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In the chicken and pork industries, nearly every aspect of the animals' raising has long been controlled by just a handful of agriculture conglomerates. But the cattle industry is still populated by mom-and-pop operations, at least at the calf-raising level.
Barbara McIntire Roux likes to say that she was born into the cattle business. Roux, 70, is a third-generation Shorthorn rancher in central Kansas, where the prairie pastures are thick with brome and bluestem grasses.
"We have to record about as much information on those calves when they're born as what a human baby has to have collected," Roux says with pride.
Roux is among the 750,000 farmers and ranchers who have what's called a cow-calf operation, and with 50 head of cattle her herd is just a little larger than the average U.S. herd size of 40.
But that small size is true only at one end of the cattle industry. In simple terms, the business is bottle-shaped — large at the bottom and narrowing to the neck, where just four companies control the majority of the market. Roux's end of the business is the pretty, pastoral part of the cattle industry, the place schoolkids come for tours. But it's also the piece of the industry with the least amount of power over the process.
As part of Morning Edition's "Meat Week," we looked at the shape of the cattle industry, from farm to feedlot to factory to grocery store. So here's how it works:
On the ranch, the calves are weaned off their mothers at 200 days old, when they weigh up to 600 pounds. Then the animals are sold to what's called a "backgrounder," a larger operation that buys the calves in groups, transitions them from weaning to feeding, and bulks them up.
"That's where these animals are placed on grass or placed in a facility in which they are grown," says Dan Thomson, a veterinarian at Kansas State University. There the cattle pack on up to 800 pounds, receive their immunizations and get prepared for the next step: the feedlot.
Great Bend Feeding Inc. houses about 30,000 cattle on 320 dusty, hot acres in central Kansas, tended by cowboys on horseback. The cattle are kept in pens made with steel and wood fencing and eat three times a day at the six miles of concrete bunks that line the corrals. They are fed grain, alfalfa and protein supplements — a high-calorie diet that will literally fatten them. It's called "finishing."
Some of the feed is processed here on site in a steel feed mill that turns whole corn into something like a corn flake. "The reason we do that is, cattle being somewhat sensitive in the digestive system, we want to make sure it's as efficient as possible," says Andrew Murphy, CEO of Innovative Livestock Services, which owns Great Bend Feeding.
At this stage, the industry begins to get smaller. There are just 2,160 feedlots that have more than 1,000 head of cattle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The top 25 feedlots — which will house more than 100,000 animals — control 47 percent of the market.
"When you have a bottle-shaped industry like we do, where you have almost 800,000 cow-calf producers down to essentially ... four packing plants, we're just the last first point in that bottleneck," Murphy says. "It makes it very difficult for anyone to break through because [meatpackers] have control of the pounds. It's not a negative comment. It's just a fact of life."
The cattle are shipped to the meatpackers when they are between 14 and 16 months old, weigh up to 1,400 pounds and, at today's prices, are worth about $2,000 each.
"Once they reach the desired fat, thickness or desired finishing point, that's when the animal goes to slaughter," Thompson says.
The cattle from Great Bend Feeding are sold to meatpacker Tyson Foods Inc. This is the neck of the bottle-shaped industry, and Tyson shares it with Cargill Inc., National Beef Packaging Co., and JBS, the world's largest beef processor. Those four companies produce 82 percent of the beef on the market.
Does this market concentration at the top mean the cattle industry will go the way of the chicken and pork businesses, where the entire process is controlled by just a few companies? That hasn't happened yet, but many ranchers fear it.
In the last 20 years, the number of farmers and ranchers who raise cattle has declined more than 20 percent, according to the USDA. The concentrated markets can constrain farmers and ranchers by limiting options, says Mary Hendrickson, a rural sociology professor at the University of Missouri.
"Often they're the ones who have the least power to negotiate better prices. If beef consumption has a downturn at the marketplace, the packers are often the ones who push changes in prices back through to the farm level," she says. "There are a lot of farmers who are disgusted with this."
So will future generations of the Roux family get to stay in the cattle business? It's hard to say. Meanwhile, those cattle raised in central Kansas and processed by Tyson will end up in your grocery store like all the rest, red meat under plastic.
Peggy Lowe is a reporter for Harvest Public Media.
Despite the growing popularity of the local food movement, most of the meat consumed in this country is produced by a handful of ag conglomerates. The chicken and pork industries have long been controlled by just a few companies, but cattle business is different. As part of NPR's Meat Week, Peggy Lowe of Harvest Public Media reports the beef you buy at the grocery store is raised by lots of small farmers - that is, until it moves up the food chain.
PEGGY LOWE, BYLINE: Picture it like this: If you draw the cattle industry on a piece of paper, it's shaped like a wine bottle. At the bottom is the cow-calf operation. There are more than 750,000 ranchers in the U.S. who do this. Let's start there.
BARBARA MCINTIRE ROUX: I'm Barbara McIntire Roux, and I have been in the cattle business for almost 70 years.
LOWE: Barbara Roux doesn't look like a rancher. She's in blue jeans and white sneakers. But her family's been raising short-horned cattle since her grandfather came to Kansas 100 years ago. She has about 50 cattle - just a little over the average U.S. herd size of 40.
ROUX: We have to record about as much information on those calves when they're born as what a human baby has to have collected. We have to give them the same identifying number as what their mother has, which is an ear tag. And we have to weigh them. We have to measure how tall they are.
LOWE: This is the pretty pastoral part of the cattle industry, the place school kids come for tours. But it's also the piece of the industry with the least amount of power over the process. The animals are put out on pasture until they're weaned off the mother at about seven months old. At this point they're just kids, though they can weigh up to 600 pounds. Now they're sold to what's called a backgrounder.
DR. DAN THOMSON: I liken it to a new student going to kindergarten - and I'm on the school board locally of our community. And so I started to think about, you know, when we have kindergarten roundup.
LOWE: That's Dr. Dan Thomson, a veterinarian at Kansas State University. So now at the backgrounder, the calves immunized and acclimated to new surroundings. They're fed grass and grain and are packing on weight to as much as 800 pounds as they're prepared for their last stop.
ANDREW MURPHY: This is one of our feed yards. This is Great Bend Feed. And this is the yard that our family started or my father started back in 1959. And this has a capacity of about 30,000 head of cattle.
LOWE: We're in Andrew Murphy's pickup, driving through a huge feedlot on a windy, dusty 320 acres outside Great Bend, Kansas, about 75 miles west of Barbara Roux's place. Here the cattle are fed three times a day at the six miles of concrete bunks that lie in the corrals. If it seems like it's straight out of the Old West, well, it is. These guys get around on horses.
MURPHY: We've come up with all kinds of creative names that sound a lot better than cowboy, but none of them have stuck - you know, cow care technician.
LOWE: This is where the bottle-shaped beef industry starts to narrow towards the neck. Remember those 750,000 ranchers? Their cattle are run through the 2,100 feedlots in the U.S. that handle a thousand or more head of cattle - the first big concentration. The cattle are now on a high-calorie diet to literally become the fattened calves. Then when they are just over a year old and weigh about 1,300 pounds - well, let's hear it from the veterinarian, Dan Thomson.
THOMSON: You know, I hear a lot of people say, you know, this is not a slaughter facility, it's a harvest facility. And I think we just say what it is. Once they reach a point of desired fat thickness or desired finishing point, that is when the animal goes to slaughter.
LOWE: At today's prices, each of these animals is worth about $2,000. The cattle here are all sold to Tyson, one of only four meat-packing companies that process 82 percent of the beef on the market. So from the 750,000 ranchers to the 2,100 large feedlots, the cattle are then processed by just four companies controlling the majority of the market. This is the neck of the bottle-shaped industry. So does this market concentration at the top mean the cattle industry will go the way of the chicken and pork businesses where the entire process is controlled by just a few companies? That hasn't happened yet, but many ranchers fear it. The cattle here at this Kansas feedlot will end up as a cut of beef or other product that Tyson sells to large chains like Wal-Mart and Kroger and found in your grocery store - bright red meat sealed in plastic. For NPR News, I'm Peggy Lowe.
WERTHEIMER: That piece comes to us from Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media stations in the Midwest, based at KCUR in Kansas City. This summer the project is collecting stories about life on the farm. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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A cat belonging to an Arkansas Democratic campaign manager was found dead with the word "liberal" spray-painted across its side, the campaign manager said.
Found Sunday night, the cat was a pet of Jake Burris, who manages Democrat Ken Aden's bid for Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District. Aden is running against incumbent Republican Representative Steve Womack.
Burris was returning to his Russellville, Arkansas home with his four children when he found the cat on his doorstep, the Aden campaign said in a press release on Monday.
The mixed-breed Siamese cat had one side of its head bashed in to "the point the cat's eyeball was barely hanging from its socket," the release said.
Aden told Reuters that the event was "horrible, to say the least."
"Thankfully, there are not that many people who want to do something like this," Aden said. "The majority of people in this district are hard-working folks, but you get the occasional crazy individual out there."
The Bethesda-based Alley Cat Allies called for an full investigation earlier this week.
"This is a horrible act of cruelty," Becky Robinson, the organization's president said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the family, and we demand a full investigation by authorities into this heinous act.
The Russellville Police Department is investigating the incident as an animal cruelty case, according to a police official. Russellville is 80 miles west of Little Rock.
Aden and Burris said they did not believe Womack or his re-election campaign were involved in the incident.
Arkansas' 3rd District is heavily conservative Republican and has been held by a Republican since the 1966 election. Womack first won the congressional seat in 2010 with 72 percent of the vote.
The Womack campaign denounced the violence on Monday.
"The thought of brutalizing any animal for the sake of making a political statement is beyond any standard of decency and the person or people responsible for this act should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," said Beau Walker, Womack's chief of staff.

subset: commoncrawl


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Read here from Lori Nickel at jsonline.com. Nice article. However, something struck me while reading through this article.
I've heard it said before that Hawk is the set-up guy and Bishop then is more responsible somehow for making plays. But one thing I find peculiar is that everyone noticed Hawk's play last weekend because he was all over the place and importantly, making plays. But in the previous 5 games, Hawk hasn't done much at all statistically. While I understand a player can purposefully be given a role that is more position/assignment oriented in an effort to help the overall defense, I have trouble getting past the massive discrepancy in production between he and Bishop. Bishop is almost perfectly twice as productive – Bishop 57 tackles 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble; Hawk 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 0 forced fumbles. So this leads to the bigger point – how can Hawk make over $2million per year more than Bishop? I know he was a first round pick and I know he should get something extra if he is essentially the playcaller for the defense etc etc – but the fact is Bishop is the better player and he's earning far less. I know Bishop is a good guy/a team player etc – but somewhere in his head he has to wonder why it is that despite being significantly more productive than Hawk, he earns significantly less.


