story through a movement we started called National Orange Popsicle Week. Check us out at www.nopw.org
Display of the Faces of Stroke stories does not imply National Stroke Association's endorsement of any product, treatment, service or entity. National Stroke Association strongly recommends that people ask a healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment questions before using any product, treatment or service. The views expressed through the stories reflect those of the authors and do not reflect the opinion of National Stroke Association.
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On an Outlook custom form, if you bind a multi-select list box to a keywords field and populate the list box's rows in code, the list box will have no selected rows when the user reopens a previously saved item, making it look like the user's data has been lost. The Form Controls Demo form has been updated to demonstrate a workaround for this issue.
The problem apparently is that the field value is applied to the control before the list box rows are populated. The solution is to use code in the form's Item_Open event handler to select the appropriate rows after the list rows have been populated, but -- to add to the complications -- it is not possible to access the value of a custom keywords field directly. A workaround for that issue is to bind a text box to the keywords property and read the value from the text box control; see More Fun with Keywords. To simplify the process of finding the row whose text matches a particular value in the keywords field, the code uses a Scripting.Dictionary object to hold the same values as the data used to populate the rows and handle the lookup.
To see the solution, download Form Controls Demo.zip (9kb, 9 Jul 09), unzip it, open the .oft file, and publish that form. Then use the published form to create a new task.
This form also demonstrates two other ways of handling a multi-select list box and two ways to handle option buttons. For more information on those controls and others, see Controls on Outlook Forms.
The June 30, 2009, hotfix package for Outlook 2007 fixes several developer issues:
A new ReliableFolderMoveEvent registry entry solves a problem with the BeforeFolderMove event ceasing to fire after a while.
When applications create new categories programmatically, those categories should now still be available after a restart of Outlook.
Custom form icons that weren't displaying on Windows Vista with a high DPI display (for example, 120 DPI) should now display correctly.
In Cached Exchange Mode with the reading pane active, messages based on custom forms that have VBScript code behind them should no longer increase CPU usage or crash Outlook.
The hotfix also resolves a problem with accessing fields in CDO 1.21 applications.
Three chapters from Sue Mosher's Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming book are now available on MSDN:
Sample code for these chapters is available from the get Sue's code link at the top of the page.
Office 2007 Service Pack 2 targets Outlook with a long list of performance improvements related to .ost and .pst files, startup, shutdown, and folder switching. For details, see:
Back before Microsoft extended Outlook with support for add-ins, beginning with Outlook 2000, developers added functionality to Outlook by building Exchange client extensions -- or ECEs -- using the Extended MAPI programming interface. Microsoft in fact built its own ECEs to manage such Outlook features as deleted item recovery.
Beginning with Outlook 2010, ECEs will not load in Outlook, according to Randy Byrne of the Outlook team. Randy provides more background on ECEs in his article for the Outlook team blog, where he explains the options that ECE developers face if they want to redesign their applications to work in Outlook 2010 and asks for your feedback, especially your concerns about parity between ECE and add-in capabilities.
Creating an add-in for Outlook 2013 - 2003 with a single code base
The video demonstrates how to support all versions of Outlook 2013 – 2000 in one project using Visual Studio 2012.
Advanced Outlook Form and View Regions
An extension of Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO) 2008, 2010 and 2012 that allows customizing Outlook forms and views with any .NET controls.
Auto BCC Outlook add-in
Automatically creates bcc/cc copies of your outgoing emails based on flexible rules.
Print all attachments at once using VBA
Udi Shitrit shows how to use the Win32 to print all of a message's attachments -- no need to know the file types involved.
Outlook 2010 MAPI Reference
Official Microsoft reference for MAPI development against Outlook 2010. Header files are also available.
(Less than) Portable Search Folders
Stephen Griffin explains why search folders created by Outlook object model code may not always work and offers a partial solution.
How to programmatically select a custom Form Region
Helmut Obertanner demonstrates, with screen shots, how to create a form region for an Outlook 2007 contact form and add a button to the Ribbon to switch the Inspector display to the region.
Customize the built-in Outlook Select Names dialog (or any other)
Helmut Obertanner demonstrates how to intercept an built-in Outlook dialog and display instead a custom .NET form.
Outlook Forms Step by Step
Create a check request form and make it available on the company intranet with this 16-part illustrated guide.
Duplicate Email Remover for Outlook
This add-in can find duplicated messages by looking at the text in the message body, headers, subject and attachments.
Reply to an email with a template
Template Phrases add-in for Outlook allows inserting frequently-typed text into an e-mail message in a click.
Making a Custom Ribbon Appear Only for a Custom Outlook Form
Norm Estabrook from the VSTO team shows how to make custom tabs, groups and controls appear only in cases where the user opens a custom form in Outlook.
Outlook Context Menus and Creating a Meeting from an Email
Short video demonstrating how to create a context menu command for sending a meeting request to recipients of an email message. Note: The Inspector wrapper class is extraneous and overcomplicates the project.
How to get the IWin32Window for Outlook
This C# class from Helmut Obertanner could be used to pass the Outlook as parent to .Net Forms and Messageboxes to prevent those UI elements from being hidden by Outlook windows.
Additional custom panel in Microsoft Outlook
Lukas Neumann uses Windows API techniques to hack the Outlook user interface and add a custom panel in the Explorer window.


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Context and Chronology
The archaeological site of Zominthos is located in the mountains of central Crete, the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Crete's geographic position in the southernmost part of the eastern Mediterranean and its natural environment played a definitive role in the birth, development, and character of the Minoans (ca. 3100–1050 B.C.), the first European civilization.
Mountains have been the Cretan people's most precious resource since ancient times. High ones, such as Ida, are exposed to low temperatures and snowfall in the winter, while their peaks and some plateaus are covered in snow for most of the year. Mountains can be natural shelters for those who know how to exploit their resources such as water, the most important one for farming activities. It is therefore quite reasonable to assume that the wider region of Zominthos was occupied from at least the Minoan period to modern times. Two nearby cheese dairies, both of which have been restored, date back at least to the 18th and the 19th centuries. At the older one, Mycenaean artifacts have come to light.
Over time, important geological factors—geomorphology, tectonic movements, the eruption of the nearby volcanic island of Thera, and the rise of the sea level—altered the natural environment of Crete to such an extent that the island's historic course was affected. Additional factors, such as intensive agricultural cultivation, deforestation, and other human activities, resulted in a gradual change in the natural environment. Minoan settlements and cemeteries, artifacts, and ecofacts reveal the evolution of a society that was not only influenced by foreign factors, but also managed its resources so well that it developed into a great civilization.
The purpose of the multidisciplinary Zominthos Project is not only to uncover and study the site's archaeological remains, but also to systematically investigate the relationship between the ancient people and their environment.


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The Combo widget is deprecated in PyGTK 2.4 and above.
The Combo widget is another fairly simple widget that is really just a collection of other widgets. From the user's point of view, the widget consists of a text entry box and a pull down menu from which the user can select one of a set of predefined entries. Alternatively, the user can type a different option directly into the text box.
