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Submitted by Anne Landman on December 1, 2010 - 2:53pm Former James Bond star Roger Moore, now 83 years old, has created a YouTube video on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals showing cruel treatment and torturous force-feeding of ducks and geese to create the culinary French delicacy foie gras. Literally translated, "foie gras" means "fatty liver." The birds are force-fed through long tubes to fatten their livers, a procedure that gives the birds a liver disease similar to cirrhosis in humans. After three months of force-feeding, the sickened geese are killed for their swollen livers. Fattened goose liver sells for around a hundred Euros a pound in France, and more during the holidays. Foie gras farms, and the force-feeding of the birds is so cruel that many countries around the world have banned it, including Israel, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. In 2004 California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger signed a bill prohibiting the production and sale of foie gras in the state of California. But many restaurants still serve it, including the Belgian fast food chain Quick, which will be offering its French customers a hamburger served with a slice of foie gras in the days leading up to Christmas. Quick notwithstanding, Moore's video has had some success. It persuaded British department store Harvey Nichols to remove foie gras from its fancy restaurant menu.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional body for psychiatrists in the UK. It has a world-wide membership. Why do we produce mental health Public education is one of the central tasks of the College. We believe that everyone needs knowledge to make informed decisions about their health. We therefore aim to produce information which is: Don't they just give a doctor's view of Psychiatrists are doctors, but we do try to take a broader view of mental health disorders and their treatments. Much of the information we produce suggests ways of keeping yourself mentally well and of helping yourself. How is our mental health information written? They are written by psychiatrists who are members of the College's Public Engagement Editorial Board (PEEB). They collaborate with an expert (or experts) in the field and with members of the College's Service Users' and Carers' Forums. We are also grateful to the psychiatrists, College staff and others who have helped to check and translate the leaflets for Do they meet internet health information They are checked to make sure they meet: criteria : in our opinion, these are the best available guidelines for high quality health Are they up to date? Each resource reflects the best evidence base at the time of writing. They do not contain the views of any particular We review our paper leaflet every 2 to 3 years. We update the web versions more regularly to reflect any important changes in knowledge. The Information Standard The Royal College of Psychiatrists was certified in 2009 as a producer of reliable health and social care information.

Using nothing but your hands, you can still tug and achieve good results. Method 2 is the method described by Doug on his Manual Methods of Foreskin restoration website. Method 2 involves using both hands to tension a length of foreskin on the shaft of the penis. Method 2 is the best manual tugging method for beginners to get enough slack to wear a device. If you were cut tight, say a CI-1 or a CI-2, or you were cut looser, method 2 of manual tugging is a good way to start restoring your foreskin. Manual tugging method 2 has been my primary tugging method. It has taken me from tight erections to full flaccid coverage with overhang. I still use manual method 2 as I work towards full erect coverage. Method 2 is basically making an OK symbol with the thumb and index finger of each hand. With one hand, the thumb and index finger encircle the shaft of your penis near your scrotum. With the other hand, the thumb and index finger encircle the shaft near the glans. With a firm grip, the two hands are moved apart to stretch the skin on your shaft. The illustration shows how to tug the outer skin between the circ scar and the scrotum. To tug the inner foreskin remnant, position the upper hand close to the corona, such as shown in the picture below. Method 2 is usually done with an erection. Showers and some growers can do it while flaccid. It all depends upon if you can fit your hands and fingers on your shaft. The illustration above shows one way the hands can be positioned for manual tugging with method 2. The picture below shows another. The picture below shows me tugging. My hands are positioned as illustrated above, except my upper hand is next to my corona so that I am tensioning my inner and outer skin. I am flaccid and my circumcision scar is visible between my hands. Another difference is that the illustration is a view looking up at the bottom of the penis and the picture below is me tugging looking down at my hands. It does not matter which way your hands are positioned or which hand you use where. I mix it up to keep my hands from getting sore. The whole idea is to be able to grab your shaft skin and apply tension. One benefit to manual tugging is that you can see your skin while tugging. I pull my hands apart until all the slack skin is taken up. I pull a bit more so that the skin is fully stretched. Then I pull just a little bit more and hold for 5 to 30 seconds. I then relax my hands for a few seconds and repeat. I do this for 1 to 20 minutes at a time. After tugging a few times, the surface of my skin takes on a wrinkled texture, with the wrinkles being tiny and close together. When I apply tension, the skin smooths out and looks almost glossy or smooth. After a good manual tugging session, the skin may become red and warm, even hot. Tugging causes the body to increase the blood flow to your skin to help alleviate the stress caused by tugging. When I started tugging, I was able to grow more than 1/4 inch (6mm) of shaft skin per month using this method and other manual methods. I tugged every few hours, for 1 minute (when I was in the bathroom) up to 20 or 30 minutes (in the evening when I had privacy). I usually manually tugged for a total of one hour a day, sometimes up to 2 hours. I spaced my manual tugging throughout the day. But my inner foreskin is too sensitive for this! When I started, my skin was very keratinized and I had no trouble grabbing my inner foreskin next to my corona glans. But, after a while, my inner foreskin became too sensitive to comfortably grab the skin. I found that when I was in the shower that I could tug by grabbing my inner foreskin. Because I like long, hot showers, this worked well for me. Another alternative that works for me is to grab my glans instead of encircling my inner foreskin. My glans is less sensitive than my inner foreskin. I cannot apply as much tension this way, but I can target my inner foreskin by pulling with one hand on my glans and the other just below my circumcision scar. Not at all! I started restoring my foreskin by tugging with method 2. I am currently about CI-6 and I still use method 2, along with squeeze-stretch and other manual methods. As my skin grew longer, I began tugging it in sections. I would first tug my inner foreskin, then I would tug between my circumcision scar and my hairline next to my scrotum. As I grew even more skin, I would roll my skin up my glans and grab that skin with one hand and have the other at my hair line next to my scrotum. That would tension my outer foreskin without irritating my inner foreskin. I would use squeeze-stretch to tension my inner foreskin or I would use method two and target my inner foreskin by grabbing my shaft near the circumcision scar with one hand and the other hand would grab the shaft skin near the corona or I would just hold the glans.

A magazine about how we communicate today. Vol. 2 features stories by Benedict Evans, Maria Bustillos, and Alexander B. Howard, and an interview with Marty Cooper. Battlefield Screen By Benedict EvansFacebook won on the desktop. All the other rival social networks have disappeared and it now seems very unlikely that another site will come along that does the same thing better, overtaking Facebook the way Facebook overtook Myspace.But Facebook hasn’t won on mobile. Comment My Double-Edged Web By Alexander B. HowardI spent the first two decades of my life without a smartphone or cellphone of any kind. Today, I wouldn't leave home without one. When I awake, my iPhone is there on the nightstand, ready to be consulted for news about the world and latest from my friends and family. Multiple spheres of my life and work pulse below glowing icons, accessible with a tap, swipe and scroll. My dad's first cellphone had a shiny, micro-pebbled black plastic shell, a long antennae, and a matte aquamarine screen. A hideous miracle, I thought. When he was home, the cellphone would sit on the top of his dresser, next to a pile of change and folded scraps of yellow legal paper. To me, the cellphone was an alluringly grown-up accessory, a signifier of import, of having colleagues in sleek suits awaiting your decisions. I wanted, not so much to use it, but to be seen using it. A kid on a cellphone! The very image of it gave me a nice, shivery feeling. Until it didn't. For the cellphone stayed on that dresser for years. Eventually, it became an object of derision, eliciting levels of eyeroll and groan I'd previously reserved for madras bathing shorts and Dansko clogs. But my dad didn't want to upgrade. Upgrading meant the Blackberry, and the Blackberry meant a life spent stabbing at tiny buttons.Today, inured to the tiny buttons, he refuses to consider the iPhone -- too many distractions. But the BlackBerry has its own distractions; on long drives, its red light blinks constantly, ricocheting out of the cup-holder, grabbing at my gaze. Once, I asked him why he didn't just turn the light off. "I think I don't see it unless I want to," he said.I don't have a blinking red light, but I'm constantly aware of notifications. Often, I log out of Gmail, turn my phone off, and still I'll see flashes, hear Marimba pings. We talk a lot about technology as a force for good and evil and redundancy, but for many of us, the underlying question is really: what will technology do to my human-ness?The simplest answer, I think, is, "it's up to you." A better answer is: "it's up to you, but you have to be aware of that." This issue explores the better answer. In "My Double-Edged Web," Alexander B. Howard examines how the modalities of his digital connections fit into a richer, and more demanding physical world. Maria Bustillos traces e-commerce's history, from its community-minded origins to a present that is mostly sterile and transactional--but also, for those who seek, interspersed with pockets of enthusiastic, one-on-one interactions. On the subject of one-on-one interactions, Benedict Evans looks at social's mobile landscape, and finds one Goliath and a heckuva lot of Davids. And, over forty years after he invented the cell phone, Marty Cooper envisions its future: an embedded device that optimizes nearly every aspect of our lives. We are living in a decade with a high number of unprecedenteds: surveillance, data, access to knowledge resources, access to information (both truthful and spurious), access to people (real and quasi-real and totally fake). And choice. We have--thanks in large part to technology!--choice over all the other unprecedenteds, even if finding the choices can be challenging, the choices themselves less than ideal. To choose is to be human. Here's to its continuation, on and offline. Comment We Just Clicked -- and Then You Left Me By Maria BustillosThe first few years of the World Wide Web were a paradise for collectors. Those who'd long been cooped up in the walled gardens of Prodigy, AOL and Compuserve were suddenly released into the wild in a sort of dork exodus, and one of the first things they (okay, we) did was to search out and trade rare goods. Comment Marty was Martin Cooper, then the General Manager of Communications Systems at Motorola; Joel was Dr. Joel Engel, Cooper's rival over at AT&T. For three months, Cooper and his team had been racing to build the first portable cell phone while AT&T continued to build out what they saw as the smarter option: the car phone. You’ve seen the prototype (or something like it) that Cooper ended up using to make that famous call: big (2.5 pounds!) and beige, with a long, chunky antenna. "That telephone in the secret agent's heel is almost here -- if you're the Jolly Green Giant, have a jolly green bank account, and can wait until 1976,” quipped the AP, in their writeup of the phone’s unveiling.The first cell phone call had nothing on Neil Armstrong's catchy juxtaposition, but it, too, was a small step for a man (into midtown Sixth Avenue!) and a giant leap for mankind. You know what happened next: the world shrank (the phones shrank, too), became more human, then, some argue, less human, but smaller still.As for Cooper, he, along with his wife Arlene, went on to found a number of successful telecommunications companies (the latest, GreatCall, has a fantastically simple cellphone for seniors). He amassed eleven patents. He issued a dictum, Cooper’s Law, stating that data over usable spectrum doubles every thirty months. And he speaks, frequently, about how wireless can be put to more beneficial use.Recently, I spoke with Mr. Cooper about the past, present, and future of communication. When you were a kid, what did you use to communicate with people who weren't within shouting distance?Well, Claire...do you know how old I am? ...You know even when I was a teenager, it was unusual for anybody to have more than one telephone. Telephone numbers were five digit numbers, and in the early days, most of the lines were party lines, so you could actually listen in on peoples' conversations.I lived through the age when there were car telephones. When my wife was twelve, she was a switchboard operator for car telephones. Not many people had car phones, and she would listen in on conversations between movie stars and other famous people.And then you joined the Navy. What did you use there? Letters, telegrams…Did you ever hear of a thing they call snail mail? You write letters. When I was at sea and traveling, the only way I could communicate was by letter. Even the ability to talk over long distances did not exist. “The next big change in communications will be machine-to-machine communications.” Have your communication tools and habits changed from decade to decade? Is there a time that stands out in particular?I really depend very heavily on email now. I don't like to bother people, so email is just so convenient. I spend much more time on email than I do talking to people. And as I told you before, I send tweets out and I get information and some of it is even important. I just found out one of the FCC chairs is following me--is that a compliment or what?!We have to come up with new technology that makes data communications much lower in cost, because we’ve got a whole bunch of new things coming. The next big change in communications will be machine-to-machine communications. In healthcare, you’ll measure things on your body every minute, instead of every year or two. We're all going to be connected almost continuously, and that requires a lot of radio waves. I read on the BBC that you said before cellphones, we called places, not people.If you think about the most fundamental change for teleservice, it's that a phone number nowadays is associated with a person. When people call you, they expect you to answer. Before cellular, when you called a number you were calling a place, and you didn't know who was going to answer. We now can tailor-make the communications for the specific purpose. “The future of the world hangs on the fact that we have so many more ways of communicating.” How important is the form of the communication tool to how we communicate?First of all, everyone is different from everybody else. Most of my electronic communications are either talking or email. People communicate on twitter, on Facebook, on Linkedin. Each one has a twist that's optimized for some form of communication, for some form of collaboration.I think the future of communication will be centered around collaboration. We are becoming more and more efficient at having groups do things. Every form of communication can be done in an optimal way, and with a minimal number of inhibitors. If you only have a very brief message to send to somebody, and you don't care that they get it immediately, texting is perfect.The future of the world hangs on the fact that we have so many more ways of communicating. There are a lot of applications that are more entertaining than useful, but the parts of the cellphone that make me feel proud, it's when I hear about a woman in India who gets micro financing and gets a cellphone, and she lets villagers use it, to find out where the best markets are to sell their cows…everybody wins.If you look at the problems we have today, the biggest problem is poverty. But if we can start doing everything we do more efficiently, this will be solved. Today's cellphones have all this computing power behind them, yet their form hasn't really changed that much. They've shrunk; and they've gained screens--but they are still recognizable to the phone you built in 1973. Do you think that is going to change? Oh you bet. The way it's going to change in the future is: right now there are just a couple phones you can have, but people are different from each other. My vision is everyone will carry on them a little box hidden on their bodies that I call a server. The server implements optimal devices. There is still going to be voice communicator, but it’s a device that you wear behind your ear, or perhaps embedded under your skin that you can talk to and receive audible messages from. It includes a powerful computer that has stored, among other things, all of your contacts. When you want to call someone, you ask your computer to make the call and you just talk. The voice communicator actually sends your voice to the personal server that you carry on you your body in a convenient place. The point is that the voice communicator is optimum for talking and listening, not a universal box that you have to hold up to your ear.You'll also have devices on your body that will measure your health state. You may have a keyboard or something if you want to send messages or a gesture device. All these things feed into server and all are accommodated to your personality. The cellphone of future will be tailored to your personality and your needs. 1 Comment by LOGAN SACHONI think about Instagramming a lot, but I do not Instagram a lot. In the 18 months I've had my account, I've posted just 102 times. Comment Private Eye: 60 Minutes with Alex Howard by CLAIRE WILLETTI’ve always had the sense that [privacy] is something that if people aren’t able to get, it has a significant effect upon their ability to be completely honest with someone else, to share confidential information, to be able to express themselves without fear of retribution, without fear of mistakes. Comment by TAYLOR DOBBSMy generation is the last that will even remember a line between the physical and digital realms. The last generation that existed solely in the physical world is already gone. Today we exist, simultaneously, twice. by JIA TOLENTINOI realized that I had compartmentalized “things I say on Twitter” and “things that the man I live with will ever think about,” and I wondered if I’d done the same with my actual self. Comment The problem with us millennials isn’t that we’re materialistic, or narcissistic, or falsely confident, or under-ambitious. I mean, we are those things, but not, I’d argue, to a greater extent than our forebears.The problem is that we’re flakes. Until I went off to college, most of my communication happened face-to-face when it happened at all. I was a quiet kid, afraid of the telephone, uncomfortable talking with all but a handful of adults: my father, my mother, her best friends, her mother, our caretaker, and Millie, the alcoholic who managed our neighbor's horse barn. Instant messaging, chat rooms, myspace--these were tailor-made for the quiet kids, but I didn't have a computer. I would sit on the edge of my friend Abby's frilly bed and offer encouraging stabs as to the subtext of "just chillin wit Josh wat u up2?" Sometimes, Abby would message boys on my behalf, and the moments before they responded were thrilling--you could see them spinning the wheel of hotness, deciding where I landed. But for the most part, I thought AIM was boring and everyone's screen names were dumb, to say nothing of the trite Jack Johnson lyrics used to pimp out their away messages. I wish I could say I carried the Thoreauxian norms of my childhood into adulthood, but it turned out I was just a late bloomer. In college I spent hours a day on Facebook, agonizing over which French novels to list under the books section of my profile, what degree of coquetry was appropriate for a post left on a wall that did not belong to my boyfriend. To my boyfriend, I sent enough text messages for ten Tao Lin novels, and used up by allotted minutes so quickly and so frequently that my mother soon gave in, switched me to an unlimited plan. From ignorance to dependence to fear. After graduation, my daily computer time went from around 4 hours to upwards of 12. I was working as a digital strategist and supplementing that with freelance writing, and I still had food blogs to ogle, Facebook to check. At first, my only worry was that all this screen time would be bad for my health. On a long B-train ride back to my apartment, a young mother's pleas for help fell on literally, if temporarily, deaf ears. I began to fear for our brains, our instincts.From fear to contempt. I used to read a lot of product/gadget blogs, and now I don't anymore. They all said the same things with different proper nouns. So many keystrokes were devoted to iPhone design rumors, to launches of games, to canned tutorials on how to live your life better, thanks to these apps.A month ago, my phone broke. I went nearly two weeks without replacing it. I was constantly aware of not having it, but I liked it. I liked being forced to pay attention to my surroundings. I pet my dog more. I imagined lives for people I saw on the street. I listened to a saxophone streaming out of the jazz flophouse that abuts Fort Greene Park and felt like I was in a Woody Allen movie. Most of all I liked what not having a phone said about me.In the end, though, I replaced it. I'd like to say I use it less; certainly I don't have as many apps. But basically, right now I'm in the "nothing's changed but for a thin veneer of distaste" camp.The goal of Typing through Tin Cans is to suss out our camps, to explain them, to embrace or fret over them (as I've done). Each of the writers in this inaugural issue sits in a different camp, though some are more similar than others. Read them, and, if you have a chance, let me know your own. Comment

What Does Namasté Mean? Definition: Namaste is an ancient Sanskrit greeting still in everyday use in India and ... Translated roughly, it means "I bow to the God within you", or "The Spirit ...A greeting which translates to: I honor the place in you where of light, of love, of truth, of peace; I honor the place in you where if you and I are in that place then there is only one of us? Namasté is both a spoken Indian expression and a symbolic gesture that people use when greeting each other or in parting. Pronounced “na-ma-stay,” the term derives from Sanskrit and literally means “I bow to you.” It’s more commonly translated as “the divine light in me honors the divine light in you” or “the God within me greets the God within you.” Namasté is the recognition that we are all equal and share a common divinity. source: The Chopra Center The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. Namameans bow, as means I, and te means you. Therefore, namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you." source: Yoga Journal

