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Another drought year?
At yesterday's Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority board meeting, executive director Tom Frederick warned that 2006 could be another drought year.
"The spring planting season is fast approaching," Frederick wrote in a written report, "Â and I would strongly urge all our citizens to think and practice "water conservation" now and recognize there is a higher than average probability that this year could be a drought year." While our reservoirs are full right now, Frederick reported, abnormally dry conditions are causing concern.
In 2002, the area suffered a drought that had restaurants using paper plates, car washes closing down, and people collecting rainwater and siphoning soapy bath water. Â
11 comments
I myself was hoping that the James River Pipeline option was scrapped. I am vehemently opposed to that option. The town of Scottsville like Crozet has a separate water source than the Charlottesville Albemarle urban area. The Scottsville area usage is at 55 percent. And the residents of the Scottsville area view a pipeline to the James River as the urban area coming to their front door looking for a solution to a problem that they (the urban area) caused.
The Ragged Mountain dam proposal is the responsible solution. However I think the Water Authority would prefer a Scottsville pipeline for a more important reason. Development! According to a pdf on the water authority's website back when all the original propositions were listed.. their was wording along these lines: "A James River Pipeline would open up a previously Unserved part of Albemarle county." (note: the water authority shouldn't be in the business of creating *new* customers, but instead serving those they already have.)
Now I mentioned in my other post that the BoS and City Council get to appoint One seat to to the water authority board. And that's together that they both have to decide on one person to sit on that board. And who did they appoint? A developer. I think is name is "Gaffney."
SO along those lines that previous quote underlined above means to me that it's an infrastructure give-a-way to developers that would pave the way for development to continue south. And I think that is why they are keeping the Scottsville option on the table. I think what they might try to do.. is a bait and switch.. keep people looking and convinced that they're going to take the ragged mountian option then when no one's paying attention because the issue is so old.. they will quietly adopt the James River Pipeline.. and do so at a point where it will be too late to do anything about it.
Last time I looked there were already 5 straws getting ready to dip into the James River for water. I don't think it could handle a sixth.. especially not during a drought.
But if they are insistant on drawing water from the James River and it's "Not" because of a give-a-way to developers.. then they should partner up with Louisa and Fluvanna on the Bremo Bluff water project (and they could probably save money). I don't think they will do that though.. because if they do opt for a James River solution.. it will be because it's an infrastructure give-a-way for developers.
As an additional note: When a pipeline was run in orange county, residents in the area that would be served by it's pipeline were required to pay and hook up to it regardless of the fact that they were already getting water "free" via well.
The Ragged Mountian Dam and Pipeline from Rivanna would be the "responsible" and correct solution. And keep in mind the Safety Retrofitting needs to happen regardless of where they get the water.
Gas $3..00 to $3.50 this summer.
Water bills will double again this summer.
I wonder what's next? :)
When we went through the drought in 2002 there was a great rush of rhetoric from the local politicians. They had meetings and proposed ideas...and then actually did nothing at all. What happened to dredging the reservoir and increasing storage capacity? There are more people that depend on the public water supply than there were in 2002 and yet the Board of Supervisors, City Council, City Manager and County Executive have not take any real concrete steps to better handle a drought. At least nothing I know about. Please prove me wrong!
If it does rain anytime soon I'm catching every drop of water that falls on my roof and saving it.
I think if we just keep on with the unfettered development of 29N we will be just fine. What little rain we get can be captured in the form of runoff from all of those parking lots and funnelled into the reservoir instead of just soaking into the dirt and going to waste.
Kevin Cox wrote:
What happened to dredging the reservoir and increasing storage capacity?
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority was responsible for that. While I'm not sure how it works here.. in other places I've lived when the word "Authority" was used as it is above that meant the agency was self governing and basically a government entity to itself. The BoS and City Council have very little input on what actions get implemented apart from the fact that they both collectively get to pick and appoint the candidate for one seat on the Water and Sewer Board. (And they happened to pick a Developer for that seat.. Hmmm. Curious.)
They hired a consulting firm to study the alternatives and then decided everything would be too expensive. They picked 4 options that they figured were politically viable, and subject to the least amount of protest (or at least involved people they thought had the least politically impacting voice).
Since options were very expensive they of course wanted a solution that would fix all the drought and supply issues with as few steps as possible. Dredging was one of those 4 options but alone wouldn't generate the water capacity they wanted to target. It would need to be combined with raising the lip of the south fork rivanna dam a set number of feet (I forget how much). And the raising the lip option faced opposition from people who thought they would loose a walking path/natural park type area. So they killed that idea.
Then they discovered that the "Ragged Mountian Dam" would need retrofitting to make it complient with federal safety standards, which would also cost a big chunk of change. And that retrofitting would have to happen REGARDLESS of which other water supply solution they adopted.
So last time I was paying attention to this issue my understanding was that they had decided to adopt the option which involved raising the height on the Ragged Mountian Dam (combined with the safety retrofitting which has to happen anyway) and then implement some sorta pipeline from Rivanna to feed Ragged Mountian since it's a "run-off" reservior (as opposed to stream fed).
In my opinion anytime they start beating the "we need to conserve water" drums, especially after how they used "conservation" as an excuse to raise water rates during the last big drought (as in 'Ooh people are conserving too well, so now we're hurting financially, so we need to raise water rates'), we should expect that's what they want to do again.
(note: Parts of this post in italics are basically my editorializing.)
Thank you Bill Wells for an informative reply.
Since 2004, the process of finalizing the water supply has been very active and received broad community participation. There's a slew of information at: http://www.rivanna.org/community.htm
In the interest of full disclosure, I work for the Authority. We have 19 different regulatory agencies to deal with and that presents quite a challenge, and time committment. I am always disappointed when people complain or criticize based on inaccurate information, so I hope this is helpful.
I appreciate you posting that site up there Anne. Too often people don't seem to acknowledge the complexity on the
water issue and often just strike out at the Authority in a sort of "blame the messenger" deal. Obviously there needs to be a cohesive plan but with so many people involved it just ain't easy. Obviously with the way things are going in our area we can't simply have unchecked development going at the rate that it is and not address what the long-tem strategy is. I hope that folks keep their emotions in check and understand, as you said, that there's quite a bit more to it than just a snap of the fingers. But Kevin I wish it would rain too! The trees where I live in Keswick need it!
Thanks so much for the reply. I have taken a look at the RWSA page. I hope you can answer some of the questions that have come to me after looking at the staff report on ongoing projects. I see that as of March 27 there is still discussion as to which path to take; rehabilitating the Ragged Mountain Reservoir or running a pipeline from the James. Like many of those who have commented, I am baffled by the proposal to run a pipeline from the James. After all, the James was extremely low during the previous drought. Hasn't there been a great outpouring of public opposition to a pipeline, much more opposition in fact than support? Why is a pipeline still being considered? I also see that an application package for a permit to operate the dam at Ragged Mountain was submitted to the Department of Conservation of Resources but that an explanation had to be submitted as to "why previous permitting schedules were not met". Will you share that explanation with us? I also would like to know how many years the Ragged Mountain Reservoir has needed "improvements to spillway capacity and the stabilitiy of the lower dam." Finally I would like to know what the RWSA is doing to improve water conservation if there is another drought. Certainly there must have been some lessons from the previous drought that could help to improve water conservation efforts if there is a drought anytime soon. This seems particularly important given the length of time that it will take to either improve the Ragged Mountain Reservoir or run the pipeline. Please correct any errors I may have made in my interpretation of the staff report.
Kevin Cox
Maybe it is just semantics here, Pete Armeta, but I don't think angry folk can be accused of "blaming the messenger" when that messenger's name has the word "Authority" in it.
Yes, OK, there are lots of complicated things going on here, but if you are the "authority" don't you then have the means to deal with these. If they don't perhaps the name should be changed from "The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority" to "The Rivanna Water and Sewer People Who Have Your Best Interest At Heart (Really) But Can't Seem to Accomplish Much Because We Aren't Really an Authority and Because All These Other Regulatory Agencies Have A Say in What We Try To Do".
I certainly understand folks being angry- as a matter of fact I am frustrated myself! And "blaming the messenger" is not specific to the Authority particularly. The point is that in something so complicated and with so many peeps chiming in it will take collaboration between many people, bodies, agencies and government in order for anything to move forward. Plus real openness when it comes to citizens being heard (not this whole Albemarle County position of a "disconnect" between the county and citizens).
On the pipeline from the James "I'm scared!" Fluvanna & Louisa are excited on my end (I live out toward there on the Alb/Fluvanna line and to think of what that pipeline will do to the Zion area, and the areas between Southern Albemarle and north just makes me envision the whole area going to pot. Not an educated assessment just intuition based on the current culture of economic interests, the political climate and the pace of things...