The Combo has two principal parts that you really care about: an entry and a list. These are accessed using the attributes:
First off, to create a Combo, use:
Now, if you want to set the string in the entry section of the combo, this is done by manipulating the entry widget directly:
To set the values in the popdown list, one uses the method:
Before you can do this, you have to assemble a list of the strings that you want.
Here's a typical code segment for creating a set of options:
At this point you have set up a working Combo. There are a few aspects of its behavior that you can change. These are accomplished with the methods:
The set_use_arrows() method lets the user change the value in the entry using the up/down arrow keys when val is set to TRUE. This doesn't bring up the list, but rather replaces the current text in the entry with the next list entry (up or down, as your key choice indicates). It does this by searching in the list for the item corresponding to the current value in the entry and selecting the previous/next item accordingly. Usually in an entry the arrow keys are used to change focus (you can do that anyway using Tab). Note that when the current item is the last of the list and you press arrow-down it changes the focus (the same applies with the first item and arrow-up).
If the current value in the entry is not in the list, then the set_use_arrows() method is disabled.
The set_use_arrows_always() method, when val is TRUE, similarly allows the use of the up/down arrow keys to cycle through the choices in the dropdown list, except that it wraps around the values in the list, completely disabling the use of the up and down arrow keys for changing focus.
The set_case_sensitive() method toggles whether or not GTK+ searches for entries in a case sensitive manner. This is used when the Combo widget is asked to find a value from the list using the current entry in the text box. This completion can be performed in either a case sensitive or insensitive manner, depending upon the setting of this method. The Combo widget can also simply complete the current entry if the user presses the key combination MOD-1-Tab. MOD-1 is often mapped to the Alt key, by the xmodmap utility. Note, however that some window managers also use this key combination, which will override its use within GTK.
Now that we have a combo, tailored to look and act how we want it, all that remains is being able to get data from the combo. This is relatively straightforward. The majority of the time, all you are going to care about getting data from is the entry. The entry is accessed simply as combo.entry. The two principal things that you are going to want to do with it are attach to the "activate" signal, which indicates that the user has pressed the Return or Enter key, and read the text. The first is accomplished using something like:
Getting the text at any arbitrary time is accomplished by simply using the entry method:
That's about all there is to it. There is a method:
that will disable the activate signal on the entry widget in the combo. Personally, I can't think of why you'd want to use it, but it does exist.


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When plumbers Jim and Dave arrived at a new residential development, their task at hand certainly seemed routine — performing trim-out work (installation of fixtures and appliances) in a partially completed house. Once on-site, however, they quickly hit a snag.
After realizing that the mostly finalized electrical system in the house was not connected to the electric utility, they questioned the general contractor (GC) on the availability of power for their tools. The GC promptly directed them to a temporary construction pole setup on the adjacent lot.
Not considered an out-of-the-ordinary request on a new construction residential project, this situation did not raise any red flags for the plumbers; however, the events that soon unfolded would quickly turn this typical job into tragedy.
Setting the stage
As he approached the temporary power location, Jim found that an unconnected length of Type NM cable was lying loose on the ground between the temporary pole and meter base of the house they were working at, with the house end routed into (but not connected to) the meter base.
He recalled that a few days earlier he had seen an electrician using this NM cable to create a temporary service connection for the house — to enable testing of the wiring and fixtures. Apparently, the electrician had left it in that location, he thought to himself, possibly for follow-up testing/troubleshooting use. Based on this assumption, Jim recreated the connection (as he thought the electrician had done) and succeeded in energizing the house wiring, enabling the use of lighting and tools. Next, Jim and Dave began working on different levels in the house, with Dave in the basement installing a water heater.
The accident
Both plumbers worked separately for some time, with Jim occasionally coming down to the basement to check on the water heater installation. During at least one of those visits, Dave mentioned to Jim that he'd received a few electrical shocks while touching pipes or other bare metal. Because they'd experienced similar occurrences at other locations in the past without any ill effects, neither man was overly concerned.
Soon thereafter, Jim went outside to speak to another plumber (Mike), and then returned to the basement, only to find Dave sitting on the floor — slumped back against a furnace installed adjacent to the water heater. Assuming Dave was pulling a prank, Jim immediately scolded him. However, when Dave did not respond, Jim shook him and received an electric shock. Jim immediately ran outside to get help from Mike. The pair quickly called 911, moved Dave away from the metal-cased appliances, and administered CPR until emergency medical services arrived.
While watching the medical responders work on Dave in the basement, Mike touched the furnace casing, received a shock, and yelled for someone to shut off the power to the house to prevent further injury. Another contractor (Roger), who had responded to the incident, ran outside and disconnected the NM cable from the temporary power pole. Prior to making that disconnection, Roger noted the connection details at the temporary pole and also observed the connection details to the meter base on the house where the accident occurred (click here to see Figure). His account of those details proved crucial to determining fault in this case.
Unfortunately delayed by the lack of street names and map information for this new housing development, once on the scene medical responders were unable to revive Dave. As suspected, medical and forensic examination later indicated that Dave had died from electrocution with the fatal current probably passing from one arm to the other through his chest.
Investigation and analysis
Because a fatality was involved, OSHA performed an inspection at the work site within a week of the accident. This investigation was followed by inspections of the involved electrical systems and hardware at the site by several engineers, including myself. I became involved in the case as the technical representative of the insurance carrier for a major electrical equipment manufacturer, which had provided some of the temporary electrical setup hardware.
Prior to the OSHA visit, the NM cable, which was originally lying loose on the ground before Jim reconnected it, reportedly was fully removed from its connection points at both ends (temporary pole and house). Therefore, Roger was the only person known to have a recollection of the connection details at the time of the accident (plumber Jim was unsure). As detailed in the Figure, Roger's recollection indicated that the NM cable was probably a 10/2 + ground configuration. The connections reportedly did include insertion of the two insulated conductor's previously stripped ends into the slots of a GFCI-type receptacle at the temporary pole, as diagrammed. However, they did not include the bare conductor in the cable. His description also indicated connection of the previously stripped opposite insulated conductor ends to one of the meter base hot leg lugs with the other conductor end connected to the neutral. (Note the polarity of these connections indicated in the diagram.)
Examination of the temporary power pole revealed it included four 120VAC GFCI-type duplex receptacles downstream of two 20A circuit breakers (two receptacles supplied from each circuit breaker). The components were mounted in an outdoor-type box with a damaged cover that would not properly close. The GFCI receptacle identified as the unit supplying temporary power through the NM cable was then removed for detailed laboratory examination (Photo 1). During this removal, proper supply connections within the temporary power pole assembly for that receptacle were confirmed, including bonding connection. It was verified that the neutral and ground were bonded together within the main service panelboard in the house — and that there was a bonding connection to the copper piping within the house from the panelboard grounding electrode connection point.