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IndiaHouse necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 113 diseños de 42 diseñadores freelance.
India House Houston
The joke I always make is you get 2 Indians together... and they form 3 organizations. :-) The Indian community in Houston has always needed a central organization to serve its needs. India House aims to be that organization.
India House is registered non-profit 501 (c) 3. In part, the organization is a building itself has been completed through phase 1, a 20,000 square foot building that today features programming such as:
* Charity health clinic
* Cricket club
* Yoga classes
* Bollywood dance classes
* Speaking engagements by dignitaries
Phase 2 and 3 are planned at the same site -- these phases would add a large auditorium / performance hall and a building for more classrooms and more programming.
Funds for the India House have come from the City of Houston, Neighborhood Foundations, prominent individuals in the Indian community, and many others.
The audience for India House is
1) the Houston community and
2) the Indian community.
So it's a pretty broad audience.
Since 99designs is used by a lot of tech companies, I guess that I should point out that this is NOT a tech audience. This is an audience of everyday people. People who come from all economic backgrounds, social backgrounds, etc.
Among other places, this logo will be used on the organization's new website that's currently being built (http://www.indiahouseinc.org/)
It should be simple.
It'd be nice if the logo renders in black and white as well as in color (for print materials that might be photocopied).
The logo should integrate the organization's name "India House Houston", but the emphasis should be on the "India House" part. The "Houston" part should be there, but it doesn't need to be equal in size/treatment to the India House part of it. (To explain my thinking: most people refer to the organization locally as "India House" -- since it's a local organization, the "Houston" designation is mostly just useful for the website and when it's being discussed outside of Houston.)
One theme that one *might* integrate in a logo design is the rotunda of the India House building (see attached photographs or this page on the architect's webpage: http://www.rdlr.com/projects.asp?in…projid=108.
The rotunda has a really nice lattice work design in it too-- that's something to consider integrating into the design.
Also, one could integrate is the Indian flag and/or its colors-- but this could ALSO be very trite. So beware.
Finally, I really like logo marks/typefaces (like FedEx, PayPal, Lenovo, Cisco, Google), but that shouldn't rule out graphical logos.
The files we will require are:
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Mustang Slow out of Gate
Chevy Camaro made its long-awaited return for the 2010 model year, prompting Ford to tweak Mustang. Who says you can't teach a 45-year-old pony new tricks?
Mustang, last redone for the 2005 model year when Ford modernized its '60s fastback, has been tweaked and tinkered with and is now available for the 2010 model year in coupe, convertible or glass top version with V-6 or V-8 (GT) and a special high-performance Shelby GT500 coupe and convertible thrown in for good measure.
We tested the Mustang convertible with what traditionally has been and will continue to be the volume power plant/transmission, a V-6 mated with a 5-speed automatic (5-speed manual standard).
While the car pays homage to days of yore when speed dominated, the V-6 recognizes the fact that muscle costs more on the sticker and at the pump. So most folks settle for the performance look, yet not the action, with the V-6 rather than V-8.
The V-6 is where Mustang comes up short versus Camaro, whose 3.6 liter V-6 is rated at 304 h.p. while Mustang's 4-liter V-6 is rated at 210 h.p. Find a vacant stretch of country road and stand on the pedal and the pony's V-6 growls a little but doesn't leap from the light like Camaro.
Camaro's 304 h.p. V-6 is only a few horses shy of the full team in the 315 h.p. developed by Mustang's 4.6-liter V-8. Without an upgrade from 300 h.p. in 2009, the Camaro V-6 would have beat Mustang's V-6 or V-8. Talk about embarrassing. Worse, Camaro's V-6 is rated at 18 m.p.g. city/29 m.p.g. highway with automatic to 16/24 for Mustang's V-6. A track pack option gives Mustang added performance, but only on the V-8 GT with 5-speed manual.
Relief is on the way -- in 2013, when 90 percent of all Ford vehicles will offer an EcoBoost engine for V-8 pep and V-6 fuel economy. The 2010 Ford Flex and 2010 Lincoln MKS are the first beneficiaries of the new 3.5-liter, twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 for a 355 h.p. jolt of power when needed. Hopefully, EcoBoost saddles up on Mustang soon.
On the plus side, Mustang offers stability control and all-speed traction control to optimize handling. But the suspension tends to be jittery and lets road harshness into the cabin when crossing uneven pavement or even over tar marks.
The 2010 retains the fastback look that tells you it's a Mustang at 5 feet or 5 blocks away. The trademark "spear" character lines remain in the doors, but now Mustang also sports a larger power-dome hood, new head/tail lamps and fascia and grille, new wheel flares and a rather large, galloping chrome (black on the V-8) pony in the grille. Ford says it tinkered with the metal pony so it looks more as if racing into the wind. We'll take Ford's word for it.
You can opt for a power soft top for the thrill of open-air motoring or an all-glass roof ($1,995) to take in the scenery while keeping out harmful rays. But there's no better joy than to drop the top and take a lazy cruise. And if wind musses the hair and sun freckles the head, so be it. Buy brush and sunscreen.
But topless bliss takes a little manual unlatching of levers along the windshield to motor it down. So far so good, until it's time to relatch the top -- and the levers don't want to cooperate. And please, Ford, put a heat-resistant coating on those latches and the handle used to close the top because they heat up quickly and your skin won't be happy.
As is common with small convertibles, don't expect the back seat to hold anything larger than a couple very small kids with verrrry thin legs. The trunk is small, but manageable, since hauling in Mustang doesn't relate to suitcases.
The V-6 premium convertible tested starts at $28,995 with power seats/windows/mirrors/locks, air conditioning, leather seats, AM/FM stereo with single CD player, USB outlet and auxiliary plug and a 12-volt outlet in the dash between the air ducts, where it invites a power cord to get in the way.
Automatic adds $995. Except for heated seats in a $595 comfort group and a sporty GT spoiler in the $995 rapid spec group, most options are fashion frills you can do without.
Wheelbase: 107.1 inches
Length: 188.1 inches
Engine: 4-liter, 210-h.p. V-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
M.P.G.: 16 city/24 highway
Price as tested: $31,580
Add $850 for freight.
$28,995 Base
$995 5-speed automatic
$995 Rapid spec package 202A with automatic headlamps; pony-package decals, stripes and badging; GT spoiler; 18-inch, polished-aluminum wheels; and floor mats with Mustang logo
$595 Comfort group with six-way power driver's seat, heated front seats and auto-dimming mirror
+ First exterior/interior upgrade since 2005
+ A little more potent V-6
+ Stability control with all-speed traction control
+ Top-down motoring
- V-6 power falls short of Camaro V-6
- Rocky ride
- Rear seat mainly ornamental
- Mileage
Jim Mateja can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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There is a large PVC pipe (3 actually) which vent air intermittently. I started noticing I could see steam rising over my deck in the morning and then I found that these pipes vent air at least a couple times per hour.
What is the purpose of this venting? I'm concerned about efficiency.
Bonus: When the pipes are venting it is fairly noisy. When we're on our deck we can hear it and it's annoying. Any way to muffle this noise without impacting the operation?