S. Afr. j. anim. sci. vol.42 no.1 Pretoria ene. 2012 Effects of non-antibiotic feed additives on performance, immunity and intestinal morphology of broilers fed different levels of protein M. HoushmandI, II; K. AzharII, #; I. ZulkifliII; M.H. BejoIII A. KamyabIV IFaculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Iran, IIFaculty of Agriculture, IIIFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia IVAnimal Research Centre, University of Missouri, USA ABSTRACT In order to investigate the effects of the dietary supplementation of organic acids, prebiotics and probiotics on broiler chickens, a total of 288 day-old male Cobb chicks were allocated in a completely randomized design according to a 2 x 4 factorial, consisting of two levels of crude protein (recommended or low (85% of recommended)) and a four feed-additive programme. The basal diet without any feed additive served as control and one of the following additives, organic acids, a prebiotic and a probiotic, were added to the basal diet to form the other treatments. Starter and finisher diets were offered from 1 to 21 d and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively. The birds were reared in an open-sided house system under natural tropical conditions with the same housing and general management practices. Lowering the dietary protein level significantly decreased bird performance throughout the experiment. Additives had no significant effects on body weight, body weight gain and feed intake. Dietary supplementation with the prebiotic resulted in significant improvements in feed efficiency during 22 - 42 d and 1 - 42 d of age. At 21 and 42 d of age birds fed the diets containing the prebiotic had the longest duodenal villi compared to the other treatments. Jejunum villi, and duodenum and jejunum crypt depth were not influenced by additives. At 21 d of age the dietary addition of the prebiotic and organic acids significantly increased the antibody titres against Newcastle disease compared to the control group. It could be concluded that under the condition of the current study, the prebiotic affected performance, small intestinal morphology and immunity of broiler chickens significantly. Keywords: Organic acids, prebiotic, probiotic, broiler performance, immunity, intestinal morphology Introduction Beneficial effects of dietary additives such as probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids, on the energy and protein utilization of poultry have been reported (Samarasinghe et al., 2003; Angel et al., 2005; Pirgozliev et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2008). It has also been suggested that feed additives may be more efficient when low nutrient diets are fed. Generally, low density diets are more profitable and resulted in less environmental pollution problems. In recent years, the high price of protein sources as well as environmental concerns related to high nitrogen excretion have resulted in increasing interest for using low protein diets in poultry production (Torres-Rodriguez et al., 2005). Considering the positive effects of probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids on protein utilization, using low protein diets supplemented with these additives in broiler nutrition may be practical. In this regard, Angel et al. (2005) reported that the feeding the low nutrient diets resulted in poorer performance, but dietary inclusion of probiotics helped the birds to overcome this negative effect by improving nutrient retention. Moreover, it has been reported of that probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids have positive effects on the immunity system (Zulkifli et al., 2000; Huang et al., 2007; Abdel-Fattah et al., 2008). However, there are only a few comparative reports on the effects of probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids on performance, immunity and the intestinal morphology of broilers fed different levels of protein. Thus, the main objective of this experiment was to study and compare the efficacy of these additives on the above-mentioned parameters. Materials and Methods This experiment was conducted with 288 day-old male Cobb broiler chicks. All procedures used in this experiment were approved by the Institutional Animal Care Committee of the University Putra Malaysia (UPM). Birds were obtained from a commercial hatchery. Upon arrival, they were weighed individually, wing banded and assigned at random to eight experimental treatments. Each treatment had six replicates (cages) of six birds. This experiment was a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement with two levels of dietary crude protein (CP) and a four feed-additive programme. The two levels of protein were the recommended 230 and 200 g CP/kg for starter and finisher diets, respectively (NRC, 1994), and low levels, 195 and 170 g CP/kg for starter and finisher diets, respectively. The feed additive programme was as follows: 1. The basal diet without any feed additive served as the control; 2. the basal diet supplemented with organic acids; 3. the basal diet supplemented with a prebiotic; 4. the basal diet supplemented with a probiotic. All additives were commercial products, in powder form and added to the diets according to the levels recommended by the manufacturers. Additives and their dosages were: Organic acids (Sunzen Corporation SdnBhd, Malaysia), at 1.5 g/kg of the starter and finisher diets; the prebiotic, MOS (Bio-Mos, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY), at 2 and 1 g/kg of starter and finisher diets, respectively, and the probiotic, Bio K1 (KBNP, INC, Korea), at 2 g/kg of the starter and finisher diets. This probiotic contained at least 1 x 10 10CFU Bacillus subtilis/kg and at least 1 x 10 6CFU Clostridium butyricum/kg. The compositions of the experimental diets are presented in Table 1. Crude protein, lysine and methionine levels of the low protein diets were 85% of recommended levels suggested by the NRC (1994). However, both recommended and low diets contained similar concentrations of the other nutrients, viz. metabolizable energy, other amino acids, calcium and phosphorus. The nitrogen content of the diets was measured using the AOAC (1990) procedure. Crude protein was calculated as N x 6.25. The starter and finisher diets, in mash form, were fed from 1 to 21 d and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively. The birds were reared in wire-floored cages in an open-sided house system under natural tropical conditions with the same housing and general management practices. Feed and water were provided ad libitum and lighting was continuous throughout the experiment. Feed intake was measured weekly, on a cage basis. The chicks were individually weighed weekly and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were calculated. Mortality was recorded daily throughout the experiment and the FCR was adjusted for mortality. On days 7 and 21 the birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (POULVAC NEW LASOTA, B1 Type, Fort Dodge, Brazil) via the intraocular route. At d 21 (end of starter period) and 42 (end of finisher period), one bird was randomly sampled from each cage (six birds per treatment) and killed by cervical dislocation. Immediately after killing, the whole length of small intestine was separated and its full weight and length were recorded. After that, different parts of the small intestine including the duodenum (from gizzard outlet to the end of pancreatic loop), jejunum (segment between pancreatic loop and Meckel's diverticulum) and ileum (segment between Meckel's diverticulum and ileocaecal junction) were removed and their weights and lengths were recorded. To measure villus height and crypt depth, 2 cm segments from the middle part of the duodenum and jejunum were removed, flushed with physiological saline and immediately put into a 10% buffered formalin solution until further processing. After embedding the samples in paraffin, a 5 mm section of each sample was placed on a glass slide and then stained, using haematoxylin and eosin, for measuring villus height and crypt depth. The distance from the tip of the villus to the villus crypt junction represents villus height, while crypt depth was defined as the depth of the invagination between adjacent villi. A total of 10 villi and 10 crypts per sample (40 villi and 40 crypts per treatment) were measured using light microscope. On days 21 and 42, 1 mL of blood was collected via the brachial vein from one bird per cage (six birds per treatment). Blood serum was separated. Serum concentration of antibody titre against Newcastle disease was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance by using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, 2005). The Duncan's multiple range test at 5% probability was used to compare means. Results and Discussion The effects of protein level and feed additives on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and FCR of the broilers during the different phases of experiment are shown in Table 2. There were no significant differences during the different phases of experiment between the additives and the control groups in body weight, body weight gain and feed intake. Also, during the starter phase (d 1 - 21), FCR was not affected by feed additives. However, during the finisher phase (d 22 - 42), the birds receiving the diet containing the prebiotic had a significantly better FCR than the other groups. Due to this improvement, overall (d 1 - 42) FCR was also better for the prebiotic treatment compared to the other treatments. Briefly, the performance data indicated that among the different feed additives (organic acids, probiotic and prebiotic), a significant growth promoting effect was observed only for the prebiotic. The dietary addition of both organic acids and probiotic had no significant effects on performance traits. Beneficial effects of prebiotics on broiler performance have been shown by Xu et al. (2003). They reported that birds fed diets containing 0.2% and 0.4% of a prebiotic, had a better performance than the control. Xu et al. (2003) pointed out that prebiotics are able to increase digestive enzyme (intestinal protease and amylase) activity, which affect energy and protein utilization (Samarasinghe et al., 2003; Yang et al., 2008). It is possible that prebiotics, by improving the microbial ecology of the intestine, reduce passage rate of the digesta and improve the digestibility of amino acids (Biggs & Parsons, 2007). Changes in mucosal architecture and increases in villi height have been reported to be due to the supplementation of prebiotics (Yang et al., 2007). Therefore, the improved FCR in the birds fed the prebiotic supplemented diets could be related to the above mentioned effects. The dietary addition of the probiotic in the current study did not show any positive effect on performance. Similarly, Willis & Reid (2008) reported that the dietary inclusion of probiotics (minimum presence of 1.04 x 10 8CFU/g) had no significant effect on broiler growth performance. Generally, results reported in the literature on the beneficial effects of probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids on broiler growth performance are inconsistent. Numerous factors such as the environment, management, nutrition, additive type, dosage and bird characteristics (age, species, stage of production) can affect broiler responses to probiotics (Yang et al., 2009), thereby accounted for the contrasting results. Farm rearing condition is a major factor contributing to variable results. Angel et al. (2005) reported that under favourable rearing condition, without any disease or stress, dietary supplementation with probiotics had no beneficial effects on broiler growth performance. In another study, Timmerman et al. (2006) concluded that the positive effects of probiotics on high performance broilers would be lower than in low performing birds. In the current study, broiler performance was not affected by organic acids supplementation. These results are in agreement with the results of Hernandez et al. (2006), who did not find any positive effects of organic acids on performance. They concluded that the lack of significant effects on performance could be related to ideal rearing condition of their experiment, because growth promoting effects of antimicrobial additives will become apparent under suboptimal conditions, for instance poor hygiene condition or the feeding of low digestible diets. The buffering capacity of the diet, presence of other antimicrobial compounds, acid type and concentration, composition of diet and environment of the experiment could be considered as responsible factors for inconsistency in results (Dibner & Buttin, 2002). Therefore, attention should be paid to these factors, for example, in a recent study, Isabel & Santos (2009) concluded that the dietary addition of organic acids salts (calcium propionate and calcium formate) had no effect on broilers body weight and body weight gain, while birds fed a diet containing organic acids had a poorer FCR compared to the control birds. Diet palatability and therefore bird appetite can be influenced by organic acids (Cave, 1982). The effects of protein level on bird performance (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and FCR) are shown in Table 2. On day 21 (end of starter period), the birds fed the low protein diets had a lower (P <0.05) body weight (712 g) than those fed the recommended levels of protein (870 g). This difference in body weight remained consistent until the end of experiment (42 d). Body weight gain at different stages of the experiment was lower in the broilers fed the low protein diets. Moreover, birds fed diets containing the recommended levels of protein had a higher (P <0.05) feed intake and better FCR than those fed the low protein diets. Therefore, it could be concluded that the lowering of the dietary protein level influenced bird growth performance negatively throughout the experiment. Significant effects of dietary protein and amino acids on bird performance are well documented (NRC 1994; Torres- Redriguez et al., 2005). There were no interactions (except for feed intake between d 1 - 21) between additives and protein levels for performance traits. The effects of protein level and feed additives on villus height and crypt depth at 21 d and 42 d of age are shown in Table 3. On d 21, birds fed the diets containing the prebiotic had the longest duodenum villi compared to the other treatment groups, while jejunum villi and also duodenum and jejunum crypt depth were not affected (P >0.05) by additives. The same effects of additives on villus height and crypt depth were observed at d 42. On the other hand, these results showed that similar to bird performance, probiotic and organic acids had no significant effects on villus height. Changes in villus height due to the supplementation with prebiotics have been reported previously. Baurhoo et al. (2007) found that birds fed diet containing a prebiotic had longer villi than those fed the control diet. In a study conducted by Xu et al. (2003), dietary addition of a prebiotics (FOS) significantly increased villus height. They suggested that these changes may be related to the ability of FOS to create a more favourable intestinal microbial environment and are not a direct effect of FOS on the intestinal tissue. No significant effects of organic acids on villus height have also been reported by Vieira et al. (2008). They indicated that the addition of a blend of organic acids did not affect villus height or crypt depth at 7, 14, 21 and 42 d of age. Some information on the gut health could be obtained by studying the structure of the intestinal mucosa (Xu et al., 2003). Villus condition is a common criteria measurement for investigation of the effects of nutrition on gut physiology. However, in many cases significant correlations were not observed between performance and villus height or crypt depth (Vieira et al., 2008). Longer villus could be considered as an indicator of an active functioning of intestinal villi. Increased villi height provides more surface area for nutrients absorption (Awad et al., 2009). Factors such as pathogens, chemical substances and stressors have deleterious effects on gut microflora or intestinal epithelium. Consequently permeability of epithelium as natural barrier can be changed, and harmful compounds and pathogens can enter the cell, thereby changing the metabolism, nutrient digestion and absorption. These conditions can cause chronic inflammation in intestinal mucosa. Due to these changes, villus height and nutrient digestion and absorption will decrease but cell turnover will increase (Paul et al., 2007). It has also been reported that presence of toxins resulted in some alteration in intestinal morphology (shorter villi and deeper crypts) (Awad et al., 2009). This reduction in villi height can reduce nutrient absorption due to decreased intestinal surface area for absorption. Diarrhoea, reduction in nutrient absorption, decreased resistance to disease and lower growth performance and increase in secretion of gastrointestinal tract are the negative consequences of deeper crypt and shorter villi (Xu et al., 2003) In the current study, supplementation with the prebiotic had beneficial effects on performance and intestinal morphology. Positive effects of prebiotics could be related to their inhibitory effects on intestinal pathogens. It has previously been reported that prebiotics are able to control pathogenic or potential pathogenic bacteria which possess type-1 fimbriae, resulting in better performance (Ferket, 2004). As shown in Table 3, only jejunum villus height was significantly influenced by dietary protein level at 21 d of age and protein level had no significant effects on other parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded that dietary protein level has the potential in changing intestinal morphology. Previously, Yamauchi et al. (1993) found that gut morphology will be influenced by dietary level of nutrients. The effects of feed additives and protein level on weight and length of small intestine and different parts of small intestine are presented in Tables 4 and 5. Significant differences were not observed (P >0.05) between additives and control treatments for different parameters on 21 or 42 of age. Similarly, Iji et al. (2001) and Awad et al (2009) reported that the addition of a probiotic and a prebiotic, respectively, had no significant effects on the weight of the small intestine. It is interesting to note that birds fed diets supplemented with organic acids had a significantly longer small intestine than those fed diets containing probiotic or prebiotic at 21 d of age. A significant difference was observed between organic acid and probiotic treatments for small intestine length at the end of experiment. In a recent study, Abdel-Fattah et al. (2008) indicated that the dietary addition of organic acids increased weight and length of small intestine. The effects of protein level and additives on antibody titres against Newcastle disease (ND) are shown in Table 6. At 21 d of age, dietary addition of the prebiotic and organic acids resulted in significant increases in antibody titres against Newcastle disease, while significant differences were not observed between the probiotic and the control treatments. At 42 d of age, significant differences (P >0.05) were not noticed between different treatments. Beneficial effects of prebiotics and organic acids on immune system have already been indicated. Huang et al. (2007) concluded that dietary addition of oligochitosan resulted in a better immunity response as measured by elevated levels of serum antibody titre against Newcastle disease and immunoglobulins (IgM, IgA and IgG). Also, the prebiotic had significant effects on development of immunity related organs including the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus. They concluded that prebiotics may improve bird immunity through different ways, as follows: functioning as an antigen and attach to bacteria to start immunity responses, direct promoting effects on immunity system by the active group(s) and competition with pathogens for nutrients. Colonization of specific pathogens can be inhibited by prebiotics, but these pathogens are allowed to be presented to immune cells as attenuated antigens. Also, prebiotics are able to increase macrophage responses in different species of animals (Yang et al., 2009). Beneficial effects of organic acids on broilers immunity have been reported previously. In this regard, Abdel-Fattah et al. (2008) concluded that the dietary addition of organic acids resulted in a higher immunity response. In their research, the birds fed an organic acid supplemented diet had heavier immune organs (bursa of Fabricius and the thymus) and also a higher level of globulin in their serum. Concentration of globulin is used as an indicator for measuring immunity response. They suggested that improvement in bird immunity could be related to the inhibitory effects of organic acids on gut system pathogens. In the current study, at both 21 and 42 d of age, antibody titres against Newcastle disease were not influenced by protein level (P >0.05). However, significant effects of dietary protein and amino acids levels on bird immunity have been reported (Kidd, 2004). Payne et al. (1990) reported that the feeding with very low protein diets had negative effects on cellular immunity of birds. Significant interactions between additives and protein levels were not observed for antibody response to Newcastle disease. In conclusion, feeding at low levels of protein resulted in poorer growth performance. Among the additives, prebiotics had significant effects on FCR, duodenum villi height and immunity. Intestinal weight and length were not affected by the different additives and the antibody titres against Newcastle disease were not affected by protein levels. It could be concluded that under condition of the current study, prebiotics showed significant effects on performance, small intestinal morphology and immunity of broiler chickens. References Abdel-Fattah, S.A., El-Sanhoury, M.H., El-Mednay, N.M. & Abdel-Azeem, F., 2008. Thyroid activity, some blood constituents, organs morphology and performance of broiler chicks fed supplemental organic acids. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 7, 215-222. [ Links ]Angel, R., Dalloul, R.A. & Doerr, J., 2005. Performance of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with a Direct-Fed Microbial. Poult. Sci. 84, 1222-1231. [ Links ]AOAC, 1990. Official Methods of Analyses (15th ed.). Association of Official Analytical Chemist, Washington, D.C. USA. [ Links ]Awad, W.A., Ghareeb, K., Abdel-Raheem, S. & Bohm, J., 2009. Effects of dietary inclusion of probiotic and synbiotic on growth performance, organ weights, and intestinal histomorphology of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci. 88, 49-55. [ Links ]Baurhoo, B., Phillip, L. & Ruiz-Feria, C.A., 2007. Effects of purified lignin and mannan oligosaccharides on intestinal integrity and microbial populations in the ceca and litter of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci. 86, 1070-1078. [ Links ]Biggs, P. & Parsons, C.M., 2007. The effects of several oligosaccharides on true amino acid digestibility and true metabolizable energy in cecectomized and conventional roosters. Poult. Sci. 86, 1161-1165. [ Links ]Cave, N.A.G., 1982. Effect of dietary short- and medium chain fatty acids on feed intake by chicks. Poult. Sci. 61, 1147-1153. [ Links ]Dibner, J.J. & Buttin, P., 2002. Use of organic acids as a model to study the impact of gut microflora on nutrition and metabolism. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 11, 453-463. [ Links ] Ferket, P.R., 2004. Alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production: responses, practical experience and recommendations. Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries: Proc. Alltech's 20th Annual Symposium, Kentucky, USA, 56-67. [ Links ] Hernandez, F., Garcia, V., Madrid, J., Orengo, J., Catala, P. & Megias, M.D., 2006. Effect of formic acid on performance, digestibility, intestinal histomorphology and plasma metabolite levels of broiler chickens. Br. Poult. Sci. 47, 50-67. [ Links ]Huang, R.L., Deng, Z.Y., Yang, C., Yin, Y.L., Xie, M.Y., Wu, G.Y., Li, T.J., Li, L.L., Tang, Z.R., Kang, P., Hou, Z.P., Deng, D., Xiang, H., Feng Kong, X. & Guo, Y.M., 2007. Dietary oligochitosan supplementation enhances immune status of broilers. J. Sci. Food Agric. 87, 153-159. [ Links ]Iji, P.A., Saki, A.A. & Tivey, D.R., 2001. Intestinal structure and function of broiler chickens on diets supplemented with a mannan oligosaccharide. J. Sci. Food Agric. 81, 1186-1192. [ Links ]Isabel, B. & Santos, Y., 2009. Effects of dietary organic acids and essential oils on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 18, 472-476. [ Links ]Kidd, M.T., 2004. Nutritional modulation of immune function in broilers. Poult. Sci. 83, 650-657. [ Links ]NRC, 1994. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. (9th ed.). National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., USA. [ Links ]Paul, S.K., Halder, G., Mondal, M.K. & Samanta, G., 2007. Effect of organic acid salt on the performance and gut health of broiler chicken. J. Poult. Sci. 44, 389-395. [ Links ]Payne, C.J., Scott, T.R., Dick, J.W. & Glick, B., 1990. Immunity to Pasteurella multocida in protein-deficient chickens. Poult. Sci. 69, 2134-2142. [ Links ]Pirgozliev, V., Murphy, T.C., Owens, B., George, J. & McCannin, M.E.E., 2008. Fumaric and sorbic acid as additives in broiler feed. Res. Vet. Sci. 84, 387-394. [ Links ]Samarasinghe, K., Wenk, C., Silva, K.F.S.T. & Gunasekera, J.M.D.M., 2003. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) root powder and mannan oligosaccharides as alternatives to antibiotics in broiler chicken diets. Asian-Austr. J. Anim. Sci. 16, 1495-1500. [ Links ] SAS, 2005.Statistical Analysis Systems users guide (9th ed.). SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C., USA. Timmerman, H.M., Veldman, A., Van den Elsen, E., Rombouts, F.M. & Beynen, A.C., 2006. Mortality and growth performance of broilers given drinking water supplemented with chicken-specific probiotics. Poult. Sci. 85, 1383-1388. [ Links ] [ Links ]Torres-Rodriguez, A., Sartor, C., Higgins, S.E., Wolfenden, A.D., Bielke, L.R., Pixley, C.M., Sutton, L., Tellez, G. & Hargis, B.M., 2005. Effect of Aspergillus meal prebiotic (fermacto) on performance of broiler chickens in the starter phase and fed low protein diets. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 14, 665-669. [ Links ] Vieira, S.L., Oyarzabal, O.A., Freitas, D.M., Berres, J., Pena, J.E.M., Torres, C.A. & Coneglian, J.L.B., 2008. Performance of broilers fed diets supplemented with sanguinarine-like alkaloids and organic acids. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 17, 128-133. [ Links ] Willis, W.L. & Reid, L., 2008. Investigating the effects of dietary probiotic feeding regimens on broiler chicken production and Campylobacter jejuni presence. Poult. Sci. 87, 606-611. [ Links ]Xu, Z.R., Hu, C.H., Xia, M.S., Zhan, X.A. & Wang, M.Q., 2003.Effects of dietary fructo oligosaccharide on digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora and morphology of male broilers. Poult. Sci. 82, 1030-1036. [ Links ]Yamauchi, K., Yamamoto, K. & Isshiki, Y., 1993. Development of the intestinal villi associated with the increased epithelial cell mitosis in chickens. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 64, 340-350. [ Links ]Yang, Y., Iji, P.A. & Choct, M., 2007. Effects of different dietary levels of mannan oligosaccharide on growth performance and gut development of broiler chickens. Asian-Austr. J. Anim. Sci. 20, 1084-1091. [ Links ]Yang, Y., Iji, P.A., Kocher, A., Thomson, E., Mikkelsen, L.L. & Choct, M., 2008. Effects of mannan oligosaccharide in broiler chicken diets on growth performance, net energy utilization, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal microflora. Br. Poult. Sci. 49, 186-194. Yang, Y., Iji, P.A. & Choct, M., 2009. Dietary modulation of gut microflora in broiler chickens: a review of the role of six kinds of alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. Wrld's Poult. Sci. J. 65, 97-114. [ Links ] [ Links ] Zulkifli, I., Abdullah, N., Azrin, M.N. & Ho, Y.W., 2000. Growth performance and immune response of two commercial broiler strains fed diets containing Lactobacillus cultures and oxytetracycline under heat stress conditions. Br. Poult. Sci. 41, 593-597. [ Links ] Copyright resides with the authors in terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 South African Licence. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za Condition of use: The user may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt the work, but must recognise the authors and the South African Journal of Animal Science. # Corresponding author: [email protected] Todo el contenido de esta revista, excepto dónde está identificado, está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons

HSPF Watershed Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling The HSPF Model (Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran) is a U.S. EPA program for simulation of watershed hydrology and water quality for both conventional and toxic organic pollutants. The HSPF model uses information such as the time history of rainfall, temperature and solar radiation; land surface characteristics such as land use patterns; and land management practices to simulate the processes that occur in a watershed. The result of this simulation is a time history of the quantity and quality of runoff from an urban or agricultural watershed. Flow rate, sediment load, and nutrient and pesticide concentrations are predicted. HSPF includes an internal database management system to process the large amounts of simulation input and output. HSPF is used frequently for generating models for TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) studies. This model is public domain and can be downloaded for FREE using the link below. See also the Watershed Modeling System (WMS) softwareWMS provides a high qaulity graphical user interface for HSPF. WMS performs automated basin delineation from digital elevation data and determines basin parameters needed for HSPF in a GIS-friendly interface. Retail Price: Categories