The diagrammed temporary terminations for the NM cable would have the effect of connecting the GFCI receptacle outlet hot leg with the service entry neutral in the house where the plumbers were working. This would have resulted in energization of any exposed bonded metal, including the furnace and water heater casings and metal piping, at voltage levels potentially up to 120VAC.
The GFCI receptacle was confirmed as a UL-listed 20A rated indoor-only-type assembly with front-mounted "test" and "reset" buttons. The receptacle exterior evidenced some age and weathering, including heavy corrosion of the screw heads that secured the plastic casing. Investigators also confirmed that when connected to a nominal 120VAC supply, the outlets were live — a condition that did not change when the GFCI test button was pushed. During disassembly, the receptacle internals evidenced significant contamination from dirt, insect remains/webs, and other debris. External corrosion from probable water intrusion also was apparent. The unit evidenced heavy overheating/burn damage to the circuit board (Photos 2a, 2b, and 2c). Provided information indicated this GFCI receptacle was probably at least five years old. Based on these findings, it's unlikely that the GFCI circuitry would have reacted to the expected ground leakage currents and shut off power, following connection of the outlet hot leg to the house grounded conductors as described above.
Regulations and codes
After its investigation, OSHA cited the plumbing company for "serious" violation of four federal health and safety regulations:
Failure to instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and hazards, as required by 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2).
Failure to ensure that electrical equipment is free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, as required by 29 CFR 1926.403(b)(1).
The path to ground from circuits, equipment, or enclosures was not permanent and continuous, as required by 29 CFR 1926.404(f)(6).
A ground conductor was attached to a terminal or lead so as to reverse designated polarity in violation of 29 CFR 1926.404(a)(2).
Particularly noted was no evidence that any of the plumbing company employees had been provided with safety instructions regarding safe usage or connection to temporary construction site power sources, proper testing and usage of GFCI-protected circuits, or typical construction site electrical shock hazards.
At the time of this accident, the 1996 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70/NEC) was in effect at the accident location. Therefore, the references below come from that edition. Article 305 addressed Temporary Wiring, with 305-2(a) requiring that all permanent wiring provisions apply except where specifically modified in this Article, and 305-2(b) requiring approval for any temporary methods. Additionally, 305-4(a) requires installation of services in conformance with Art. 230, and Sec. 305-5 requires that all grounding conform to Art. 250. Section 305-6 requires ground fault protection for all personnel utilizing temporary wiring installations.
The NM cable feed used as a temporary service for the house where the accident occurred clearly did not meet numerous Art. 230 requirements, including ampacity/size (230-23), clearances (230-24), and attachment (230-26). Section 250-23(a) requires that a premises wiring system connected to a grounded service should have a connection between the grounded service conductor and the grounding electrode conductor. This was not provided by the temporary connection completed by the plumbers, as noted in the diagram. The connection made to the temporary pole receptacle did not use an attachment plug, as specified in Sec. 410-56(f). Furthermore, the degraded temporary pole receptacle enclosure no longer provided the wet location protection required by Sec. 410-57(b).
Also in effect at the time of this tragedy was the 1998 edition of NFPA 70B, "Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance." Chapter 12 of that edition emphasized the importance of maintaining GFCI devices in an operable condition for personnel protection. Specified was testing of these devices using the integral test means within the intervals specified by the original manufacturer. It was also noted that this testing should be documented on a permanent label or card installed with each device. The original manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions for the GFCI receptacle involved in this incident were obtained. Specifying that the unit should be tested monthly, the instruction sheet included a removable card intended for installation with the GFCI unit to permit recording of monthly tests for up to 11 years. It also clearly indicated that the unit should not be exposed to rain, and must be contained in a weatherproof enclosure when installed outdoors.
Lessons learned
Because time is money for the developer and contractors on any job site, a "get-it-done" mentality tends to prevail. As was probably the case in this situation, a contractor's employees in need of a particular resource (such as temporary power) frequently attempt to obtain it by the most expedient means possible.
Unless training is provided on how to safely obtain those resources, as well as hazardous conditions to avoid, then unsafe actions are bound to happen. Such training must also provide clear incentives for acting safely and employment consequences for unsafe activities. Very telling to the inspecting engineers on this specific case were the reports that both men thought nothing of receiving electrical shocks while on this job site. Furthermore, if an employer criticizes an employee for the extra time consumed at a site in finding a safe temporary power source, rather than commending him for avoiding the more easily obtained but potentially unsafe power source, then all of the training in the world will be for naught. Ultimately, in this case and every other case, employers should have arranged for safe and easily accessed temporary power to be available at each work site where they assigned their plumbers. The OSHA citations noted above emphasized to the subject employer these planning and training deficiencies.
Use of the NM cable by a licensed electrician in the manner described several days prior to the accident, even for temporary test energization of the subject house, is at best questionable from a safety standpoint. It's also in clear violation of the NEC, as noted above. Further compounding this unsafe condition was the electrician's decision to leave the NM cable in a location that allowed and even encouraged other contractors to repeat this unsafe connection method. Unfortunately, the apparently limited understanding of electrical wiring connections by the plumbers resulted in the energization of the grounded portions of the electrical system and other bonded exposed metal within the house. That's one more reason why electricians should be trained to have an awareness of the potential consequences of their actions and decisions on other trades/persons who may enter a work site while they are present or at a later time.
The GFCI receptacle involved in this incident was a listed product that had been improperly exposed to weather over a long time period. The receptacle was installed in a temporary power pole that was one of reportedly many belonging to the electrical contractor for this project — and which supposedly had been reused at many locations. Apparent in this case was a lack of preventive maintenance or testing by that contractor, who should have identified the failed weather protection and the degraded receptacle condition and nonfunctional protection long before the time of this accident. Electrical contractors should have programs in place for tracking, inspecting, testing, and maintaining such equipment — for the protection of their own employees as well as others. This will also help to avoid financial consequences such as those resulting from the litigation following this tragic accident.
In the end, a sealed settlement was reached in this case prior to reaching court.
A registered professional engineer in eight southeastern states, Shiver is the executive vice president — principal engineer with Cerny & Ivey Engineers, Inc., Norcross, Ga. He can be reached at [email protected].


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"The pride of a small town is mirrored in its celebrations... its parades and promenades."
In 1977 the Antrim History Committee wrote these words to introduce their history of Antrim's second hundred years. Those of us who know Antrim as home understand how true this statement is.
Antrim is a community with spirit. The people who live here work hard to make the town better in every way. This, in turn, draws others who are looking for a place to belong and build. Whether it's raising a new bandstand, building an elementary school playground, approving renovations to Town Hall, or pitching in with photos for the new website, there are always many willing hands.
Join us on Memorial Day when the entire town follows the Veterans, scouts and school band from monument to monument. You'll see the pride of this small town.