subset: commoncrawl


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The House of the Prophet
Martin Luther King Jr.
Five years from now, Martin Luther King Jr. will have been dead longer than he lived. In the decades since his assassination, his life and words have become a touchstone for interpreters of America's long struggle for racial justice. Children all over this country are raised now with his name on their lips; almost everyone will recognize the sonorous phrases of the speech he made at the March on Washington in 1963. For many around the world, "I have a dream" means Martin Luther King, and his dream is the American dream.
Of course, a hero is always a man mythologized. And always, too, there are contests over the myth. In Dr. King's case, these contests began early. There was Martin Luther King as prophetic leader, Moses "parting the waters," as the title of Taylor Branch's Pulitzer Prize–winning biography had it1—an identification encouraged by King's own references to his having "been to the mountaintop and seen the Promised Land." Then there was King as Christ, suffering imprisonment and assault to redeem his people, "bearing the cross," as the title of David Garrow's Pulitzer Prize– winning biography had it2—an image that was also endorsed by King's own preaching, in which his personal suffering emerged as a kind of imitatio Christi. Others, in the liberal Protestant tradition, saw Martin Luther King less grandly as the heir to the social gospel of the Baptist minister Walter Rauschenbusch. But not all the religious images of King come from this Christian repertoire: many in the far-flung network of pacifists saw King as an American Mahatma. These visions—as liberal theologian and as philosopher of nonviolence—he sometimes encouraged as well.
Needless to say, there were many less flattering images of him. Some Southern segregationists placed him at the other end, so to speak, of the theological spectrum, dubbing him "Martin Lucifer Coon." Malcolm X and many in the Black Power movement saw Dr. King as an effeminate Uncle Tom: a real man, they thought, would respond to force in kind. And J. Edgar Hoover apparently believed the leading American campaigner for civil rights was a sexually depraved Soviet cat's paw, and spent a good deal of US taxpayers' money on surveillance, bugging King's telephones and many of the hotel rooms in which he stayed, in order to provide material to support his view, material that was then leaked to politicians and the press.
One might propose a reconciliation of these visions of King (leaving aside the accusation that he was a Soviet agent), for the fact is that these different stories are not as inconsistent as they might seem. He did lead black America, for a while, speaking to it and for it. He did suffer for his people, as did thousands of others in the movement; and the force of his acceptance of that suffering was part of what made possible the legislative reforms—the Civil Rights and Voting Rights
Acts—that provided legal recourse to blacks in the American South. And so he…
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Happy New Year!!! It is now a new year, a new decade, and possibly a new era? 2010 holds great potential for the promotion of Fair Trade! So when you are putting your new year's resolutions into practice take a moment to think of the Fair Trade movement. 2008 was a great year for Fair Trade sales, as worldwide and in the US they were up across the board! And it seems 2009 looks about the same. For us in the movement, this is incredibly encouraging for the new year. We are excited to see where Fair Trade will go in the next decade.
You might now be asking yourself, in what ways can I help? We have put together a short list of ways you can help Fair Trade in the 2010. You may call it a Fair Trade New Year Resolution List or maybe just some ideas on how to do your part in the coming decade.
AP's Fair Trade New Year Suggestions!
1) Organize 2010 with Fair Trade: That's right! Start 2010 off right with the purchase of the first Fair Trade calendar. Not only are these great calendars aesthetically pleasing but they directly benefit the Fair Trade Resource Network and all their efforts throughout the year. The calendars feature 24 pages of winning and beautiful photos from Fair Trade producers, fun facts about Fair Trade, and a list of stores that carry fair trade products. Why not decorate your desk at work or at home with this lovely calendar? Hopefully you can turn others onto Fair Trade! And the best part is the calendars are now 40% off! Get em while their hot!!
2) Fair Trade your Staples: It is time to get serious and be conscientious of your purchases. There are so many Fair Trade products offered now, it is time to make sure every time you make a purchase for staples such as coffee, tea, bananas, rice, wine and cooking oil, you make sure they are Fair Trade. The food staples we use everyday are for the most part readily available Fair Trade. As you fill your cabinet with every day items,promise yourself to stock every item Fair Trade for 2010. If you need help on what items are offered Fair Trade and where to find them, look no further than the Transfair website. Here you can search where to by Fair Trade, by product name.
3) Give Fair Trade to Others: When your Dad's birthday pops up or when Valentine's Day rolls around, try and give the gift of Fair Trade. Either buy Fair Trade gift items for your friends and family or donate in their name to Fair Trade organizations. There are a number of great gift items out there including jewelery, clothing, handbags, teapots, etc. World of Good is a great website to find many Fair Trade gift ideas! Also, if you would rather give gifts such as wine, flowers, or chocolates, those are also available Fair Trade certified. Make sure you celebrate all your loved ones and the next few holidays with the seal of Fair Trade.
4) Support your Local Fair Trade Shop: On top of Fair Trade producers, the retail market for Fair Trade is growing. More and more retail shops are sprouting up around the country that carry Fair Trade products specifically. Try your best to support these courageous and local businesses, especially during this recession. Ten Thousand Villages is a great company who has shops located all over the country! Their stores are chalk full of great Fair Trade items. Check your local listings or the Green America Greenpages for storefronts near you.
5) Fair Trade Your Town: If you are passionate about spreading Fair Trade, you might consider getting involved in your community for the new year. There is a wonderful movement pushing forth in the US called Fair Trade Towns. Currently there are only 12 Fair Trade Towns with many campaigns currently working toward becoming one, including our very own Boston. The Fair Trade Towns website will provide you will all the tools and guidelines to turning your city or town into an official Fair Trade haven. You can make a positive change in your community.


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There was an interesting question posed on the cosmetic science forum the other day. The forum member wanted to know whether they could still call a cosmetic "preservative free" if one of the raw materials was known to have a preservative (methylparaben) in it. That lead to a discussion about what a preservative free cosmetic is and isn't.
Can you claim preservative free?
The answer to the first question depends on the ethics of your company. The cosmetic industry guidelines allow for you to not list processing aids so technically, you may be able to get away with claiming preservative free. However, this certainly breaks the spirit of the law as the claim is misleading and could quite possibly be illegal under FTC guidelines. I'm not certain how things would be different in places outside the US.
What are preservative free cosmetics
Forum expert Duncan added the following comments which is helpful for any cosmetic formulator looking to create a preservative free formulation. (Note comments have been edited slightly).
Preservative free formulations will include:
1. Waterless products:oil based
That would include things like baby oil, massage oil, or wax based things like lip balm. They don't need preservatives because harmful microbes will not grow in them. Spores might land and rest on the product surface, but they won't germinate.
2. Waterless products: Non oil based.
If your formulation uses something like glycerin or other glycols, these will not need preservatives. They also heat up when exposed to water which is why they are used for self heating formulations.
3. Water containing products that are preserved by a non preservative.
This would include cosmetic formulas that have a high level of alcohol as the alcohol kills the microbes. You might also consider formulations with high levels of sugar to preserve it like Jam, or high levels of salt. Reducing the water activity will reduce the ability of microbes to grow and thus be self-preserving.
4. pH controlled formulas.
Having a pH of 10-11 will discourage bugs, as will a very acidic pH. Only really ok for hand washing type products, or kitchen cleaners.
5. Using non-preservative preservatives.
The cosmetic raw material suppliers continue to research and have launched some materials that are not technically preservatives but they have a preservative effect. These products are in no way good enough to get registered as preservatives, but have some antimicrobial effects.
For example, Sensiva SC50. It is sold as a skin feel additive, with some limited antimicrobial activity. Used as a skin feel additive it allows you to reduce preservative levels. A bit of a grey area when some people use a lot of it to "Preserve" products.
6. Air tight packaged products.
Finally, you could technically make a standard water-based formula under aseptic conditions then package it into an air tight container (like an aerosol can). This should stay suitably preserved through the lifetime of the product.
Preservative free challenge
Preservative free products are very difficult to create because your options are limited. I personally don't think it's a compelling reason to buy a formulation and that your time would be better spent working on new benefits for your products, however, a number of consumers and your marketing group might disagree. Good luck!