www.theliteraryplatform.com Trudy Raymakers's insight: Features: Augmented reality book to work with TV and Playstation more... Future ofreading and learning Curated by Trudy Raymakers 3 Misconceptions About Innovation in Education georgecouros.ca 5 Teaching Strategies to Facilitate Independent Reading www.teachhub.com - April 22, 11:31 AM I’ve often told my students I’m never disappointed when “All we did was read” today. Reading is a critical attribute of a lifelong learner, yet many students seem to learn that reading is just something teachers make you do in school. The idea of reading for pleasure or reading for passion is foreign to many students when the only reading they know is the reading the teacher assigns. Independent reading teaching strategies can help change that. Instead of students reading because they have to, independent reading teaching strategies give students a chance to read because they want to. Instead of the teacher selecting and assigning reading material, the constraints are loosened and students are given the chance to have control. If you’re interested in teaching strategies that facilitate independent reading in your classroom, here are some golden guidelines to consider for making it successful experience for your students. more... Tackling the ‘learning styles’ myth www.teachermagazine.com.au You’ve probably heard the claim that you learn better when information is presented in your preferred ‘learning style’. Where did this neuromyth come from? Dr Tanya Vaughan explains. more... Is Technology Holding Students Back? | Edudemic Using technology in the classroom comes with a host of benefits. But can technology do more harm than good when it comes to helping students succeed? Competency-Based Learning for Teachers: Can micro-credentials reboot professional development? educationnext.org Remember merit badges? The reward for kids who master new skills has been rebooted—for their teachers. So-called “micro-credentials” work a lot like scouting badges. Teachers complete a specific activity to develop a critical competency for their role, and earn a micro-credential based on showing mastery of the skill. They can collect micro-credentials to document growing expertise and share their accomplishments in the classroom. This targeted training is in stark contrast to traditional, strikingly ineffective teacher professional development (PD). With its focus on seat time—awarding credit for showing up to workshops, conferences, or classes—formal PD has ignored whether teachers actually learn new skills, apply them, and improve student outcomes. And with its reliance on generalized, off-the-shelf programs, most formal PD does not target the specific skills or expertise an individual teacher may need to improve her practice. more... www.mindtools.com Have you ever been on a course where the trainer went through his material so quickly that you barely learned a thing? Or maybe the content was so complex that it went completely over your head? In this article, we'll look at Cognitive Load Theory (CLT). This takes a scientific approach to the design of learning materials, so that they present information at a pace and at a level of complexity that the learner can fully understand. 3 Adult Learning Theories Every E-Learning Designer Must Know §As an instructional designer, you want to create courses that make a difference to your audience’s lives. You want to create courses that inspire them, that change mindsets and drive performance. In short, you want to create courses that are effective and hit the mark, every time.Now here’s the challenge. Your learners are adults with previous knowledge and fixed ideas about what works for them. They are busy and stressed-out folks who hate wasting time. They want learning experiences that help them meet their needs and achieve their goals.This said, to facilitate learning and be an effective Instructional Designer, you MUST understand how adults learn best. When creating any type of e-learning course, it is important to base the design on a good understanding of adult learning theory. 1. Andragogy 2. Experiental learning 3. Transformational learning Shifting the perspective of learning and development - RECRUITING TIMES When it comes to the learning styles in L&D, experts believe that courses should be tailored and more relevant to the aims and objectives of the organisation rather than generic, blanket approaches that do not reflect the performance concerns of the business. This can be achieved by combining traditional techniques with the development of e-learning. Digital learning models are undoubtedly on the rise and L&D needs to move with the times if it wants to engage its learners; however, it is important to ensure that adequate levels of knowledge and confidence are in place before investing lots of money into the latest tech. Recruiting Times, Recruiter News, HR News, Recruitment Supplier Directory, Recruitment Courses, HR Courses. The key challenge that L&D professionals will face is changing the mindset of the employees.Learning and development (L&D) is often seen as a box-ticking exercise within the business sector - RECRUITING TIMES. www.childup.com Fundamentally, all human beings learn in similar ways. The idea that people may learn better depending on their own particular visual, auditory or kinesthetic preferences is one of the greatest myths in neuroscience. It was called a "neuromyth" by Paul Howard-Jones, a professor of neuroscience and education at Bristol University, in a 2014 paper. A concept characterized, according to Howard-Jones, by the misunderstanding, misreading or misquoting of scientific facts. - Another example of strong and persistent neuromyth is the one pretending that, in general, people would only use 10% of their brain. However, the learning styles myth seems to be the king: “Perhaps the most popular and influential myth is that a student learns most effectively when they are taught in their preferred learning style,” wrote Howard-Jones. Despite the fact that this theory is unfounded, a lot of papers in current research literature advocate to follow it. A regrettable situation that undermines the statute of education as a research field and probably has a negative effect on students. more... The Value of Reading: INFOGRAPHIC The Value of Reading: INFOGRAPHIC http://www.chroniclebooks.com/reading-the-road-to-success Stephen The Simpler, Less Stressful Way to Helping Kids Succeed In the now-famous “marshmallow” experiments, researchers at Stanford tested preschoolers’ self-control and ability to delay gratification by sitting them in a room alone with a tempting treat and measuring how long they were able to wait. Years later, those kids who resisted temptation the longest also tended to have the highest academic achievement. In fact, their ability to delay eating the marshmallow was a better predictor of their future academic success than their IQ scores. Further research has shown that self-control also correlates highly with greater stress tolerance and concentration abilities, as well as increased empathy, better emotion regulation, and social competence. This is true across the age spectrum: From preschoolers to teenagers, kids who can regulate their own feelings and behavior are better able to stay focused on their goals and maintain positive connections with others. Essentially, self-control underlies both academic achievement and interpersonal finesse, both of which contribute to success in life. 5 cognitive traps to avoid in Discovery https://www.dto.gov.au/blog/cognitive-bias-in-discovery/ "Not being aware of our own biases might lead us to fall into a few traps, including those outlined here in this article." Stephen 5 effective teaching tips for students with literacy challenges via MERIS STANSBURY www.eschoolnews.com Expert discusses teachers’ successful techniques in helping students with literacy challenges—including dyslexia. Some golden teaching strategies to consider for making independent reading successful for your students. Using Art to Teach Critical Thinking - March 29, 11:36 PM Art is one of the most underutilized resources in today’s ELA classroom. The Roman poet Horace claimed, “A picture is a poem without words” meaning art and written word are different mediums of expression. Art offers students a break from written words while continuing to develop the same skill set needed to be successful readers through challenging students to think both critically and analytically. more... Technology in the Classroom: How, Why to Use Podcasts A podcast is a topic-specific digital stream of audio files (in some cases, video or PDF also) that can be downloaded to a computer or a wide variety of media devices. They are funny, entertaining, educational, often short, and rarely boring. They can cover news, current events, history, or pretty much anything the creator would like. When you subscribe, each new episode is automatically downloaded to your device, to be played at your convenience. You can play the entire stream or select an individual episode as part of your technology in the classroom arsenal. Here’s how to use technology in the classroom podcasts to enhance your class. Codie Bower's curator insight, February 16, 4:58 PM Podcasts are AWEAOME tools for the classroom! The Benefits of Group Learning | Why Discussion around the topic of group learning is of interest to many students and teachers. In a group learning situation, many learners are involved in a project together. The enthusiasts of this style of learning may be inclined to say The more the merrier, implying that many students can enjoy working together. However, if the situation is not managed carefully, the proverb could easily read Two is company but three’s a crowd, implying that two can work well together, but once you bring in a third there could be some conflict.Every learner would like to benefit from a wide range of learning opportunities. The true aim of education is not just to remember facts. There are many areas of individual development that can grow out of the group learning situation. The real S-C-O-P-E of learning can be understood using an acronym to break down and understand the various developmental skills.S – skills developmentC – cognitive developmentO – organisational developmentP – productive team workE – entrepreneur outcomes Oskar Almazan's curator insight, February 13, 12:10 AM How does group work develop cognitive thinking skills? Critical thinking: a chance to analyse others’ ideas and question their thinking. Problem solving: challenging thoughts and actions through the group forum. Value clarification: assessing the true worth of others’ input. Active involvement: an opportunity to contribute to the group. Learning by example: the group dynamic adds further learning examples. Sharing information: different ideas and information increase knowledge. Assessments: teaching, learning, and assessment opportunities are increased. CCM Consultancy's curator insight, February 13, 12:37 AM Find out what individual learning cannot teach you. “Teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.”–Ben Franklin CCAFYDE's curator insight, February 13, 4:46 AM Beneficios del aprendizaje en grupo y ¿por qué? ¿Hacia donde queremos dirigir la educación? How do organizations learn? | From Poverty to Power oxfamblogs.org I was invited along to DFID last week for a discussion on how organizations learn. There was an impressive turnoutSimple, right?of senior civil serpents – the issue has clearly got their attention. Which is great because I came away with the impression that they (and Oxfam for that matter) have a long way to go to really become a ‘learning organization’.So please make allowances in what follows for all the warm, cuddly areas of mutual agreement – I’m going to focus on the areas of disagreement, which are inevitably the most thought-provoking.To mean anything, learning requires a change both in ideas and behaviours. So what were the theories of change that underpinned the approaches to learning in the room? I found it hard to pin down exactly – they seemed mostly tacit – but a lot of what I heard reminded me of the discussion at Twaweza a couple of years ago. For many present, the tacit theory of change seems to be ‘knowledge → learning → changed behaviours → changed outcomes’. Yeah right.What we realized at Twaweza was that ‘it’s all in the arrows’. You need to unpack the assumptions and think about what needs to be in place for that theory of change to have any chance of resembling what happens in practice. The Sheik Zayed Private Academy for boys is designed to support different learning styles and 21st-century educational skills. 'Not just a nice idea': The importance of inclusion in and beyond the classroom The topic of inclusion in the province's schools brings forth many different opinions. But for the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living, the importance of inclusion goes beyond the classroom. more... 6 Techniques for Building Reading Skills—in Any Subject Students need good reading skills not just in English but in all classes. Here are some ways you can help them develop those skills. The Secret to Better Learning That Most People Don't Know - PsyBlog Despite multiple studies showing the benefits, many people don’t know this learning trick. Mixing up your learning can lead to massive gains, a new study of academic performance reveals. For years now ‘interleaving’ has been a secret largely confined to researchers. Interleaving means practising or learning different skills in quick succession. When interleaving, tennis players might practice forehands, backhands and volleys altogether. more...

Software Craftsmanship conference wrap-up 27. February 2009 Markus Gärtner 3 Comments Here is the wrap-up I wrote yesterday evening on the Software Craftsmanship conference in London while waiting for my plane to get me back home. I would like to thank Jason Gorman for organizing this conference. It was overwhelming and one of my favorite experiences so far. I also have to thank Gojko for his Specification Workshops talk. I’ll try them out. Micah Martin additionally made me aware that I need to practice with his Kata & Sparring session. You should read on the rest of the conference in the extended body. Introduction Jason Gorman invited to the first conference on Software Craftsmanship. Some weeks before the conference took place there was some ongoing discussion on the Software Craftsmanship google group on the definition of Software Craftsmanship and the distinction towards the Agile movement. Being a practical conference there were a lot of sessions focused on practices shown for the intended audience: Software Craftsmen. Courses visited Here are some brief insights based on my notes that I took during participating particular sessions. Before going into much detail on each session I will describe in brief what the session was all about before denoting my particular insights. Mapping Personal Practices Adewale Oshineye from Google presented very briefly two diagrams he created during similar workshops in the past and showed the audience two styles, that could be used. The goal was to build a mindmap structure of particular practices that were regularly applied from each of the participants. After that everyone had 10 minutes to write down her particular practices. After that an introduction round was started, where every participant should describe the contents of their mindmap to the remaining people in 90 seconds. This technique was quite overwhelming. One question during the starting phase arose on how to focus the context of the map. Adewale had included technical and personal practices into his maps, so that this question was reasonable. The clue behind this technique is, that you can define the context and the focus as you may see fit. You can decide to just focus on technical practices or just on collaboration practices. Right before attending this session I already thought on trying to use this technique to see evolution points for the workers in my group and use it as a visual tool as well. During the presentation of each participants’ map, I made some notes about what practices I apply but forgot to include in my map, what other practices sounded interesting and on what I would like to try out next. The list of interesting practices included E-Mails to oneself as a todo list, rather than wrapping up third-party frameworks build a more simpler solution on your own and using post-it notices to make the step from the short-term memory towards the long-term. One participant described that he first of all comes up with a name for a function and then deciding based on the name, on which class this new method should belong, as a design aid. Another participant described, that she likes to get some distance from the topic when striving with a hard problem. Getting some time to think over it can lead to a better solution in the end. Another one described that he regularly uses the revision history to get a clue of what happened to a particular class. There was also a call for help seekers, that do not argue their seek directly but rather indirectly instead. The one bringing up this item described that he had noticed that pattern and made himself aware of this. Traceability was also mentioned in that round. One participant described, that he regularly is asking stupid questions to resolve thinking abilities on his collaborators. The last thing I denoted on my list of interesting things is the ability of one participant’s customer to actually read the source code. While being able to have customers participate full-time on the project, this can lead to more direct customer conversation, if technical staff and customers are talking the same ubiquitous language. Ruby Kata & Sparring Micah Martin from 8th Light introduced the parallels between Martial Arts and Software development. He described, that during learning and practicing martial arts he was doing the same stuff over and over again; sometimes also for the sake to get better moving abilities during the fight by practicing movements that are actually not used in the fight itself. Micah concluded that the combination of practice, experiment and reflection leads to mastery in software development as well. After making his mission clear, he showed the audience an actual Kata he practiced over and over again. He showed the Langston’s Ant implemented in Ruby live. Roughly in 10 minutes Micah used test-driven development to come up with a useable class, that could also be shown in a prepared evaluation program over several steps. After the session I got the opportunity to talk to Micah on his presentation. He stated that he had practiced solving the problem 30-40 times before. Since the solution just takes about 10 minutes to implement, he was also able to incorporate those sessions during daily work. The solution seemed very quick to me, even though not rushed. He ended up with roughly 20-30 lines of code and as much of unit test code as well. Since I saw his Kata I’m also planning to practice more small Katas in the next few weeks. Also I am thinking over to show some of these during a coding dojo session as a prepared Kata. Specification Workshops Gojko Adzic from Neuri gave a great talk on Specification Workshops, a technique he introduces in his latest book “Bridging the Communication Gap”. He introduced the session with an e-mail from an angry customer, where the customer described some business conditions with obvious inconsistencies. He then described the technique as a heading activation in each iteration right after picking the stories to implement in the next two to four weeks. Bringing together business people, developers and testers, discuss new stories in examples builds a shared understanding of the business among the relevant people in the project and helps building a common ubiquitous language. Initially it seemed that there were just two people attending this session. Gojko nearly suggested to visit one of the sessions that were taking in parallel. Then a crowd of nearly 30 people came in, filling the room completely. There even were not enough charis for everyone to sit in there. During the talk I realized several concepts I just recently also read in other books. Gojko included in his reasoning the need to focus on the what and why during these sessions. The Poppendiecks describe this fact as set-based discussion rather than focusing on point-based negotiations. Developers and testers need to focus on what to implement rather than how and business people should be asked on the why’s behind proposed solutions in order to get an understanding of the underlying business problem and being able to cope with that. He introduced a story on printing from Java in the early days, which had troubled one of the projects he was on. After asking the customer why there had to be printing support in the software – which was rather complicated by that time – the team found out, that a re-arrangement of the UI navigation would make the need for printing support obsolete – and besides that more user friendly as well. The customer just kept asking for this since the company that had build the previous system was not able to re-arrange the UI flow. After the talk I had some words with Gojko. I am very pleased that he gave me a copy of his book “Bridging the Communication Gap” and I directly had to ask him to sign it for me. After reading the review comments from Lisa Crispin on it, I had already put it onto my order list on Amazon – now I can drop it from that list. Gojko already put up the resources on his course on his blog. The slides should give you a good start on the topic. Responsibility-driven Design with Mock Objects Willem van den Ende and Marc Every from Quality Without A Name lead this session. Roughly they introduced the idea to use mock objects together with CRC card design in order to be able to directly incorporate the results from CRC design sessions into the software and unit-tests. In a rotational pairing session they also showed how to implement these for a text adventure game using rubyspec while including people from the audience. Willem and Marc gave some guides before kicking off the demo session. On of the main goals with responsibility design is to avoid train wrecks, where a client of a class needs to call a function on one class getting another class, calling a function on that one, and so on, until the actual work happens. This distracts the reader of the source code and leads to high maintenance costs of software. One of the participants was obviously very familiar with responsibility-drive design since he gave several hints and remarked a lack of previous thinking during the live demo. The concept overall seemed to be very interesting, though the technique seems to be harder to learn. Empirical Experiences of Refactoring in Open Source Steve Counell from the Brunel University showed his empirical results from 7 open source software projects. He examined 15 refactorings for occurrence on these projects and had some very insightful graphs showing the usage and correlations to other refactorings and code-smells for the developers. Among the conclusions he gave were the tendency towards simpler refactorings, avoidance of encapsulation for the sake of testing purposes and interrelationships between i.e. move field and move method. His graphs also showed that during the first few revisions of a class there were much more refactorings applied than to a later state. The conclusions from the code smells examination showed, that seemly easy code smells usually lead to a chain of up to 200 refactorings. Among these costly code smells were duplicate code and large class or large method. He closed with the tendency to not give in to seemingly easy smell removals, since they can very obviously pile up. In the discussion afterwards it was stated that there might be weight in the value coming from the costly smell removals as well. The overall study seemed very interesting to me. Maybe someone also comes up with a combination of version control, bug tracking and refactoring and examines their interrelationships. Steve also stated that the software they used for measuring the refactorings can be made available to other companies as well. 5 Reasons to have a Coding Dojo at your company Ivan Sanchez lead this session. It was a quick introduction to Coding Dojos with some easy to follow-up rules. After that he asked for volunteers to a pairing session rotating each 5 minutes for a minesweeper implementation. Due to time-pressure he had already give it a head-start with some implementation to focus the overall on the experience rather than on 20 minute initial design decision. Ivan also enforced rules for the audience to just participate when there are green tests during the tdd-pairing session etc. The session was very impressive and as a side effect I could get insights from the 20 favorite keyboard shortcuts session that I could not participate since it took place in parallel to Gojko’s session on Specification Workshops. (Alt-Shift-Up/Down is an impressive shortcut in eclipse – I’ll have to memorize this one.) During the last three weeks I already started some Coding Dojo sessions at work. What I got to know during this session was that I need to ensure the rules behind it more and force less discussion and more implementation after an initial discussion of 20 minutes. During the next few months I will deepen Coding Dojos with my team and our developers. Among the practices that were new to me and I will definitely try out for some time are Specification Workshops and the Personal Practice Maps. Specification Workshops seemed to be a great opportunity since I realized just this week at work that there was some misunderstanding among some developers and the stakeholder of some functionality where these Specification Workshops would have helped. The Personal Practice Maps I will incorporate in April when I will have a evolution meeting with one my junior workers in order to get a better shared understanding of his particular personal practices and get him towards being journeyman. The Ruby Kata session made me excited on exercising TDD more in my leisure time. The session on responsibility-design made me curious about CRC card design. I think I will get a book on this as well. All together it was a great conference and 95% of the attendees raised the hand when Jason asked for visitors to the Software Craftsmanship Conference 2010. I’m looking forward to it, too. 13. February 2009 Markus Gärtner Leave a comment While the values might just seem to be a list of higher level goals with no direct outcome on the particular project, there is a lower level of definition in Agile methodologies: Principles. From Elisabeth Hendrickson and Lisa Crispin & Janet Gregory I was able to construct a list of useful principles. Here is the first half of this list of testing principles. Provide Continuous Feedback Feedback is one of the higher values for sucessful projects. As Poppendieck & Poppendieck pointed out in Lean Software Development – An Agile Toolkit feedback is vital to software development. They compare software development and manufacturing with cooking: While development or engineering means to come up with a recipe, manufacturing is just applying over and over the recipe that is already there. Since software development is a recipe building action, it needs iterations and feedback to be successful. From this perspective testers provide feedback from the customer point-of-view into the programming activities. Likewise they provide feedback as a substitute for the end-consumer by adding exercising tests – may these be manual or automated. Like the memory structure in the current computer systems, testers can be thought of as the cache towards production for each program increment. This does not mean, that testers are the gatekeepers for any software deliveral. This rather means, that they can provide timely feedback to the programmers, rather than opening or closing the gate towards production. By addressing issues before the software gets into production, the feedback for the programming team is achieved in an efficient manner for them to learn. Deliver Value to the Customer Testers are the bridge between the programming team with its technical terms and the customers with their business language. By incorporating a solid ubiquitous language into the test cases, these two worlds can get closed and guarantee transparency for the customer. This higher level goal can be achieved by working directly with the customer on test cases and likewise giving feedback to the team members who are developing the software the customer ordered. A test which is twisted up with complex logic is no value for the customer. A test case turning business terms green when it’s passing on the other hand is. Testers provide the service of filling the communication gap between technical software development and the business of the end user. Enable Face-to-Face Communication Alistair Cockburn points out the principle, that two people at a whiteboard are communicating more efficient than two people over email or videotape. He visualizes this principle in a well understandable manner. When considering software testing, a tester should therefore motivate and enable direct communication forms wherever possible. When two people are talking face-to-face on a difficult requirement, they efficiently get a common understand of it. Therefore tester should enable direct communication to customers, to developers, to department heads, to project management, … Lisa Crispin and Janet Gregory introduce the Law Of Three in their book on Agile Testing. The Law Of Three states, that any design decision or requirement discussion need to involve one person from all of the three groups: customers, developers and testers. Whenever a discussion is started, a decision need to involve all affected groups. Direct face-to-face communication supports this law by building up efficient communication channels between the three. Simplicity is a key in Agile Software Development. Without the waste of usual software processes teams maintain their ability for agility. This directly means to keep your test cases as clear as possible. Additionally through simplicity you enable your team to understand your tests and be able to adapt it if the business demand this. Just like the Collective Code-Ownership practice in eXtreme Programming, testing teams have the demand for collective test case ownership. Just through simplicity you not only enable your co-testers, but also the business analysts, developers and customers to adapt test cases when the situation asks for this. Practice Continuous Improvement This principle is simply demanded by the craft aspect behind Software Development. Just like any new cool programming language or technique, testers should keep their improvement potential up-to-date. By visiting conferences on test techniques or latest test automation tools, a tester can improve her skills in these areas. This also means, that learning a new programming language or test technique such as performance- or load-testing is a way to improve one’s own abilities. Learning a common language to express testing patterns is another example of it. By providing this pattern language to your teammates, you enable them to learn from you and additionally you improve your speaking skills. These are just some parts of your daily work where you can practice improvement on yourself and your team. Look out for additional possibilities. As Mary and Tom Poppendieck pointed out in Lean Software Development – An Agile Toolkit wasteful tasks should be avoided in order to have the highest possible return on investment. This means reducing test plans, test design documents and test protocols using tool support and ubiquitous language to a minimum. This does not mean to drop any test documentation. Rather your team and your customer should be brought in to the discussion of the level of necessary documentation. In case you’re working in safety critical software or your organisation demands it due to CMMI or ISO9000 compliance, you will be forced to use more extensive test documentation. Look out for ways to reduce these to a minimum and avoid wasteful documentation, which needs adaptation to the current situation every week or even on a daily basis. Testing symbiosis Elisabeth Hendrickson raised a point on her blog on test automation. She raises a very good point on the time-value of information. She states that just as money today is more worth than money tomorrow, information known today is more valueable than knowing the same thing tomorrow. Agile practices such as Fail Fast and iterative development enable teams to know more informations when making a decision. This is also true for (A)TDD of course. While reading through the comments of Elisabeth’s blog entry, I noticed James Bach’s thoughts on it and felt to have to respond on it immediately. One thing I realised lately is, that there seems to be a discussion about whether to automate testing or not on-going between testers from the Agile school of testing and the context-driven testing school. Personally while trying to answer Bret Pettichord’s question whether I have to pick a school of testing or not, I feel, that both schools are right to some degree. This does not mean, that they are wrong to some other degree, of course. The point here is, that this is no well-structured problem – you’re faced with well-structured problems in elementary school. Software and by then software testing as well is an ill-structured problem of our adult world. There is no test automation is always right or sapient testing is always right out there. Despite thinking in just two categories, I encourage to think of test automation and manual testing as a symbiosis. You can do a lot more manual testing, if you have covered those tedious to repeat tests with automation. On the other hand you can more easily automate software testing, if the software is built for automation support. This means low coupling of classes, high cohesion, easy to realize dependency injections and an entry point behind the GUI. Of course by then you will have to test the GUI manually, but you won’t need to exercise every test through the slow GUI with the complete database as backend. There are ways to speed yourself up. If you’re lucky, they are open for you – this seems to be the case on most Agile developed projects. If you’re not lucky, you have to find ways where scripting or automation can speed up your tedious manual test cases. But having both in place together is the best choice you can take from my point of view. Software Craftsmanship Manifesto Some thoughts on a manifesto based on the Agile Manifesto seems to be fostering. Doug Bradbury started a discussion on The New Left Side on the Software Craftsmanship Group. The list is currently in a sort of draft status, but it seems to be well thought-through already. Doug mentioned, that he has come up with an initial version some months ago. Personally I’m curious for more to come. Black-Belt Testing Matt Heusser gave me a black belt for my reply to his black-belt testing challenge. We exchanged some thoughts via e-mail. If you would like to get to know, what to do in order to get one, too, you should read his blog entries on this: Black-Belt Testing Challenge. Maybe I will decide to post my replies to his challenge in some weeks from now. But since the challenge is ongoing, I decided to keep it private for the moment. Some weeks ago I was first made aware of Software Craftsmanship. By the same time I had run over Bob Martin’s fifth Agile value and Alistair Cockburn’s New Software Engineering. Just today I strived over a topic opened from Joshua Kerievsky on the XP Mailing List: The Whole Enchilada just to find another blog entry from Dave Rooney on the underlying thoughts. For me it seems there is something upcoming, there is something in the air and I would like to share my current picture of the whole from a testing perspective. Even in this week there was a discussion on the Agile Testing group being started by Lisa Crispin’s blog entry on The Whole Team. I decided to organise these sorts in a series of postings to come during the next few weeks. This time I would like to start with values from Agile methodologies. First of all I haven’t read every book on every topic around Agile Testing and Software Craftsmanship so far. There are books on technical questions on my bookshelf as well as managerial books that I would like to get into. Additionally I have not had the opportunity to get to know an Agile team in action – though my team did a really good job moving the whole test suite from a shell script based approach to a business facing test automation tool during the last year. My company came up with a new project structure during that time and I just lately noticed, that – similar to Scrum – there is a flaw of technical factors in the new project structure. The new organisation seems to focus on just managerial aspects of software development without advises on how to gain technical success. That said, I started to read on Agile methodologies during the last year a lot. The idea of Agile value and principles still is fascinating me. It even fascinates me so far, that I would like to compile a list of factors to notice during day-to-day work. Since Agile methodologies use the Practices, Principles and Values scheme to describe the underlying concepts – during the last year I noticed a parallel to ShuHaRi – I would like to come up with a similar structure. Here are the values from eXtreme Programming and Scrum combined into a single list: Human interactions focus on a large amount of communication. This item on the list is particular related to the first value from the Agile Manifesto: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. Likewise Alistair Cockburn introduced the concept of Information Radiators in order to even combine communications and feedback on publicly available whiteboards or flipcharts pages. In the software development business the right way to communicate can reduce a lot of wasted efforts with assumed functionality. Communication therefore as well serves the principle from Lean Software Development to eliminate waste. The case for simplicity arose the first time when my team was suffering from a legacy test approach, which dealt with too many dependencies and a chained-test syndrom. Simply spoken: The tests flawed the simplicity value. Changing one bit on the one function forced changing several tests on the other side of the test framework. Due to the high-coupling nature that was caused by no particular design rules and no efforts spent on paying down Technical Debt, adapting test cases to the business needs was not simple. The high complexity in the test code base was the starting point for this lack of simplicity. By incorporating design patterns, refactoring and test-driven development we were able to handle this lack of simplicity in our currently used approach. Additionally one thing that I learned from Tom DeMarco’s The Deadline is, that when incorporating complex interfaces in the software system you’re building, you also make the interfaces between the humans involved equally complex. This results directly in a higher amount of communication necessary to compensate – a fact that Frederick Brooks noticed nearly fourty years ago in The Mythical Man Month. As described before on the communication topic, information radiators which spread informations i.e. about the current status of the build in Continuous Integration or about remaining storypoints on a burndown chart make feedback visible. There is even more to feedback. Continuous Integration is a practice which leads to continuous feedback of repetetive tasks such as unit tests, code inspections and the like. The feedback gathered after each iterations’s end is another point to exercise continuous improvement of the whole team. When feedback is gathered quickly, according actions can be taken by the individuals involved. Each functional team has to address problems and come up with proposed solutions. In order to state underlying problems you need to have courage to bring up topics that might throw the project behind the schedule. On the other hand staying quiet about these problems, might directly result in Technical Debt and as Dave Smith has put it: TechnicalDebt is a measure of how untidy or out-of-date the development work area for a product is. Definition of Technical Debt There are other topics, where each team member needs to have courage. Here is a non-complete list to give you a vision of it: when organizational habits are counter-productive to team or project goals when working in a dysfunctional team when the code complexity raises above a manageable threshold Respecting each team member for their particular achievements and technical skill-sets is to my understanding part of a functional team definition. When having a respectful work-environment, a tester is more likely to take the courage to raise flaws of code-metrics or violated coding-conventions. When raising issues of other’s work-habits it is more likely to have a constructive way of solving problems by sending out a Congruent Message. When each team member has the respect on the technical skills of each other team member it is more likely to occur even in problematic situations. In a respectful atmosphere critics are not made in the form of accusation and therefore lead directly to constructive and creative solutions rather than protecting behaviour of the opposing parties. Commitment The whole team gives the commitment to the customer to deliver valueable quality at the end of each iteration. Without the commitment of each team member to deliver value to their customer, the project success is put onto stake. Leaving out unit tests on critical functions may blow the application once in production. Likewise left-out acceptance tests may lead to a time bomb exploding during customer presentation while doing some exploratory tests. Likewise the team gives the commitment to their organisation to produce the best product they can in order for the organisation to make money with it. The flip-side of the coin will lead to distrust from organisational management. Committing to the vision of the project, the goal of the iteration, is a basic value for each team. Focus is an essential value behind testing. If you easily distract yourself with follow-up testing, you may find yourself with a bunch of testcases exercised without following your initial mission to find critical bugs fast. Sure, it’s relevant to do some follow-up testing on bugfixes that just occured during the last changes, but if you loose your focus on the particular testing mission, you are also missing to deliver the right value to your customer. Face-to-Face Communication and Continuous Improvement help you keep your focus on the right items, while a simple system supports you in the ability to focus on the harder-to-test cases of your software. If you would like to provide your customer the best business value possible, it might turn out, that you need to be open to new ideas. Particularly business demands change due to several factors: market conditions, cultural or organisational habits. As Kent Beck points out in eXtreme Programming eXplained: The problem isn’t change, because change is going to happen; the problem, rather, is our inability to cope with change. Without openness a tester is not able to cope with the change that is going to happen – may it be to technical needs or just the business demanding the underlying change. Testing Libraries vs. Frameworks 1. February 2009 Markus Gärtner Leave a comment Lisa Crispin reported last week on the difference between Test Libraries and Frameworks. When reading her blog entry I felt the urge to comment to it on the approach we used at work for our two-step based testing functions. In the end I figured that I quiet had not understood the point on where the difference between test libraries and frameworks might be. Here is the comment I made to the blog-entry: Since I’m working in the specialized business of mobile phone rating and billing, we introduced our own framework for testing. During the last year we switched our legacy test cases, that were fragile and suffering from high maintenance costs, to a FIT based approach. We came up with two steps for this. We have built up a toolkit with re-usable tools, that our lightweight and most probably being reused on the next project. These additionally need to be independent of particular customer terminologies. From my point of view this portion is a test library for our product. The other part is an incorporating one. We build up Fixtures, that are customer dependent – from project to project. We use the toolkit low-level components for this as far as possible and stick to subclassing or interface implementation, where needed. Historically they grew from the customer specific fixture part towards re-usable components in the toolkit. So we start off with working software and peel out the details, that we are likely to re-use after having a working copy of it. Together both form a testing framework. I don’t seem to get your point on the difference of a library and a framework fully. Our low-level function toolkit seems to be a test library, when incorporated with customer terminology we get a framework, where we simply need to write down the test cases in some tables.