Town of Antrim, NH
P.O. Box 517, 66 Main Street Antrim, NH 03440
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n a male-dominated society some women critics were impelled to activity by means of their participation in periodicals, a situation confirmed by Josephine Butler who said that the conspiracy of silence of the press had forced women to create a literature of their own (Butler, 402). However, Besant's attitude, undoubtedly far from the mainstream Victorian sage discourse, gained a stronger expression when she decided to become not only an active member of the National Secular Society but also an outstanding orator in the Hall of Science. There she had the opportunity to meet Charles Bradlaugh, and for both of them, it was the beginning of a fruitful and challenging companionship:
As friends, not as strangers, we met — swift recognition, as it were, leaping from eye to eye; and I know now that the instinctive friendliness was in very truth an outgrowth of strong friendship in other lives, and that on that August day we took up again an ancient tie, we did not begin a new one. [Autobiographical Sketches, 116-17]
This episode represented her entrance in a masculine world in which she was able to fight for a very strong participation. Effectively, during all her quest for identity (and it is essential to bring back to one's mind that her Autobiography was written after she became a theosophist in 1891), she judges her ideological behaviour as a very independent one (Autobiographical Sketches, 114-115). As it had happened previously, namely when she believed in God, she kept on acting as an atheist with "the feature of her High Church faith" (Oppenheim, 15) and always strengthening her ethical behaviour.
One of the achievements was undoubtedly The Legalisation of Female Slavery in England (1876). Originally published in the National Reformer, 4 June 1876, this pamphlet was issued in January 1885 as a contribution to the campaign to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act, which was passed on April 1885. The pamphlet showed her self as a form of resistance and questioned the myth of feminine chastity as well as the duality of Victorian sexual values which forgot "the nobility of sexual morality on man and woman alike" (Saville, Section II, no 9, 4-8). At that time, there was an appropriation of Butler's activities and Besant's discourses which led to "social purity" campaigns and gave Victorians what Pat Thane has termed "their most enduring stereotype" (186). In this domain, Besant is also unique, as she dared to fight for sexual rights for women, with modern arguments, perhaps sometimes too autobiographical, as when she mentioned physical and mental incompatibilities. Thus, she requests we pay attention to a society, which had generated all sorts of preconceptions against all processes that create and express desire. Not only aware of social and political discrimination but also of masculine insecurity, fearsome of women's emancipation, she decided to include contraceptive information in the new editions of The Law Of Population (1877) that had not appeared earlier in the National Reformer (See Saville, Section II, no 10). Nevertheless, the Obscene Publication Act (1857) which had aimed at the elimination of pornographic publications was frequently used to forbid the circulation of information on contraception and physiology among working classes.
The same happened to Knowlton's Fruits of Philosophy, with a preface from Besant and Bradlaugh, a prohibition that led to the famous trial in 1877. The trial, whose proceedings can be consulted in Roger Manwell, The Trial of Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh (London: Elek/Pemberton, 1976) was essential in her quest. It is the best-studied moment of her life, though critics' several assertions have not yet been confronted. From the start, Besant and Bradlaugh had been fighting for the right of free publication and had explained how contemporary ideology, defending family and imperialism, was a social danger, namely due to male control over women's sexuality. During the nineteenth century there was still a great ambivalence concerning contraception. That is the reason why Besant's words were threatening to the apparent Victorian stability. Actually, at the beginning of the century, some radicals had tried to disseminate contraceptive information, but it was the Malthusian League, formed in 1877, that provided its framework. However, it was mainly the dissemination of contraceptive knowledge that followed the Besant-Bradlaugh trial that contributed to spread more effective methods, which, as usual, continued to be dependant on each social class appropriation. Although perhaps not appearing so, the relationship between both accused had always the unfavourable opinion of Bradlaugh's daughter, Hypathia. Their friendship still belongs to the non-canonical side of Victorian society, as is evident when he represented republicanism and atheism, and Besant symbolised transgression, attitudes incompatible with the dominant feelings of Victorian society.
Thus, at the time it was decided to establish classes for popular education in the Hall of Science and "the prosecution of Mrs Besant's own studies at the University of London and her tutoring by young Aveling formed a vital contribution to the ultimate success of her work" (Nethercot, 24). In spite of having been given honours on her botany examination, namely by Thomas Huxley, she was forbidden by the curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens to make use of them in order to improve her knowledge. His rejection was simply based "on the ground that his daughters often used the gardens and he did not dare let them be exposed to Mrs Besant's presence" (Nethercot, 189) though after having protested she could use the gardens for scientific purposes before the public visiting time.
She continuously stood against the use of tradition as a way to render hegemonic practices legitimate and this position made her life very hard to deal with. Her criticism against orthodox religion led the Birkbeck Institute to omit her name from the list of its successful students. In fact, according to one of her biographers, Arthur Nethercot, because the members of the committee needed funding they feared that their contributors would withdraw when knowing Annie Besant had attended its lectures (Nethercot, 189).
Meanwhile science was advancing, her studies too, though in an unfeminine field, and she never took her degree, as there "was one examiner in the University who told her beforehand that however brilliantely she might do the papers which were set, he would not pass her, because he had a strong anthipaty toward her atheism and to certain of her activities for the masses, which he considered immoral" (Nethercot<, 186).
Annie Besant's Shifting Identity and Fin-de-Siècle Culture
- The Canon Reconsidered and Annie Besant's Marginality
- In Search of an Identity
- Besant and Transgression
- Indentity as Resistance
Butler, Josephine. Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade (London: H. Marshall and Son, 1896.
Bradlaugh-Bonner, Hypathia. Charles Bradlaugh: A Record of his Life and Work. With an Account of his Parliamentary Struggle Politics and Teachings by John M. Robertson, M.P.. 2 vols. (1894) London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1908.
Nethercot, Arthur H. The First Five Lives of Annie Besant. London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1961.
Oppenheim, Janet. "The Odyssey of Annie Besant." History Today no 39 (September 1989.
Saville, John. ed. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. New York: Augustus Kelley, 1970.
Thane, Pat. "Late Victorian Women", in T. R. Gourvish, Alan O'Day (eds.). Later Victorian Britain, 1867-1900. London: Macmillan, 1988.
Last modified 27 November 2006


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Journaling Solutions: Love Letter Journaling Spot Download
This Valentine's Day, give someone special in your life a truly priceless gift: a scrapbook layout with a love letter on it. Download your free Love Letter journaling spots to include on your scrapbook layout today!
Note: When you click the download link, the journaling spots will open in your browser window. You can choose to print them right from your browser or right-click the image and save it to your computer.
Download Love Letter Journaling Spot 1
Download Love Letter Journaling Spot 2
Find more ways to scrapbook the love in your life—pick up a copy of the January/February 2012 issue of Creating Keepsakes!
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1- Arizona Science Center, Phoenix
Get your hands on more than 300 different exhibits, explore the planetarium and check out the latest film on its state-of-the-art, five-story theater screen.
2- Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle
Canyon de Chelly National Monument offers visitors the chance to learn about Southwestern Indian history, from the earliest basketmakers to the Navajo Indians who live and farm here. Cultural resources of Canyon de Chelly include architecture, artifacts and rock imagery.
3- Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Stroll through the living museum and learn about 20,000 different plant species in Arizona. Specialized tours, events, workshops, family activities, café and gift shop are available.
Visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. Take a trail ride by mule or the Grand Canyon Railway into the depths of the canyon. Hiking and camping are also available.
5- Hoover Dam, Nevada-Arizona border
The Bureau of Reclamation started conducting tours through the Hoover Dam in 1937. Today, close to 1 million visitors a year take the tour and millions more drive across the dam. Hoover Dam is the highest concrete dam in the U.S.
6- Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson
Kartchner Caverns is a stunning limestone cavern system in southeastern Arizona, discovered in 1974 by two amateur cavers from Tucson. It is host to world-class cave formations considered to be the best of their kind.
7- Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde
An enduring legacy of the prehistoric Sinagua, this multi-storied, 20-room, ancient Indian cliff dwelling was built more than six centuries ago. The stone, timber and adobe dwelling is 80 percent intact, making it one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the U.S.
Old Tucson Studios is Arizona's Hollywood in the Desert since 1939. This world-famous working film location offers fun for the whole family including guided historical set tours, live stunt shows, gunfights, and saloon musicals plus rides for the kids. While you're here, enjoy a trail ride in the beautiful Arizona Sonora Desert.
9- Slide Rock State Park, Sedona
The park is named after the famous Slide Rock, a stretch of slippery creek bottom adjacent to the homestead. Visitors may slide down a slick, natural water chute or wade and sun along the creek.
10- Tombstone
Noted as a National Historic Landmark in 1962, this historic Wild West site is home to the stagecoach, gunfight re-enactments and Wild West legends that made Tombstone famous.


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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently awarded Tennessee Tech's Tacarra Hayes and Dustin Dillehay with its annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award.
The honor recognizes student-athletes whose accomplishments, in the opinion of the strength coach, reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning. These athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments as well as their integrity as student-athletes.
Hayes, a 5-foot-7 guard, led the Golden Eagle women's basketball team in scoring and rebounding in 2010-11 as she led Tech to an Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship and a berth in the WNIT.
The Lebanon, Ky., native averaged 16.9 points (fourth in the OVC) and 7.5 rebounds per game (sixth in the OVC) as a junior and also led the team in assists (4.7 per game) and steals (1.7 per game). She started all 31 contests and got to the free-throw line 228 times, hitting 76 percent of her attempts from the charity stripe.
Hayes was a first-team All-OVC selection for the second consecutive season and was also named the conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She was named the Golden Eagles' Most Valuable Player for the second straight year while also netting mention as a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) all-region team.
"Tacarra is a very hard worker when it comes to strength and conditioning," said Director of Athletic Performance Chip Pugh. "Last year I really felt her improvement in the weight room was one of the reasons she had so much success on the court."
Dillehay, a senior defensive back, was the Golden Eagle football team's third-leading tackler in 2010 with 73 total stops on the season, notching a season-high 14 tackles at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 25. He finished his senior year with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
The Hartsville, Tenn., native received Tech's Defensive MVP award for the second consecutive season. He closed his career with 184 total tackles and five interceptions.
"Dustin is a great example of the idea that if you work hard, great things happen to you," Pugh said. "He came into college as a walk-on and made the team, worked double time every day, and the reason he had so much success on the field was a direct result of his dedication in the weight room."
The NSCA All-American Athlete of the Year award program is in its 32nd year and is made possible by a grant from Power Systems, Inc., of Knoxville, Tenn.


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For Immediate Release
February 5, 2013
Mayor Murphy Not to Seek Re-election
Kinston Mayor BJ Murphy, 32, the youngest mayor in Kinston's history, has decided not to seek re-election this year although he will keep the Committee to Elect BJ Murphy open.
During his three years as mayor, BJ Murphy has been a strong advocate for non-partisan elections, actively pursued regional partnerships for economic development, led efforts to challenge the status quo in the public power business, supported increased street resurfacing funding, vocalized support for pro-active community policing, and encouraged ongoing demolition and community re-development efforts.
In 2011, Mayor Murphy was named the Young Professional of the Year by the Lenoir County Young Professionals. In 2012, he was named an EA Morris Fellow, which accepts only 15 Fellows each year across the state.
Mayor Murphy helped organize the Eastern NC Mayors Association to collaborate and seek outside consultation on our city-owned utilities' debts. He has continued to advocate that the Electricities members sell its generation assets in the power plants to help reduce our outstanding debt. He currently is partnering with the mayors of Greenville and Ayden to pursue the "Quad Cities" concept, an interstate loop in eastern NC.
Mayor Murphy has consistently engaged the citizens of Kinston and Lenoir County through his use of social media technology and town halls. During Hurricane Irene many residents learned of the damage and recovery efforts through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube posts and interactions. Each month Mayor Murphy has produced an e-newsletter through BJMurphy.org that now circulates among 600 subscribers.
During the heightened crime of 2011, Mayor Murphy led a community town hall on crime and gang violence, and continued those town halls within the Mitchelltown community. In late 2011, Murphy also hosted Graham Edwards, CEO of Electricities, and other city representatives for a town hall on electric issues. Each of these town halls ensured that residents were more informed on the issues, but also that the elected officials and professional staff were more in tune with the concerns of residents.
Mayor Murphy has also engaged the leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly. In June 2012, he helped stop a threatening local bill that would've raised Kinston utility rates by $1,000,000 as of July 1, 2012. Most recently, Mayor Murphy hosted the Speaker of the House Thom Tillis at a social event in Kinston. Representative John Bell and Senator Louis Pate were among the dignitaries.
Mayor Murphy cites his reasons for not running as a re-dedication to his family and business, "My family has sacrificed time with me so that I could give back to my hometown. We have simply decided that although I have a calling to serve, my family and business career need me more right now."
Mayor Murphy noted that working with our youth has been the most fulfilling role as mayor, "Speaking to our elementary, middle and high school kids has been a highlight during my tenure as mayor. Also, participating in the recognition of our community's Eagle Scouts has been an incredible honor. Kinston and Lenoir County have a bright future as long as its parents and civic leaders continue to pour love and good morals in our youth."
Pictured from l to r: Jessica, Kathryn (1), Gracyn (4) & BJ Murphy


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When the need for a luxurious, pampering and all-inclusive holiday strikes, the options are not always at hand. Perhaps this exotic resort could just be the answer for your soon to be magnificent retreat.
This is a place where long walks on the beach complement a perfect service and where culture blends with peacefulness. The Residence Zanzibar was designed by HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates and is a villa complex situated in a remote corner of the spectacular Zanzibar Island, Tanzania, East Africa. The resort has no less than 66 villas and their design is said to be inspired from the Swahili, Omani, British and Indian cultures present in Zanzibar.
Each building has its own opulent personality, while showcasing an exterior that blends perfectly with the surrounding natural landscape. Moreover, the small exotic cribs all have access to generous pools and spa units.