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By Dominic Seamor, Martial Reporter
In the last rapier War Point of this Pennsic, the Tyger fencers swept the plateau of every Midrealm warrior to claim the day. While exact numbers were not available, over 300 fencers took to the field. The battle was set as a flat "plateau" with two large hay-bale "boulders" providing some obstacles in the middle of the field.
The Midrealm and its allies entered from the east edge in a "classic Roman phalanx," according to Warder Anton, the Midrealm commander, with most of their fighters massed in the center and light flanking elements to each side. The Eastern host seemed to be divided into several roughly equal blocks, under the overall command of Don Ogedei. There were no resurrections and the battle was to the last man or woman standing.
When the cannon sounded the massed warriors rushed onto the field. Don Ogedei said that this was the first rapier battle that didn't go as he had expected, but his troops made things come out right for the East anyway. Both sides flanked their enemy to the left, resulting in the Middle Kingdom army facing north instead of west. Then unit cohesion broke down and bands of fighters ran this way and that, seeking enemies to slay. It became almost impossible for the assembled populace to track the action, but the fencers of both sides had no doubt where their enemies were and desperate small-unit actions reduced the numbers on both sides. It is not possible to say whether superior numbers, superior tactics, or just better fortune made the difference, but finally a last Midrealm fencer stood at bay, fighting to the end against several foes.
After the battle, both kings addressed their assembled armies. King Edward of the East gave the credit for this victory to the inspiration of his noble Queen, HRM Marguerite. King Radagaisus thanked his army commander, Commodore Warder Anton, for his valorous leadership by giving Warder Anton the Dragon's Tooth. His Majesty also was greatly impressed with the skill and courage of M'lord Gabriel of the Barony of Brendoken who had been that last brave Midrealm warrior standing against the warriors of the East, and he also was awarded the Dragon's Tooth in honor of his valiant stand.
Editor's note: I would like to personally apologize to the rapier fighters and the Crown of the East that this story was omitted from the Friday edition in favour of a non-war-point rapier story, as this was the War Point that decided the War in favour of the East. The mistake was not intentional, but the hurt it caused is nonetheless very real. I am truly sorry for this mistake. Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton, Editor-in-Chief, Pennsic Independent
Article Type:
Fat burning foods sneaker
Fat burning foods sneaker galliformes Finasteride risks hyperopic honor What is bupropion performam saccharometry Buy Cialis Articulate hexahedral


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HOUSTON, Texas – Former Tennessee State men's basketball standout Robert Covington has made the Houston Rockets' 15-man roster.
Covington signed a guaranteed free agent contract with the club immediately following the NBA Draft and played in five preseason games where he averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds.
Aiding the Bellwood, Ill. products chances at making the final cut was his performance in last Friday's contest in which he scored eight points and four boards in 15 minutes.
Covington averaged a team-best 17 points per contest last year and added eight boards per game. He finished his TSU career with 1,749 points, which places him seventh in school history.
The Rockets will start the 2013-14 campaign tonight with a home game against the Charlotte Bobcats.


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Ref #: WGZAS21311
Portugieser Chronograph "150 Years" (IW371602)
With a design that appears as uncluttered as it is elegant, the Portugieser Chronograph ranks among the most popular watches manufactured in Schaffhausen. In the anniversary year, this style icon is equipped with an IWC-manufactured movement from the 69000 caliber family for the first time. This model is limited to 2,000 watches, and features a stainless steel case, a white dial with a lacquered finish, and blued hands. The IWC-manufactured 69355 caliber is a robust chronograph movement in a classic column-wheel design, made up of 194 individual parts. The bidirectional pawl-winding system reliably builds up a power reserve of 46 hours. The see-through sapphire-glass back provides a view of the decorated movement.
This item is currently out of stock


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Domain Holdings Group's domain brokerage service has provided world class solutions to clients worldwide. From Fortune 500 companies to celebrities to the guy down the street (literally).
With millions of dollars in recorded domain sales we are the industry's leading outbound brokerage team and award winning global brand in the domain space.
Our clients trust us with their assets and plans. This trust is the foundation of our business.


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NSA 'Leaks' Own Documents Before Senate Committee Grilling; Inadvertently Reveals Its Previous Lies To Congress
from the charge-the-NSA-with-espionage!-the-terrorists-have-our-number-now,-etc.! dept
Perhaps spurred on by the success of the Snowden leaks, the NSA has made its own "me too" effort and declassified a few documents ahead of Senate Judiciary Committee hearing dealing with bulk records collection and FISA oversight.
Given the choice, I'm sure we'd all rather read the unredacted versions of these documents, like those supplied by Ed Snowden, but all the same, it's refreshing to see an intelligence agency being forced into some minimal transparency.
What the NSA revealed isn't necessarily a surprise, but there are a few (perhaps unintentional) aspects of the declassified documents that are worth noting.
The first notable aspect, one that simply can't be ignored, is the statement from James Clapper's office that accompanied the unveiling.
A statement issued by Clapper's office said he "has determined that the release of these documents is in the public interest."So, when Clapper releases documents, it's in the "public's interest." When Snowden does it, it's espionage that does "grave and serious damage to national security."
Granted, the NSA's releases are heavily redacted (for security!), but if all that's being sought is so-called "business records/metadata" that have no expectation of privacy, what difference does it make who breaks the news and how much they expose? It's all above board and, according to the DNI's general counsel, everyone affected already knows they have no "expectation of privacy" in terms of the data collected. If we follow that logic, there's no reason these documents should ever have been classified. After all, it's pretty much the NSA/FBI equivalent of a FOIA request -- all public records, all available without a warrant.
Next up: the timing. The NSA released these documents "moments" before the hearing began. This makes the move look like nothing more than throwing the public (and some pesky representatives) a bone so that it can claim to be actively participating in openness, transparency, the "debate," or whatever when the grilling starts. Sen. Franken took note of the disingenuousness of the selective, last-minute document dump.
Some senators were perturbed that the government waited until moments before the hearing to release the FISA court order and two other documents about the National Security Agency's bulk collection programs. They suggested that the timing did not give them the opportunity to prepare adequately to question the witnesses about the documents.Third: the released documents reinforce the NSA's expansive definition of the word "relevant." In its dictionary, "relevant" means pretty much anything it can collect, store and "interrogate" at its convenience. This is certainly not limited to metadata.
"Ad hoc transparency doesn't engender trust," Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) complained during Wednesday's hearing.
[FISA Judge Roger] Vinson's order also accepted a key legal claim of the government: that the bulk, ongoing collection of millions of Americans' phone data was relevant to ongoing terrorism and espionage cases, the standard spelled out under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.In a technical sense, the NSA is right: surveillance isn't occurring during the collection. The problem is that the collection is open to search by both agents and algorithms with very little concern given towards the non-relevant data being swept up by these court orders. This logic was pounced on by Sen. Mike Lee.
"It can be things that will lead you to things you need," Cole said, arguing that the actual surveillance occurs not when NSA collects the phone records but when NSA analysts sift through it.
"I assure you as a recovering lawyer myself there is no context in civil discovery or otherwise to take in information from each and every American who owns a telephone," senator Mike Lee (Republican, Utah) said. Leahy questioned the "limits under this theory" and wondered why they permit NSA to also collect firearms records, bookmarked Internet searches, medical records or credit card information.Jameel Jaffer of the ACLU also took a swing at Vinson and Cole's rationalization:
Jameel Jaffer, the deputy legal director of the ACLU, criticized Vinson's reasoning. "Saying that the metadata of all Americans' phone calls, including ones that haven't happened yet, are 'relevant' to an investigation stretches that word beyond any meaning," Jaffer told the Guardian.Yes, even future events are "relevant" to terrorist investigations, whether or not they actually occur, or show up during the actual "surveillance" process of interrogating the data haul.
Finally, and this is probably the most important revelation, the documents show definitively that the NSA has lied to Congress about its activities, as noted by Ron Wyden.
"The newly declassified briefing documents released today show that the executive branch repeatedly made inaccurate statements to Congress about the value and effectiveness of the bulk email records collection program that was carried out under the USA PATRIOT Act until 2011. These statements had the effect of misleading members of Congress about the usefulness of this program.Wyden goes on to point out that this "unique" and "important" bulk email collection program was so desperately needed that the NSA shut it down in 2011 for "lack of operational value," as has now been publicly confirmed. Wyden goes on to question the effectiveness of its still-ongoing "bulk collection" program.
The briefing documents that were provided to Congress in December 2009 and February 2011 clearly stated that both the bulk email records and bulk phone records collection programs were "unique in that they can produce intelligence not otherwise available to NSA." The 2009 briefing document went on to state that the two programs "provide a vital capability to the Intelligence Community," and the 2011 briefing document stated that they provided "an important capability."
This experience demonstrated that intelligence agencies' assessments of the usefulness of particular collection programs – even significant ones – are not always accurate. In particular, I continue to be skeptical of claims that the ongoing bulk phone records collection program provides the government with any unique value, as I have not yet seen any evidence to support this claim.This again lends more credence to the theory that the NSA is collecting data because it can, not because it's relevant, no matter whose definition you're using. And there's no way the NSA can skirt the fact that its grudging nod to transparency is a direct result of Snowden's leaks, no matter how Clapper and his office try to spin it. The last thing the NSA cares about is the interests of the public.
Filed Under: lies, nsa, nsa surveillance


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"Our master philosophy is 'enter once, use many,'" Sheila Cuffari-Agasi says when describing the technology employed at United Planners Financial Services.
The vice president of partner development with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based broker-dealer notes that she keeps a "small, personal" book of business to maintain a rep's perspective and a view of what they might need in the field. And what she finds is they need glue — yes, glue.
"From a technology perspective, United Planners is all about creating efficiencies through what we call the software glue, which helps various platforms integrate and work better together," she explains. "We want to free up time for the advisor from doing all the administrative and compliance tasks so they can concentrate on marketing and spending time with clients."
The firm's Advisor Front Office "seamlessly integrates with Pershing and TD Ameritrade's Veo, among other custodians." It can pull statements, auto-archive them and even file them if needed, she notes, which is especially helpful during a regulatory audit.
"We have them here so it's not a burden to the advisor during the audit process. It also means the administrative person doesn't have to store, file, burn them to a CD or anything else at the advisor's office."
UPFS is able to the "back share" the statements and files to the advisor's own repository in one of two ways: through its own proprietary system or through Redtail technology. The advisor gets a copy, the office of supervisory jurisdiction gets a copy and it's saved to the client's vault as well.
This is different from many of the larger firms with legacy systems, she says.
"What we're saying is that the advisor doesn't have to do it our way," Cuffari-Agasi adds. "We can work with any system as long as they have an open API. If you ever decide to leave, just unplug and the system goes with you. And all of it is available through a single sign-up for the advisor."
She then reminisces about "the old days of all these different files and copies stored at multiple locations" before noting that now advisor need only one username and password and they have access to every document they ever signed with the firm.
"We're not married to any one vendor," she concludes. "What we do is build the glue to have the systems work together more efficiently. If there is a problem, we don't throw the baby out with the bath water; we instead change the water."
Check out 8 Steps to a Successful Succession Plan: United Planners on ThinkAdvisor.