Rays Awareness: Preventing Skin Cancer Lesson Dark Skin Tones and Skin Cancer: What You Need to Know Sunscreen expand/collapse Sun Protection for the Whole Family at the Pool or Beach Window Film: Sun Protection for Your Health and Home Why Use Window Film? What You Need to Know About Clothing How Does Clothing Protect Me from the Sun? Clothing is our first line of defense against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and protects us by absorbing or blocking much of this radiation. The more skin you cover, the better. A long-sleeved shirt covers more skin than a t-shirt, especially if it has a high neckline or collar that shields the back of the neck. Likewise, long pants protect more skin than shorts. As part of a complete sun protection regimen, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended covering up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It indicates what fraction of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can penetrate the fabric. A shirt with a UPF of 50, for example, allows just 1/50th of the sun’s UV radiation to reach the skin. Below are five examples of real fabrics magnified, all with different amounts of fiber or yarn per unit of surface area and providing different amounts of sun protection. The higher the UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), the greater the protection. UPF = 3 UPF = 30 UPF = 115 What Is the Difference Between UPF and SPF? UPF is a rating generally used for clothing and other fabrics that protect you from the sun. It measures the amount of UVA and UVB radiation that penetrates the fabric and reaches the skin. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a rating for sunscreens or other cosmetic products containing sunscreen. Theoretically, the SPF number indicates how long you can stay in the sun before your skin reddens. SPF is only used to rate a sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB rays. How Can I Choose the Right Hat? A wide-brimmed (3-inch or greater) hat covers places like the scalp where it is difficult to apply sunscreen or areas where people forget to apply sunscreen, including the tops of the ears and the back of the neck.

Many investors would like to invest part of their portfolios Question: Many investors would like to invest part of their portfolios Many investors would like to invest part of their portfolios in real estate, but obviously cannot on their own purchase office buildings or strip malls. Explain how this situation creates a profit incentive for investment firms that can sponsor REITs (real estate investment trusts). Answer to relevant Questions Consider the following data for the three stocks that make up the market: a. What is the single-period return on the price-weighted index constructed from the three stocks? b. What is the single-period return on the ...Turn to Figure 2.5 and find the listing for Aecon Group. a. What was the closing price for Aecon? b. How many shares could you buy for $ 5,000? c. What would be your annual dividend income from those shares? d. What must ...Find the price of a six- month (180- day) U. S. T-bill with a par value of $ 100,000 and a bank discount yield of 9.18 percent. An expiring put will be exercised and the stock will be sold if the stock price is below the exercise price. A stop-loss order causes a stock sale when the stock price falls below some limit. Compare and contrast the two ...Suppose that you revise your expectations regarding the stock market (which were summarized in Spreadsheet 4.1) as follows:

Special Olympics' New Global Ambassador Leads By ExampleHis is a tale that appeals to many people -- the story of a physically awkward kid who struggled with learning and behavior problems; but overcame them all to become one of the greatest swimmers of all time. But for Special Olympics athletes, the Michael Phelps story has an added meaning: he's living proof that determination can lead to skill and that skill can lead to triumph. Michael Phelps in Shanghai, China with Special Olympics athletes Dong Fang and Fu Yin Ping, running a Special Olympics swimming clinic. Meet other Special Olympics Global Ambassadors.Earlier this month, Special Olympics named the 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist a Global Ambassador and announced a new partnership with the Michael Phelps Foundation. The mutual goal is to bring health, wellness and expert instruction to our athletes, as well as potentially life-saving information on water safety. As Global Ambassador, Michael Phelps will boost Special Olympics' efforts to raise awareness and transform attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities. Brighter Futures Through SportOf course, he's been working toward that goal for years. In 2007, he held a swimming clinic for Special Olympics athletes in China ahead of the 2007 World Summer Games. He jumped into the pool with the athletes and gave hands-on lessons, offering some of his favorite tips. In 2009, he took part in a swimming exhibition in Baltimore for Special Olympics athletes, swimming laps side-by-side with special guest Andy Miyares. The experience was a dream come true for Andy, an accomplished athlete in his own right and the only swimmer with intellectual disabilities to ever be ranked in top 10 by U.S. Master's Swimming. Now Michael Phelps is hoping to take this mission further. Phelps says he doesn't just want to improve the skills of Special Olympics athletes today, but improve their futures: "Together we can help grow the sport of swimming while also encouraging active and healthy lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities."Inspiration to Reach for Their DreamsEven before he became a Global Ambassador, Michael Phelps has been inspiring our athletes. Ask Special Olympics athlete Zachary Poston, whose dreams began in a pool just downstate from where Michael Phelps trained. Zachary has been with Special Olympics for four years and had long dreamed of winning gold at a World Games ... someday. With that goal in mind, Zachary -- who has autism -- has been stepping up his game. After months of training and practice, Zachary won four gold medals at this year’s Maryland State Summer Games. By then he already knew he'd been picked as the only Maryland swimmer representing the U.S. at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece – also the site of the 2004 International Summer Olympics Games. And that's when his big moment came. That's when Zachary swam -- and won -- the 400-meter freestyle in the very same pool where Michael Phelps won his first Olympic gold medals. Zachary calls it, simply, the "greatest thing that ever happened to me.""I know I can"Watching it all was Zachary's Team USA coach, who knows first-hand how sport can bring out the best in athletes -- of all abilities. Phil Wetzler started out years ago as a coach at the Maryland Aquatic Center where Michael Phelps trained. For the last several years, he's been coaching Special Olympics athletes including at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai and, most recently, in Athens. He says coaching Special Olympics athletes is about skill, about determination, but it's also about heart. His favorite part of coaching is "getting these kids, some who don't even speak much, to say the words 'I know I can, I know I can.' Before you know it, they are cheering and shouting it" -- and achieving the goals they'd never thought they could reach. Наши партнерыФинансирование работы Специальных олимпийских игр по всему миру.Партнер-учредитель Специальных олимпийских игрРасширение комплекса медицинских услуг для людей с нарушениями интеллекта.Всемирный представляющий спонсор программы «Объединенный спорт®».Наш самый большой сбор средств на низовом уровне. Global Impact - партнер Специальных олимпийских игр.Поддерживая нашу работу в единый чемпион школыОфициальный мировой поставщик офтальмологических линзПредоставляет очки для занятий спортом.Делает качественную офтальмологическую помощь доступной.Поддерживает Молодежные программы Специальных олимпийских игр.Радикальное изменение информационных систем, поддерживающих наши игры.Предоставляет предложения клиентов по развитию нашего бренда.Более 30 лет сотрудничества со Специальными олимпийскими играми.Предоставляет оправы для солнечных очков и очков для коррекции зрения.Обеспечивает интеграцию детей с нарушениями интеллекта в общество.Поддержка нашей всемирной маркетинговой кампании для молодежи.Партнер Специальных олимпийских игр, которым мы очень гордимсяКоординирующее агентство по связям «Специальной Олимпиады» с общественностьюОфициальный топливный спонсор Объединенной эстафеты по АмерикеОдин из основных партнеров Специальной олимпиады в Латинской Америке.Finish Line является национальным партнером Специальной олимпиады, которым мы очень гордимся.Поставщик медалей и наград для спортсменов.Ведущий партнер Специальных олимпийских игр в области цифровых технологий.Помогают детям с различными способностями пережить #МойПервыйСпортивныйОпыт

Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising Tomson Hall 149 1520 St. Olaf Avenue Northfield, MN 55057 507-786-3015 507-786-3210 FAX [email protected] Please note: This is NOT the most current catalog. Requirements for B.A. Degree General Education Requirements General education requirements constitute the core degree requirements of the curriculum. Courses are described in this catalog; general education attributes for all courses are indicated in the class and lab schedule. St. Olaf’s general education curriculum does not work by a distribution system (so many courses in certain disciplines); rather, it identifies an area of learning for general education and sets out a series of guidelines and intended learning outcomes that inform the construction of courses. Departments and programs submit their course proposals to the Curriculum Committee, which judges whether a course fulfills a specific general education requirement. Because the college’s expectations for general education are distinctive and characteristic of St. Olaf College alone, students must be particularly careful as they plan off-campus and transfer work. The Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising determines how transfer work applies to St. Olaf’s general education requirements; advisors of approved St. Olaf programs determine whether a course taken through one of these programs/approved by St. Olaf applies to the general education requirements. See TRANSFER OF CREDIT TO ST. OLAF. Some courses in the St. Olaf curriculum count for more than one graduation requirement at the same time. For example, a course taken for general education may also be the first course in a major. A course may simultaneously satisfy two different general education requirements. In addition, students may complete some requirements with approved courses taken on St. Olaf-approved international and off-campus programs. A typical course of study may have proportions as follows: General Education: 14-16 credits Major: 8-10 credits Electives: 10-12 credits Total for graduation: 35 credits Depending upon Advanced Placement examination results, choice of world language, prior preparation in languages and mathematics, choice of a major, and addition of a second major, a concentration, or a teaching certification, the proportions will vary. The codes for the general education requirements are listed under each requirement. The code for each requirement fulfilled by a course is listed in the class and lab schedule, not in the course listings in this catalog. Of courses taken to meet general education requirements, only .25 credit courses may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. Full or .50 credit courses taken S/U do not fulfill general education requirements. An independent study or an independent research credit does not fulfill a general education requirement for the degree. Exception: In consultation with the faculty supervisor and with the approval of the registrar, independent study or independent research may count as a course in writing [WRI]. FOUNDATION STUDIES First-Year Writing [FYW] -- 1 course First-year students are required to complete First-Year Writing (FYW), with two exceptions: FYW is awarded to first-year students who receive a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature or English Language Exam or a score of 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam. Students who initially transfer 15 or more courses to St. Olaf are exempt from the FYW requirement. Placement: The director of writing administers a writing placement exam for first-year students whose SAT verbal and writing scores, ACT English and reading scores, or additional admissions materials indicate that they may benefit from taking Writing 107 or Writing 110 before enrolling in a First-Year Writing course. New incoming students required to take the writing placement exam receive written notification, during the summer and upon arrival to campus, from the director of writing. The writing placement exam is offered only during Week One. International students take a writing placement exam as part of international student orientation. Students who may benefit from a two-semester sequence of writing instruction complete Writing 107: Introduction to Academic Writing, or Writing 110: Critical Skills in Composition, in the first semester of the first year, then complete a Writing 111 in the second semester of the first year. All other students may enroll directly in a Writing 111 section. Writing in Context Courses [WRI] -- 4 courses in any departments/programs Foreign Language [FOL] -- 0-4 courses B.A. FOL Foreign Language [FOL] -- 0-4 courses Requirement: All St. Olaf students must satisfy the foreign language requirement. Bachelor of Arts students must satisfactorily complete the fourth college semester course (numbered 232 or higher) taught in the French [FOL-F], German [FOL-G], or Spanish [FOL-S] languages; or the third college semester course (numbered 231 or higher) taught in the Chinese [FOL-C], Greek [FOL-K], Latin [FOL-L], Japanese [FOL-J], Norwegian [FOL-N], or Russian [FOL-R] languages, or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. Requirement to be completed at St. Olaf: New matriculating students are expected to complete their foreign language (FOL) requirement with a course or courses taken at St. Olaf. In general, students are advised to begin foreign language study in the first semester of the first year and to continue their language study in each subsequent semester until the requirement is completed. In cases where a student’s schedule of courses makes that impossible, the student should consult with his or her advisor. After a student matriculates, under special circumstances, the registrar, in consultation with the appropriate foreign language department, may grant permission to a student to complete the final course for the FOL requirement through summer intensive or semester courses (through a leave of absence) taken at another institution. Placement: Foreign language departments place first-year students and other new students in appropriate language courses on the basis of placement tests or high school preparation. Students entering with previous training in a foreign language must take the relevant placement test if one is offered. The foreign language placement tests are relatively short diagnostic tests; they should not be considered exhaustive and do not provide a satisfactory basis for the certification of proficiency or for receiving course credit. Rather, they function entirely for placement in St. Olaf language courses. Proficiency: New matriculating or new transfer students who have taken college-level foreign language courses at another institution may receive elective credit for those courses, within the maximum number of pre-college credits allowed by St. Olaf, if the courses are deemed appropriate by the registrar. If new matriculating students decide to complete the FOL requirement in the language in which they have prior training, they must take and pass the necessary course(s) according to the placement test results and the FOL policy for the specific language. Students who place higher than the last course normally required to complete the FOL requirement may be eligible to take a proficiency exam. The foreign language proficiency tests are administered by the various foreign language departments. The foreign language proficiency tests measure proficiency at a level equivalent to the end of the corresponding number 231 or 232 language course. A student who passes the appropriate proficiency test satisfies the St. Olaf foreign language requirement (FOL) but does not receive course credit. Please consult individual departments for information about their FOL policies. Languages not taught at St. Olaf: If new matriculating students or new transfer students wish to complete their FOL requirement with courses in a language not taught at St. Olaf, including American Sign Language (ASL), the course(s) must comply with college policy for completion of the FOL requirement, as determined by the registrar. Students planning to fulfill the foreign language requirement with transfer courses from other institutions should be aware of St. Olaf’s requirement of intermediate proficiency in one foreign language (including American Sign Language [ASL]). Questions regarding the transfer of foreign language courses to St. Olaf should be directed in advance to the registrar. Native language other than English: Students who enter St. Olaf College with a native language other than English should consult the registrar. Such students may have their foreign language requirement fulfilled by showing evidence of proficiency in their native language. These students must prove completion through eighth grade in their native language; or they must provide a high school transcript that shows they completed their high school requirements in their native language; or they must pass a proficiency test through St. Olaf (see above) or administered by an outside evaluator. Proficiency reports from persons not known to St. Olaf must be based on documented exposure or training by the student in a foreign language equivalent in length to three or four college semesters or demonstration of a sufficient length of time in a non-English speaking culture to give credence to a proficiency report. As a rule, proficiency reports from persons outside of St. Olaf are not acted upon until the student arranges for a final proficiency exam by persons and methods agreed to by members of the foreign language faculty, the registrar, and, if deemed necessary, the dean of the college. Such exams may involve an expense charged to the student. Documented language learning disability: Students with a documented language learning disability should confer with the Student Accessibility Services in the Academic Support Center. Difficulty progressing: Students who have difficulty making progress in foreign language courses at the college should first consult the instructors of their foreign language courses and their academic advisors; these faculty may also refer students to the Academic Support Center. Students are strongly urged to seek the support of a tutor and meet with that tutor on a regular schedule. Alternative route: In very rare cases, the foreign language requirement may be fulfilled by another method: students who have not fulfilled the foreign language requirement may petition the Foreign Language Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee to satisfy the remainder of the requirement by completing one or more substitute courses in foreign culture and civilization or in literature in English translation. In compliance with state and federal disability discrimination laws, this alternative route to fulfillment of the foreign language requirement is intended for students with disabilities specific to the learning of foreign languages. Any petition should be drawn up with the guidance of the Academic Support Center. Oral Communication [ORC] – 1 course Abstract and Quantitative Reasoning [AQR] – 1 course Placement: The Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department recommends courses for students to take based on their responses to the Mathematics/Statistics and Computer Science placement surveys. Students who do not need to take calculus for their major may want to wait until at least their sophomore year before deciding which mathematics, statistics, or computer science course is the best option for them to take to satisfy the AQR requirement. Studies in Physical Movement [SPM] – 2 courses (of any credit value) Additional Information: Two different courses, of any credit value, that expand students' experiences in and understanding of movement and promote lifelong health and wellness of the whole person. Students are encouraged to expland their horizons and focus on different activities or modes of movement in order to fulfill the requirements. It is strongly recommended that both SPM requirements be completed before the senior year. The following regulations are often misunderstood: If students do not appear on the first class day of an SPM course, the instructor normally assumes that the student will drop the course. In this event, the student must still officially drop the course at the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising by the posted drop deadline. The instructor does not assume this responsibility. Only one SPM course credit may be earned by students as a result of participation in an approved intercollegiate sport. This credit must be entered as Exercise Science 171-194 at the registration preceding the sport/participation term. Credit cannot be claimed after the term in which participation took place unless the student completes a petition form; a late fee is assessed. An intercollegiate SPM (.25) credit can only be used within the two-course SPM graduation requirement. An intercollegiate SPM (.25) credit cannot be used as an elective for the purpose of earning a credit toward the 35 full-credit course requirement for graduation. It can only be used once as one half of the two-course SPM requirement. At registration, students may register initially for only one SPM course. On a space-available basis a second SPM course may be added during the same term with a signed drop/add slip within the drop/add dates published on the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising Web site. After the two-course SPM requirement has been completed, students may repeat a specific exercise science activity (ESAC) course under the following conditions: The SPM requirement is completed with two different courses. Students repeating an ESAC course must wait until the first day of classes to register the repeated activity course, to allow all current students to register for SPM courses. Students may only register on a “space available” (open courses) basis. Each specific exercise science activity course may only be taken a maximum of four times (the first time plus three repeats). CORE STUDIES Historical Studies in Western Culture [HWC] – 2 courses in any departments/programs Multicultural Studies [MCG, MCD] – 2 courses, one MCG, one MCD (must be from two different departments/programs) Artistic and Literary Studies [ALS-A, ALS-L] – 2 courses, one ALS-A, one ALS-L, in any departments/programs Biblical and Theological Studies [BTS-B, BTS-T] – 2 courses, one BTS-B, one BTS-T Students who initially transfer 15 or more courses to St. Olaf are required to complete only the Christian theology (BTS-T) course. One BTS-T course is the required prerequisite for an EIN course. Studies in Natural Science: Scientific Exploration and Discovery [SED] – 1 course (SED, IST must be completed with two different courses from two different departments/programs) Integrated Scientific Topics [IST] – 1 course (SED, IST must be completed with two different courses from two different departments/programs) Studies in Human Behavior and Society [HBS] – 2 courses (must be from two different departments/programs) INTEGRATIVE COURSE Ethical Issues and Normative Perspectives [EIN] – 1 course Prerequisite for all EIN courses: completion of the BTS-T requirement or permission of the instructor.