As for the interior design of the villas, the architects over at Hirsch Bedner Associates stated that the island was a rich source of inspiration and materials. All furniture pieces that were chosen are strongly connected with the history and culture of these places. This is why visiting this resort will be not just relaxation and taking time off, but an important learning experience as well.
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In addition to Treasure Beads, Toho offers another line of cylindrical beads called "Aiko Beads" that have been designed especially for bead weaving.
Aiko Beads are top-quality beads manufactured with dedicated, state-of-the art machinery. To honor the company's president's determination to make these the finest beads in the world, they have named these beautiful, delicate beads after Aiko, his beloved wife.
The Toho Company invested in a specialized machine that cost over half a million dollars to produce the Aiko bead. They come out totally consistent in size and shape making them a pleasure to work with.
Since they are totally consistent in shape and size, weaving with them is a delight, and the resulting woven piece has a wonderfully smooth, silken finish. Aiko Beads are available in the same colors as Treasure Beads.Perhaps you have heard of the consistency of Toho's Aiko Beads and are wondering if its really true? Well, I was skeptical too, but after handling and working with them I can tell you that it is! They are absolutely perfect! There is no culling necessary, as every bead it just as it should be. And they have nicely rounded off edges so they will not cut threads when weaving with them.
They are slightly more expensive, but the consistency and quality more than make up for the expense. Aiko's are approximately 10½/o, they are larger than 11/o but smaller than a 10/o and for that reason will not work symetrically with Delicas or Treasures. They can be intermingled for a textural look, if that is what is desired.
Toho is currently producing over 1000 colors in the Aiko line. We are building up our stock to better serve our customers, so please let us know if there are colors you would like us to carry and we will put them on the top of our order list.
The images below illustrate the difference between the Aiko Bead and other cylinder beads. The Aiko (the top or left one) is very consistent, while other cylinder beads miss the mark.


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By Jaleen Grove
With his European training and creativity, Oscar Cahén was soon able to pick his work. For 70 years Canadians had been running to New York in search of better jobs. But when he was offered a high salary of $25,000 to join an ad agency (some sources say Esquire) in New York before 1951, Cahén opted to remain in Canada with an income of $15,000, perhaps in part because he was allowed much autonomy and a closer relationship with art directors than would have been possible in New York.
Maclean's, 1948.
In the 1950s MacLean's and other Canadian magazines ran many stories with diverse multicultural characters, more than comparable American periodicals of the day. Oscar Cahén's European background led to his receiving commissions for these "ethnic" stories.
Chatelaine, 1954.
Genre scenes of everyday Canadian life were folksy, with characters made a little more cartoonish, cute, or hayseed than they might be in real life, perhaps based on locals Cahén befriended in rural Ontario, where he lived.
"The House the Horse Built," 1951. We don't know where this image appeared. If you do, contact The Cahén Archives.
Depending on the tone of the story, Cahén's native and peasant characters could be somber and dignified or jocular and quaint, but never were they insensitive (Bolsheviks aside).
Mayfair Magazine, 1953.
Cahén enlivened genre scenes by inserting descriptive detail, sometimes quite personal.
MacLean's, 1955.
In this café scene, graffiti on the wall reads "Oscar loves Mimi" (his wife).
A Standard cover depicting a mother in a country kitchen braiding her daughter's hair before sending her off to a Girl Guides excursion is filled with telling clutter—and some of Cahén's favorite recurring motifs: dancing butterflies, a hanging doll, and a wood burning stove.
The Standard, 1950.
In this 1947 cover for Maclean's magazine, the town in the background is reminiscent of King, Ontario, where Oscar Cahén had a house and studio built. His signature butterflies appear, blessing the tranquility of the scene. His commentary here, however, is ironic:
... notice the "How to Paint" manual, and the overly Disney-esque critters. The "cute babe" is not looking at the landscape, and she is not painting it -- she's painting her face.
Cahén's well-known contempt for formulaic painting and the Canadian plein-air landscape tradition comes through loud and clear.
* Continued tomorrow...
* The first exhibition of Oscar Cahén's illustration since his lifetime will be shown in New York at Illustration House in October 2011 (opening night Oct. 1). With Roger Reed, I have written a full colour catalogue with an essay and over 60 images. In this series of posts about Cahén, I will introduce him and feature some artwork that will not appear in the show, catalogue, or websites. The tearsheets and originals here are from Oscar Cahén's estate, courtesy of his son Michael Cahén at The Cahén Archives ~ Jaleen Grove
*Also... Jaleen is giving a talk today on Robert Weaver


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Supplements in Pregnancy
By Hannah Dahlen
In pregnancy a woman's body needs extra vitamins, minerals and nutrients to help her baby grow. In addition, the presence of some nutrients in good supply has been shown to reduce the risk of certain conditions in pregnancy.
Having a healthy diet is the best way of ensuring you are receiving the vitamins you need. That said, pregnancy is a time of great strain on the body, resulting in an increased need for nutrients such as iron, folate, iodine and protein. Also no matter how hard you try to eat well, morning sickness can result in less nutrients remaining in your body. While your body prioritises your baby's nutrient needs, your own body can be left wanting. Taking a good quality multivitamin developed specifically for pregnancy, makes good sense. However, please consult your midwife or doctor prior to taking any supplements.
Ensuring you consume the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of the following vitamins and minerals, in food or supplements, is vital during pregnancy.
Iodine – RDI 150 micrograms
Iodine is essential for the proper function of your Thyroid. If your baby doesn't get enough thyroid hormone, particularly in the first half of the pregnancy, some damage to the brain may occur. This is usually evident in a lower IQ, learning difficulties, reading difficulties and hearing difficulties. The average adult needs about 150 micrograms of iodine a day but pregnant and breastfeeding women require twice as much to meet the needs of their growing baby.
Women can get this iodine most effectively by using iodised salt rather than standard salt in food preparation. This is readily available in supermarkets. Milk and seafood are also high in iodine. In addition, in Australia the additional of iodine to all bread is a legislative requirement to help promote the health of the nation. Most pregnancy and lactation vitamin supplements have iodine in them, so if women have concerns about their iodine intake during pregnancy and when breastfeeding they can take one of these.
Iron – RDI 27 milligrams
Haemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells, transports oxygen in the blood and is essential for keeping us alive and healthy. Red blood cells are made in your bone marrow and last about four months before they disintegrate and are replaced by new red blood cells. In order for your body to produce red blood cells you need an adequate supply in your diet of iron, as well as vitamin B12 and folic acid. If one or more of these is lacking anaemia will eventually develop.
Anaemia is by far the most common blood related problem pregnant women face and occurs when Haemoglobin drops below acceptable levels. The developing fetus draws iron from the mother to last it through the first five or six months after birth, so a woman has an increased need for iron during pregnancy. While there is a RDI for iron, the amount needed by an individual woman depends on the amount of iron stored in her body prior to pregnancy. If your iron stores were low, you may need more than the RDI of iron during pregnancy. It is important to discuss your need for supplements with a medical practitioner as iron can be toxic in large amounts.