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The Metaketa II: Taxation round has awarded six grants to innovative experimental research projects that seek to assess the effects of facilitating citizens' formalization of their relationship with the state on access to publicly financed goods, and tax compliance. All of the projects use common informational interventions focused on providing information about the process of tax formalization along with a financial or in-kind subsidy such as access to registration assistance. In addition, each project will involve at least one complementary intervention.
The awards, provided by funding from the UK's Department for International Development, range from $150,000 to $250,000. All projects will collaborate closely, in conjunction with the EGAP Metaketa II: Taxation steering committee, with the goal of maximizing the consistency of designs, interventions, and outcome measurement across studies.
Congratulations to the Metaketa II: Taxation award recipients!
The Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) network is soliciting proposals for field experiments that seek to assess the effects of facilitating citizens' formalization of their relationship with the state on access to publicly financed goods, and tax compliance in developing countries. This Metaketa round is funded by the UK's Department for International Development and invites studies that address the central question of whether formalizing state-citizen relationships increases access to public goods and services, and ultimately tax compliance, using two or more experimental treatment conditions. A common arm (or arms), to be implemented in a consistent manner by all supported projects, should seek to either assess the effects of encouraging people to secure a title to their property or other household/business assets, secure legal access to publicly provided utilities, or secure legal certainty of economic activities. Other formalization processes can be taken into account, as long as they present clear and tangible benefits to citizens. Encouragement interventions should aim to reduce the costs (financial, coordination, and/or human capital) of the processes of formalization.
Awards will range from $150,000 to $250,000. Please see the link to the full request for proposals along with links to the submission form and budget template below.
Please submit all materials in a PDF format to firstname.lastname@example.com. The deadline for submission is November 30, 2016, 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time.
Request for Proposals
RFP Submission Form
RFP Budget Template
Contact Jaclyn Leaver (EGAP Director of Research) at firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions.
This call for expressions of interest is now closed. Thanks to all who applied. As mentioned below, this call sought to identify clusters of research projects with comparable interventions and outcome measures that would form the basis of the main Taxation Metaketa request for proposals. Please see below for a summary of the EOIs we received and stay tuned for the full request for proposals that will be launched in the next few weeks!
Metaketa II: Taxation Summary of EOIs
The Evidence in Governance and Politics network (EGAP) is requesting expressions of interest (EOIs) for leading edge experimental research projects on taxation and good governance in developing countries. This grant round is specifically designed to foster knowledge accumulation across studies. Successful applicants will engage in closely related projects and adhere to a common set of research standards. For this round, EGAP will support 5-7 research projects that address a common theme. This request for short EOIs seeks to identify clusters of research projects with comparable interventions and outcome measures, which will form the basis of the main call.
Please submit your EOI to email@example.com. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2016.
Expressions of Interest Form
Contact Jaclyn Leaver (EGAP Director of Research) at email@example.com with any questions.


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Nina Shaw '76 believes everyone deserves the opportunity to make something of themselves. She made the most of hers: After piecing together her Barnard tuition from a combination of scholarships and student loans, she enrolled in law school and began a career as an entertainment lawyer. Today, Shaw is a Hollywood power player representing movie stars such as Jamie Foxx and Laurence Fishburne through the law firm she cofounded, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano. As busy as her schedule is, she accepted an invitation to speak on behalf of donors and friends at Barnard's Torchbearers 2010, the annual gathering of scholarship, internship, and fellowship donors and their student recipients.
Speaking to the Torchbearers audience about her own background and the importance of giving back, Shaw noted that she wouldn't have been able to afford her undergraduate studies without scholarships. As a result, she decided to offer current students with financial needs the same kind of assistance she received. Shaw has established two: The first, the Mary Catlett Hardy Scholarship Fund, has helped pay for the Barnard education of a dozen students since the 1998–99 academic year. The second, the Nina L. Shaw '76 Residential Scholarship Fund, will begin supporting recipients soon. "I have a very keen sense that financial aid made the difference between the life I led and the life I'm living now," she says.
Honoring a Dream Denied
The first scholarship Shaw endowed is named for her great- grandmother, Mary Catlett Hardy, whom she would visit in Charlottesville, Virginia, during childhood. "...A spectacular woman—tall and soft-spoken, with a southern accent," recalls Shaw. "She was a professional seamstress, but was actually more like an artist. She made the most beautiful clothing you could possibly imagine. We read Vogue ... going through it line by line, and she would often copy clothing she saw there."
Shaw's great-grandmother spoke about growing up in the South at a time when many African Americans had few opportunities for education. "In my great-grandmother's time, if you were a colored person, you had to leave town to get a high school education," she says. "There was no black high school in Charlottesville until 1926."
Mary Catlett Hardy persevered, eventually enrolling at Oberlin College and working side jobs to pay her tuition. When her father fell ill, however, she had to return to Charlottesville and give up her dream of a college education. "She spoke of Oberlin like it was the city on the hill," says Shaw. "She was a great leader and had a great intellectual curiosity, but her formal education ended when she was just 17 years old. It is truly the tragedy of her life." That dream cut short was the motivation behind the scholarship Shaw established in her great-grandmother's name.
A Shot at Success
Shaw grew up in Harlem and the Bronx with two brothers and two sisters. Her mother worked at the post office and later at the motor vehicles department; her stepfather was a New York City Housing policeman, who drove a cab part time. "My parents were always very clear that they wanted me to achieve far more than they had," says Shaw. "We were going to be this incredibly successful generation. It wasn't a question of if you go to college, it was when you go to college."
-by Peter McDougall, photograph by Roger Davies


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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170 is a 10.1 megapixel ultracompact camera with a 5x zoom. Other features include a 2.7-inch LCD, Smile Shutter, Advanced D-Range Optimizer, and Super SteadyShot image stabilization.
- Crisp, clean images, even at high ISOs
- Impressive features set
- Sleek design, solid construction
- DSLR-like shooting speed
- Red channel clipping still a problem
- White balance inconsistent
- Menus can be dense, slow
- Do you really need Happy Face Retouch?
Buy Direct From Manufacturer
Read Our Full Review: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170 Review


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CHICAGO — The best strategy for Illinois residents who want to sign up for insurance under President Barack Obama's health care law may involve the telephone.
State officials suggest scheduling an appointment with an enrollment counselor by phone. And, on Monday, Obama gave a federal call center number when he made his nationally televised remarks about the health law's website problems.
Illinois consumers can find help in their neighborhood by entering their ZIP code at GetCoveredIllinois.gov. That will take them to a page with enrollment organizations and local phone numbers.
The Get Covered Illinois Help Desk at 866-311-1119 answers calls seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There's now a Spanish language version of the Get Covered Illinois website. Go to GetCoveredIllinois.gov and click on "Languages."


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A coalition of high-powered business and military interests is hoping to have a large swath of Southern California, including San Diego County, designated as a test range for unmanned aerial vehicles – drones. The drone business already has a significant presence in San Diego and is one of the few sectors of the local defense industry that is growing. The test range designation, if we could get it, would mean a significant economic boost.
So, of course, the American Civil Liberties Union is very concerned. Drone flights over the southland could, according to the ACLU, lead to spying on the public. Existing privacy laws "are not strong enough," said the ACLU, "to ensure that Americans can enjoy the benefits of this technology without bringing our country a large step closer to a 'surveillance society.'"
Under ACLU logic, if drones can lead to abuse and loss of individual privacy, they will lead to abuse and loss of privacy – unless we stop the whole project before it gets started and develop a whole new system of rules.
Aside from the heavily publicized military use of drones against terrorists abroad, these pilotless aircraft could serve many beneficial domestic purposes. They would, for example, be far more effective, safer and cheaper than manned helicopters in detecting early stage wildfires in the backcountry or monitoring the border.
The U-T Editorial Board supports the application for the Southern California test range designation, now before the Federal Aviation Administration. It would be good for San Diego.