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Many of you have heard that the Susan G. Komen Foundation (the folks who do all that pink-related branding regarding breast cancer) is withdrawing its financial support from Planned Parenthood, which in the past did breast cancer screening and education for lots of poor women with funds offered by the Foundation. The Komen folks swear their choice to do this is not politically motivated, to which my response is yeah, right. Keep trying that line and see where it gets you.
Regardless of the motivations, what it means is that poor women, and women with poor access to women's health care, are getting screwed again for reasons that have nothing to do with them. I know, I know, these women should have thought about reasonable access to health care pertaining to their own gender before they decided to go ahead and be poor. It's their own fault, isn't it. The poor. So stupid. And in this case women to boot. So they count even less. And if they have to rely on health services from an organization that also offers legal health services some people oppose, well, then they deserve what they get even more, don't they.
The Komen folks are perfectly within their rights not to fund Planned Parenthood's initiatives for breast cancer screening and education, even if they're not honest enough to come right out and say it's part of an overall right-wing agenda against Planned Parenthood. But I don't think it's right that poor women get caught in the crossfire. They don't deserve to die just because they can't afford to catch their cancer early.
Just a few minutes ago I pinged Bill Schafer at Subterranean Press and asked if it would be possible to track the sales of my eBooks in the next week in order to donate my share of those sales to Planned Parenthood, specifically for its breast cancer initiatives. He said it was, in the United States at least, and that SubPress would donate its share as well.
So, between today and February 8, 2012, every time you buy a Subterranean Press eBook written by me here in the United States, the proceeds are going to Planned Parenthood. I will direct that the donation go specifically toward their breast cancer screening and educational activities, to help replace the funding lost from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. What ebooks does this cover? Here's a list on Kindle; here's another on the Nook. eBooks sold in other formats for other readers here in the US will be covered, too.
Is this a political statement? As much as the Susan G. Komen's decision not to fund Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screening and education programs is. If you want to argue that wasn't a political move at all, then neither is this. If you think otherwise, then you may think likewise about this. Either way, if this helps someone who couldn't otherwise get access to breast cancer screening and education save her own life, I figure at least one person will come out ahead. And that works for me.
Update, 2/2, 11:12 am: In a little under 24 hours, from Amazon alone, we've raised $1681.79. Thanks, folks!
Update, 2/3, 10:13 am: Now we're at about $2,700. Nice.
Update, 2/3, 11:45: The Susan G. Komen Foundation blinks. However, this fundraiser will continue as planned. Call it paranoia.


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Dave Matthews Band
Crazy how it feels tonight.
Crazy how you make it all alright love.
You crush me with the things you do,
I do, for you, anything too oh.
Sitting, smoking, feeling high.
And in this moment, ah, it feels so right.
Lovely lady, I am at your feet, oh, God I want you so badly.
And I wonder this could tomorrow be so wondrous as you there sleeping.
Lets go, drive 'til the morning comes.
And watch the, sunrise, and fill our souls up.
Well drink some wine 'til we get drunk, yes...
Its crazy, I'm thinking, just knowing that the world is round.
I'm here I'm dancing on the ground.
Am I right side up or upside down, and is this real or am I dreaming?
Lovely lady, let me drink you, please, I won't spill a drop, no, I promise you.
Lying under this spell you cast on me.
Each moment the more I love you. Crush me, come on! Oh, yes!
It's crazy, I'm thinking, just knowing that the world is round.
I'm here Im dancing on the ground.
A'm I right side up or upside down?
Is this real, oh Lord, or am I dreaming?
Lovely lady, I will treat you sweetly, adore you, I mean, you crush me.
Oh its times like these when my faith I feel.
I know how I love you. Come on, come on, baby!
It's crazy, I'm thinking just as long as you're around.
I'm here; I'll be dancing on the ground.
Am I right side up or upside down?
To each other we'll be facing.
My love, my love, we'll beat back the pain weve found.
You know, I mean to tell you all the things I've been
thinking deep inside my friend.
With each moment the more I love you. Crush me, come on, baby!
So much you have given, love, that I would give you back again and again.
Oh, the love many now hold you but please, please, just let me, always...


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At 18:10 Universal Time (UT) on June 14, 1992, a nondescript 9th-magnitude star in Cetus had already started to fade. Within 21 minutes it lost half its normal luster, but then in the next two hours it almost fully recovered. Astronomers were not expecting this behavior. In fact, no one saw it at all!
Despite the fact that this star lies just one binocular field west of the renowned variable star Mira, no Earthbound eyes were turned its way. The unusual fading was noticed years later, as scientists sifted through the many gigabytes of data transmitted back to Earth by the European Space Agency's Hipparcos satellite.
As Hipparcos project scientist Michael Perryman explained, more than 8,000 stars previously believed to be constant were found in the satellite's data to vary. Of these, 3,000 received official designations in time to be labeled in the Millennium Star Atlas, even though astronomers knew very little about them yet (and still don't). Their secrets are waiting to be unlocked by diligent observers with small backyard telescopes.
In the article "Mining Hipparcos's Buried Treasure," Sky & Telescope presented a list of some of Hipparcos's "unsolved variables." Here is another. The 11 stars summarized in that article are well placed for viewing from various parts of the world on November and December evenings. The finder charts on these pages are just what observers need to detect the occasional dips in light that we already know take place.
Notes on These New Variables
This list is more narrowly focused than the one in "Mining Hipparcos's Buried Treasure," for all of these stars are tentatively classed in ESA's Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues as eclipsing binaries — close, unresolved pairs in which one star circles another in an orbit nearly edge on to our view. Probably neither component varies by itself, but their combined brightness drops each time one passes in front of the other and blocks some or all of its light.
A few stars on this list may stay constant for months or years before exhibiting any telltale dip. The mere fact that no one noticed their variations in the past tells us so. The Hipparcos mission, which lasted from late 1989 through mid-1993, made only 30 to 380 measurements of any given star — not enough, in most cases, to produce a reliable light curve or establish the period unambiguously.
Because their minima can't be predicted with certainty, the best approach is to get to know these stars and check up on them every clear night. Be prepared to keep this up for many months to come. You might become the first person to nail down a star's period so that more detailed studies of its behavior can begin.
Notes on Particular Stars
The individual brightness measurements Hipparcos made of these stars can be found on Hipparcos's website. There, an interactive utility even lets you "fold" the observations back on themselves to look for repetitive changes in brightness. Thanks to these benchmark data going back a decade now, any new minima observed by readers will lead to very accurate predictions in the future.
DG Ceti is the star described at the opening of this article. Aside from the minimum on June 14, 1992, Hipparcos caught another on July 13, 1991, and part of a third on August 9, 1990. These suggest that another dip may have occurred about November 5, 1999. But the 337.4-day interval on which this prediction is based may be a multiple of the true period, so the star should be checked on other nights as well. It has an 11th-magnitude companion 5.5" to the southeast that has nothing to do with the eclipses.
DS Ceti is presumably the 9.5-magnitude primary of the visual double star at the location given in the table; the 10th-magnitude companion lies 6.7" to the west.
AL Arietis, normally magnitude 9.2, was as faint as 9.8 in two measurements made near 19:40 UT on August 9, 1991. Unfortunately, the satellite observed this star on only 49 occasions during the mission and caught no other anomalies. All bets are off as to when it will dip again.
DP Camelopardalis had six apparent dimmings during the mission. But they don't seem commensurate, and only three were tagged as reliable by Hipparcos scientists. At 77 light-years from the Sun, this is the nearest of the binaries on our list.
V1366 Orionis, lying 1 2/3° south of Rigel, was as faint as magnitude 10.7 on July 23, 1990. After recovering it was recorded at 10.4 some 47 days later.
V1125 Tauri was 0.6 magnitude fainter than normal on March 21, 1991.
FU Eridani was a half magnitude dimmer than usual on two occasions.
V366 Puppis was faint on three occasions consistent with a 39.1-day period. This star, normally about magnitude 8.4, has a 10th-magnitude companion 7.2" to its south.
UZ Volantis is a south circumpolar star, observable from the Southern Hemisphere any night of the year, all night long.
A Few Observing Tips
The best tactic is to familiarize yourself with these stars and get in the habit of routinely checking up on them every clear night. Be prepared to maintain this vigil for many months to come. You might well be the first person to discover what makes one of these "unsolved variables" tick.
The techniques for making visual magnitude estimates are not very demanding. (For more detailed information, see "The Lure of Variable Stars.") Since the stars on the list (on the next page) are 8th to 10th magnitude, a 3- or 4-inch telescope is perfect for studying them. The larger the telescope the smaller the field of view, so you probably wouldn't want to use a big Dobsonian reflector on any of these stars. Visual-magnitude estimates are most reliable when the variable and comparison stars can be seen in the same field.
Try to select comparison stars that bracket the variable star in brightness and have a similar color. The colors on our charts can serve as a guide, for they, like the magnitudes of the comparison stars, are derived from the Tycho photometry of the Hipparcos mission. The colors are more vivid than those you will see at night. As is customary, these charts give comparison-star magnitudes to the nearest tenth with the decimal point omitted. A star labeled "83" is magnitude 8.3 visually, for example.
What Comes Next
Entering your magnitude estimates in a notebook may enable you to discover a star's eclipse cycle as well as rule out other, invalid periods. But this effort is wasted unless you follow accepted procedures, like those just described, and communicate your findings to others engaged in variable-star work.
You can share your results with professional astronomers and learn from more experienced observers by joining an organization like the American Association of Variable Star Observers. The benefits of membership include being in the pipeline to receive the AAVSO's Alert Notices and News Flashes of novae and other stars showing unusual activity, as well as the biannual Journal. Their website has links to other variable-star groups around the world.
Eclipsing binaries have played a crucial role in astronomers' understanding of the universe. For example, the revolution period revealed by eclipses can be compared to the radial velocities of the components determined by spectroscopy. This information often makes it possible to deduce the diameters, masses, and densities of the individual stars, even without necessarily knowing how far away they are.
|Suspected Eclipsing Binaries for November and December Nights.
R.A. Dec.
|V mag.
|DG Cet
|1h 50.6m
|-04° 57'
|DS Cet
|2h 16.2m
|-21° 00'
|AL Ari
|2h 42.6m
|+12° 44'
|FU Eri
|3h 09.9m
|-45° 00'
|V1125 Tau
|3h 39.0m
|+00° 48'
|DP Cam
|4h 50.4m
|+63° 20'
|V1366 Ori
|5h 16.0m
|-09° 49'
|UZ Vol
|6h 36.1m
|-72° 47'
|V365 Pup
|7h 19.1m
|-35° 11'
|V366 Pup
|7h 20.9m
|-48° 31'
|CD Lyn
|7h 43.1m
|+48° 41'
|All these stars are tentatively described in the Hipparcos catalog as eclipsing binaries, but no one has yet determined their periods. The magnitude given is the median of the values measured during the mission, adjusted to the V (visual) photometric band. An asterisked value is the combined magnitude of a close pair resolved by Hipparcos. The amplitude is the difference between the faintest and brightest magnitudes measured (the actual amplitude could be even greater). The table also gives the star's spectral type.
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A new audit of the city's real estate acquisitions and holdings shows that although the bulk of the properties taken for tax delinquency are in predominantly Black neighborhoods, most saw more properties resold.
The audit released last month by Controller Michael Lamb found the City is the major owner of vacant, tax-delinquent properties in the following city neighborhoods: Perry South, California-Kirkbride, Garfield, Homewood North, Homewood South, Beltzhoover, Hazelwood, Middle Hill and Larimer.
"Many City owned vacant and tax-delinquent properties are in our most underserved communities," he said. "We must make every effort, including working with the citizens in the community in which these properties are located, to get these properties back on the City tax rolls. We also must create a system so these properties are given regular maintenance. They are contributing to neighborhood blight and in some cases are safety hazards."
Lamb's audit further notes that the city's recent practice of only taking properties that have a high probability of resale—rather than taking all delinquent properties—has reduced its holdings and generated new tax revenue.
During the period covered by the audit, July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010, the city sold 466 properties assessed at nearly $11 million for $3.6 million. Its share of the tax revenue now being generated is just under $118,000 per year.
Of the neighborhoods indicated above, only Hazelwood saw a net gain, of six, in delinquent properties. However, the delinquent properties not acquired by the city remain—just off the books. The audit indicates little can be done about them.
Some can be adapted for reuse and may be given to communities for other purposes than residential use such as community gardens like those in Homewood, East Liberty, or Hazelwood, or like the apiary in Homewood, or for parklets like the one in Polish Hill.
Conveying these properties to other community owners, even for promising uses has also been limited because several such owners are themselves delinquent and are forbidden to take on additional property.
Nonetheless, the report recommends the city increase its efforts to work with neighborhoods schools and other groups to utilize vacant properties for community purposes.
"We have properties that continue to be delinquent, so we have to reach out to communities, even if its' just to help maintain empty lots," said Lamb. "The system is working, the side-yard sale program is successful, but it's not enough. It's an ongoing struggle."