Folate – 500 micrograms
Folate (known as folic acid when added to foods) is a B group vitamin that is needed for the healthy growth and development of your baby in the first weeks of life. Research has found taking a folic acid supplement substantially decreases the incident of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
The current RDI of Folate in pregnancy is 500 micrograms, for at least the first three months of pregnancy. This may be taken as a supplement or in the form of fortified foods (food to which folate has been added during production). All wheat flour used in bread making in Australia must now contain folic acid, with the exception of certified organic flour. Three slices of fortified bread (100g) contains an average of 120mcg of folic acid. Breakfast cereals and fruit juices sold in Australia may also have folic acid added. However to be more certain of your intake, a supplement may be the most effective strategy.


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The world as we know it is at a tipping point. From political, social and economic unrest to technological advances and the ubiquitous always-on connection to the entire world, numerous pressures affect our everyday lives. Digital innovation is by far the biggest influencer, changing the way we do just about everything, from shopping to communication to running a business. Recently Gartner, Inc., revealed its top predictions for IT organizations and users for 2017 and beyond, focusing on three fundamental effects of continued digital innovation: experience and engagement, business innovation, and the secondary effects that result from increased digital capabilities.
"Gartner's top strategic predictions continue to offer a provocative look at what might happen in some of the most critical areas of technology evolution. At the core of future outcomes is the notion of digital disruption, which has moved from an infrequent inconvenience to a consistent stream of change that is redefining markets and entire industries," said Daryl Plummer, managing vice president, chief of research and Gartner Fellow. "Last year, we said digital changes were coming fast. This year the acceleration continues and may cause secondary effects that have wide-ranging impact on people and technology."
In this slideshow, Gartner has outlined the top predictions for IT organizations and users for 2017 and beyond.
Related Topics : Vulnerabilities and Patches, Resellers, Broadcom, Broadband Services, Supercomputing
Here are 10 ways that college professors are taking advantage of the technology students currently use and adding new technologies to enhance the teaching and learning experiences. ... More >>
Watson continuously learns from previous interactions, gaining in value and knowledge over time. Learn how companies are harnessing that AI power to create and improve products and services. ... More >>
Here are the top 10 strategic technology trends that will impact most organizations in 2017. Strategic technology trends are defined as those with substantial disruptive potential or those reaching the tipping point over the next five years. ... More >>


text: Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches Purchases 101 Ranch Brangus Cows June 10, 2014 09:30 AM Tweet Ray Westall, owner, Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches and Tate Pruett, ranch manager. TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By News Release Email In his continued effort to build upon the history of the legendary Brinks Brangus herd, Ray Westall, owner of Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches, has announced the purchase of 250 registered Brangus females from 101 Ranch at Palo Pinto, Texas. According to Westall, "We are excited about this addition to our herd. 101 Ranch purchased many of the Camp Cooley Ranch core donors and many young performance standouts in their dispersals. These females will move to our ranch at Arabela, N.M., and help us to continue our progress in developing Brangus cattle that work for commercial and registered cattlemen across the U.S." The historic Brinks Brangus herd was built upon performance fundamentals and has genetic influence worldwide. Today, many of the Brangus breed's trait leaders for calving ease, growth, maternal and carcass traits are either Brinks sired or trace to Brinks sires. On October 11, 2014, Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches will host their first annual bull and female production sale. The all-video sale will be held in Ruidoso, N.M., proceeded by cattle viewing and a field day at the ranch in Arabela, N.M. Details will be forth coming in publications and on www.brinksbrangus.com. Source: Brinks Brangus at Westall Ranches Back to news


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We came across an article on Wired this morning displaying the issues with iPad, colleges, and textbooks.
Our conclusion - USE THE JETBOOK COLOR!
The article below goes through issues students can encounter. Now the jetBook Color solves the majority of them while letting you be in charge of your own content - getting it where you want or creating it, and loading it on the the JBC without hassle.
Not only that, it's safe, Safe for your eyes that is. Backlit screens will burn your eyes out faster than attending Woodstock circa 1969. Keep your vision, and keep your own files with the jetBook Color:
Source: Wired
Link: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2012/01/apple-college-bookstores/2/
Subscribe to us and we'll keep uploading more adventures and more awesome footage!
Our conclusion - USE THE JETBOOK COLOR!
The article below goes through issues students can encounter. Now the jetBook Color solves the majority of them while letting you be in charge of your own content - getting it where you want or creating it, and loading it on the the JBC without hassle.
Not only that, it's safe, Safe for your eyes that is. Backlit screens will burn your eyes out faster than attending Woodstock circa 1969. Keep your vision, and keep your own files with the jetBook Color:
Source: Wired
Link: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2012/01/apple-college-bookstores/2/
On its face, matching iPad textbooks with college students seems almost perfect. But Apple's plans for its new iBookstore, from the way it has structured book purchases to its development strategy for multimedia e-books, doesn't seem like it's well suited for the college textbook market at all — if it even has that target in mind.
To be fair, Apple's presentation at its education event last Thursday was overwhelmingly focused on the K-12 market. Phil Schiller diagnosed a handful of this system's maladies: low rates of high school graduation, overcrowded public school classrooms, and the United States' position relative to the rest of the world in K-12 educational achievement. The prescription? iPads — with multimedia textbooks sold through iBooks, created in iBooks Author and, augmented with syllabi and podcasts through iTunes U.Apple and its publishing partners even showed off new digital science textbooks for high school students.
But there are serious obstacles even with bringing Apple's iPads and iBooks into primary and high schools, let alone them having a substantially positive impact there. The best overview of the market Apple's is entering is probably Laura Hazard Owen's "What Apple Is Wading Into: A Snapshot Of The K-12 Textbook Business." Meanwhile, Audrey Watters cuts sharply into the shortcomings of Apple's economic implications for schools in "Apple and the Digital Textbook Counter-Revolution." And I wrote about the complex requirements both textbook publishers and electronic technology must meet in order to be used in institutions as multi-layered and multi-regulated like public schools — complexity that even made Steve Jobs once doubt whether technology could be used to "fix" education.
University professors, along with other experts and stakeholders in the college textbook market, are even more skeptical. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Pomona College professor and director of scholarly communication for the Modern Language Association, was troubled by the limited view of interactivity modeled in the new iBooks — interaction between a student and a screen, not students with one another — as well as the limitation of these new textbooks to only Apple's platform and format.
Multi-platform support is especially an issue in colleges and universities, since, as digital publishing expert and ex-Encyclopaedia Britannica CEO Joseph Esposito notes, college students typically purchase their own computing hardware, rather than the institution. For this reason, Esposito believes adoption of iBooks would take longer in college than K-12, except in some contexts where the institution either mandates the purchase of specific devices or supplies them directly to students. Even if Apple's publishing partners — who, let's not forget, have a brisk business selling to college and university bookstores too — make a big push into the college marketplace through iBooks, professors may be reluctant to assign digital copies only to students if it requires them to buy an iPad costing $500 or more.