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Sunday, August 28, 2011
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A farm journal, life, love, very little about politics, 5 acres just outside a resort town in Florida. Grand ideas, small town charm...Picayune ideas, resort town claustrophobia. Life. Artist. Esposa. Mom. Oh, and it's a fansite for anyone in that 4 sq block area of downtown that has one of my posters hanging in their kitchen bathroom or hallway. Thanks! hahahahahaha


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respect.... mutual respect
so much about what is wrong with traffic has to do with respect
people fail to respect others
car drivers do not respect other car drivers
car drivers do not respect pedestrian or bicycle traffic
for some reason car drivers become different people behind the wheel than they would be at work or at home
they become quite selfish
they often fail to empathize for others on the road
to start the change
we need to make a change
I try to be more concious of my actions when behind the wheel
I try to treat others how I would like to be treated
sure I like to beat the next car off the line
win pole position
pass the ineffiecient and ignorant drivers
but.... this is done at no one's expense and without breaking the law
effeciency... not high speed
as a cyclist I am very concious of other cyclists on the road
I know where to anticipate them
when I encounter a cyclist I often exhaggerate my safe behavior
treating the cyclist how I would like to be treated
giving the cyclist the space that I would like to be given
setting an example for the cars following behind me
this set of actions transfers to runners, joggers, walkers, and people moving about the streets
I am always looking ahead to the intersection expecting the people to step off the curb
when I approach a point where the bike path intersects with the road
I slow and give the people crossing the right of way
as I know how dangerous it can be to cross at these sections of road
it takes nothing for the car driver to slow, stop, and go
the seconds of waiting for someone to pass can be made up on the next straight away
running down the pregnant mom in the cross walk does not get me their any more quickly
nor does it give me any joy
my point...
cyclist need to think about cyclists not just when on the bike
but also when in the car
the same goes for runners, rowers, or whatever
if each subculture showed respect for everyone in their own subculture
then extended that respect to other similar subcultures
well... the roads would improve incrementally
it is a simple "pay it forward concept"
so simple
now how do we get this message out?
6 comments:
- gewilli said...
gun... shoot the dumbasses who aren't considerate.
maybe start with a paint ball gun... shoot their windows/mirros...
then if they don't get it... switch to sub sonic 22 ammo...
and if they still don't get it...
hand grenades
- 9/20/2006
- D Achilleus said...
This is a good start. Emphasizing the human aspect. I reeled off a rant to the local Bike Fed e-list this morning ebcause of the usual "we want our bikes to be small cars" talking points.
Its human behaviour. We can't make new laws or post new signs to change everything we dislike about the things other people do. And until the aliens come and zap us all into higher levels of consciousness, everyday, our commute will have the same dangers, problems and joys - the same asshats will be out there and hopefully more of our friends.
But the bike lets us do that. We actually interact with people on the bike. you can't do that in a car. More contact, small, but incremental changes in collective behaviour.
Can I repost your entry to my Bike Fed list?
Also, people who come out of the LCI bike safety classes seem to change their driving habits pretty quickly. I think that talking a bike road safety class should be manditory for Drivers Licensing in all 50 states. Is that a worthwhile project?
Thanks for taking the time to think and write about this.
- 9/20/2006
- solobreak said...
The human interaction aspect is the key to it all. Numerous times I've had other drivers cut me off to get a parking space, then hold the door for me as I walk in the pastry shop behind them. It plays out everywhere, everyday. There are still some oblivious dumbasses on the sidewalk, but all in all pedestrian traffic is as cooperative as vehicle traffic is competitive. My rule is to try to never make anyone else have to use their brakes (unless they are an overly aggressive tool trying to race somewhere).
Traffic calming. I don't know. The speed limit on my street is 30 mph. The local police give out a lot of tickets, but rarely at the worst times. Between 6-8 am the average speed out there has to be close to 50. Aggressive enforcement does change behavior though. I roll down the street at about 30-35, and since the increase in enforcement, it seems I'm less likely to have someone playing bumper tag with me all the way to my driveway. It is going to take a huge movement to change society. Drunk driving used to be tolerated, but MADD did succeed in changing society's attitude to a large extent. Same thing with smoking bans. It can be done, but the challenge of changing motorist behavior in general may be bigger than either of these, and it will takes decades.
- 9/20/2006
- gwadzilla said...
some very good points
I agree in so many ways
in traffic on the bike I try to move through like a ghost
safe and gone before I get noticed
not asking or expecting anyone to do anything on account of me
I see red lights a yeild sign
but I also see green lights as a yeild sign
as a father I see giving tickets like hitting your child
it does not really achieve the goal
but a red light camera does something else
it offers the threat of a ticket
if there is always the threat
then there will be changed behavior
I am not for issueing tickets
I am for changing behavior
so often towing an illegally parked car is more of a nusance than a lesson
that said
some people will never learn
I am still evolving
far from perfect
evolving still
- 9/20/2006
- gwadzilla said...
today was like so many other days...
spent a little more time on the road than I usually spent
was out there playing superman... out trying to race the train
only I am mortal
and well
I respect the damage that the train can do
do I do not make that last leap infront of the cow catcher
while dodging potholes and bumpers I tried to get a better feel for my cross bike
traffic is a great way to practice quick stops and sharp corners
no work on dismounts
but plenty of trying to get speed for short distances only to stop and start up again
during my passage through various DC zip codes I got yelled at a times
the yells were not as frequent as the stares accompanied by the movement of the head
as if they are signing for the deaf
during this ride like so many rides
it is shocking how many people feel as my passing through is changing their progress
I am here and gone
if I slow traffic for a second
and yes I will take a whole lane for a minute
but never slowing anyone
as the next bumper is a 1000 feet away
and I am squirting past it
as the irate tailgating car gets stuck in the cattle call
got to dress the kids
they are screaming to get out of the tub
- 9/20/2006
- gwadzilla said...
Empathy needs to be taught
it shocks me
but people do need their eyes opened
if you could explain things the world
the world would say
I never thought of that
- 9/20/2006


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JLH_Ventures brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 124 Designs von 26 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
I am in the process of developing two related websites that operate from the same company. One is for the name of the store and one is for our own branded products to be carries along with many other brands in our store. Both need to be quality vector graphics that I can have enlarged or made very small (business card or neon sign). Let's keep them pretty simple, but very cool.
True Paintball
Prize: $150
Prize: $100
True Paintball and HELKAT
Desired Color Scheme:
True Paintball - blue; HELKAT - black and white (or gray/metalic)
Desired Style:
Fairly simple vector/scalable graphics.
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); EPS is preferred.
True Paintball - The store
This logo is for a store that retails paintball goods. The logo will be used to help brand the actual store in addition to the website. The base color should be blue. This logo should be fun but also inspire trust and confidence. The mission of the website will be to offer great prices and service on a large variety of paintball equipment. The physical store will be more of a warehouse outlet with a huge inventory rather than a regular retail store. Prize: $150
HELKAT - The brand to be carried within the store.
The Helkat logo has a starter graphic that I would like the design to stay pretty close to (the text is currently based the "Impact" bold font). I have already produced some goods with the existing logo. The colors need to work well on an all-black website, with white or gray text. This is a name brand for actual paintball guns and accessories. I would like the energy in this logo to be tough and perhaps have some military inspired influence. Perhaps bringing some hell and cat into the logo would work -but nothing too cartoonish. Some of these goods are used for police and military training. This shouldn't be too gentile because the logo will probably be printed on top of camouflage at times. The upgraded logo will probably find it's way onto future products. Prize: $100.
Address for starter picture.
http://i7.tinypic.com/879kj93.jpg (copy and paste into browser)
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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Camp Styles
Camp Styles
Every camper has his or her own style. For some, the perfect camping trip means strapping on a backpack and heading for the backcountry. For others, it's a way to spend time with family and friends in a natural surrounding away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For others, it is a way of life – camping full time in an RV. Many people camp to be close to recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, water sports, and ATVing. Find your camp style.
For those adventurous, outdoor hiking enthusiasts in the world who don't want to celebrate the next big game-day tailgating in the drab surroundings of a parking lot, trailgating is the perfect alternative. The idea is simple: choose your favorite trailhead, pack up your party gear, and prepare for fun.
Trailgating isn't about preparing for the next home game with all your fellow fans, but you will find plenty of reasons to celebrate. You can make your trailgate party about enjoying the beauty of your favorite trail, or a pre-hike prep party, or even a post-hike celebration.
Essentially, trailgating is the same as tailgating, but conducted in a completely different setting. Before starting your trailgate party, you need to choose the right location. The whole idea of a trailgate party is to have party at the trailhead, so find a great local trailhead where you and your friends can get together for a party.
You need to be aware of the specific rules of the trailhead before you get your party started. Some trails have rules about conduct and some trailheads don''t have enough parking or space to have a trailgate party. When choosing your location, look for a spot that has enough room for the entire party as well as vehicles.
Your next task before having the party is gathering the gear. Many tailgating parties involve barbecuing, so decide if you want to bring your barbecue to your trailgating party or if you would rather pack a camp stove and cook onsite. As fall starts, the weather may become a planning issue for your party. If you are worried about getting wet, you can bring along a tarp or some type of waterproof shelter. Cooking gear and utensils are also essential for a trailgate party. Consider bringing foldable chairs and tables. The items you pack for a trailgate party are the same basic items you would pack for a tailgate party, but you need to be prepared to gather all of your garbage and pack it out.
If you are really looking for comfort and style, bring a hammock and toys like kites, a Frisbee or a bocce set, a soccer ball, or fishing rods.
Food is an important aspect of your trailgate party. Planning a trailgate party is a terrific opportunity to find some new grilling recipes. If you bring a barbecue, you can pack coolers with meat and vegetables for grilling. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and cold salads are staples at tailgate parties, but you may want to spice up your trailgate party with more adventurous foods. Those people who eat meat can marinate flank steak before they go and grill it when they get to the location. Marinated meat has extra flavor and juiciness. For vegetarian options, slice vegetables and grill them in a grilling basket. Onions, bell peppers and eggplant are particularly good cooked this way.
If you don't want to bring a grill along, you can find all sorts of grilling alternatives. Tacos are a fun party food and your guests can put together their tacos however they like them best. Baked beans are another staple for tailgate and barbecue parties.
Trailgating is a new take on the tailgate party that adds a little excitement and adventure to your excursion. The next time you have the urge to go on a hike and want to include your friends, plan a trialgate party. You and your friends can get together at the trailhead and -- when you have had your fill of hiking -- you can all meet up at the trailhead and have a party to celebrate your successful day.
- Category: Camp Styles
More Articles...
- Camping and Rving with your Pet
- Camping in Search of Color
- Base Camping
- Tailgating
- Mountain Camping
- Baja Camping
- Forest Camping
- The Joy of Easter Camping
- Camping in US National Parks
- Fall Camping Destinations
- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
- RV Styles
- 'Reflections of Family Camping Trips'
- Camping 101
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- Ocean Camping
- The Four Camping Styles
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- Green is Beautiful - Greener Camping Ideas
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- Catch The Aloha Spirit
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- Oktoberfest
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Baltimore's inner harbor has been taken over by milky-white creatures with long, trailing tentacles. The jellyfish swarmed into the harbor last week, and were last seen heading downtown.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the lack of rainfall has raised the salinity levels of the harbor to the point where the "sea nettles" felt comfortable in the usually inhospitable waters of the bay:
Scientists identified them as Chrysaora quinquecirrha - the most common of sea nettles in the Chesapeake Bay. Usually, though, they hang out farther south, where they sting unwary bathers and swimmers.
But the researchers said the lack of rainfall this summer likely triggered the harbor invasion by making the water here just salty enough to attract them. It's been abnormally dry on both sides of the bay, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with moderate to extreme drought gripping the western end of the state and the lower Eastern Shore.
Photos by Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun. [Baltimore Sun]