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These elegant one of a kind sterling silver Baltic amber earrings can be worn for any occasion. It is believed that amber brings luck and protection to people and it has been a symbol of love, marriage and eternal youth. Since amber is a natural stone, its shape and size may vary slightly. Handcrafted in Europe.
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Die Welttraumforscher. Ein Sommer in der Wirklichkeit
Marta Riniker-Radich. Scuffling grinding tearing pounding slamming
Die Welttraumforscher.
Ein Sommer in der Wirklichkeit
When the Welttraumforscher set out on 14 July 1981 no one could have realized that their journey would not be over soon. For more than thirty years now, Swiss Christian Pfluger(*1963) has been working on drawings, texts and songs for the fascinating universe of the imaginary trio, which is well populated with figures like Leguan Rätselmann or Kip Eulenmeister and his astronauts of the spirit. In the course of that journey, among other things,over 35 music cassettes, LPs and CDs have been released of songs that the Welttraumforscher themselves call "Bretzelberg Pop" and "Space Folklore". What to date has always been considered a kind of secret project is being presented here for the first time in a retrospective exhibition, "A Summer in Reality" and in monograph form,under the title "The World Dream Researchers. Songs, Signs, Explorations".
The book acknowledges an oeuvre that unites music, text and image into a single idiom and operates in every sense, outside of time and space. Content: Christian Pfluger in conversation with Raffael Dörig and Michael Hiltbrunner, Sebastian Reier "Space Folklore. Cosmic Music, or the Cosmos of the Welttraumforscher", German/English (including translations of song lyrics), 50 images, 96 pages, publisher: Traversion, CHF 36.–/ EUR 28.–, special edition with vinyl 7" single «This Could be the Greatest Love in Town» CHF 42.– / EUR 33.–.
Marta Riniker-Radich.
Scuffling grinding tearing pounding banging slamming
Marta Riniker-Radich (*1982, lives and works in Geneva) is known for her drawings astonishing in their intensity and density, iridescence or the indefinable colors. For her first solo exhibition Marta Riniker-Radich developed a new group of installations, that have so far been rare in her work. 2012 she began to work on the so-called deal Unit sets in a series of drawings. The Unit sets are a set of standardized gray geometric elements, which are used in theater competitions of high schools as stage elements. This ensures that all schools, regardless of their financial means, have the same opportunities. Based on these sets, Marta Riniker-Radich developed installations that relate with the rooms of the Kunsthaus. She starts from the strictly standardized way to organize space experiments with standard and variation by changing colors and materials creating "Unapproved Unit Sets". A parallel world opens up.
The exhibitions are generously supported by:
Opening hours during exhibitions
Wednesday to Friday 2 pm – 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Kunsthaus Langenthal
Marktgasse 13
CH-4900 Langenthal
+41 62 922 60 55


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text: Fedora LXQt provides a lightweight, well-integrated LXQt desktop environment. In addition to LXQt itself it provides a small, well selected collection of applications like the QupZilla browser, which combines Chromium's rendering engine with a nice Qt experience. Other applications include the Trojita mail client, the qBittorrent client, the Yarock music player and a set of some more commonly used applications. As all applications use the same Qt5 toolkit and the Breeze theme known from KDE, the desktop provides a unified and well-integrated style and theming. In addition breeze-gtk is provided to allow the user to integrate GTK applications too.


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What is it?
A battery holder is a cavity or compartment used to house one or more batteries in a piece of equipment safely. The battery holder has flat metal or spring coiled contacts that press against the battery terminals making an electrical contact.
What does it do?
A battery holder provides a convenient method of containing the cells neatly in a casing. The holder or mount is moulded into the shape of the battery it houses.
Battery holders are available in various shapes, styles and materials. The main ones are:
Chassis mount
Chassis mount battery holders can be made of metal or plastic. They are fixed to a panel, chassis or plate via fixing holes in the back of the casing base or by tabs at the side. The holders can be open faced or enclosed. Chassis mount holders and mounts accept AA, AAA, C, D AA and 9 V PP3 cell sizes.
Panel mount
Panel mount battery holders are made of plastic. They are designed to slot into a pre-prepared hole in a panel. There are two main fixing methods,
Flange panel fixing
Secured to the panel via a flange with pre-drilled holes. These holders are draw style holders with a flip front or pull out draw compartment. They hold single larger cells like 9 V PP3 or multiple 2, 3 and 4 cylindrical AAA, AA, C and D cells.
Screw fixing
Secured to the panel with screw thread gasket and nut. These holders are long cylindrical holders with a cap. The cap can be finger operated or slotted cap (for screwdriver release).
PCB Mount
PCB mount battery holders can be made of metal or plastic. They are designed to mount directly on to a printed circuit board. The holders have sharp pins protruding from the base of the holder. Pins are pushed through the holes on a PCB board and soldered. These battery mounts are usually open faced. PCB holders can hold single coin cells or multiple 2, 3 and 4 cylindrical AAA, AA, C, D cells
Strap and lead
Strap and lead types are a battery connector rather than a holder or mount. They are two press studs fixed into a plastic flat base. The base has two short lengths of flexible wire with tinned ends for connection. Strap and lead styles are used with 9 V PP3 cells.