Battle of the business models: straw purchases versus volume licensing
Inkling CEO (and former Apple education employee) Matt MacInnis doesn't currently make content for all platforms; Inkling makes multimedia college textbooks (Inkling calls them "Smartbooks") exclusively for the iPad, with many of the same textbook partners now developing products for the new iBooks. (McGraw-Hill and Pearson are both investors in Inkling.) But as Inkling moves toward a cross-platform future, MacInnis still thinks Inkling still has a solid advantage over Apple when it comes to serving colleges and universities, even on the iPad.
"Over time, in K-12, Apple and the iPad will be the leader," MacInnis told Wired. "Apple is building that ecosystem by hook or by crook. But that won't be the case in the higher education market."
At most colleges and universities today, textbooks are selected by professors and instructors, ordered by campus bookstores, then purchased by students. But most digital resources — database subscriptions, image, video and audio collections, plus electronic news sources and medical, scientific and scholarly journals — are purchased by universities, generally hosted and/or managed through college libraries.
MacInnis believes that at colleges and universities, this kind of bulk purchasing — or really, bulk subscription-based licensing — is the most likely emerging model for electronic textbooks, too. Every student (or some subset enrolled in a course) would have university-paid electronic access to the textbook as long as they are students.
Inkling has sold textbooks to University of California, Irvine through a bulk institutional purchase, with Irvine then assigning license numbers to students. California State-Northridge paid for a university-wide site license to Nature Publishing's Principles of Biology digital textbook last year. UC-Berkeley, Cornell, Virginia, and the universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin-Madison are currently collectively piloting a program licensing textbooks published by McGraw-Hill. At Brown University, another of Inkling's institutional partners, medical students are required to purchase both iPads and three Inkling textbooks; here, MacInnis says, an institutional licensing model would be natural.
So Apple's model for iBooks, at least in the K-12 context, asks schools to buy iPads, plus individual textbook licenses for each student. It's a straw purchase, made and paid for by the institution, but on the student's behalf. Every book is associated with a unique Apple ID — that currently, at least, has to be assigned to a single person — so every student has access to his or her textbooks forever. Meanwhile, colleges and universities have been moving toward a purchasing model that arguably makes more sense in K-12: volume licenses for textbooks held on a subscription basis by the institution, not the student.
Students may buy iPads and then buy textbooks from Apple, particularly if their institution and teachers encourage them to do so. But they're much less likely to if there is already a multiplatform textbook that's provided by the university.
The problem of plenitude: How many books does your bookstore carry?
Barnes & Noble knows the college bookstore market very well. Its College division does half as much business as the retail division — and the numbers are much closer in quarters when semesters begin. It's also sold e-textbooks since 2003.
"Back then, we could barely sell one to anybody," B&N College VP Jade Roth told Wired. "There wasn't enough content, the tech wasn't ready, and the students weren't ready."
One of the biggest problems with the textbook market, Roth says — and one which puts Apple or any company hoping to develop many enhanced or multimedia textbooks — are the sheer number of books selected for college courses. A K-12 classroom or even a school district may be able to get by with a small number of subject texts, They'll be selected at the district level, standardized by state boards or the new U.S. Common Core curriculum, and all of the big textbooks will sell plenty of copies.
For college, Roth says, professors assign — and Barnes & Noble sells — 210,000 unique titles in textbooks alone. Add in the wider universe of trade books — college classes like Plato's Republic orMoby Dick, and the number goes up to 2.5 million. These come from textbook publishers, big trades, small and independent presses, university presses, cheap mass-market editions, and more. With so many books, covering such a wide range of subject matter, published by so many presses, it's extraordinarily difficult to make a comprehensive move to digital. It's not quite on the scale of Google Books' digitization of university library holdings, but arguably closer to that than partnering up to sell half a dozen high school science textbooks from three different publishers.
This is why Barnes & Noble has generally opted for simpler copies of digital textbooks, augmented with its multiplatform NOOK Study textbook reading and note-taking application. It's fashionable to slam publishers and retailers for selling what are sometimes called glorified PDFs. Still, between those copies and E Ink, this is the easiest and most effective way to get enough titles available that professors can order what they want, and students can buy what they need.
Roth sees growth in digital textbooks as part of a broader transformation in the economics of the college textbook industry. "Within the last years, we've had an explosion in print rentals, which profoundly changed how college bookstores worked," she says. (Chegg is probably the best-known textbook rental company — it, too, is now also working with e-textbooks — but Barnes & Noble's college bookstores added rentals as an option fairly quickly.)
"It's a great time for college bookstores, because we now have many more options for cost-effective learning materials," Roth says. "The professor still chooses the material, but students can choose to buy or rent either print or digital copies of the same book. When we give the students more options at more price points, they like us better."
That emphasis on consumer choice isn't just plain vanilla, free-market ideology; it reflects the basic heterogeneity of college students — and even colleges themselves. "Remember, these students come from all different worlds," Roth says. "In a lecture hall of 250 students, all with different economic concerns, one might have an iPad, another a PC, another a print rental…. We're moving into a digital world, but we have a long way to go."
Most likely, that digital world won't be one world, with one kind of reader; another strike against Apple, iPad and iBooks.
The born-digital future
"The challenges of transforming the education market make transforming the music industry look easy," says Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps. "It's like dealing with the enterprise and the government market combined."
Still, just as we had music MP3s long before the iTunes Store, the digital transformation of education is already underway. And even if Apple doesn't end up exerting nearly as much power over this market as they have in music, the blend of digital authoring tools, learning organization applications and multimedia books will likely still shape what will happen next.
"At Inkling, we have great technology, we have great publishing partners, and we make a terrific product," MacInnis told me. "But we can't shine the same spotlight on what we do or on what can be done that Apple can.
"What Apple's announcement does is move us into a world where all publishers have to think about creating books that are natively digital," he said, adding that everywhere Apple falls short, whether it's in the college market or pro-style authoring tools that give serious publishers more power than iBooks Author, Inkling and other software developers will fill in the gap.
Rotman Epps sees the same pattern: "iBooks Author helps democratize content production. It gives small developers the same tools as big publishers. Those developers can build upon and extend that platform with HTML5 and JavaScript, creating not just tools and widgets, but smaller companies that bigger publishers can acquire."
How does that digital future square with the entrenched culture of college and university campuses? It's always worth remembering that tablets and e-readers don't just aim to replace books, but entire bookstores. Nothing is immune from digital disruption, and the textbook industry is perhaps especially ripe for it. But it would still be a profound transformation for a 9.7″ tablet and an Apple Store to replace the college bookstore and the university library as the twin foci of information on campus.
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05/05/2019 - 9:00pm
Live jazz with a Latin twist!
Every Sunday The Grapes presents Jazz Con Fusion playing two sets of the finest jazz in Liverpool. Classic jazz standards and new takes on old tunes will satisfy both casual fans and jazz aficionados.
This is a very popular night and can get pretty crowded so arrive early to secure a prime viewing (and dancing) space!