text:
An 18-year-old Baylor University freshman died Sunday in a bizarre accident while doing a backflip, the private Texas school said in a statement.
Kevin Signo, a pre-biology student, was rehearsing traditional dances with the Filipino Students Association when he practiced a backflip and landed on his head, according to NBC station KCEN-TV in Waco.
The Waco Tribune-Herald quoted a justice of the peace as saying Signo hit his forehead and suffered a fatal spinal injury.
U.S. & World
His parents, Henry and Jackie Signo, said their son was an introvert in high school but thrived at Baylor.
"Kevin was a very bright, well-liked and involved student on our campus," Baylor spokeswoman Lori Fogleman told Tribune-Herald. "He had so many friends here who will miss him terribly."
Signo's parents said their son wanted to be a doctor. He was an organ donor who had a legal document drawn up, donating his eyes, skin, bones and organs.
"He knew exactly what could be used for and what was important," Jackie Signo said.
Henry Signo said he thinks his son "knew that he would be helping others if something tragic had happened."
"We're very happy to have had him for a short time," he said.
Funeral services will be Saturday at the Turrentine, Jackson & Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, the university said in a news release.
At least two busloads of students from Baylor are expected to make the trip to Allen for the services.
Kevin Signo attended Frisco High School and was originally from Carol Stream, Ill., according to his Facebook page.
His parents said they plan to endow a scholarship in his name at Baylor.
NBC 5's Randy McIlwain contributed to this report.


text:
State Journal-Register staff tests new products.
PRODUCT: Mac Snack Wrap
DETAILS: It's the taste of a McDonald's Big Mac, but in a lighter version. The half beef patty, cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce and special sauce are wrapped in a flour tortilla. Each one has 330 calories and 19 grams of fat. (A Big Mac has 540 calories and 29 grams of fat.)
MORE INFORMATION: www.mcdonalds.com
AVAILABILITY: At all McDonald's restaurants
COMMENTS: It replicates the flavor of the Big Mac, but isn't as filling. "If you had a craving for a Big Mac, this would satisfy it." "I like the lightness of the tortilla." "It could be a snack, or it could be a light meal."
WOULD YOU BUY IT? Yes
State Journal-Register


text:
Search News
Ministers of Women of the region held a meeting to address the challenges from COVID-19
April 03, 2020
The virtual event was organized by the IDB and the Inter-American Commission of Women of the OAS.
Public and private-sector leaders highlight IDB's role in transforming the region
September 27, 2019
The IDB invited leaders from across the region to celebrate its 60th anniversary Washington, D.C. -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today concluded its official 60th anniversary celebration with a "Voices for Development" seminar, where leaders discussed the importance of women's empowerment, sustainable infrastructure and the challenges that the digital revolution represents for institutions.
IDB launches Superheroes of Development contest to recognize executing agencies
March 04, 2019
In its second edition, the call for proposals will be open from March 4th to May 17th, 2019. The Superheroes of Development Award will recognize executing agencies of IDB-financed projects that have successfully addressed challenges during its implementation. The contest will identify eight finalists from across Latin America and the Caribbean who will travel to IDB's Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to present their solutions.
IDB launches report detailing steps to help avoid social conflicts
September 10, 2018
A new report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) identifies ten key elements that can help projects improve their sustainability and reduce potential social conflicts, from proper community engagement and legal foundations to adequate monitoring of results.


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Men in green
The first one we noticed was right under the window of our hotel room. It was 1995 and we were staying on a narrow street in the 6th. Actually, it was the broom that caught our attention first. It was … Continue reading


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Another Door Closed
Have you grown hard? Is that it? You were never hard then, you know. Just two spoiled daughters. Two little, selfish daughters. Two unemancipated daughters. Without her you have become hard, is that it? She was so soft, you see.
Two elderly sisters get an unexpected visit from a younger man. It appears, many years ago, the sisters' mother had been very kind to him.
Peter Gill's Another Door Closed premiered at the Theatre Royal, Bath, in August 2009.


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GIMME SHELTER- Summer partying: Be creative and chill out
Q: My wife and I want to throw a party this summer, but with the heat wave we've been having we worry that one on party day could ruin the fun. Any tips for partying in the heat?
A: Throwing parties or holding events in the summer can be tricky. Just recently we did a wedding where a groomsman fainted from standing with his knees locked in direct sunlight, and at another wedding we had to take photos in stages because it was so hot we couldn't keep everyone outside for long periods. We also threw together a quick pre-ceremony drink station and quickly got parasols for all of the guests to carry.
Summer can be a great time to have an outdoor party, but you'll need to be creative to beat the heat. Here are some fun ideas for a casual chill out party.
Have a Slip 'n Slide party! Let's face it– when it's this hot you don't care how you look in a bathing suit– you've just got to cool down. So go old-school, and let the fun begin. The original Slip 'n Slide is priced under $15. But whether you and your friends run through a sprinkler or set-up a giant water castle just do it, you'll make some terrific memories.
Make snow-cones. This is so easy to do using the crushed ice dispenser on your refrigerator. In three simple steps, you'll have a cool and tasty treat. Step one: Mix three-fourths cup of sugar, two cups water, and one packet Kool-Aid Drink Mix (any flavors you like). Be sure sugar dissolves completely – you may need to heat the sugar and water first then add in the powder mix. Cool completely before serving if you heat it. Tip: You can add Vodka or your favorite liquor at the end of this step for a snow cone cocktail! Step two: Crush ice and fill paper cups. Step three: Pour Kool-Aid mix over crushed ice in paper cups. Voila! A tasty treat that's easy as one, two, three. Note: You can buy the paper cones at most any party supply store.
Plan a 'no cooking' menu. With this weather who wants to stand in front of a hot oven? Plan your menu around no-cook items like a zesty black bean salad with crisp carrots, onions, green peppers, cilantro, and finished with a yummy dressing like Paul Newman's balsamic oil and vinegar. Pair this with a pasta salad dressed with a similar dressing but throw in some feta cheese and smoked sausages. Some beautiful summer tomatoes and French bread will fill guests up without giving them that sinking feeling. Round out the meal with an easy strawberry shortcake made with local strawberries, store-bought biscuits, or cake (angel food cake is a great choice for this!) and top with whipped cream. If you don't want to whip up your own, you can use cool-whip, but make it special with a little bit of lemon zest grated on top.
Create some shade. This is a must for a successful summer party. Remember the fainting groomsman? If you're not blessed with a big tree to relax under, you could rent a tent or go to Sam's Club and buy a "pop-up" canopy but you must do something. Neither your guests nor the food will fare well in the direct sunlight. If you can spring for it, misting tents are very cool but be prepared to spend several hundred dollars.
If partying in the heat at home is just too much then don't forget about some of the great parks and lakes in our area. One of my favorites is Sherando Lake. It has many pavilion style picnic areas that are very shady and since it's tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it's naturally cooler there than here in town. Plus, there is the beautiful lake right there to jump into when the heat is just too much!