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A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Rebuilding the Big Red Machine: Step 2
Go Back To: Step 1
Well, we are still in Phase 1 of the rebuilding process, which focuses on improving the revenue stream. However, we took a big step forward in Step 1, so this step will have dual purposes: increasing revenue and building the Reds brand.
One of the most positive trends to whip through Major League Baseball over the past 60 years is the increasing number of minority and foreign born players. The diversity is not just great for the game of baseball, but also for the business of baseball.
International Prospects
However, not all international prospects are created equal or treated equally. Many of the best Latin American prospects were signed before the age of 18 at an inexpensive cost. The Reds signed Johnny Cueto that way. Latin American prospects can provide tremendous on-the-field value. In fact, they are still the best value in the international realm. The trickle down effect of increasing revenue is raising the bonuses of the top Latin American prospects, but there are still values to be found.
On the other end of the international free agent spectrum are the Japanese players. Whereas the Latin American players are young, inexpensive, and raw, the Japanese players are typically just the opposite. They are usually experienced, expensive, and polished. All of which means that the Latin American players are usually low risk and high reward, whereas the Japanese players are much higher risk and lower reward.
By and large, I'd like to see the Reds focus their international scouting efforts in Latin America, where the best values are typically found. However, oddly enough, this step focuses on the other end of international free agent spectrum: making a big splash with an elite Japanese prospect.
"Go West...er, East...Far East, Young Man"
In the past, whenever someone has suggested that the Reds should pursue one of the big name Japanese free agents, I always oppose the ideas. Looking over the recent past, it frequently seems that the Japanese prospects fail to live up to the hype. From DiceK to Kosuke Fukudome to Kaz Matsui to Hideki Irabu, the production is frequently outweighed by the cost.
However, that was looking at things from purely a baseball standpoint. That was the old way of thinking, not the new Big Red Machine train of thought. Now, we are thinking big in order to rebuild this organization into something great. To quote Bull Durham: "Think classy, you'll be classy." The move I'm advocating here is much more of a business decision than a pure baseball decision. However, in the best case scenario, it would work out in both respects.
Thinking back to the day when the Red Sox outbid the Yankees for the rights to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka, I couldn't understand how the deal made any sense. The Red Sox submitted the high bid of $51,111,111 to the Seibu Lions to acquire the exclusive rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka. They then proceeded to sign DiceK for 6 years and $52,000,000.
Now, sitting at home, I could scarcely fathom how it made sense for the Red Sox to spend the equivalent of the Kansas City, Tampa Bay, or Oakland payroll simply for the right to negotiate with DiceK. Of course, the answer is that it didn't. At least not from a purely baseball standpoint. As evidenced by his performance at the MLB level, DiceK was not worth the cost to acquire him. However, that deal had much less to do with performance than it did revenue. The purpose of the deal was for the Red Sox to build their brand by making inroads into the Asian market.
In 2001, Ichiro's first season with the Mariners, sales of Seattle Mariners' MLB-licensed merchandise increased 60% in Japan. In addition, the Mariners were able to negotiate a better local broadcast deal after signing Ichiro, as ratings increased for Mariner games.
In 2003, during Hideki Matsui's first season with the Yankees, international licensed merchandise sales went up 30%. And, of course, in 2007, DiceK's arrival created a 15% increase in international merchandise.
Also, MLB has been able negotiate agreements to broadcast games in Japan, which has brought in significant revenue.
Now, it should be mentioned up front, that there isn't much direct financial benefit to signing Japanese stars. The increased revenue, wherever collected worldwide, is distributed equally among the 30 teams. So, if the Red Sox sell a ton of DiceK jerseys, they still only get 1/30th of the revenue. International broadcast revenue is also divided equally.
However, that's not to say that signing a big name Japanese free agent is without financial value. While MLB teams cannot enter into their own licensing deals, they can contract for sponsorship deals. If you watch a Mariner, Yankee, or Red Sox game, often times you will see advertising for Japanese companies. These companies want to take advantage of the increased Japanese viewership of the team created by the new free agent.
In addition, the excitement generated by the new international free agent typically leads to increased ticket sales, as foreign tourists and hometown fans alike have an interest in seeing the new player. Also, the excitement could lead to better television ratings, which would allow the Reds to charge more for advertising on the team owned Regional Sports Network.
So, there is significant financial incentive to signing a big name Japanese free agent.
Building the Brand
In addition to the financial benefits of signing a premier Japanese free agent, there are ancillary benefits to be reaped by the organization. Namely, building the brand.
Over the last decade, the Reds have sunk to new lows. In fact, they have sunk so low that they are in danger of sliding right past incompetence and hitting bottom at irrelevance. Over the past months and years, I've increasingly heard the Reds organization and players being disparaged and made the punchline of jokes. The Reds have lost a great deal of respect around Major League Baseball and have been relegated to also-ran status. In short, the Reds simply don't "move the needle" in the world of baseball.
The last time the Reds made a big splash was when they acquired Josh Hamilton in the Rule V draft. The Reds were the toast of the town when Hamilton turned his life around and flashed the potential that made him the #1 overall pick in the draft. That's the only time in recent memory the Reds were discussed in positive, borderline glowing, terms around baseball. It's time for them to do it again.
By signing an elite Japanese free agent, the Reds would be announcing to not just baseball, but to the world, that they are an organization with which to be reckoned. That they are serious about building the organization into a first class winner.
However, all of this cannot be done with just any run-of-the mill Japanese free agent, rather it must be an elite Japanese free agent. But, which one?
Yu Darvish - Reds Savior?
Well, it just so happens that there is an elite Japanese free agent on the horizon. Young, fireballing righthanded pitcher Yu Darvish has been on the radar for the past couple of seasons and he is likely the next big import from Japan. Darvish throws from a three-quarter arm slot and is reported to feature a 93-97 mph fastball with a nasty slider. Like many Japanese pitchers, he also features a wide array of offspeed offerings. He is already coveted by many teams in the game, but there's no reason why the Reds cannot compete for his services.
It remains to be seen when, or if, Darvish will head to the States to play pro-ball, but the odds are good that it will happen in the near future. When it does, the Reds could make a bold statement by beating the competition to the punch and acquiring his services. There has been some question of whether Darvish would have to go through the posting system, but it might be advantageous (though expensive) for the Reds if he did. After all, the negotiating rights that go to the highest bidder are exclusive, so Darvish would have to sign with the team that won his rights or not at all.
Final Thoughts
By making a big splash with a signing of Yu Darvish, the Reds would be increasing their revenue and refurbishing the image of the entire organization. The Reds logo would become a popular and recognizable symbol in Japan and the team's games would be watched by Darvish's fans back in Japan.
It's also the type of bold action that could "move the needle" and make the Reds relevant once again in the United States. The national media would be forced to sit up and take notice. Not to mention, ESPN might actually televise a Reds game again. The Reds would again be discussed in a positive manner around Major League Baseball.
This is also the type of move that would improve the image of the organization in the eyes of players around the league, which would make attracting free agents easier and would allow the Reds to attract talent without having to overpay for it. Darvish could be a "loss leader" of sorts, which could lead to an improved product on the field.
In short, this is the type of move that the Reds need. And, the increased revenue generated by the Regional Sports Network could give the Reds the financial resources to get just such a move done.
Go to: Step 3
12 comments:
Good idea with darvish, ive wanted him since the WBC. Also wouldnt be a bad idea to tank the rest of the season so we can get bryce harper in the upcoming draft. might have the same effect since he is "the chosen one"ReplyDelete
Maybe you should buy the reds lark, the need a good owner
Hey Smitty,ReplyDelete
Thanks, but I'm short three or four hundred million. Still, I GUESS I'd settle for the GM job. :)
Nice articles. I like the ideas. I've been thinking a lot about Asia and economies and such so it's nice to see a couple of interests come together.ReplyDelete
I actually think Castellini would be more likely to respond to these lines of thought than to our typical sabermetric and other analytical discussions. He's a wealthy man and he most assuredly wants a legacy. He could have the money to make a big splash if his men would stay away from low-reward marginal free agents and bad contracts.
The Reds can't build a new Big Red Machine through the incremental improvements provided by signing guys like Arthur Rhodes (I'm going less obvious here). He has had a pretty solid year but is Maloney or other replacement reliever + Money Saved > Rhodes? Most have called it a good signing but I would rather live or die by our ability to raise farm talent along with signing fewer but more expensive pieces (not named Milton).
Your proposals could have the added benefit that we could get more free agents to Cincy due to increased exposure.
hey lark,ReplyDelete
maybe we should save up our money together lol in a few years we could buy them haha have a split ownership
Talk Bill Gates into becoming our silent partner and then maybe you've got something. :)
Hey McWax,ReplyDelete
I hope you're right about Cast. He hasn't impressed me.
I think you hit the nail on the head with Art Rhodes, et.al. Now that our farm system is starting to bear fruit, it seems foolish to spend big dollars on supporting cast. If we are dropping big dollars, then it should be on the elite players. We can round out the roster with prospects from the system.
If we did accomplish steps 1 and 2, then I think it would make Cincy a more attractive destination for free agents because Cincy would be more relevant and back on the baseball map.
The older I get, the more I realize that the success of an organization is driven from the top down. As a kid, you tend to think that the success of the organization is determined solely between the lines. With age comes the knowledge that there's a front office and a GM who actually put the team together and determine who sets foot between the lines. And, finally, the realization arrives that the owner determines who will run the team and how the money will be spent.
Ultimately, an organization's success is attributable to the owner. That's why I think building another Big Red Machine has to start on the business side of things and trickle down through the organization.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!
i wish i knew someone that rich..ReplyDelete
maybe i should have been rooting for the reds to lose all year. 5 games ago i start hoping they would tank the rest of the season so we can get bryce harper, and then they go on a 5 game winning streak. This team always finds ways to disappoint me lol
I've always fely like the Reds should be able to spend what St.Louis does. I think their payroll is around 100M. Cincy has football and baseball same as Cards so no competition from the NBA. If the Reds put the product on the field the fans will come and TV revenue increases. I can't see us signing a player from Japan. The money upfront is too much. If you spend in this economy it would be better spent signing proven MLB talent. I'm really hoping Janish works out at SS that will give us money to use elsewhere.ReplyDelete
I always want to see them win. I'm not a fan of seeing the team tank, purposely or otherwise. We'll have a high pick and should get someone of quality.
I agree with you. There's no reason the Cards should always have bigger payrolls and make better use of it.
I disagree on Darvish. It's an investment, but it's one that has a lot of ancillary benefits. It's something OTHER than just business as usual. The Reds are always just moving pawns around the board to little effect. Year after year after year.
If we are actually going to try to build something special, then we have to think big and try something innovative. Darvish could be just that move.
As for Janish, I've always liked him. As with Dickerson, Janish provides plus on-base skills and plus defense at a premier defensive position. When you factor in his line drive swing, he SHOULD be able to hit .250 at the MLB level, which would make him a rather valuable player.
Anyway, my $.02. Thanks for the comment.
yea i know, but wouldnt it be nice to have harper?ReplyDelete
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Schedule 76 | Publication Media
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Countless publications are now delivered electronically, ranging from electronic subscriptions and applications to eBooks. In support of GSA's commitment to green service offerings, many publications on Schedule 76 have gone digital. We have Schedule holders that offer a myriad of digital services including, but not limited to:
- e-Publishing
- On demand publishing
- Digital editing and workflow solutions
- Online bookselling services
These green services reduce the need for print publishing and assist in continuing your sustainability efforts. Other green services highlighted below include lending library and online subscription services, as well as entertainment news, multi-media and transcription services for your eBook content.
View details about Schedule 76 on GSA's online Schedules eLibrary and see the list of current contractors.
Orders can be placed directly with the contractor or purchased from GSA Advantage!®,GSA's online shopping website.
Periodical and Subscription Services
GSA offers access to a host of multi-media products, kits, and entertainment, and news wire services. Schedule holders include the McGraw-Hill Companies, Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis, and the Kiplinger Washington Editors. Selections are available on every subject in both print and digital format, including:
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Mixed Bag
Fund: Globespan Capital Partners
Posted by anonymous on 2007-10-01
Andy Goldfarb has a fairly mixed reputation in the Boston market (read: arrogant). Heard one story of a team that came in that had a generous term sheet from one of the very top firms in Boston and really came in as a courtesy. Goldfarb starting to press the CEO in front of his team why he thought he deserved to be CEO. And no surprise you won't see Globespan on that IPO prospectus (they are filing).
Dave Fachetti on the other hand is salt of the earth. Hardest working guy in the business. Smart and analytical. Not much of a risk taker though- more of a follower of the pack so dont bring him anything that isn't getting buzz.PRIVATE: Members Only