“Hasn’t our collective experience taught us that prohibition doesn’t work and that we can’t totally kid-proof society?” emphasized Gary Cartwright in his article “Truth and Consequences.” In regard to the utilization of performance enhancing drugs in sports, Cartwright explained that in order to simplify society all substances should be legalized. Any type of substance that is used to improve someone’s ability athletically is considered a performance enhancing drug. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an organization that is committed to abolishing all anabolic substances in professional sports. The WADA is responsible for many athletic organization bans against steroids in sports. Some fans and the public may view that performance enhancing drugs should remain illegal. On the other hand, certain fans and citizens may believe that all types of anabolic steroids should be legalized. However, the decision to utilize steroids is an athlete’s personal choice. Anabolic steroids are unavoidable and will ultimately be more beneficial to society; therefore, all types of performance enhancing drugs should be legalized. The WADA’s ban against anabolic steroids in sports should be removed due to the increase of excitement in sports, the decrease in cheating and controversy, the improvement of health and ability, and the salvage of money. First of all, fans would be more intrigued to watch sports if performance enhancing drugs were legalized. Anabolic steroids enhance a person’s ability, skill, strength, and courage. They would even cause athletes to become more aggressive. For example, fans would gain even more excitement if they were watching the intense tackles of a football game. These factors all make athletic performances more enjoyable. From the late 1980s through the late 2000s, "The Steroids Era" defined the period of time in Major League Baseball (MLB) when a countless number of athletes were accused of utilizing anabolic steroids. The era resulted in an extraordinary amount of home-runs. In her article “Faster, Stronger, Higher,” sports academic, Lincoln Allison, commented, “The fascination of watching Mark McGwire break the home-run record in 1998 was undiminished by his overt use of Nandrolone.” She recognized that fans showed more interest in baseball after McGuire had hit seventy-one home-runs. Nandrolone is a legal steroid in sports that fuels the body to generate more of its natural hormones. It seems that the actual steroids themselves are not the issue to fans; the issue is breaking the law. If people were excited to watch someone that used legal steroids to play in a sport, then people would be even more excited to watch games if ALL steroids were legal. Sammy Sosa, another player from “The Steroids Era,” finished in second place with a total of sixty-six home-runs. In 1998, McGwire and Sosa both received the "Sportsman of the Year" award from Sports Illustrated. Even though performance enhancing drugs have been forbidden in the MLB since 1991, drug testing was not required until 2003. The suspension of favored athletes for using illegal steroids would actually decrease the number of fans and ultimately hurt sports organizations; therefore, it would be easier to legalize the currently illegal substances. Despite the fact that the public was unaware of the steroids the players used, they cannot deny that the numerous home-runs were extremely entertaining. Sosa and McGwire demonstrated that baseball would be more interesting with the legalization of performance enhancing drugs. Some people may believe that performance enhancing drugs diminish the equality of sports. People who take anabolic steroids will have an advantage over the other players. They will have an increase in endurance, stamina, and power. However, sports in general are not equal. An athlete’s performance is also based on their... Show More Please sign up to read full document. Steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs have become a major part of sports at all levels, especially in Major League Baseball (MLB). However, the role they have played is not a positive one. Not only do steroids create an unlevel playing field, but they also have scarred the record books. In a 2005 study by USA Today, 79 percent of the 568 players surveyed said that To better understand the role of steroids in MLB, it is beneficial to know the history of steroids. “Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male sex hormone testosterone. ‘Anabolic’ refers to muscle-building, and ‘androgenic’ refers to increased male sexual characteristics. ‘Steroids’ refers to the class of drugs” (Drugabuse.gov). In 1935, a group of German scientists, led by Adolf Butenandt, created anabolic steroids to treat testosterone deficiency.... Steroid Essay ...Jim Charpentier English 15 Argumentative Essay Steroids in the World of Sports During the 1930s, scientists discovered that anabolic steroids could help the growth of muscle in laboratory animals, which led to abuse of these drugs by bodybuilders and weightlifters and then by athletes in other sports. Ever since the beginning of sports there has been different techniques used in order to gain an edge over opponents. The question that has been most frequently asked is, which of these techniques is considered cheating, and which ones are fair game. The use of steroids is now the most well known form of cheating in recent sports history, and has drove many sports commissioners into a full investigation, that has lead to unique unprecedented punishments. Professional stars must realize that they are huge role models in today’s society, and are influencing young athletes all over the world. Any player in today’s society knows that there is a major punishment for using any kind of performance enhancing drugs. Not only do they get suspended immediately but if and when they return are often booed by fans, and are basically embarrassed in front of the entire league. Since steroids has been such a major subject of late, and such closely watched, I think anyone who tries is just asking for trouble. If an athlete in one of the major sports is caught using performance enhancing drugs there is... The Effects of Steroids on the Body and Sports When you watch professional wresting do you ever wonder how did that guy get so big? I do and the first conclusion I usually come to is that he must be on steroids, there is no way that is natural. As professional sports are implementing drug testing policies and announcing when athletes are caught using steroids we will get the answer to this question. Young athletes are given the impression that steroids will help them get bigger and stronger with little to no side effects. This is far from the truth, roid rages are commonly discussed as a side effect of steroid use but there are many health risks also related to steroid use. Even though steroids can increase an athlete’s ability making sports more exciting, steroid use by professional athletes has a negative effect on professional sports because steroids gives the athletes an unfair advantage and negatively affect the athletes health. Steroids are a group of prescription drugs, developed to treat low amounts of testosterone, muscle atrophy in the case of AIDS and other disease conditions involving loss of body mass. Anabolic steroids contain hormones or hormone-like substances, used to increase strength and... Steroid Usage Among Athletes Essay ...Steroid use among athletes is a phenomenon worldwide. In the sports world it is commonly known as “doping” or “performance enhancing drugs”. Steroids are generally made to help improve athletic performance, but they also have their use in the medical world as well. Scientist has discovered that they benefit patients with AIDS and cancer. Scientist also discovered that steroids “increased the red blood cell count in people who were suffering from anemia” (“Steroid History”, 2012). They are normally taken in either pill form or injections. Dosing is usually made in cycles of weeks or months, with a short break in-between. In today’s society steroid use is prevalent and is no longer restricted to body builders and professional athletes, it has trickled down to school and college-going children. In 2002 “Monitoring the Future” study revealed that “22 percent of 8th graders, 33.2 percent of 10th graders, and 46.1 percent of 12th graders said that it is ‘fairly easy’ for them to obtain steroids” (“Steroid Statistics, 2005). Steroid users can either be male or female and their ages range from 12 years of age or older. The use of steroids has a rich history and if taken down to its bare skin and bones, it can be dated back to the original Olympic Games. They did not use what steroids are known for today, but they used pure... Legalize Steroids in Sports Essay ...Legalize Steroids In Sports Ben Johnson was one of the first superstar athletes to be caught using steroids and was stripped of his 100m gold medal at the 1988 Olympics. He was eventually banned for life in 1993 for testing positive again (Richardson 2010). Performance enhancing drugs have become widely used since the 1970’s and have only increased in the numbers of athletes using the drugs to up their endurance and perform to their greatest potential. Professionals such as Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and Hulk Hogan have all been humiliated and are now seen as cheaters after being caught using steroids. It is too late to stop these sports fuelled on drugs because of the large number of athletes using, so why not consider drug use as a way to level the playing field? The only way to stop the “cheating” in sports is to open up the gates and drop all performance-enhancing drug laws throughout the sports. We should stop all the hypocrisy and allow pro athletes to take whatever performance drugs they please. In 1995 Bob Goldman, a Chicago physician, asked 198 Olympic U.S. athletes whether they would take a banned substance if they were guaranteed to win; 195 of those athletes said yes (Richardson 2011). Professionals know the risks of steroids, but if you offered an athlete a drug that would guarantee him glory and riches, but knock ten years off his life, most would take it (Madden 2011). I. Basic Information A. Anabolic Steroids Aid Body Growth B. Have Drastic Side Effects II. Side Effects of Steroids A. Ways to tell somebody may be using steroids B. Side effects of Steroids in Males C. Side effects of Steroids in Females III. Different Types of Anabolic Steroids A. Oral Anabolic Steroids B. Intravenous Anabolic Steroids IV. Teen Usage A. How teens obtain Anabolic Steroids B. Why teens use Anabolic Steroids 1. Male Teen Usage 2. Female Teen Usage C. Statistics of Usage by Age D. Slang Terms for Steroids VI. Are they Illegal A. Countries in which Anabolic Steroids are Illegal B. Countries in which anabolic Steroids are Discouraged C. Countries in which Anabolic Steroids are not Illegal or Discouraged VII. What Athletic Associations Ban Steroids? A. Associations in which steroids are banned 1. MLB 2. NFL 3. NCAA 4. The Olympics B. Sports in which Steroids are not banned. C. Testing IIX. How are Steroids Developed? A. Invention B. When they were first used. IIX. Closing A. Conclusion Anabolic Steroids Essay 2 ...Running Head: ANABOLIC STEROID INVASION Anabolic Steroid Invasion On the Youth of America Michael G. Kennedy, Jr. Throughout history, man has been developing performance enhancing drugs to promote the wellness and physical characteristics of the human body. Steroids have been a hot topic on performance enhancing for many years and now, with the onslaught of professional athletes standing accused of using steroids, this steroid topic has emerged on the fore front of main stream sporting news. How exactly do steroids work in the body? Why are more and more young people abusing steroids? And what exactly are the disadvantages to both men and women that use steroids for performance enhancement? These areas and others will be covered in this essay. Nazi soldiers from Germany in the 1930's, Soviet Union Olympic athletes in the 1950's, and even up to today, professional athletes in the United States, have all been linked to steroid use. Scientific experiments and studies with steroids have been around since the mid 1800's, when a professor of medicine at Gottingen, Germany, by the name of Arnold A. Berthold, elected to use six roosters in an experiment involving the removal and transplantation of the testes. This experiment... Anabolic Steroid Usage Research Paper ...integrity and effects of steroids. The recreational consumption of anabolic steroids has been vastly argued over in recent years, and although athletes who use these drugs may make the games unusually entertaining, low integrity still arises from the usage of performance-enhancing drugs to stimulate athletic ability and performance. Anabolic steroids are the most widely used and most often banned strain of performance-enhancing drugs. These Anabolic steroids are substances that give athletes a lean, shredded look (“Steroids”618). Nature supplies the minerals and proteins found in most “natural steroids. Natural steroids are not as effective as anabolic steroids, thus they have not yet been banned, though they’re frowned upon as a form of cheating. “In today’s world, athletes who are determined to cheat know that natural substances are the way to go” (Johnson 38). Anabolic steroids are frequently used in major sports and professional weight championships, and have been seriously banned in every major athletic league. The use of anabolic steroids is still a touchy subject among athletic officials. The use of steroids is rampant in the sports industry. Steroids are a group of synthetic hormones that can produce numerous body effects, which include but are not limited to, muscle strength increase,...

Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Health care Pages : 2 (456 words ) DeVry University HSM 310 I feel that Johns Hopkins Hospital made the top 100 hospitals because they are more than just a hospital. It is also a medical research facility and a teaching facility (Johns Hopkins Medicine). This facility offers a wide variety of services to their patients which include community hospitals and outpatient sites. Also, they have services for out of state and international patients. Johns Hopkins is world renown for not only their teaching facilities but also for their research in cancer and AIDS. They have a center or department for every healthcare need you could think of in their facility. I also feel that their structure and organization of their facility is very well set up. They have information on what that center has to offer, treatment information and the history of that center. The services that they offer to international patients are that they have a team that is fluent in 20 plus languages and they tailor the patients’ cultural, religious and special needs if needed. They have affiliations with not only North America but Europe, Asia, Latin American and the Middle East (Johns Hopkins Medicine). The services that they offer for out of state patients is that they help you find the right specialist for your needs, then set up an appointment, they also help you find the best travel and lodging options for your needs. Most hospitals do no worry about how you are getting there; this facility seems to genuinely care about their patients. I feel that what they can offer to their international patients and out of state patients is something that places them higher than most because of the wide variety of affiliations that they have and the care that they put into your visit at their facility. I also feel that what Mr. Hopkins envisioned helped this facility become not only one of the top 20 of the top 100 hospitals but the number one hospital of the top 20. To... Show More Please sign up to read full document. What Makes a Top 100 Hospital Essay ...Running Header: “What Makes a Top 100 Hospital” “What Makes a Top 100 Hospital?” Health Services Management 310 Introduction The Washington Hospital in Washington, Pennsylvania was one of the hospitals to make the top 100 list. The Washington Hospital is very successful not- for- profit community hospital because it helps out its community and provides a wide variety of jobs to the surrounding cities. The hospitals mission statement is “To provide great patient care.” The hospitals vision is “To be the Regional Health Care system of choice for patients, physicians and employees in Washington and surrounding counties.” The hospital provides school programs on site and jobs after graduation. They have positive feedback which rates them 4 of 5 stars on their hospitals overall performance. History The Washington Hospital history has proven to successfully providing some of the highest quality care in the southwestern Pennsylvania area since 1897, when it was just an old family farmhouse. It was not until after they officially opened later on down the road that the physicians were able to operate in an... DeVry University What Makes a Top 100 Hospital? Since 1993, the Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals program has used both independent and objective research to guide hospital and health system performance. In this process, they analyze public data sources to compare hospitals to similar organizations. The 100 Top Hospitals program uses a balanced scorecard that incorporates public data, proprietary, peer-reviewed methodology and key performance metrics to arrive at an objective, independent analysis of hospital or health system performance. This research measures performance, organizational alignment, progress against business goals and demonstrates the value that an award winning organization provides to patients. (Truven Health Analytics, 2013) WHAT MAKES A GOOD LIFE Essay ...What makes a good life Information about China The People's Republic of China (PRC), it is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of over 1.35 billion. China is the world's second-largest country by land area, the total area is generally stated as being approximately 9,600,000 km2. China have very long history that it is one of the world's oldest civilizations. The Chinese history is a alternating periods of political unity and disunity. As the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the ethnic mixed, became more and more strong. China has one of the longest recorded history of medicine records of any existing civilization. The methods and theories of traditional Chinese medicine have developed for over two thousand years. Western medical theory and practice came to China in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, notably through the efforts of missionaries[4] and the Rockefeller Foundation, which together founded Peking Union Medical College. Today Chinese traditional medicine continues alongside western medicine and traditional physicians who also receive some western medical training. Doctors use western medicine in most of big hospital, but in some part of treatment the traditional medicine is better. The World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution came into force on April 7, 1948, and China has been a Member since the beginning. by the rises in prices, there... Top 100 Hospital ...Top 100 Hospital Application Paper – St. Elizabeth Community Hospital There are over five thousand registered hospitals in the United States and every year Thomson Reuter’s Top 100 Hospitals ranks every one of them to provide citizens with a list of the best hospitals in the nation. (AHA Resource Center, 2013) Reuter’s program analyzes each hospital’s performance and then compares hospitals of similar size and status to determine which hospitals are to be recognized. For the past 6 years, in the small town of Red Bluff, California, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital has been awarded this recognition. (Mercy, 2012) St. Elizabeth Community Hospital’s history began in 1882 as a small ministry hospital of the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy ran by the Irish Sisters of Mercy. St. Elizabeth’s was born in 1906 when a widow of the community, Elizabeth Kraft, gave Bishop Thomas Grace the deed to a building under three circumstances: “First, the property had to be used as a hospital; Second, the hospital had to be operated by the Sisters of Mercy; and, Third the name of the hospital would be St. Elizabeth.” (Mercy, 2012) Tragically, in 1913, the hospital was destroyed in a fire and wasn’t salvageable. The Sisters held fundraisers and the... Iphs Standards for 100 Bedded Hospital Research Paper ...DRAFT Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) For 51 to 100 Bedded Sub-District/Sub-Divisional Hospitals (January 2007) Directorate General of Health Services Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Government of India 1. Introduction 2. Objectives of IPHS for Sub-District Hospitals 3. Definition of Sub-District Hospital 4. Grading of Sub-District Hospital 5. Functions 6. Essential Services 7. Physical Infrastructure 8. Manpower 9. Equipment 10. Laboratory Services 11. Recommended allocation of bed strength at various levels 12. List of Drugs 13. Capacity Building 14. Quality Assurance in Services 15. Rogi Kalyan Samities / Hospital Management Committee 16. Citizen’s Charter Annexure – I: Guidelines for Bio-Medical Waste Management Annexure – II: Reference Laboratory Networks List of Abbreviations References 3 4 4 4 5 5 26 36 39 52 55 56 67 67 68 68 78 82 87 88 Sub-district (Sub-divisional) hospitals are below the district and above the block level (CHC) hospitals and act as First Referral Units. Specialist services are provided through these sub-district hospitals. These hospitals should play an important referral link between the Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and sub-centres. They have an important role to play as First Referral Units in providing... Professor Tammy Cagle The Cleveland Clinic is in the top 20 of the top 100 Hospitals. Its official rank is 4th. The Cleveland Clinic is celebrating 90 years of excellent service. It opened its doors February 28th 1921. It was founded by four Doctors, Dr. George Crile, Dr. Frank Bunts. Dr. William Lower and Dr. John Phillips. Back in 1921 it was the first hospital of its kind, a not-for-profit group practice dedicated to patient care enhanced by research and education.(http://myclevelandclinic.org/90th-anniversary.aspx). The Hospital was built with all the latest equipment available at that time. The Cleveland Clinic quickly outgrew its building having more added in the years to come. The Cleveland Clinic has accomplished many medical first. The Worlds first cine-coronary angiography,...

Feedback Sensors Keep Servomotors on Target Tuesday, 01 October 2013 Page 3 of 3Linear encoders contain a linear track and a read head, and are usually used with systems that track linear movement, such as X-Y stages, and position tables. The linear track can range in length from a few inches to several feet. It is etched with graduations that are scanned by the read head as motion components move. The read head detects multiple channels to provide position and direction data. Encoders with sinusoidal outputs use additional interpolation circuitry to electronically improve resolution.For equipment that requires particularly high resolution, linear encoders are the best choice in their class. Resolutions to 0.1 microns are common, with some systems offering resolution to 20 nanometers. Accuracy, typically 20 microns per meter, may decrease linearly over the travel distance of the track. However, this can be compensated for with slope error correction to bring any error below 5 microns per meter. Machines operating at high speeds use linear encoders for feedback because these devices typically operate at higher speeds than other feedback devices.Optical rotary encoders consist of a light source, rotating code disc, and a light detector. The disc has either slits or graduations that divide it into equally spaced areas of dark and light. These markings often are referred to as lines — hence, the unit of measure of lines per revolution (LPR). This measurement indicates an encoder’s resolution or granularity. Accuracy for encoders is defined as plus (+) or minus (-) lines or counts. It is important to note that accuracy and resolution are different attributes, although they are often related. With encoders, accuracy typically increases with resolution since accuracy is defined as +/- so many counts. As count resolution increases, so does accuracy. With resolvers, however, increasing resolution by more interpolation — 16 bits vs. 12 bits, for example — does not increase the accuracy. It is quite common for resolver systems to have 100 times lesser accuracy than resolution.As the connected components rotate, the light detector registers the on-off pattern of the light passing through the disc. The detector converts this on-off pattern into an electronic, digital signal that looks like square waves. Typically two rows of slits or markings are offset by one half of their width or one quarter of a complete cycle (90 electrical degrees), generating two electrical signals known as Channel A and Channel B. This offset lets the control determine the direction of the shaft rotation, an important piece of information for the drive during start up, and essential for servo systems providing bi-directional motion.Instead of using only two channels, some encoders use additional channels to track shaft position or help with noise immunity. These channels include what is referred to as the Index and Compliment channels. Another means of tracking shaft position is to add a commutation, or Hall equivalent channel. They represent alignment to the Aphase, B-phase, and C-phase back EMF of the motor.Depending on how the encoder counts the A and B channels, resolution can increase four-fold. This will arise when the counting circuit tracks both falling and rising edges of both signals, also referred to as quadrature detection. Increasing resolution will increase system repeatability. High resolution also enables higher gain for position and velocity loops, ensuring superior system stiffness. Encoder resolutions of 50 to 5,000 lines per revolution are standard among most vendors, but line counts to 100,000 are available. In high-accuracy applications, system accuracy is affected by errors from other sources such as lead-screw cumulative error, thermal expansion, or nut backlash. Linear encoders can overcome these challenges.Sine encoders are at the high-cost, high-accuracy, and precision end of the feedback device spectrum. They are similar to incremental encoders, except that the A and B data channels are sent to the controller, typically as one-volt, peak-to-peak sine waves instead of square waves. The benefit is that these devices can interpolate each complete sine wave, increasing system resolution and giving more information to the velocity controller. This reduces truncation and quantization errors, allowing higher loop gains. Sine encoders can achieve over 2 million counts per revolution, or about 0.62 arc-sec of resolution. Such capability is well suited to applications that require high precision or have high inertia loads.Like other encoders, sine encoders also may have commutation tracks, Hall emulation tracks, or auxiliary sinusoidal channels called C and D, which provide absolute position within one revolution. The C and D channels are similar to the Sine and Cosine signals used in resolvers.A variation of sine encoders is the multiple-turn sine encoder. Multi-turn versions are implemented using an internal mechanical gearbox. This provides absolute positioning over many revolutions of the device. These encoders can provide up to 8192 steps per revolution and up to 8192 shaft revolutions, providing a total of 26 bits of absolute resolution before interpolation. Sine encoders offer high precision, resolution, and accuracy.Feedback devices can output electrical or optical signals. One advantage of using optical transmission lines for feedback signals is that they are immune to high noise or EMI/RFI environments. High noise levels interfere with clean signals and distort data sent to the drive, compromising a drive’s ability to provide high-quality position, speed, and torque control. When sending signals electrically, amplifiers or signal conditioning devices may be needed to modify noisy signals. Newer feedback devices use IC chips to convert and interpolate signals to more robust waveforms that aren’t corrupted by noise, and that won’t diminish as they propagate through the cable to the drive.This article was written by Gene Matthews, Product Manager at Kollmorgen, Radford, VA. For more information, visit .