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The Megger® TTR20 is an automatic hand-held battery operated transformer turns ratio test set.
It is used to measure the turns ratio, excitation current and polarity of windings in
single- and three-phase distribution and power transformers (tested phase by phase),
potential & current transformers, and tapped transformers.
The TTR20 offers a rugged, high-impact, shock resistant case designed to IP54, IEC1010-1, CE and ASTM D999.75. With simple one-button operation, the unit can be held in one hand... it weighs only 1.9 pounds.
While The TTR20 can test any transformer, single- or three-phase (tested phase by phase), it has been simplified to especially meet its two principle applications: distribution transformers and meter shops. Three test functions have been eliminated for easier operation, but in addition to the highest turns ratio on the market, the unit also measures excitation current and will identify normal and reverse polarity.
Furthermore, the excitation voltage range, already lowest in industry, has been expanded with the addition of a 0.5 V test. This further facilitates the determination of no-load accuracies for CTs and PTs, making the unit the ideal choice for meter shop applications. Ratio errors for bushing CTs can be measured to an accuracy of ±0.1% nameplate.
Four-termination test leads simplify hook-up and speed testing, with measuring time less than 5 seconds. With no need to store complex hookup patterns for its core applications, memory has been eliminated. However, test results can be sent to a printer, as well as viewed on a backlit display.
For full-service customers, the added measurements (phase displacement, vector group, winding resistance) and storage capabilities afforded by TTR100 are highly desirable. For simpler applications, TTR20 is the enhanced model in terms of ready performance.
Click here for Complete
MeterCenter is a National Distributor for Megger®, formally James G. Biddle Co. and AVO International
content copyright © 1999-2019, Lovelace Company, LLC
Megger® is a registered trademark of Megger
2046 West Peninsula Circle - Chandler, AZ 85248 USA
Telephone: (480) 659-8351, Toll Free: (800) 230-6008, Fax: (480) 659-8361
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
2046 West Peninsula Circle - Chandler, AZ 85248 USA
Telephone: (480) 659-8351, Toll Free: (800) 230-6008, Fax: (480) 659-8361
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Originally made with chestnut flour, polenta was once the catchall term for any grain boiled to a porridge and flavored with spices and cheese. When corn came from the New World to the Italian Peninsula, polenta was made with cornmeal. Today, polenta is found in two forms: as a solid cake or as a creamy grits-like mush. In this recipe, I go with the mush.
Polenta is much less labor-intensive than it seems. It is, quite simply, cornmeal cooked in salt water. Many insist that you start with traditional coarse yellow cornmeal and stir constantly for 45 minutes to an hour. Some start with lukewarm water and cook over low heat for nearly two hours. In Piedmont, they cook polenta exclusively in a copper pot over open fire.
I often like to use quick-cook polenta. Use five cups of water for one cup of polenta; season the water with sugar and salt, honey or thyme (the sweetness of the sugar or honey complements the corn flavor). Once the corn meal is whisked in and you're free from the danger of lumpiness, cook the polenta over medium-high heat for five or six minutes.
I serve this dish hot and runny, directly from the pot. Polenta can be accompanied by any number of ragus, vegetables or meats. It's the perfect substitute for pasta.
This is comfort food of another world.
Mario Batali is the owner of Babbo, Lupa, Otto and other renowned restaurants. His latest book is "Molto Batali," published by Ecco.


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The Hauz -e-Kausar–By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Abdul Husain Dastghaib
Inna Aatainaa Kal Kausar (Surah Kausar 108:1)
One of the Islamic matters about which there is specific mention in the Holy Quran and so also in both Shia and Sunni narrations is Hauz-e-Kausar: "That abundant good which has been granted by the Lord of the Universe to His Messenger Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.).
The length of this cistern, as has been earlier mentioned, is equal to the distance from Sanaa (Yemen) to Basra. Cups equal to the number of stars in the sky will be on the its bank which will be filled by the hands to sky will be filled with the hands of Hoorul Ayn (fairies) and will be served to the Momin (the Faithful). These cups will be of various kinds; some will be made of heavenly silver and some of billor (flint glass).
Hauz-e-Kausar Heavenly Springs Of Milk And Honey
According to some narrations, this Hauz or cistern will be divided into three parts: Anhhar…Meaning: Heavenly wine, milk and honey will be flowing in streams.
Anyway, it is certain that the contents of this cistern of the Holy Prophet will be sweeter than honey and cooler than ice. Subhaanallah (praise be to God). What to talk of the cistern the drinking from which will be very pleasing and after drinking which one will never be thirsty.
Wa Isqana… (Nudbaa Prayer)
Shaykh Shoostari has, in Khasaais, and other hadith writers too, have in their works, mentioned that the distributors of Hauz-e-Kausar will be the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and that every momin (faithful) will get the Aab-e-Kausar (water of Kausar).
Kausar Becomes Happy With The Mourners Of Husain (a.s.)
The mourners of Husain (a.s.) have one additional distinction with respect of Hauz-e-Kausar. Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: Inanl Kausar…Husain. The Imam (a.s.) says that the mourners of Husain (a.s.) will on arrival at the Huaz-e-Kausar make the Hauz happy.
For obtaining more details please refer to the first part of the late Khuyabani's book Muharram Wa Waqqaiyal Aiyaam.
The Ears Acquainted With The Heavenly Song
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: The Lord of the universe has created a thousand tress around this Huaz. Every tree has three hundred and sixty branches full of leaves and every leaf giver out (releases) different songs. If you want to hear those sweet and pleasing sounds, then you must make your ears worthy of it, that is, you should not lend your ears to worldly music and the non-sense accompany it.
Appearance Of Muhammad And Aale Muhammad (a.s.)
Saahibe Livaa…
One of the stations of Qiyamat will also be that of appearance of the grandeur and greatness of Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad (a.s.).
Livaa-e-hamd means the flag the high spay of which will be equal to the distance covered in a thousand year long journey. There will be three parts in that flag and each one of them will have a length equal to the distance between the east and west. It is mentioned in another narration Aazamu…meaning: Every part of that flag will be bigger than the sun and the moon. On one of them will be written Bismillaahirrehmaanirraheem and on another second AL Hamdu Lillaah Rabbil Aalameen and on the third Laa Ilaah Illallaah Muhammadur Rasoolullaah.
All the messengers and prophets and pious and righteous people and the faithful will camp beneath that flag the bearer of which will be the conqueror of Khaibar Amirul Momineen Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.).
The Minber (Pulpit) Of Wasilah (Medium)
Wa Qarrub Ilaihi Waselah
In the aforesaid words of the prayer, 'Wasilah' means that particular pulpit of light which will be established in the field of Mahshar. It will have one thousand staircases and every staircases will be cemented with another by Zamarrud (emerald), Zabarjad (chrysolite), Yaaqoot (ruby) and gold and all these precious things will be from paradise. The top most stair (Arsha-e-Minber) will be reserved for the last Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the one below it will be for the immediate legatee of the Holy Prophet Janab Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) and those lower than them those will be for Ibrahim (a.s.) and other messengers and legatees according to their ranks.


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I love my three sisters, but I'm sure I wouldn't last a week if I had to work with them every day. Jay and Mark Duplass, brothers who write and direct independent films together, told me they hear that kind of comment a lot. I sat down with them recently at the Liberty Hotel in Boston to discuss their latest film, "Cyrus."
I love my three sisters, but I'm sure I wouldn't last a week if I had to work with them every day. Jay and Mark Duplass, brothers who write and direct independent films together, told me they hear that kind of comment a lot. I sat down with them recently at the Liberty Hotel in Boston to discuss their latest film, "Cyrus."
What's their secret to squelching any sibling rivalry on set?
Older brother Jay said, "We share the same brain. We grew up cultivating the same sense of humor and we hang out all day together. We're very much in line with each other."
But what if there's a difference of opinion during the movie-making process?
"The least grumpy person usually wins because whoever is least grumpy is probably right," Mark said.
While the siblings had some success with their critically acclaimed film "Puffy Chair," which was made on a meager budget of $15,000, "Cyrus" is their first film backed by a major studio. It boasts big stars, including Jonah Hill in the title role, a 21-year old odd duck with few social skills and lots of synthesizing equipment that he uses to compose moody new-age music. His studio is set up in the living room of the home he shares with his mother, Molly (Marisa Tomei). Their unusually close and decidedly strange relationship is threatened when Molly starts dating John (John C. Reilly), the lonely but lovable loser who has been unable to cut ties with his ex-wife and best friend Jamie (Catherine Keener). He needs romance, and Molly is the one who can change his life.
Of course, Cyrus wants to keep his mom all to himself, so he starts manipulating Molly and engages John in a battle of wits. The destructive war that follows was designed to make the audience laugh and squirm, but as Mark said, "It's a good squirm."
The Duplass method of filmmaking is quite different from a typical Hollywood shoot in two ways. First, Mark and Jay shoot scenes in chronological order, and they claim the actors loved it.
"I don't know any actor who prefers to jump around rather than do it in order. (This way) they are able to build that character from day one and ride it all the way out naturally," Mark said.
Second, a Duplass film's trademark is the improvisational element.
"We hired everyone personally and made sure they were excited to work in the unconventional way that we work and were not going to be burdened by it," Jay said.
The actors were excited to sign on for the challenge of not following the script word for word. Mark said that the actors understood, "They couldn't just rehearse their lines and come in and roll through it because the person across from them is not necessarily going to be feeding them the line they expected. So everybody really has to listen and pay attention and be on their best behavior and be on guard. That vigilance is what gives you a sense of real life."
The brothers admit that their improv method exhausts everybody.
"The whole cast and crew are pooped," Mark said.
Well, their unconventional methods and exhaustion paid off. Cyrus the character is fairly maddening, but "Cyrus" the film is interesting and enjoyable even with its many cringe-inducing moments. If you are fan of the Duplass brothers and you want to see some A-list actors prove their improv skills, you'll surely enjoy this quirky film.
Personally, I'm impressed that these two brothers can work so well together. Even in the interview, their distinct complementary approaches made for a great conversation as they made each other laugh and finished each other's sentences. But just because they're good at it doesn't mean the rest of us have to be. There is still no way I'm working with my sisters.
Rated: R, 92 minutes
Starring: John C. Riley, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener
Meg's rating: Recommended