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As I've mentioned before, the study of colonial America has changed quite a bit over the years. Historians are looking at the colonies as one part of the Atlantic network of goods and people moving between the Americas, Africa, and Europe. That means I'll get to lecture about pirates in my colonial America course this fall. In fact, I'd forgotten how deeply piracy is woven into the story of colonial America until I started putting the class together.
The Howard Pyle image at right (from the handy Wikimedia Commons) shows a ritual that was probably rare in actuality, although it's extremely common in films. Interestingly enough, though, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movie references a few authentic places and people. Some of the action takes place in Port Royal, Jamaica, a pirate haven and one of the most important towns in England's Atlantic empire during the seventeenth century. Notorious for its taverns and brothels, much of Port Royal fell into the sea following a devastating earthquake on June 7, 1692.
One line in the film mentions "the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew." Sir Henry Morgan was a Welsh privateer who sacked the Spanish settlement at Panama City in 1671. England and Spain weren't actually at war at the time, but since Morgan convinced the authorities that it was an honest mistake, he came home with a knighthood and a government appointment. Today, of course, he's the mascot for a brand of rum, a fitting tribute if ever there was one. I suppose "Bartholomew" refers to Bartholomew Roberts, another Welshman whose incredibly successful pirating career ended in combat with the Royal Navy on February 10, 1722.
One of the nifty things about the history of piracy is that their fortunes reflected those of England's American empire. Although English authorities looked the other way when pirates looted Spanish shipping, the buccaneers became a liability once the crown began to consolidate its control over the Atlantic. Privateering was a means of advancement in Morgan's day, but by the time Roberts took to the sea, a pirate was more likely to end his career swinging from an English rope than enjoying a comfortable retirement.
If you're looking for a book on piracy's golden age, I heartily recommend David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag. It's brimming with information and extremely hard to put down.


text: Single strap sandals from Birkenstock. The \'Madrid\' sandals are constructed with an adjustable, leather-like Birko-Flor® strap upper and the label\'s trademark contoured cork and latex footbed. Set upon a shock absorbing EVA sole that offers both comfort and foot support.Birkenstocks are designed to fit slightly generously in order to perform the natural rolling motion of the foot without restrictions. This gives the feeling of walking barefoot.Upper: Birko-Flor®. Lining: Suede. Sole: EVA.


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- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact
- White pepper
- 2 beefsteak tomatoes
- 4 Roma tomatoes
- 12 red grape tomatoes, cut into halves
- 12 yellow pear tomatoes, cut into halves
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons basil, cut into thin ribbons
- To prepare vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk well.
- To prepare shrimp, combine olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and shrimp in a large bowl. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes. Addwhite pepper.
- Heat grill to medium-high. Thread shrimp on skewers; place grill rack. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until just pink. (Or grill jumbo shrimp directly on the grill.)
- To prepare salad, toss grape and pear tomatoes into vinaigrette. Sprinkle with pepper. Slice beefsteak tomatoes and Roma tomatoes into 1/8-inch-thick slices and place on serving plates. Spoon grape and pear tomatoes and vinaigrette on top and garnish with basil. Serve with shrimp.
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The recipe was originally published as Grilled Shrimp with Tomato Salad on Relish.com


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1.0 Introduction
In accordance with the mission of Saint Louis University's Emergency Preparedness Committee and the directive of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, the University strives to continuously review and update operational plans and policies that impact the overall health and welfare of the campus community.
2.0 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide for the establishment of preparedness initiatives
and to develop, adopt, and maintain a written emergency response plan. The plan shall
undergo a comprehensive review on an annual basis. The policy shall incorporate procedures
to assure that:
- The campus community is notified immediately upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of any part of the University community (unless notification will compromise efforts to contain the emergency).
- The emergency response and evacuation procedures are known by the University community and reviewed on an annual basis; and
- The emergency response and evacuation procedures are tested not less than on an annual basis.
3.0 Definitions
For purposes of this policy, the term campus is the same as set forth in 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f)(6).
Continuity of Operations Plan
The continuity of operations plan is defined as the guiding procedure for the restoration of essential operating functions.
Emergency Communications Protocol - Emergency communications protocol is defined as the guiding directive for the prompt notification of our community in imminent life safety situations. The protocol provides direction for the prompt warning and information issued in these situations.
Emergency Response Plan
The emergency response plan is defined as the guiding emergency operations manual for all hazard situations.
4.0 Policy
Saint Louis University endeavors to provide for the safety of its students, faculty, staff and visitors. A key component of campus safety is emergency preparedness using an all hazards approach. The Office of University Safety and Emergency Preparedness maintains an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Incorporated in the EOP is an analysis of natural and man-made hazards, and policies, programs and procedures to assess and mitigate risks to our community. A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) embedded in the EOP shall provide for the management framework, essential functions, critical systems, alternate facilities, order of succession, delegations of authority and vital records necessary to maintain business operations. The EOP shall establish the management framework and outline the procedures for managing a major emergency that may threaten the health and safety of the campus community or disrupt business operations.
5.0 Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Office of University Safety and Emergency Preparedness to maintain and review the University's emergency plans. Individual departments and business units are responsible for maintaining their individual plans in accordance with University guidelines.
6.0 Procedures
Procedures for all hazard response are outlined in the Emergency Response Plan based on incident type and situation.
8.0 References
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 U.S.C. 1092(f).
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.
Approval signatures
Interim approval issued by:
Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
President, Saint Louis University
June 25, 2010