March 4, 2010 by Kathie Keeler Filed under Parents of Substance Abusers Leave a comment Alex Lickerman, M.D., wrote an interesting article called “The Good Guy Contract.” He had a habit of being a pleaser and couldn’t stop, even when he wanted to stop. He writes, “The Good Guy Contract was simple; I would agree to be nice to you, to advise you, to sacrifice for you–and in return you would agree to believe that I was wise, compassionate, and excellent as a human being in every way. And, most importantly, you would like me.” When he finally saw what he was doing, he stopped doing it. He’s one of the lucky few who was able to stop immediately. We should all be that fortunate. But, what’s wrong about people pleasing, you say? It’s nice to be nice. And we all enjoy being liked and loved. Here’s the thing: people pleasers contribute to family dysfunction. They are the ones who come to therapy, confused about their teen’s irresponsible behavior, depressed about their spouse’s alcoholism, and anxious to fix somebody else. Their focus is always on someone else because that’s the nature of their problem. Take This Easy Test 1. Do you consider your own needs, wants, and desires in a relationship or are you more likely to put others’ needs, wants, and desires first? 2. Does your self esteem suffer when you’re criticized, even if the criticism is not true? 3. Do you have a habit of sacrificing your plans, desires, or needs in a caring relationship? 4. Do you often confuse pity with love? 5. Are you generally a conflict avoider? 6. When things go wrong, do you usually blame yourself? 7. Do you stay attached when most everyone else tells you that you need to detach? 8. When a relationship is dragging you down, do you still put the other person’s needs or opinions first? 9. Do you have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility to the point that you think it’s your job to fix others? 10. Early in your life did you learn to set your own feelings aside to care for others? If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you’re probably a pleaser. And that’s not good. You may have been the unwitting contributor to relationship dysfunction. You may be prone to depression and/or anxiety because of your pleasing pattern. Rather than set limits and follow through with consequences, you may have decided to plead, nag, cajole, beg, threaten, or send guilt trips. And how is that working for you? Tear Up Your “Good Guy Contract” If you’re a chronic people pleaser who can’t stand to disappoint others when disappointing them is appropriate, then you have a great opportunity to become happier. As an added bonus, loved ones often get better when you stop your pleasing pattern. Boundaries and limits are more effective teaching tools. You’ll learn to value yourself more as you make important changes. Dr. Alex Lickerman recommends the following: Assess your people-pleasing tendencies. Take the test and answer honestly. Ask a friend to give you feedback on the test. Practice disappointing people. Say no. Set limits. Write a script of how you’re going to refuse a favor, and read it to someone else first. Try it out. Keep the payoff in mind. You’re going to be happier in the long run. People will respect you more as you stop your pleasing pattern. And you’ll be a lot more authentic. Most pleasers do not give up their pleasing patterns easily. It often takes years to learn a new way of relating. Go to therapy and stay there until you make significant changes in your life. Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

Africa: Too Much Voting Power in FIDE? Sep 17th, 2010 by Daaim Shabazz In the upcoming election for FIDE President, there has been a lot of talk about the voting structure of one-nation, one vote. This idea is in line with the democratic ideals of general bodies, but seems to have met the ire of chess pundits and commentators. For the past two campaigns there has been the question of whether smaller federations should have an equal number of votes as larger federations. A controversy unfolded when the Kirsan Ilyumzhinov camp went back to 2006 and found these words by Anatoly Karpov: “According to FIDE regulations, only FIDE delegates representing the National federations can officially participate in the elections and take decisions of other precise issues at the FIDE General Assembly. One country-one vote, despite the number and level (I mean Grandmasters) of the chess players. I always thought it would be good to set up a “security council” Those federations whose best chess players are more likely related to the fight for the World Champion title should be given greater importance.” (see article) The 2010 Karpov campaign asserted that these words were taken out of context. It appears as if Karpov is saying there should be some regard for more influential federations and professional chess. Most will agree that more attention needs to be paid to sponsorship of professional events and raising the public profile of chess. Perhaps he is suggesting a separate entity in addition to the General Assembly. There certainly will not be an agreement for a “Security Council” to replace the General Assembly of chess nations. The lack of focus on the interest of professional players is what brought about the founding of the Association of Chess Professionals. African Continental Meeting at the 2008 Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. What exists now is a system where the majority consists of smaller federations giving them a “bloc advantage.” This is assuming that all of these federations (primarily in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean) vote as one bloc. This rarely happens in any orchestrated fashion. Nonetheless, African federations are viewed as undeserving of their fundamental right despite being full dues-paying members. When Africa is neglected until the FIDE elections every four years, they are then considered corrupt or gullible for accepting services that should have been rendered all along. This is unfair. In New in Chess (2010/5), there was a piece in Nic’s Cafe about the FIDE voting structure. At the elections in Khanty-Mansiysk the vote of the United States will carry the same weight as Zambia’s. In a essay by Arne Moll, A vote from a country like Gabon counts as strongly as the vote from the USA, so the big question is what all other countries will do at the FIDE congress? (see article) The implication is that Zambia and Gabon should not have as much voting power as the USA. There are countless other African examples on blogs and discussion groups. It appears to be an “insert African country” format. Why is there always the tendency to use African nations in these examples? In fact, large chess federations are no shining examples to follow. In recent memory, we have had turmoil and corrupt practices among a great number of strong chess federations not to mention the recent internal divisions created during the FIDE elections. Nations, big and small, are divided, suing each other and there is tremendous internal discord. When nations within Africa become scapegoats for what is deemed a flawed system, then chess has failed in championing the virtues of democracy. When Africa is neglected until the FIDE elections every four years, they are then considered corrupt or gullible for accepting services that should have been rendered all along. This is unfair. FIDE Delegates at 2004 Olympiad in Calvia, Spain: (L-R) Enoch Barumba (Uganda), Rugema Ngarambe (Rwanda), Lyndon Bouah (South Africa). What shall their votes be worth?? There was the essay written by Niels Lauritsen, a Danish chess organizer based in Malawi. The essay was aimed bringing accountability in the FIDE voting structure. It was motivated by his experiences in Africa so he felt compelled to bring light to these issues. He proposes an account of legitimacy within a set of criteria. There is the implication that developing regions (especially Africa) are the main ones violating the sanctity of the vote. Lauritsen states, I know several chess federations who cannot currently fulfill even one of the above listed criteria or bullets. And there are some who can only scrape through on one or two of the bullets only. Yet these federations, without recorded members, without accountability, without vision, trod to the FIDE assembly and vote every four years, almost en block, to the increasing anguish of many big federations who wish for higher standards. (see article) Notice Lauritsen’s point, “…big federations who wish for higher standards.” Yet we have a chess world at various levels of turmoil since 1972… and it is essentially run by big federations! What is not realized is that only a small percentage of federations would meet the criteria of what Lauritsen deems a “proper chess federation”. It does not mean his proposal is a bad one and may be constructive, but to continue to single out destitute federations as unworthy of voting power is unfair. Who are we to blame when FIDE only pays attention to Africa every four years? Therein lies the conundrum. It is clear that the voting structure is not the main problem in this issue. More than promises and favors, they want to see progress. Let us hope that the next administration will honor this wish and not wait until another four years before knocking on Africa’s door. IM Robert Gwaze celebrates his 9-0 gold medal run at the 2002 Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia. The Olympiad is a showcase of chess success showing that chess has reached every single corner of the globe… from the electric streets of Shanghai, to the cafes of Latin America, to barbershops of the U.S. We should be proud of the successes of players such as GM Amon Simutowe who developed with few resources and is a national hero. In fact, with his title, Zambia has as many Grandmasters as Ireland and Venezuela and more than several well-organized federations. IM Robert Gwaze’s gold medal in the 2002 Bled Olympiad stands as a crowning achievement for Zimbabwean chess. GM Ahmed Adly winning of the 2007 World Junior Championship was another first for Africa. These accolades are what African federations what to see. Yes… developing federations need to get their house in order as do the larger federations. More than promises and favors, they want to see progress. Let us hope that the next administration will honor this wish and not wait until another four years before knocking on Africa’s door. African federations have every right to make their voices heard with their votes… and they shall. In the current system, the more powerful nations are forced to be inclusive and negotiate with smaller federations to pass legislation. If you like the U.S. model, then you would not have a problem with the General Assembly (one nation – one vote) and another entity where a nation’s power could mean something. However, I would only suggest this if the entity was limited to decisions on professional chess and the interests they represent (e.g., Grand Prix, World Championship cycle, professional sponsorship, etc.). FIDE never took an interest in how local federations are run. Problem is not the one nation one vote thing…it’s the people who go in and vote. What makes these ‘elitist/western’ guys think Karpov is not the favoured candidate in Africa? Delegates from Africa tend not to reflect the opinion on the ground. Just because delegate X or a bunch of them who by coincidence happen to come from one continent happen to prefer Kirsan…it doesn’t mean they are voting based on preference of players at large on the continent. I think it’s plain stupid to blame whole countries and continents simply because some individual and dictatorial delegates want to vote for Kirsan. Furthermore, it’s plain discrimination by sections of these western/elite countries…take Atheletics for example. It is more than obvious Africa has a larger number of middle and long distance runners yet the international bodies that are run by a bunch of westerners eliminate events like cross country world championships etc simply because European runners are not winning these events! [Reply] on 18 Sep 2010 at 5:28 am5Gilgamesh James Pais Pinto I don´t think to be fair talking about this at this time. We are facing a lot of problems to develop our chess and that is what counts. we need to make that change happens. It is all ilusiory. Those problems about FIDE we are going to solve them in the right time. It seems as if this conversation about FIDE voting only comes up every four years. That is the only time this issue seems to matter. The reason is despite this one-nation-one vote system, larger federations still hold most of the influence. This conversation only occurs because some pundits feel that smaller nations will “unfairly” hold power to beat the minority of larger nations in selecting a President. However, this ensures that smaller federations are not ignored. There is also the notion that African nations should not get six slots in the FIDE Knockout tournament because its qualifying players are not the strongest of players (2400+). One top GM made note of this and he said Africa was not deserving of their slots. There are certainly double standards in FIDE. African federations pay the same dues, yet they are expected to be second-class citizens. If the FIDE changed the dues structure to reflect reduced voting power for small federation, FIDE would lose a lot of revenue for operating expenses and would be in much worse financial shape than it is now. [Reply] on 18 Sep 2010 at 10:59 am7Mehul But I support the Grade A and B membership idea of Niels who is qouted in the article. What happened at the court which was hearing the karpov vs kirsan tussle? [Reply] on 18 Sep 2010 at 11:34 am8Niels Lauritsen Some of the African federations, especially the ones which are the most unorganised and under personal undemocratic control, do not pay FIDE membership. Some have not paid for up to 15 years. The debt is always forgiven, if they are known to be a loyal voter. For this reason also the FIDE acccounting cannot be taken at face value. Your argument that African federations pay the same as everyone else is not correct. Some do not, never has. This, and the presents offered every 4 years, is part of the overall rot. Of course this situation is not a strictly African syndrome alone, I hasten to add, so you are very right that we should not overzealously bash only the Black Continent! [Reply] on 18 Sep 2010 at 3:46 pm9Daaim Shabazz Niels, I am not referring to what is forgiven, but what is required of dues-paying nations. FIDE’s forgivenance policy is probably on a case-by-case basis. For example, I know that Haiti may have trouble paying dues right now. They are scheduled to participate in the 2010 Olympiad… or at least has registered. You said “some do not” pay the same. Perhaps that’s true, but that is not because there is an offical scale where fees are based on federation size. I know personally in 2006 that all of those nations who played in the Olympiad were required to pay dues or their accommodations would be cancelled. I had a debate with Neil Freeman over this issue. He gave me an account of those African nations in arrears and was ready to cancel two African federations until they paid. During the African meeting in Dresden, Kebadu Belachew of Ethiopia objected to the way the matter was handled. Freeman was present, expressed sympathy, but reiterated the importance of paying the dues.

Plant diets are a traditional form of Amazonian medicine. They are used by the shamans of Peru as the primary means of learning from the spirits of the plants and to enable their clients to heal and find new power by forming a strong bond with a plant ally (the energy or spirit of a plant) so they have its strength always within them. Diets like these are able to heal a variety of conditions, such as: After being on pain medication and lacking sensation in her feet for years, one 45 year old client left her diet pain-free, flexible, with full sensation and walking normally after two weeks of treatment. Valium Addiction One client went from using 10mg of valium daily to 0mg in 10 days, something Western medicine would say is impossible. For a number of clients stomach problems were resolved and they were able to eat normally for the first time in years. Having been confined to a wheelchair as a result of a brain tumour and given six weeks to live by her doctor one young woman was able to leave her chair and enjoy a richer life with greater personal freedom for a further six years. Anxiety and Depression (a common complaint of Western clients) Several people who have undertaken diets report a stronger sense of self, inner calmness and a renewed excitement and optimism for their futures. A trauma-induced problem, it was healed by dieting the appropriate plant. Plant diets are always useful and in cases like these they have achieved remarkable results. Many people however have felt excluded from them simply by virtue of the fact that – until now – traditional shamanic diets have only been available in the rainforests of Peru. For many this has meant considerable (sometimes unaffordable) cost in long-haul plane journeys and greater stress and inconvenience. For these reasons, we have decided to offer traditional diets in Spain. This is the first time we are aware of that such diets have been available outside the Amazon. Their availability here offers the benefits of cheaper travel (and less time spent traveling) as well as a convenient location and less stressful surroundings, making plant healing more accessible to a greater number of people. The term ‘dieta’ is simply Spanish for diet but in fact is used more in the sense of the Greek word dieta, meaning a change in lifestyle rather than simply the ingestion of (or abstention from) certain foods. Diets are undertaken for two primary reasons (which are not mutually exclusive): - As a form of shamanic apprenticeship by people who are looking to deepen their relationship with the medicine of particular plants, to understand shamanism better, to become healers themselves or who want to learn how to work with teacher plants like ayahuasca and San Pedro. Here they provide a means of connection with the spirit of the plants, the greater spirit of the universe and a method of purification so that greater communion with the intelligence of ayahuasca or San Pedro can be achieved. - As a method of healing, a complete regime so that the power (or energy/spirit) of a plant can be fully absorbed and this can then work as an ally within that person to provide greater strength, fortitude, understanding and protection. To develop the healing connection between patient/apprentice and plant, the diet has many facets: - Privacy and quiet so you can focus without distractions on the essence and intentions of the plant you are dieting and absorb its healing effects. Dietas at our Centre are arranged on an individual basis and are for 10 or 14 days (the minimum length for any healing plant diet). We keep participant numbers low so that individual attention can be given and the relationship between patient and plant can be fostered. Diets are often solo ventures but in any case we do not take more than three people at a time (much lower than other healing centres). - Cleansing flower baths and/or vomitivos (purges using special plants to rid the body of toxins) may also form part of your program in order to cleanse and purify your system. - You will also follow a restricted food diet in order to detox and strengthen your body. The food is nourishing but, in keeping with all shamanic diets, very bland so that the spirit of the plant you are dieting is not overwhelmed and you can make a stronger connection to it. - Regular consultations are scheduled to discuss your healing, assess your progress and offer counseling and shamanic guidance to (for example) identify and address the true nature and origin of your illness or problem. This typically results in greater clarity about the issue and deeper insights into your path to wellness. Following your consultations other treatments and/or plant medicines may be recommended. - In all cases a dieta will begin with a formal consultation to hear of your needs and aspirations and to assess your energy. This is normally followed by an ayahuasca ceremony so we can better evaluate the spiritual processes in operation and make recommendations based on the guidance received from the mother-spirit. Further ayahuasca ceremonies typically (although not always) take place during your diet. - In addition to ayahuasca we may suggest that you participate in San Pedro ceremonies to facilitate your healing process and support your journey back into the world.

Everyone should consider eating an apple a day; this juicy fruit is full of nutrients that boost our immunity and help to heal wounds and battle infections. Some reports have indicated that eating apples can also reduce the production of sebum within the body which is responsible for excessive oiliness of the skin. Apples also have critical Vitamins which are essential for growth and development as well as maintaining healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin. People who want to remain healthy and lose weight should eat apples but they should eat the flesh of the apple rather than drink the juice. Just one apple a day contains enough daily nutrients to keep our body going. (more…)

BlogArticles, news, and communication tips. When to Break Your English Teacher’s Rules / Posted in Improve Your Business Writing, Proofreading & Editing by Hannah Comerford, Scribe Contributor Today is National Teacher Day, a day to celebrate our teachers and their hard work. What our teachers taught us in English class is now a part of our subconscious, and we use the rules we learned in our everyday lives. Whether you liked diagramming sentences or hated spelling bees, your early lessons laid a foundation for your business writing. However, as we grew older, the rules started to change. “I before E, except after C” added the stipulation, “or when sounded as A, as in neighbor and weigh.” Before long we realized that this didn’t even cover everything, and we simply gave up on the mnemonic altogether (at least I did!). Perhaps you’ve noticed this shift with other elementary school grammar rules: they’re often broken in the adult professional world. Why is this? Children need black and white rules because they can’t grasp gray areas or qualities. For instance, in our first years of school we learned that a noun is a person, place, or thing. Then, when we were older, we learned that a noun can also be an idea. We couldn’t comprehend this last category until our brains had developed more. Likewise, grammar rules have exceptions that younger children can’t quite comprehend yet. Adults, however, can and should be able to handle these nuances. Understanding grammar’s nuances will bring your writing to a level beyond the elementary school basics. Below are just a few grade school rules and how grown-up writers can break them. Never end a sentence with a preposition. When Churchill’s editor rearranged a sentence to follow this rule, the prime minister wrote, “This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” As he demonstrated, sticking hard and fast to this rule can leave you with clumsy sentences. Who wants to read, “up with which I will not put”? While oftentimes you can rearrange your sentence so as not to end with a preposition, don’t do so if the finished product is an awkward wording. To form a possessive of a word ending in –s, use only an apostrophe. Two of the most popular style manuals, AP and Chicago, disagree on this matter. Chicago tells us to use an apostrophe and an –s (business’s statistics). AP, on the other hand, recommends leaving off the extra –s (business’ clients). Check the manual your business/field prefers. Never begin a sentence with “and.” Following this rule won’t necessarily hurt you, but occasionally breaking it can make your writing more interesting. Here’s the trick: don’t leave out the subject and verb. “The numbers are dropping. And quickly.” vs. “The numbers are dropping. And they’re dropping quickly.” While the first example may be excusable, the second one leaves no chance for confusion. As you remember your teachers this week, you might take a moment to revisit old notebooks, your child’s homework, or Schoolhouse Rock and recall the basic rules of grammar. And when faced with a gray area in your business writing, ask yourself, “Does the rule impede understanding?” If the answer is yes, you may need to break it. When you do purposefully break a rule, don’t be afraid to ask the opinion of a professional editor or knowledgeable writer. He or she will let you know if it works or if you should stick to the basics.

SecurityHow-To How to Update Your Linksys Router by Jill Scharr Feb 19, 2014, 9:54 AM A new worm, or piece of self-replicating malware, nicknamed "TheMoon" has been infecting Linksys E-series routers, and possibly some Linksys Wireless-N-series routers, by exploiting a vulnerability in the way the routers verify administrator access. Fortunately, upgrading to the latest Linksys router firmware and disabling the Remote Management Access feature will prevent the worm from gaining access. MORE: 12 More Things You Didn't Know Could Be Hacked If you want to protect against TheMoon, or simply wish to ensure that your Linksys router is as safe as it can be, read on to find out how to upgrade your firmware and adjust your router settings. 1. Go to your router's Web-based setup page. Do this by opening a Web browser on any computer or mobile device connected to the Linksys router and typing "192.168.1.1" into the address bar. If that doesn't work, then the local IP address of your router was changed from the default during the initial setup. Find out the new IP address and enter that instead. 2. Log into the setup page using your administrator credentials. You should have created a personalized username and password when you first set up the router. If you haven't, then leave the "User name" box blank, and in the "Password" box, enter "admin." If that doesn't work, type "admin" into the "User name" box as well. 3. Check that your router is running the latest firmware. In the upper-right-hand corner of the screen, you should see the words "Firmware Version" and then several numbers. You want to be running version 2.0.06. If that's the number you see, then skip to step 12. If it's not, then read on to learn how to download the firmware you need. Note: Some router models vulnerable to TheMoon are no longer supported by Linksys and haven't been issued any firmware updates. Linksys says it will soon release firmware updates for all affected products, including models no longer sold. If you're using an older Linksys E-series router and have trouble finding a firmware upgrade, you may have to wait a few weeks. 4. In another browser window or tab, open the Linksys Support Page at . 5. In the search box under "Start Here," type the model number of your router. You can find the model number on the underside of your router. The model number should auto-complete when you start to type it into the Web page. Click on that auto-completed name and you'll be taken directly to the support page for your router. 6. On the router model's support page, select "Downloads" from the row of tabs near the middle of the screen. From the drop-down box that appears below the tabs, choose your hardware version. You should be able to find this number written on your router near the model number. 7. Locate the download named "Firmware" and click "Download." The download file should have a ".bin" extension, though it might also come as ".bix," ".trx," ".fim," ".rmt" or ".ggl." Save this file anywhere on your computer. 8. Back in your router setup page, click on the "Administration" tab at the top of the page, then click on "Firmware Upgrade." 9. From the popup box, click "Browse" and navigate to the firmware file that you saved to your computer in step 7. Click "Open" and then "Start Upgrade." 10. Wait for the upgrade to finish. Don't turn off the power or hit the router's reset button while this process is underway. A popup will eventually appear informing you that the upgrade has been successful. Click "Continue" on that popup to complete the process. 11. Turn your router off and on again. Do this by unplugging it from its power socket for 10 seconds, then plugging it in again. Congratulations &mash; you're now running the latest firmware for your router. There are a few extra steps you should take to make sure your router is as secure as possible. 12. In the router's Web-based setup page, click on the "Administration" tab at the top. You should now see a tab at the left labeled "Remote Management Access." To its right are the words "Remote Management" followed by an "Enabled" or "Disabled" option. Make sure the "Disabled" option is the one checked. 13. In the router's Web-based setup page, click on the "Security" tab at the top. You should see a tab at the left of the screen called "Internet Filter." Click on that tab, then make sure the box next to "Filter Anonymous Internet Requests" is checked. These Netgear Routers Need to Be Updated ASAP ASUS RT Wireless Routers Easy to Hack, Easy to Patch