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By Advocate.com Editors
Originally published on Advocate.com January 30 2014 4:05 PM ET
10. TV: And the Oscar Goes to…
Yes, we know there's a big football game this weekend, but let's be honest: The Oscars ceremony is our Super Bowl. It's still a month off, but you can start building the excitement with this terrific new documentary by directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet, Lovelace) for TCM. This history of the Oscars features plenty of classic onstage moments along with previously unseen backstage footage from ceremonies past, plus interviews with stars, directors, writers, designers, and more. Among the highlights: Cher on playing an "adorable lesbian" in Silkwood, which resulted in her first Oscar nomination and respect for her acting talent; writer Bruce Vilanch on making the host funny; Helen Mirren being brilliant about pretty much everything; and chats with Liza Minnelli, George Clooney, Ellen Burstyn, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, and many, many others. It premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern and will have several encore showings throughout the month. Also, Saturday marks the start of TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, with every film on the schedule having been a winner or nominee in some category. You'll see more stars than there are in the heavens! Find more about the documentary here. — Trudy Ring
9. MUSIC: Michelle Malone, Acoustic Winter
Michelle Malone's upcoming album, Acoustic Winter, lends itself to so much introspection, you should expect to have a flash of genius while listenting to it. Her cover of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" is a great stripped-down tribute to the original. Malone's album is raw, and a perfect soundtrack to winter. — Michelle Garcia
8. DVD: Cutie and the Boxer
Directed by Zachary Heizerling, Cutie and the Boxer is a compelling documentary on love and aging that was shortlisted for the Academy Awards. The film portrays the marriage of artists Noriko, 59, and Ushio, 80, who married 40 years ago, an act that put the professional life of then-19-year-old Noriko on hold at the time of their vows. Decades later, she is finally finding her own voice as an artist through a series of drawings titled "Cutie and Bullie," which depict her oft-tumultuous relationship with her older husband. Ushio, meanwhile, is embarking on his own series of paintings, which he crafts with an unlikely technique — a rain of punches from boxing gloves. Cutie and the Boxer is released Tuesday on Blu-ray and DVD. A streaming version is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon.com. Watch the trailer below, or purchase from Amazon. — Daniel Reynolds
7. MUSIC: Betty Who, "Somebody Loves You"
Fresh pop voice Betty Who broke out late last year when her song "Somebody Loves You" was used in a viral video of a cute gay proposal at a Home Depot. If you're looking for more Who as she preps her new album for RCA Records, there's nothing better than her new video for "Somebody Loves You." It's a slice of '80s nostalgia, complete with big hair, neon spandex, shot through a Vaseline-smeared lens. It's the perfect blast of retro you need this weekend. — Neal Broverman
6. FILM: Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo
Funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo is a one-of-a-kind documentary that sheds light on the community tied to the International Gay Rodeo Association. The film, which premieres at the Santa Barbara Film Festival this weekend, traces the 30-year-history of this unique organization, in which LGBT cowboys — and cowgirls — buck all stereotypes through 15 rodeos in their quest to become champion of the new west. Strap on your spurs — it's going to be a bumpy night in Santa Barbara.
Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo premieres Friday at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, with an additional screening Saturday at 1 p.m. Watch the trailer below, and find more info about the Santa Barbara Film Festival here. — Daniel Reynolds
5. EVENT: Desert AIDS Project's Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
The Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, Calif., has a spectacular annual benefit that brings together amazing entertainment (Charo? Patti LaBelle? Heck yes!) and an amazing cause. The gala not only recognizes the work of researchers and pioneers in the medical field who have a passion for treating and ending HIV and AIDS, but also honors those who prove activism reflects in art. The award ceremony kicks off February 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Find more information here. — Michelle Garcia
4. THEATER: Joe Orton's Crimes of Passion and Loot
New York's Red Bull Theater presents works by the late, great (and gay) dramatist Joe Orton, showcasing his flair for butchering every sacred cow. Crimes of Passion consists of "two outrageous one-act plays that make religion, sex, and death the hilarious topics they should be," according to Red Bull's website. It gets a staged reading Monday night, and the rest of the week provides the final opportunities to see Red Bull's full-on production of Orton's Loot, billed as "a merciless satire of religious hypocrisy, middle-class British morality, and blind faith in authority," involving a couple of young thieves, a missing body, a naughty nurse, and more in a "wicked stew of Oscar Wilde and Kafka." It runs through February 9. All performances are at the Lucille Lortel Theatre; find out more here. — Trudy Ring
3. TV: Oprah: Where Are They Now?
While you might think you already know where Olympic skater Brian Boitano is now — out of the closet, that is — Friday's episode of OWN's Where Are They Now? will get a closer look at the Olympian's post-coming-out life. Promising a view of Boitano's life at home, it's his first major TV interview since being named to the U.S. delegation to Sochi in December and his concurrent public acknowledgement that he's gay. The appearance will also serve as a reminder of Boitano's new HGTV series, The Brian Boitano Project, in which he learns more about his Italian ancestry. As a bonus in this episode of Where Are They Now? Oprah is apparently addressing the question of when she's going to get married. Fingers crossed that Macklemore and Queen Latifah make a surprise appearance to wed her and Gayle. — Kevin O'Keeffe
2. MUSIC: Toni Braxton, Love, Marriage, & Divorce
Love, Marriage, & Divorce is a collaboration between longtime friends Toni Braxton and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who dueted on Toni's 1992 debut album. Out Tuesday, the album features 11 tracks focusing on the nuances of adult relationships, with both R&B stars in top form. The always-endearing Toni, who hopes to play gay on Orange Is the New Black, said this about the new record: "Twenty years ago I was just singing about having my heart broken, and now I'm dealing with my heart being broken — and possibly having to start over and look for love again." — Neal Broverman
1. TV: Blue Bloods, featuring Jinkx Monsoon
Drag Race season 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon will make her TV drama debut tonight on CBS's crime procedural Blue Bloods. Titled "Manhattan Queens," the episode will also mark the directorial debut of the show's star (and New Kids on the Block member) Donnie Wahlberg. The official episode synopsis reads: "Danny and Baez investigate the murder of Tiffany Lamp, a popular drag queen from a reality television show who was found murdered in a local park. Meanwhile, Erin re-examines a drug case scheduled for trial after she is abducted by the accused man's mother." Blue Bloods airs Friday night at 10 on CBS. — Jase Peeples


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STRANGEBUTTRUE- Wolf & woof: Not always a stark line between them
Q. Can you spell out the difference between a wolf and a "woof"? Can we even be sure they're not the same species? –M. Perkins
A. Dogs are descended from wolves, probably the gray wolf, and some scientists argue that because dogs and wolves do interbreed, they shouldn't be considered separate species at all, says Pat Shipman in American Scientist.
Although the ability to produce fertile offspring suggests varieties of a single species, the reality is more nuanced: "We cannot know whether dog-wolf hybrids will thrive and survive, or die out, in the long run," he says.
Certainly, distinguishing a dog from a wolf is something we expect to be able to do. Domestic dogs are wildly variable in size and shape, thanks to several hundred years of selective breeding. Their most telling feature is the snout, shorter and wider than wolves' snouts. Only a few breeds such as Irish wolfhounds with extremely elongated, slender noses, surpass wolves in "snoutiness." Also, domesticated dogs are genetically disposed to seek out human attention and accept human leadership; wolves are not.
Probably in the distant past, adopted cubs that were aggressive were cast out, while the more agreeable ones were fed and kept around for their keen noses and hunting skills. From wolf to woof under the watchful human eye, but not (we trust) under the same roof!
Q. Obesity's health effects are bad enough, but what about its "toxic" social side effects? Fat chance you're going to like the answer to this one. –J. Craig
A. Begin with the unfair stereotype of the overweight as slow, lazy, sloppy, says David G. Myers in Psychology in Everyday Life. When people's images are made artificially bigger on a video monitor, observers suddenly rate them as less sincere and friendly, meaner and more obnoxious. As for money, in one study of 370 obese 16- to 24-year-old women, two-thirds were still obese seven years later and were earning $7,000 a year less than an equally intelligent comparison group of 5,000 non-obese women. In fact, overweight applicants are less likely to be hired, less likely to receive a promotion or to get compensation in tough times.
Anti-fat prejudice even extends to job seekers who are seen with an obese person. To top all of this, the overweight are also less likely to eventually marry.
So why don't the obese drop that excess baggage? Because, says Myers, their bodies fight back by swelling the number and size of fat cells and by shifting into pseudo-starvation mode with a slowing of the body's metabolism. In other words, our genes have a lot to do with the size of our jeans as heredity often becomes weight destiny.
Q. What if there were a pill that could trick people into believing they were eating dessert when they were really eating salad with lemon or vinegar? Wouldn't that be a shot in the arm for frustrated dieters? –D. Aller
A. Such a subterfuge has been attributed to a substance called "miraculin," commercially available for a time. It fools the eater into believing that even acids are sweet, says James Kalat in Biological Psychology.
The stuff– tasteless itself– comes from the "miracle berry" of West Africa. Kalat describes an evening he and a colleague spent experimenting with the berries: "We drank straight lemon juice, sauerkraut juice, even vinegar. All tasted extremely sweet. Somehow we forgot how acidic these substances are. We awoke the next day to find our mouths full of ulcers."
Send Strange questions to brothers Bill and Rich at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Copyright for issue.5:
Copyright (c) 1993 Michael Haardt (firstname.lastname@example.com), Fri Apr 2 11:32:09 MET DST 1993
License for issue.5:
This is free documentation; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. The GNU General Public License's references to "object code" and "executables" are to be interpreted as the output of any document formatting or typesetting system, including intermediate and printed output. This manual is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this manual; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.