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Bennett Cyphers
Staff Technologist
Bennett is an engineer on the Tech Projects team, where he works on Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere.
Before EFF, Bennett was at Access Now and MIT, and he has a Master's of Engineering for work on privacy-preserving machine learning. He cares about privacy, transparency, data ownership, and digital equity. He wishes ad companies would kindly stop tracking everyone. Outside of work he has hobbies and likes fun.
Email Address:
+1 415 436 9333 x191


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There has been a lot of ink spilled about the JOBS Act, especially its "crowdfunding for securities" provisions. The JOBS Act is an exciting piece of legislation for the startup community. What is my favorite part of the Act? Section 201 (quoted below).
Why is Section 201 my favorite section and not Section 301 (the crowdfunding exemption), or Sections 101-108 (the IPO on-ramp provisions)? Because Section 201 will dramatically change the playing field for the investment rounds that I am most actively involved in–all accredited investor Rule 506 offerings under the 1933 Securities Act.
Crowdfunding has promise, but currently 95% of all private securities offerings are done via Rule 506 of Regulation D. In other words, Reg D Rule 506 is where the game is played. In my opinion, startup companies will continue to predominantly rely on Rule 506 offerings to raise capital due to limits on crowdfunding contained in the JOBS Act. Unfortunately, the crowdfunding provisions in the JOBS Act are not what advocates hoped for (see my previous critiques here). Regardless, let's look at the bright side for a minute with respect to Section 201.
What will Section 201 do for 506 offerings?
- It will allow companies to advertise to the public that they are engaged in securities offerings, without costing them the 506 exemption. This is a dramatic and astounding change from the previous ban on general solicitation. Companies could run ads in the NYTimes or the WSJ if they wanted to, for example.
- Even if they don't advertise, companies will no longer have to be silent when they raise capital. Companies could not only advertise to the public, but they can talk to the press about their offerings. This has been a regulatory "gotcha" for companies for a long time. So many startups have unwittingly been caught in the following scenario: First, you file a Form D within 15 days of the first sale of securities (as required by the SEC), then after seeing the public filing, the press calls, and you inadvertently talk about your offering and blow your 506 exemption by violating the ban on general solicitation.
- Companies will be able to post on their web sites that they are raising capital. Rule 506 offerings may not be as democratizing as crowdfunding, but they may come close as old barriers about how companies can connect to investors melt away. Companies no longer will have to rely only on word of mouth or people with whom the company had preexisting relationships to reach out to investors. Web sites indexing and rating offerings by private companies will probably spring up. Look for Angel List to become even more significant.
- Companies will no longer have to worry about blowing their Rule 506 exemption by pitching at seminars or meetings where "attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising" (quoted from the current version of the rules). Under the current rules, this was a real risk (albeit one not too many companies concerned themselves with).
These are all, in my opinion, very welcome and positive developments for the startup community.
What To Look Forward To
The SEC must act within 90 days of the enactment of the JOBS Act to revise the current rules to "provide that the prohibition against general solicitation or general advertising" not apply to Rule 506 offerings, provided that all purchasers of the securities are accredited investors.
What Could Go Wrong?
Not to be cynical, but we will have to wait and see if the SEC's proposed regulations actually carry out the intent of the JOBS Act. For instance, Section 201 states that the new rules are going to "require the issuer to take reasonable steps to verify that purchasers of the securities are accredited investors, using such methods as determined by the Commission."
Let's hope the SEC does not impose burdensome information gathering and disclosure requirements on companies. We have already seen how the "bad actor" provisions spun out of control in the regulatory process: In the bad actor case, the SEC proposed an onerous "did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known" standard of diligence for companies identifying potential bad actors.
Let's hope the SEC does not take the same tact with these new regulations.
(a) MODIFICATION OF RULES.— (1) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall revise its rules issued in section 230.506 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, to provide that the prohibition against general solicitation or general advertising contained in section 230.502(c) of such title shall not apply to offers and sales of securities made pursuant to section 230.506, provided that all purchasers of the securities are accredited investors. Such rules shall require the issuer to take reasonable steps to verify that purchasers of the securities are accredited investors, using such methods as determined by the Commission. Section 230.506 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, as revised pursuant to this section, shall continue to be treated as a regulation issued under section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77d(2)).


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Awards and Credentials
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY#24465
- Ph.D., California Graduate Institute of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- M.A., Harvard University, Psychology and Human Development
- M.P.H., New York University, International Public Health
- Josephine Bernstein Award for Best Qualitative and Quantitative Dissertation; National Dissertation Award, American Psychological Association, Division of Psychoanalysis, Section on Women, Gender, and Psychoanalysis.
Jessica Zucker, Ph.D.
- Topics
- Attachment, Postpartum
Dr. Jessica Zucker is a clinical psychologist and writer practicing in Los Angeles. She has been deeply impacted by her worldwide travels and extensive education revolving around women's health and development. Earning a master's degree at New York University in public health with a focus on international reproductive issues led to her working for the Harvard School of Public Health. After years of international public health work, Dr. Zucker pursued a master's degree in psychology and human development at Harvard University with the aim of shifting her work from a global perspective to a more interpersonal focus. Dr. Zucker's research about various aspects of female identity development came to fruition in her award-winning dissertation while completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She is currently writing her first book about mother-daughter relationships and issues surrounding the body (Routledge). Dr. Zucker consults on multiple projects centered around maternal health and the motherhood continuum.
Attachment Angst? Pave a Path of Presence
Good Enough Is The New Perfect
Attachment Q&A with Dr. Jessica Zucker
On Skipping Motherhood Perfection
Connecting with Baby Before Birth


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Chandu and Swathi are Software engineers. Chandu is an average guy who never misses an opportunity to impress Swathi. Once Swathi recognizes Chandu`s honesty and innocence, the affair begins. Suddenly they find themselves stuck in a major problem. Can Chandu save Swathi?
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January and February. The eleventh and twelfth most popular months of the year, in no particular order.
It's been a schlepp. The year has begun with some important changes for us, but what a schlepp. Up to our necks in boxes, budgeting and assorted banalities. Also, bunny replacements. We're just getting over it now – lifting our heads and looking towards the horizon again, the year ahead.
Mentalities opening out like spring blossoms.
The cold hasn't helped. Siberians – why can't they keep their weather to themselves? We've been cold down here at the southernmost point of mainland Europe for weeks. Process that for a minute. Southernmost point. Cold.
Of course when I explain to our cousins in the north that we're getting daytime highs of 13, 14 and 15 degrees the sympathy is limited. Those are just the highs though – our lows have been low and the houses down here are built to refridgerate, so when it's 6 degrees outside, it's 5 degrees in the living room.
For fahrenheit people, simply take the celsius figure and dip it in hot water, leave to dry naturally at room temperature for two hours and then soak again overnight, More