Filed under: Dorset,Drawing,London,Painting,Still Life,Watercolour — Tags: Air, art, Dorset, drawing, oils, paint, painting, pen and ink, Plein, sketch, Watercolour — Rob Adams @ 10:29 am What a blight the so called “International style” of architecture has been on our planet. It has wiped out all local and ethnic styles of building the world over. People hoot and howl if their spoken language is threatened by a Lingua Franca but hooteth not when their vernacular style of building is wiped off the map. Europe has for the most part just surrounded their historical centres with a ring of dreary concrete leaving the old encysted by the new. Britain due to the unfortunate rise of the town planner in the fifties and sixties has lost a great deal more. If you took photos from around the world of recent everyday urban developments and removed any signs in Photoshop then I doubt if anybody could place them geographically. So how did this appalling state of affairs come about, how did it happen that what was once considered the greatest of the arts was reduced to engineering and quantity surveying? Before the invention of architects as distinct profession most structures and all vernacular structures were built by tradesmen. In medieval times a “Master Builder” was employed on the greatest projects. We know little of most of these men, the most famous are more properly military engineers since that was area many of the really big projects were being carried out. Leonardo, Michelangelo and many others drew elaborate bastions with all the lines of fire drawn in. In our towns and villages however the builder was your man. He operated I dare say via tradition that was slowly pushed forwards by the desire of their clients to embrace new fashions. These fashions were mostly imported by the aristocracy and royalty and slowly made their way into the everyday vernacular styles. To this end many books of architectural detail were printed, which were in effect catalogues that a builder or client could choose from. Outside of building for display most utilitarian structures were simply made along traditional lines from local materials. The result is for the most part unintentionally harmonious but varied and if destinations favoured by tourists are any guide still pleasing today. We rather cruelly and disparagingly refer to the effect as “pretty” or “quaint” but no such intention was intended in their original construction. It is interesting how when architects try and fake this organic and empirical development the result is lack lustre to say the least. The arts and crafts developments are the most convincing as they have an agenda of their own and mostly do mot seek to mimic but to make a new form from an old idiom. Vernacular building design has always followed a step or three behind the styles of the great projects of any time. The great Renaissance and Baroque revolutions first appeared in the big cities paid for by the church and nobles. It is interesting to not that although we started to have architects they were all artists first and foremost. Bramante, Bernini, Michelangelo and others were all high achieving artists in their own right. Today that is far from the case. I was initially going to be an architect and applied to do a degree. In the run up I went and worked for various local architects my father knew. I soon realised most architecture had no art in it whatsoever but a great deal of accountancy. In truth most of the projects would have proceeded better with just a builder and an engineer, the architect was just an irritation. So it is that in our age we see feats of engineering but not of art. Our cityscapes have no consistency of overall form, but a deadening uniformity of detail and material. This is not by the way a call for change, we are too late architecture is dead and will not be returning. There is a tendency for people bemoaning the visual state of our built environment to recommend a return to Tudorbethan or Mock-Georgian but this is painfully naive and where it is tried fails due to there being no one with the visual training to make it convincing. No there is no going back, buildings are going to be by the hugest of majorities soulless and ugly for the remainder of man’s existence. The reason for this is not the great projects by the “Starchitects” but the innumerable small developments by jobbing architects who have for the most part no interest in the history of their craft or any decent training in composition, massing, decoration or proportion. So however good a modern building is it will inevitably drown in the vast ocean of workaday dreariness. Indeed anything that is at all good makes the surrounding clutter seem emptier of beauty by comparison. Still architects do keep the market for black polo necked jumpers and expensive round spectacle frames afloat. We actually have laws to prevent buildings looking beautiful. The regulations that control sill height and window size mean that most fenestration will be ugly. That of course tends to preclude any facade from being at all elegant. The manufacture of windows to standard sizes of clumsy proportion and design puts the final nail in the coffin. Should we care? Well probably not. The generation that does care is ageing fast and the next will not understand what I am complaining about. Past styles are fodder for theme parks and film designers only and not to be ever seen again in our everyday built environments. Who should we blame for this visual poverty that future generations must live with? Well building has to some degree always been about enclosing practical space for the least possible cost. This is where the International Style delivers without question. Building has also always been a display of prestige, but now we tend to be swayed by post code and whether there is a 2 acre underground gym. We are interested in contents rather than any external appearance. You may rail against the horrid boxy uniformity of a Bovis estate, but though the buildings are of execrable design they are cheap enough to make so that a far higher proportion than in any other age can live in their perfectly adequate and convenient comfort. A panoramic view from Okeford Hill. I did a small watercolour a year or so ago of this and decided to make a larger studio oil from it. The result wasn’t great so I went back to the location with the studio painting. I was very lucky in that the cloud shadows were adding splashes of light across the valley which looked great. With that and a new sky the whole thing is much improved. Oils 12in by 26in. Here is the original watercolour, I worked from both this and photos taken at the time. I don’t much like working from just a photo, it seems to be easier if I have drawn or painted the scene however slight the sketch. The thing is that doing the looking fixes memories in your head that re-emerge when you come to paint in the studio. Hambledon Hill with a threatening storm. Another done from a previous plein air watercolour. I didn’t need to revisit the site this time. It would have ben pointless in any case as the lighting was everything. Oils 12in by 12in. I am still visiting London to paint with the Brass Monkeys, this is Notting Hill Gate. This was a struggle as the light was varying constantly. I might cut this down to a square format as the stuff at the top is bringing nothing to the party. With the best will in the world it is very hard to make the best compositional decisions when racing to get some small part of what you see down. That any of them ever turn into a decent picture is a miracle! Oils 12in by 8in. Another from the same day. Not quite sure what this needs… will probably go into a drawer to be found only after my final demise! Oils 8in by 12in. Somewhere in Surrey… a very quick sketch, but a great scene. I am experimenting with surfaces at present. I have decided that the primed MDF I have been using is too limited and I don’t much like the “feel” of the paintings done on it when varnished and framed. The quality worryingly reminds me of hand made place mats! 6in by 12in Oils. The same day and 60 mile East. My friend Steve Alexander was busy painting the interior so I went and stood in the drizzle to do this. I love trying to catch the day however gloomy. Whether anyone would ever want the resulting daub on their wall is of course another matter! This is Romsey Abbey in Hampshire. 6in by 12in Oils. Before doing the grey day oil I did this quick sketch of the interior of the abbey. Romsey is one of my favourite buildings it has a wonderful scale and elegance. When tackling such a subject it is very important to start in a manner that is practical. I could have made an accurate architectural drawing, but that would have taken too long. The charm of these sketches is in some part due to the constraints of time and media. I am always amazed at just how much you can express of a very complex subject with relatively few lines. Pen and Ink. Steve had accompanied me back to Dorset so we set out to paint the day away. This is Shroton in Dorset a mile or so from me. The forecast had been for rain but this is what we got instead. I rather like the double square as a board proportion especially for landscape. Oils 6in by 12in. Next up was Shroton church. I love pictures of graveyards and so do other artists I know… but no one will ever buy one! I just had fun with this I didn’t want to over elaborate a very simple scene. There was a figure but it fell to centrally and so got expunged. Oils 8in by 10in. We next went to the wonderful Fontmell Down. Unfortunately there was a herd of very rumbustious bullocks in the field so we had to retreat. On the plus side though I got some wonderful photos of them with the down in the background which will in due course be a studio painting. 10in by 12in Oils Now, as they say, for something completely different. As the rain had well and truly arrived Steve and I set up a still life. I have only done 3 or four such paintings in my whole life. Not because I dislike them but just never got around to doing any. I must do more and Dorset will no doubt supply plenty of wet days in which to paint them. There was a loaf in the picture too, but it was too close and I eventually painted it out. This meant waiting for the area to dry a bit so I had to set the whole thing up again just to finish the table cloth. Great fun though and very good practice to try and capture the various surfaces without getting fussy. I am not much of a fan of “dutch” style over finished still lives. Oils 12in by 16in. I have an upcoming exhibition so I have been framing pictures like mad. My first solo show so very nervous! This does not always follow with real encounters of course. Someone might have a face that is transformed by character and animation. Nonetheless perhaps our underlying assessments of beauty are slanted towards the reassuring. We might admire a verdant and peaceful landscape or a dramatic mountain scene, but we might assign them differing types of beauty. For an arable farmer the verdant land would be attractive as a home whereas the rugged mountain less so. Our farmer might find them both beautiful but in contrasting ways. It is quite plain to me that the early cave painters found beauty in the animals they hunted that went beyond the straight forward desire for a successful hunt. Thus we are immediately mired in the boggy land of the aesthetic. Hurrying on the heels of aesthetics come those who would tell us what is fitting/fashionable and what is not. Currently beauty and decoration are very much off the menu. We are supposed to like the sparse. Our dream apartments have empty spaces, plain surfaces and white walls. I cannot help but wonder if this is perhaps a choice caused by hoovers rather than aesthetic concerns! When designing exhibitions of decorative items from historical times we place them in sparse minimal cases. To me they always look a little sad in such soulless arrays, like butterflies pinned in drawers. They seem like items in a shop rather than exhibits in a museum intended to fire our imaginations. In architecture beauty has been completely outlawed it sometimes seems. There is little built that moves beyond the grim utilitarianism of financial objectives and cupidity. When decorative items are used they are plastic panel doors with cartoon graining, the result is depressing rather than uplifting. Architects generally seem to be comfortable with repetition but not rhythm. Being uplifting and enriching our daily lives is, we seem to have forgotten, the whole point of decoration. In furniture we are in the thrall of anally retentive Scandinavians or those who wish to emulate them. I am not totally in disagreement, bad decoration is indeed often worse than none. Alas because we don’t do much training in the area of decoration the few examples that do appear are for the most part weak pastiche cobbled together from found images using photoshop. The decorative arts were once a big thing and lauded, why this is no longer true is a puzzle. The only real thing I can think of is the advent of mechanical production. We have adjusted our aesthetic to suit the available means of production, maintenance and distribution rather than the other way round. We perhaps associate the hand made with the crudeness of DIY, some hand made objects seem to need to advertise their handmadeness by adding rusticity or similar. We also tend to confuse beauty in a seen thing such as a mountain or an object made with no visual intent such as a worn wall with the beauty inherent in an object made by a human being who has laboured to gain a skill. If you splash paint randomly or even semi randomly on a canvas it will be nice to look at. If I wet some watercolour paper and pour colour on it I may well get a very attractive and interesting surface. This however is mostly the same sort of beauty as we get from admiring the patterns on a beach. The beauty in an art object is different because of the skill and the fact that a person has sacrificed part of their life in order to achieve the ability. Due to the arguments put forwards in the 20th century we tend to conflate these kinds of beauty. The weathered wall is not of any real cultural significance even if torn from its place and put in a gallery. Music mostly does not suffer from this confusion. We might get an emotional surge when we listen to the wind in the trees, but we do not confuse that, except in moments of poetic hyperbole, with music. We do not confuse a person noodling on the piano in a random untrained manner with music either… the difference to a concert pianist is obvious and no one would say that the random noodling is art of the same order as the pianist’s bravura performance. The statement that everyone is an artist is very much not true. To be an artist you must firstly be a fully formed craftsperson, only then should a small proportion of the resultant work be deemed “Art”. This is the recent floods at Henley. Some fascinating transformations of familiar scenes. We were lucky to get some brilliant light and a mostly dry day. Last one of the day, we found a flooded road that reflected the last light. I had to paint this very rapidly! 12in by 12in oils. The first use of my new 12in by 20 in pochade… I will add pictures of it at the end for the painting gear nerds! The next day was very wet and windy so we went to and painted an interior in a friend of Steven Alexander’s wonderfully cluttered cottage. 10in by 12in oils. This is Jermyn Street in Mayfair painted on an expedition with the Brass Monkeys. Not quite sure what to do with this one, it is a bit like an empty stage waiting for the actors to arrive! 10in by 16in oils. Another from Jermyn St. I had to add a figure to reduce the dominance of the car. 8in by 10in oils. A day out painting with friends. This is a track above Aylesford in Kent… we went to paint the dramatic wide view of the Medway valley and ended up painting a muddy track! 10in by 10in oils. This is East Farleigh, the river was in full flood but I found the light in this very attractive. I was nearly run over a few times but really enjoyed trying to make something of the split composition. Painting up a hill always produces challenges to as you have to make sure that the cues are there to explain your view point. 10in by 16in oils. I don’t often do this kind of sketch, but as it was a Brass Monkey day and I also had to attend the Wapping Group private view I needed to wear clothes ungarnished with oil paint! So pen and wash was the order of the day. pen and wash is a great combination and I really should do more of them. Last one before heading to the Mall Galleries. The day was very flat but St Martins Lane always supplies some contrast due to the height of the buildings and the narrowness of the street. 5in by 7in watercolour. Here it is… a mighty 12in by 20in. It is still light, but would be a bit of a handful in the wind! Due to the size it has some storage so I should be able just carry this and the tripos which will make quite a light set up for its size. Next I need to work out something for 16in by 20in canvasses…

Common Tree Trimming Techniques Tree Trimming December 30, 2016 Trimming Techniques tree company tree pruning tree removal tree removal service tree service Tree Trimming Trimming Techniques One of the most requested services in the tree industry is trimming. While trimming is considered a regular task, taking the time to make sure that the company selected for the job does not stress or damage the tree is very important. A professional should have the experience and knowledge to trim the tree in a way that will promote its health and appearance. click here for related information. Tree trimming can prevent a number of problems, but it is used mostly to keep trees looking neat. It can also be used to prevent potential problems, such as growth into power lines or unhealthy branches, and can contribute positively to the overall health of your tree. Some tree trimming services include: Canopy Rising This technique is mainly for aesthetic reasons; lower limbs are removed to create space under the canopy for a better view. Refining the tree produces a sleek look appropriate for neighborhoods or residential areas. This technique can even make trees look taller, as the focus will be on the slender trunk and not the branches shooting out below the canopy. for more related information, visit : Canopy Thinning This process includes removing unhealthy branches, or branches that are too close together, in order to make the tree healthier and stronger. Having trees regularly trimmed helps with safety, too, as an unhealthy branch can easily break off and crash down onto something, or even worse – someone! While having a healthy tree is important for safety reasons, additional benefits are to be had as well. Reducing foliage also allows more light to shine down to the bottom of the tree. However, healthy trees should never have more than a quarter of their branches removed, as this can cause more harm than good. Avoiding Power Lines Trees will often have to be trimmed to avoid upward growth that could come into contact with power lines. This should by no means be attempted by the homeowner, as it can be a very dangerous task. A professional should know the minimum working distance from power lines depending on voltage and should use the correct equipment, such as pole pruners and rubber gloves. The homeowner should keep away from the tree while it is being worked on, as it may be dangerous. So that goes back to the question of whether or not you can do tree trimming for yourself or cutting down trees for yourself. My answer to that is definitely no. It’s difficult to get up into the tree for one and cut down the branches unless you are skilled at climbing trees and carrying a chainsaw with you. Of course there are many dangers to climbing a tree and carrying a chainsaw the combination of those two just don’t mix. What I recommend that you do is to find a good tree trimming service in your town and find out what the best rates are. You can do that by calling each one of them are looking them up online and asking them to come by and do a free estimate. Tree trimming can be done throughout the year; however, late winter and spring are the best times to have it done. Preventing problems such as growth into power lines or unhealthy branches before they are out of control will save the customer from a more expensive solution or greater problems later on.

Search and Menus Facebook Invertebrate Zoology class visits Children’s Center May 20, 2013 PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The natural reaction when faced with an eight-inch tropical millipede is to recoil and exclaim in disgust, but that’s exactly what Rebecca Doyle-Morin and her Invertebrate Zoology class wanted to combat when they visited the Children’s Center at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. “Our goal was to make the children feel more comfortable around invertebrates,” said Doyle-Morin, assistant professor of biology. “We wanted to catch them at a young age and show them that these creatures are very important to our ecosystem.” The children, aged primarily between 3 and 5 years old, received the opportunity to interact with a number of invertebrates including ladybugs, earthworms, preserved rhinoceros beetles and giant tropical millipedes. Students in Doyle-Morin’s class also prepared crafts, activities and songs for the children in order to garner interest in invertebrate life. “Many of them were apprehensive about what they saw as creepy crawly creatures at first,” said Carl Oppert, a biology major from Viroqua, Wis., who attended the trip. “But after a while, they were excited to interact with the animals. It was fun seeing the kids come out of their shells to explore what they didn’t know about.” As a second part of their invertebrate experience, the children from the Children’s Center also took a fieldtrip to the Invertebrate Zoology class’s lab to explore the ecosystem of a freshwater pond. Doyle-Morin’s students collected leeches for the children to see, snails for them to hold and certain types of plankton for them to look at under a microscope. The children also got to ask the students basic questions about the invertebrates in the lab. “Our purpose for having students work with the children is two-fold,” said Doyle-Morin. “Firstly, the students needed to prepare a lot of background research on the animals we presented to know how to handle them and what habitat they thrived in best. The second is being able to educate the public about what they learned by targeting a specific audience. You need to be able to understand something very well if you are going to try to explain it to a 3 or 5 year old.” Candi Palan is an animal science major from Highland, Wis., who also worked with the children. “It was very rewarding to see the looks on their faces,” she said. “It made us feel like what we showed them and the things we taught them really had an impact.”

Tips & Strategies For Multilingual Web Design By Jake Rocheleau – November 8, 2016 The Internet has pervaded far beyond language barriers and is like a ubiquitous modern utility. Most websites focus on a single language but larger websites try to service international audiences with multi-lingual solutions. This can be a difficult task and there are many different techniques for doing so. In this post I’d like to look into multilingual web design and how it can be done properly in the modern era. Multilingual support is crucial for content accessibility in the current era for any website big or small. Multilingual Basics Any website running multiple languages typically has a specific architecture for the content. This can reside on a separate subdomain, page/directory, or can be controlled by a cookie or session. But most of the website’s code remains the same which runs on UTF-8. This character encoding supports many languages and it’s the most popular choice for western languages like English, French, German, and Italian(among others). The actual process of translating is easiest when done dynamically. But you can manually translate content if you have the patience to do so. This translation process involves the actual letters themselves, but also deals with the correct translation of individual words and sentences. If possible you’ll also want to correct for minor details like currency symbols and numeric formatting for prices & dates. I also want to clarify a very common question: what’s the difference between localization vs. internationalization? The terms seem very similar but this thread covers the subtle differences. The internationalization(I18N) process “upgrades” a website with tech specs for supporting other languages. Then the process of localization(L10N) lets you follow this process for any language(s) you want to support. You may have noticed the abbreviations I18N and L10N. These are shorthand phrases using numbers to represent the letters elided in each word. These phrases are very common in web development because they save time and they’re much more direct. If you go searching for plugins try using these keywords to get better results. Also if you’re looking for a broader intro to these terms check out some of these related links: 9 Tips for Website Localization Localization vs. Internationalization – W3C Design Multilingual Website: A Beginner’s Guide Structuring A Site For I18N Many sites rely on a subdomain for each language. Others like Amazon have a different TLD such as .fr for France or .it for Italian. But you can also do custom query parameters like myurl.com?lang=fr. There is no single right or wrong answer so the technical structure really depends on the size of the website and how many languages you plan to support. But how you setup a localization URL structure can vastly affect a site’s SEO. In this article you’ll find pros and cons for all the different options, the best for beginners seemingly being the subdomain. I personally recommend the subdomain method because it’s just the easiest choice for most websites. But the URL parameter with a cookie or session is also valid if you feel comfortable working with code. Many web developers avoid cookies because they’re not as reliable and they’re not indexable for different translation searches. Check out this Stack thread to learn a bit more about why custom URLs are generally a better option. Most backend languages like PHP, Python, and Ruby have their own internationalization libraries. You can use simple strings for text like nav menu links that run through backend libraries and quickly convert into any language you need. Here are some of the best backend resources for I18N: Internationalization Functions in PHP Internationalization(i18n) library for Ruby Python gettext Library Multilingual Page Design The design aspect of a multilingual site is just as tricky as the technical side. You’ll need to plan where the alternate languages appear and how users should change the language, or how to detect which language to deliver. For example, you might deliver a default language based on the IP address. This works well for a country like Japan but what about a multilingual country like Switzerland? It’s best to default to one language and then offer alternatives on the page. These alternate languages can be links in the header or footer that let visitors change the language based on their preferences. The Amazon.com footer is an excellent example of this technique in action. They actually use different country code TLDs since they’re running a large international corporation. But the language links are placed in the same spots across all sites so users have an easier time finding them. But instead of individual hyperlinks you might instead try a dropdown menu with all the available languages. Check out the IBM homepage that uses a select menu in the footer offering 5 different languages to choose from. I like this style a bit more because it takes up less space on the page. Visitors can clearly tell there’s a dropdown menu and it’s labeled for switching to a different language. The tricky part is guiding users to find this select box down in the footer. Granted some companies don’t find multilingual support important enough to cram into the header. But with a select menu like this it’s a lot easier to put it anywhere and still get results. Airbnb uses a select menu too and it’s featured much more prominently in the footer. How you design this on your own site will depend heavily on the audience and your goals. If you only support a couple languages then you might place flags in the top-right corner of the screen. But if you’re trying to support most languages then you should go with a select menu like on Airbnb’s homepage. Try a few different styles and placements to see which feel best. Translation Tools & Resources To wrap up I want to share a small handful of translation resources for web developers. Some cost money while others are free so there’s a mix to choose from. But they’re all made for internationalization on the web to speed up the development process and make it easier for you to complete a new projects. WordPress WPML In a past article we covered how to perform i18n with WordPress but we focused mostly on theme development. Using a plugin like WordPress WPML can save lots of time and headaches in the translation process. If you need to run a multilingual site on WordPress there’s really no better option. The plugin is insanely cheap and it’s one of the best premium WP plugins considering everything you get with it. i18next The web world is heavily reliant on JavaScript and i18next is more proof of this. It’s a large scale internationalization library built on JavaScript with options for other JS-based engines like Node.js. The entire i18next project can be found on GitHub and it’s an excellent solution for JS-powered translations. This is the same team behind Locize which is a similar project for web developers. Localize.js The newer Localize.js library is really handy for professional corporations who want to offload the translation process. It does cost money for the higher tiers but you can try Localize on a demo site for a free trial. Because of the pricing tier this probably won’t be the best solution for most users. But it’s an option and it can be viable if you’re willing to pay for a translation service. Every developer should know about gettext because it’s been around for ages. This project is supported by GNU and the GNU Translation Project which aims to build a wider scope for developers who want translated content for their projects. This is a big library because it works for almost any language and goes beyond the web environment. But it’s completely free and it’s one of the most popular translation libraries you can get. If you need high octane translations then gettext is the tool for the job. There is no foolproof method to translations on the web. Technology has come a long way but there’s still a ways to go, especially with a growing population and ever-advancing devices connected to the Internet. I hope this post can shed some light onto the multilingual aspects of web design. If you can plan how to architect, design, and technically translate content, then you’ll be able to handle this task for any sized web project.