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Leica Glow:An appreciation of classic Leica M photography.Posted in age of elegance, camera, England, hobbys, Leica, Leica Lens, Leica photography, luxury camera, photo, photoblog, Photography, photojournalism, road trip, rustic, travel, Uncategorized, vintage, Wales, writing on September 9th, 2014 by wabisabipix
The Leica rangefinder camera has over the years become as legendary as the famous photographers that have become synonymous with using it.
Cartier Bresson,Eve Arnold,Robert Capa,Robert Frank and Vivian Maier to name but a few, have all been associated with its name and the body of work created with this photographic tool has spanned over many decades.
In an era where photographic quality and longevity seem to be taking a back seat, in a world obsessed with the quick fix and inherent obsolescence and yearly upgrades, it seems the ubiquitous smartphone has dominated the requirements of the masses.Even internet service providers are struggling to cater for the deluge of every day images flooding the internet and it is allegedly rapidly running out of capacity in its current form.
Interestingly there appears to be a rekindling of interest by many in the younger generation that have read and learned about the photographic legends of the golden era of photojournalism and are kicking back against the digital world that cocoons them.Many are seeking to learn more about the old techniques of dark room printing and the power and minimalism of black and white photography.
Film appears to be making a come back and even the film industry is turning away from the current vogue to use video and returning to celluloid in a bid to recapture that classic 35mm look.Such is rumoured to be the case in that of the new Star Wars Film currently being filmed at Pinewood Studios in the UK.
The legendary Kodak film Tri-X, famous for use by such photographers as David Bailey,Don McCullin,Anton Corbijn and Sebastiao Salgado,is also gathering resurgence of interest,especially for those seeking that natural film grain and rich blacks and whites that add character and depth to an image,a complete contrast to the digital, rather clinical, grain free effects of todays digital offerings.
Indeed a close friend who had a fridge load of date expired film has found that it was purchased enthusiastically on ebay by fans of Lomography who love the psychedelic effects of the film in their Holga and Lomo cameras who cannot get enough of it.
Many are now stepping off the digital merry go round and seeking out classic film cameras to shoot their important pictures and memories, after all its easy to scan a negative for internet purposes and you can keep a negative for archive purposes for hundreds of years, but when your hard drive dies or becomes obsolete thats a big problem,who can remember zip disks?
Over the decades I have used many cameras,but one that I have a special fondness for is the Leica M6 with a 35mm F2 Summicron IV pre aspherical.
This lens has become known as the "King of Bokeh" among rangefinder aficionados.
A true jewel of a lens,this optic is possessed of a unique set of characteristics that almost give the lens a life of its own.
When shot wide open this lens gives an extraordinary creamy bokeh(Japanese Bo-ke),a term coined by the japanese to describe the out of focus or blurry background effect when a wide aperture is selected.It also gives a wonderful glow in the specular highlights and a full range of tones that really jump out of the picture giving an almost 3D quality frequently described as the Leica glow.It is almost as if the lens maker has dropped a tiny pipet of bottled nostalgia onto the front lens coating and all images suddenly seem in some way like a captured frame from a dream sequence.
Mechanically the optic really is a dream.It has beautiful click stops,silky smooth focus and a full array of depth of field settings,enabling a photographer to take full advantage of setting hyper focal distance and pre-setting the camera for street photography.
I also like the 90mm Elmarit f2.8 which is ideal when you need that extra little bit of reach or a tight portrait and the gorgeous Elmar 50mm f2.8 is a cracking pop out pancake lens in the old tradition and style for keeping in a discrete pocket.
In modern times the Leica M6 body may not seem the most ergonomically designed of film cameras and the loading procedure can be a little bit more time consuming than opening the back door of a typical 35mm film SLR, however in my opinion this is not what rangefinder photography is about.If you require a camera to rattle off 12fps and send the images directly online via a wifi connection to your laptop then you are looking in the wrong place.However if you are the kind of person for whom the internet is a mere after thought and you want a small discrete camera that can be hand held to stunningly low shutter speeds and which is whisper silent and doesn't draw attention,and if you enjoy doing your own black and white prints or thrill when you get back your prints from a lab,then this could be for you.
The Leica rangefinder is for people who prefer to smell the roses and enjoy life at a more laid back pace while taking the scenic route.It is for those who may relish the pleasure of sitting in a cafe watching the world go by while enjoying the pleasure of winding on the gears of a classic precision photographic instrument,almost like a swiss watch,that instills you with confidence in its design and the quality of its build and optics.The enjoyment of following a classic ritual from an age of elegance that makes you feel that taking pictures with it should be more thoughtful and considered.
In essence,shooting a Leica rangefinder eventually becomes an almost Zen like experience as one can see all the action prior to the subject entering the frame,preset the focus using hyper focal distance and use experienced judgement to set the light levels.Combining all these elements successfully creates an almost instantaneous extension of your mind and eye and culminates in a single understated whisper quiet click!
They are such mechanical wonders that they do not even require batteries.In my opinion thats quite something in this modern age.
It takes practice and discipline to master this technique of course,but the reward is there for those patient enough.
Indeed Leica cameras and their lenses are not cheap and seeking out the classic lenses is a costly affair.However of all the cameras on the market they are clearly an investment and you will almost certainly find that the camera or lens you buy either holds its value or becomes more valuable as the years pass by,the problem is that you probably will not want to sell it anyway as it becomes very much a part of your life.
There is also something pleasing knowing that in all likelihood that rangefinder will still be shooting when those digital wonders are are long gone into the annals of upgrade history or are relegated to the status of expensive paperweights.Indeed a battered and bronzed Leica with years of usage,has a certain beauty and appeal to it that is quite frankly priceless.


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I'm calling today "Card Thursday". I used the gorgeous Field Notes collection again because the colors are so striking and I just love the dimension I can get from the butterflies.
Spread Your Wings Card
For this first card, I used the perforated 12x12 sheet, Curated, and fussy cut the butterflies from the Butterfly sheet. I machine stitched the background and banner and then laid the sentiment across the top.
Tip: When I want to stitch on a card I like to stitch each piece before I adhere it to the card so that you can't see the stitching on the inside of the card.
I used pop dots to raise the sentiment and to keep the butterflies from flattening out once I put the card in the envelope.
Just Be You Card
This last card was inspired by something I found when I was cleaning out my scrap space last month. Again, I wanted to do something to highlight those gorgeous butterflies and what better than a spinning card??? It really all came together because of the Vignettes 12x12 paper. When I got the collection, this paper really stood out. I immediately started cutting out the beautiful frames and I kept going back to the rectangular frame. At this point, everything just kind of came together. Here is the result...
I double layered the butterflies and added another smaller frame up at the top right. I stamped the sentiment in orange and blue ink, using silver embossing powder to accent the word "BE" so that it would match the silvery foiling on the frames. I can't stop picking up the card and tilting it back and forth. It's a bit addicting to watch the butterfly spin around.
Interested in making your own spinning card? I've posted a quick & easy 6-step photo tutorial on my blog.
Thanks so much for visiting today.
xoxo Heather
The Spotted Leopard


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While I know that Yosemite Valley is beautiful any time of the year, I had not experienced the Valley in the fall and I was eager to see some new trails (for me) on the south rim. A Saturday in early November was a great opportunity with the trails on the rim remaining largely snow-free. I designed a 38+ mile tour of the south rim of Yosemite Valley from Clouds Rest to Wawona Tunnel starting with the classic ascent up the Mist Trail from Happy Isles. The aesthetic point-to-point included a number of famous vistas: Clouds Rest, Panorama Point, Panorama Point Overlook, Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, Dewey Point, Crocker Point, Stanford Point, Inspiration Point and Artist Point. It was amazing to see the changing appearance of Half Dome and El Capitan, the most prominent features in the Valley, as I made my way west along the South Rim. The biggest climb (6,000+ ft) is right at the beginning from the Valley to the summit of Clouds Rest, but the 2,500 ft of climbing from Illilouette Creek to Sentinel Dome is not easy either. All told, there is probably over 12,000 ft of climbing on the route. Beyond Sentinel Dome, the final 12 miles is largely downhill save for some moderate ascent to Dewey Point after crossing Bridalveil Creek. For a high resolution 360 degree annotated panorama from the summit of Clouds Rest, click on the image below or here.
We encountered a surprising amount of snow in the shaded forest between Taft Point and Dewey Point, but overall the trails were in good condition. Panorama Point (not to be confused with Panorama Point Overlook) is a short-off trail hike along a ridgeline with nice 360 degree views. The highest point is at the end of the ridge. Panorama Point Overlook is just off the trail about 700 vertical feet below Panorama Point. A use path leaves the main trail at a switchback above Illilouette canyon, but there is no sign. It looks as if Panorama Point Overlook was once a bona fide vista, but the guardrail has since been removed (or fell off the cliff?) and it's now one of the hidden gems of the Valley. Being late in the season, it was generally dry and the restroom facilities and water fountain at Glacier Point were closed. This means that if you are going out for a long run you must plan ahead for water locations. In fact, after Illilouette Creek, there is only one suitable water source on the route at Bridalveil Creek. Beyond Sentinel Dome, the focal point of the view is the immense granite wall of El Capitan. Taft Point is a tremendous viewpoint with some nice exposure for photogenic photography. Continuing along the rim, we enjoyed magnificent evening light as we passed Dewey Point, Crocker Point and Stanford Point. It took awhile to find the unobstructed view, but sunset at Inspiration Point was nice and post-sunset glow at Artist Point wrapped up a great day on the Yosemite trails.