Temple Gazing Text by Uttara Shahani. Photographs by Arjun Viswanathan Watching the sun rise over the temples, wandering through the ruins and exploring the mysticism in the figures that stand strong, Verve marvels at the wonder that is Cambodia’s Angkor Prasat Kravan Lakshmi Prasat Kravan Lakshmi Ta Prohm Hidden Apsara Ta Prohm Hidden Apsara Bakong panel, lost soul falling among demons Bakong panel, lost soul falling among demons Banteay Srei, Narasimha kills Hiranyakashyapu Banteay Srei, Narasimha kills Hiranyakashyapu What could my mother be to yours? What kin is my father to yours anyway? And how Did you and I meet ever? But in love our hearts have mingled as red earth and pouring rain. Sangam Era Akam poem by Cempulappeyanirar, From The Kuruntokai, translated by A. K. Ramanujam. Angkor Wat, the most famous monument in the historic area outside the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, is only one of several sites of interest. Angkor (the name derives from the Sanskrit word nagara) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the ruins have been restored several times and some await restoration. Rouluos, where King Jayavarman II, founder of the Khmer empire, established his capital Hariharalaya, named for Vishnu and Shiva, is a good place to start. This is where the first great temples of the ninth century were built and it sets the stage for later Khmer constructions. Preah Ko (sacred bull), is named after Nandi, Shiva’s steed, statues of whom are in front of the temple. The sun-warmed snouts of the bulls just beg to be petted. Bakong was the first temple constructed like a mountain, representing Mount Meru. Lolei stands in the middle of a now dry baray (reservoir), Indrataka. While much has been lost, all three temples retain some beautiful lintel carvings. We had arrived at the start of the monsoon in May when there are fewer tourists. The Rouluos group receives fewer visitors anyway, and they are a gentle introduction to jet-lagged souls who may need to do a lot more walking later. Thunder showers are usually brief. We experienced our first storm at Rouluos, where, standing with my husband by the old temple walls, waiting for the storm to pass and watching the red soil flatten under the impact of the water, I could not help but recall the famous Sangam age Tamil poem, Red Earth And Pouring Rain. Arising at the crack of dawn, we set off for Ta Nei, a temple dedicated to the Buddha, in thick forest, but very easily accessible, via a sandy path. It was at Ta Nei that we got the first glimpse of how nature has in so many places overtaken the ruins in Angkor. In many places tree and temple cannot now be separated. Nowhere is this more obvious than at the popular temple of Ta Prohm, once home to 600 dancers and several priests, lately famous because it was used as a location for Lara Croft:Tomb Raider. Writing on the fig tree of Angkor, in 1943, George Cœdès said: ‘The fig tree is the ruler of Angkor, over the palaces and over the temples which it has patiently pried apart; everywhere it unfolds its smooth pale branches, like the coils of a serpent, and its dome of foliage.’ It was here that we took a picture of an apsara peeking out between the veils of roots – it seems she was completely visible in the 1920s! Angkor Thom (Great City) was built by Jayavarman VII, at the centre of which lies the Bayon, probably the most well known temple after Angkor Wat. The Hindu myth of Samudra manthanam, the churning of the ocean of milk, was popular in Angkor, and there are spectacular representations of this myth, on the roads to Angkor Thom, with giant devas and asuras lining the causeways, holding onto the enormous serpent king, Vasuki, who was used as the churning rope. The gates of Angkor Thom add to the majesty, adorned as they are, with large Buddha- like heads gazing benignly into the distance, a slight smile playing on their lips. The faces on the gates may represent the king or the Buddha – or both. Inside Angkor Thom, not making our way directly to the Bayon, we went to Preah Pithu, a group of five small monuments, one Buddhist and four Brahmanic, via the unused East Gate, the ‘gate of the dead’. The magnificent Bayon looks at first like a massive pile of rubble with cracks running through it. As you get closer you note the sea of beautifully calm faces, carved to express benediction and peace. The intricate bas-relief carvings represent historic, mythic and everyday scenes. The Bayon began as a Mahayana Buddhist temple but was added to, defaced, and modified by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings. While we were there, a thunderstorm struck, trailing clouds through which fingers of golden light bathed the serene faces in mysterious crepuscular light. The storm receded, and so did we, in the honeyed light of the sunset. Like hundreds of other tourists, we rose early to explore Angkor Wat and watch the sun rise over it and reflect in the adjacent pools. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II, the temple complex was dedicated to Vishnu and was later used by Theravada Buddhists, who use it to this day. The Wat (temple) sits like a grand old lady with a fancy hairstyle, surrounded by shimmering lakes and lush green grassland. Situated within a beautifully maintained moat, Angkor Wat represents Mount Meru with the addition of galleries, reminiscent of temple architecture from South India and Orissa. Detailed bas-friezes depicting scenes from the Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, apsaras, the churning of the ocean of milk and Vishnu, adorn the walls. Particularly impressive is Bhishma, lying on his bed of arrows. We spent the morning wandering around, watching the mynas land on stone naga heads. Divine Structures Prasat Kravan, set in neat gardens, is different from other Angkor temples built in stone, containing some beautiful and unique brick sculptures of Vishnu as Vamana with Garuda, (Garudas are an ubiquitous feature in Angkor) and Lakshmi, carved with Khmer features. Preah Khan, or the monastery of the sacred sword, combined several functions, that of temple, university and residence. In this sprawling space it is worth looking for the hidden statues of Jayavarman VII’s wives, Jayarajadevi and Indira Devi, two very remarkable women, who can be found in small (easily-missed) grottos. The former was a devout Buddhist and the latter headed the Khmer university; inscriptions record her as the ‘chief teacher of the king’. The diminutive but elaborately carved Banteay Srei, is popularly known as the Citadel of the Women. Dedicated to Shiva, built of red sandstone, it is an unimaginably romantic and intimate sacred space, exemplified by the carving of Shiva sitting under a tree and cuddling Parvati.

BHP, Exxon to stump up $1b for carbon plant Peter Ker THE higher carbon intensity of new gas fields being tapped by BHP Billiton and ExxonMobil is costing the pair almost $1 billion long before they pay their carbon taxes.The two resources giants will spend $992 million building a ''conditioning plant'' beside their Longford gas plant in Victoria to remove excess carbon dioxide from three new gas fields in Bass Strait that will soon be brought into production. Carbon-removal plant is part of a $4.4 billion plan to develop new gas fields. Photo: James Davies The carbon-removal plant is part of a $4.4 billion plan to develop the new fields, which are known as Kipper, Tuna and Turrum.The two companies run a 50-50 joint venture at Longford, meaning that both will stump up about $500 million for the carbon plant.Once the gas passes through the new carbon plant, it can be fed into the existing processing plant at Longford which was built for gas with lower carbon composition.The carbon dioxide removed at the first stage will be released into the atmosphere, but the companies are believed to be building it with the capacity to adapt to carbon capture and storage should such technology ever prove viable. The spending on extraction of impurities will not end there, with the joint venture soon to decide on how to treat high levels of mercury in the new gas fields.Discovery of those high mercury levels was responsible for cost and schedule overruns on the Bass Strait project almost two years ago.The spending is a rare example of Australia's gas boom directly having an impact on the nation's south-eastern corner, and Victorian Deputy Premier Peter Ryan hailed the investment in local jobs.''The new $1 billion facility at Longford will create around 250 direct construction jobs and countless more indirect jobs, providing significant flow-on benefits to our local communities,'' he said.Construction of the new carbon plant will begin around July 2013 and BHP's petroleum chief Mike Yeager said it was a ''necessary extension'' that would ensure the Bass Strait infrastructure remained operational ''for years to come''.Despite being a major producer of coal, oil and gas, BHP Billiton has a company policy of accepting the mainstream science that suggests higher rates of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are changing the world's climate. BHP's Longford operations are one of seven divisions within the company that are liable to pay the carbon tax, which is understood to shave less than 1 per cent off the company's earnings.BHP shares rose 24¢ to close at $36 on Thursday.

Blisters are small bubbles or pockets of fluid in the upper layers of skin. Blister burns generally are caused from a second degree burn to the skin. If you are suffering from blisters caused by a burn, you can learn how to treat them. Using Home Remedies to Treat Blister Burns Run cool water over the blister. The first thing you can do to treat a blister burn is to run cool or lukewarm water over the affected area. You can also use a cool bath or press a towel soaked in cool water on the burn. Keep the affected area in the cool water for 10 to 15 minutes.[1] Make sure you are using cool water and not cold or ice water. Apply honey to the blister. You can cover the blister burn with a thin layer of honey. Honey has antibiotic and antiseptic properties and has been shown to improve the healing of burns. Gently apply a thin layer over the affected area.[2] Local wild honey is good choice. Another good choice are the medicinal honeys, such as Manuka honey. Cover the blister with a bandage. If you have a blister from a burn, it is recommended that you cover the affected area with a sterile bandage if possible. Leave enough room for blister formation. Make a tent in the bandage or cloth over the burn. This helps prevent the blister from breaking or becoming irritated or infected. If it isn’t possible to use a bandage or gauze, use a clean towel or cloth instead. Refrain from using common at-home burn remedies. Many people believe that you should use all sorts of household items as burn remedies. People think you should put butter, egg whites, oil sprays, or ice on burns. Don’t put these substances on a blister burn. They can lead to infection or tissue damage.[3] Instead, either use a burn cream or ointment, honey, or skip any type of ointment completely. Avoid popping the blister. You should not break open the blister that forms from a burn, at least for the first three to four days. To aid in keeping the blister in tact, keep it covered. To remove the bandage without breaking the blister, you may have to soak the bandage in warm water. Change the bandage daily, applying either the antibiotic ointment or the honey every time. If the burn blister becomes too painful or has become infected, you can take steps to carefully break the blister. Always wash your hands first, and then clean the area around the blister with alcohol or an iodine solution to kill off any bacteria on the skin. Pierce the skin of the blister at its base, near the bottom of the blister, with a needle that has been sterilized by swabbing it with alcohol. Let the fluid drain out. Use a cotton ball to soak up the fluid or pus. Leave the overlying skin as intact as possible. Treating the Blister Burn Medically Take over-the-counter medication. Pain relievers can be helpful for blister burn pain. Even if you have run cool water over the burn and covered it, you may still feel pain or throbbing in the blister. Taking OTC pain meds can help reduce the pain. You may want to start taking them as soon as you get the blister burn instead of waiting for the blister to start hurting.[4] Try ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen sodium (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Make sure to follow the suggested manufacturer’s dosage guidelines.[5] Apply burn cream. If you have a blister burn, you can use an antibiotic cream or moisturizing lotion on the burn to help prevent infection. Gently apply a thin layer of cream or lotion. If you are planning on covering the blister burn with gauze or a bandage, do not use a water-based cream. Common burn creams include Bacitracin or Neosporin. You can also use an ointment like petroleum jelly.[6] You may also try aloe vera lotion or gel.[7] Go to the doctor. If the burn blister has become infected, it is strongly recommended that you see a physician. Infections of the skin can be deep and serious conditions. If the blister burn is filled with anything other than a clear fluid, there is a chance it is infected. If you have a fever, have any streaks on the skin around the blister, or the blister is very reddened and swollen, see a physician immediately. These may be signs of an infection. Any young child or elderly person should always be seen for any blister burns to minimize the risk of infections and scarring. First degree burns are painful but are considered minor. They do not usually produce blisters, but they may peel. First degree burns are dry, and usually take three to five days to heal.[10] Decide if you have a second degree burn. Second degree burns are the next level of severity. They are considered minor as long as they are less than three inches wide in diameter. Second degree burns affect surface layer and the next few under layers of the skin. Blisters are often common with second degree burns.[11] Second degree burns are painful and often form blisters and are red or pink. They may look swollen or have a pocket of clear, wet liquid. If more severe, a second degree burn can be dry with a reduced level of feeling in the area. If you apply pressure, the skin will not turn white or turn white very slowly.[12] Second degree burns usually heal within two to three weeks. Blistering burns larger than three inches should be seen at an ER or by your physician as soon as possible. If a second degree burn is on the hands, feet, face, groin, a major joint, or the buttocks, see your physician or go to the ER right away. Older individuals and children should be seen at the ER for any second degree burn because complications are more common in these groups. Seek medical attention for any third degree burns. The most severe burns are third degree burns. Third degree burns are considered a major burn because the skin layers are destroyed and should be seen immediately at an ER. These burns affect the deepest part of the skin and cause whitened or blackened skin.[13] The burnt areas may be black or white. They also will be dry and leathery.[14] These burns are often painless at first because the nerves in the skin have been damaged. Count the number of blisters. A single or a few blisters are generally not a serious problem. Unless a singular blister is a severe second degree burn or third degree burn, you can treat it at home. However, if you are getting large numbers of blisters and they appear all over your body, see your physician right away. Many blisters on your body can be a symptom of a serious health concern, such as pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, and dermatitis herpetiformis.

Chapter 56. Saccasaṃyutta: Connected Discourses on the Truths IV. The Siṃsapā Grove 31 (1) The Siṃsapā Grove On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in a siṃsapā grove. Then the Blessed One took up a few siṃsapā leaves in his hand and addressed the bhikkhus thus: “What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more numerous: these few siṃsapā leaves that I have taken up in my hand or those in the siṃsapā grove overhead?” [438] “Venerable sir, the siṃsapā leaves that the Blessed One has taken up in his hand are few, but those in the siṃsapā grove overhead are numerous.” “So too, bhikkhus, the things I have directly known but have not taught you are numerous, while the things I have taught you are few. And why, bhikkhus, have I not taught those many things? Because they are unbeneficial, irrelevant to the fundamentals of the holy life, and do not lead to revulsion, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Therefore I have not taught them. “And what, bhikkhus, have I taught? I have taught: ‘This is suffering’; I have taught: ‘This is the origin of suffering’; I have taught: ‘This is the cessation of suffering’; I have taught: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’ And why, bhikkhus, have I taught this? Because this is beneficial, relevant to the fundamentals of the holy life, and leads to revulsion, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Therefore I have taught this. “Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is suffering.’… An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’” 32 (2) Acacia “Bhikkhus, if anyone should speak thus: ‘Without having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of suffering as it really is, without having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of the origin of suffering as it really is, without having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of the cessation of suffering as it really is, without having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering as it really is, I will completely make an end to suffering’—this is impossible. “Just as, bhikkhus, if someone should speak thus: ‘Having made a basket of acacia leaves or of pine needles or of myrobalan leaves, [439] I will bring water or a palm fruit,’ this would be impossible; so too, if anyone should speak thus: ‘Without having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of suffering as it really is … I will completely make an end to suffering’—this is impossible. “But, bhikkhus, if anyone should speak thus: ‘Having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of suffering as it really is, having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of the origin of suffering as it really is, having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of the cessation of suffering as it really is, having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering as it really is, I will completely make an end to suffering’—this is possible. “Just as, bhikkhus, if someone should speak thus: ‘Having made a basket of lotus leaves or of kino leaves or of māluva leaves, I will bring water or a palm fruit,’ this would be possible; so too, if anyone should speak thus: ‘Having made the breakthrough to the noble truth of suffering as it really is … I will completely make an end to suffering’—this is possible. 33 (3) Stick “Bhikkhus, just as a stick thrown up into the air falls now on its bottom, now on its top, so too as beings roam and wander on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving, now they go from this world to the other world, now they come from the other world to this world. For what reason? Because they have not seen the Four Noble Truths. What four? The noble truth of suffering … the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. [440] 34 (4) Clothes “Bhikkhus, if one’s clothes or head were ablaze, what should be done about it?” “Venerable sir, if one’s clothes or head were ablaze, to extinguish one’s blazing clothes or head one should arouse extraordinary desire, make an extraordinary effort, stir up zeal and enthusiasm, be unremitting, and exercise mindfulness and clear comprehension.” “Bhikkhus, one might look on equanimously at one’s blazing clothes or head, paying no attention to them, but so long as one has not made the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths as they really are, in order to make the breakthrough one should arouse extraordinary desire, make an extraordinary effort, stir up zeal and enthusiasm, be unremitting, and exercise mindfulness and clear comprehension. What four? The noble truth of suffering … the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. 35 (5) A Hundred Spears “Bhikkhus, suppose there were a man with a life span of a hundred years, who could live a hundred years. Someone would say to him: ‘Come, good man, in the morning they will strike you with a hundred spears; at noon they will strike you with a hundred spears; in the evening they will strike you with a hundred spears. And you, good man, being struck day after day by three hundred spears will have a life span of a hundred years, will live a hundred years; and then, after a hundred years have passed, you will make the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths, to which you had not broken through earlier.’ [441] “It is fitting, bhikkhus, for a clansman intent on his good to accept the offer. For what reason? Because this saṃsāra is without discoverable beginning; a first point cannot be discerned of blows by spears, blows by swords, blows by axes. And even though this may be so, bhikkhus, I do not say that the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths is accompanied by suffering or displeasure. Rather, the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths is accompanied only by happiness and joy. What four? The noble truth of suffering … the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. 36 (6) Creatures “Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to cut up whatever grass, sticks, branches, and foliage there is in this Jambudīpa and collect them into a single heap. Having done so, he would impale the large creatures in the ocean on the large stakes, the middle-sized creatures on the middle-sized stakes, and the small creatures on the small stakes. Still, bhikkhus, the gross creatures in the ocean would not be exhausted even after all the grass, sticks, branches, and foliage in Jambudīpa had been used up and exhausted. The small creatures in the ocean that could not easily be impaled on stakes would be even more numerous than this. For what reason? [442] Because of the minuteness of their bodies. “So vast, bhikkhus, is the plane of misery. The person who is accomplished in view, freed from that vast plane of misery, understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering.’… ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’ 37 (7) The Sun (1) “Bhikkhus, this is the forerunner and precursor of the rising of the sun, that is, the dawn. So too, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu this is the forerunner and precursor of the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths as the really are, that is, right view. It is to be expected that a bhikkhu with right view will understand as it really is: ‘This is suffering.’… ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’ “Bhikkhus, so long as the sun and moon have not arisen in the world, for just so long there is no manifestation of great light and radiance, but then blinding darkness prevails, a dense mass of darkness; for just so long day and night are not discerned, the month and fortnight are not discerned, the seasons and the year are not discerned. “But, bhikkhus, when the sun and moon arise in the world, then there is the manifestation of great light and radiance; [443] then there is no blinding darkness, no dense mass of darkness; then day and night are discerned, the month and fortnight are discerned, the seasons and year are discerned. “So too, bhikkhus, so long as a Tathāgata has not arisen in the world, an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One, for just so long there is no manifestation of great light and radiance, but then blinding darkness prevails, a dense mass of darkness; for just so long there is no explaining, teaching, proclaiming, establishing, disclosing, analysing, or elucidating of the Four Noble Truths. “But, bhikkhus, when a Tathāgata arises in the world, an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One, then there is the manifestation of great light and radiance; then no blinding darkness prevails, no dense mass of darkness; then there is the explaining, teaching, proclaiming, establishing, disclosing, analysing, and elucidating of the Four Noble Truths. What four? The noble truth of suffering … the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. 39 (9) Indra’s Pillar “Bhikkhus, those ascetics or brahmins who do not understand as it really is ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’—they look up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking: ‘This worthy is surely one who really knows, who really sees.’ “Suppose, bhikkhus, a tuft of cotton wool or kapok, light, wafted by the wind, had settled on an even piece of ground. [444] An easterly wind would drive it westward; a westerly wind would drive it eastward; a northerly wind would drive it southward; a southerly wind would drive it northward. For what reason? Because of the lightness of the tuft. “So too, bhikkhus, those ascetics or brahmins who do not understand as it really is ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’—they look up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking: ‘This worthy is surely one who really knows, who really sees.’ For what reason? Because they have not seen the Four Noble Truths. “But, bhikkhus, those ascetics or brahmins who understand as it really is ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’—they do not look up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking: ‘This worthy is surely one who really knows, who really sees.’ “Suppose, bhikkhus, there was an iron pillar or an Indra’s pillar with a deep base, securely planted, immobile, unshaking. Even if a forceful blast of wind comes—whether from the east, the west, the north, or the south—that pillar would not shake, quake, or tremble. For what reason? Because the pillar has a deep base and is securely planted. “So too, bhikkhus, those ascetics or brahmins who understand as it really is ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’—they do not look up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking: ‘This worthy is surely one who really knows, who really sees.’ For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, they have clearly seen the Four Noble Truths. What four? [445] The noble truth of suffering … the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. 40 (10) Seeking an Argument “Bhikkhus, if any bhikkhu understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering,’ and then an ascetic or brahmin comes along—whether from the east, the west, the north, or the south—seeking an argument, searching for an argument, thinking: ‘I will refute his thesis,’ it is impossible that he could make that bhikkhu shake, quake, or tremble. “Suppose, bhikkhus, there was a stone column sixteen yards long: an eight yards’ portion of it would be sunk in the ground, an eight yards’ portion above ground. Even if a forceful blast of wind comes along—whether from the east, the west, the north, or the south—the column would not shake, quake, or tremble. For what reason? Because it has a deep base and is securely planted. “So too, bhikkhus, if any bhikkhu understands as it really is ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering,’ [446] and then an ascetic or a brahmin comes along … it is impossible that he could make that bhikkhu shake, quake, or tremble. For what reason? Because he has clearly seen the Four Noble Truths. What four? The noble truth of suffering … the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering.

Strides Made in Preventing Cancer, But Challenges Remain: Report 2013-Apr-11 :: (HealthDay) HealthDay News Home | THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to cancer prevention, the latest report from the American Cancer Society offers mostly good news but some bad news as well.Cigarette smoking rates continue to drop, with significant declines seen in high school-aged smoking. But, in response to the now ubiquitous smoke-free areas in most public spaces, cigarette companies upped their marketing for smokeless tobacco products by nearly 120 percent, according to the report released Thursday."We're making progress, but we need to keep an eye on the needle to see where the whole front of risk factors is, and how we can put out the best policy to face the ongoing challenges," said Vilma Cokkinides, strategic director of risk factors and screening for the American Cancer Society. The annual report focused on tobacco use, obesity, nutrition and physical inactivity, ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer, the cervical cancer vaccine and screening tests.Findings from the tobacco front were mostly positive. Cigarette smoking in American adults declined slightly, from nearly 21 percent to 19 percent between 2005 and 2011. Rates in men dropped from nearly 24 percent to 21.6 percent, and for women, the prevalence of smoking went from slightly over 18 percent to 16.5 percent.One of the most positive signs in tobacco use was the drop in high school students. In 1997, more than 36 percent of these students smoked. By 2011, that number was cut in half to just above 18 percent, according to the report. About 13 percent of high school students said they smoked cigars and nearly 8 percent used smokeless tobacco."One of the most effective ways of stopping children from smoking is price," Cokkinides said. And, one way to raise the price of cigarettes is through taxes, which vary widely from state to state. Missouri's excise tax on a pack of cigarettes is just 17 cents per pack, while New Yorkers pay $4.35 per pack. Even with tax revenues and settlement agreements, Cokkinides said that the "tobacco industry continues to outspend us."Another area where industry is suspected of luring in young people is the indoor tanning industry."The industry makes young people believe that indoor tanning is safer than outdoors. The image is very strong, and the most vulnerable populations are young women, but we're beginning to address this through access restriction policies and laws," Cokkinides said. Thirty-three states have enacted legislation that restricts minors' access to tanning facilities, according to the report. Using a tanning booth during your teens and 20s can increase your melanoma risk by 75 percent.The report also found increasing numbers of young women getting vaccinated with the HPV vaccine, which can prevent many cervical cancers. Rates of mammograms to screen for breast cancer remained relatively stable. Slightly more than four out of five women received Pap screening according to the recommendations, with the exception of women without insurance and those with low education. Colorectal cancer screening rates were also lower in people without insurance."There's hope that the Affordable Care Act will help improve access, especially for those without insurance, but it's really going to depend on the state-by-state implementation of the act," Cokkinides explained. The report also looked at obesity, nutrition and physical inactivity. All of these factors can affect cancer risk. The rise in obesity appears to have slowed down, and possibly even plateaued. However, about 36 percent of adults and 18 percent of teens are already obese. The prevalence of obesity varies widely by state, with Mississippi having the highest rate at 35 percent. The lowest was Colorado at about 21 percent, according to the report.One expert discussed the obesity-cancer connection."Over 116,000 cancers can be prevented every year if more Americans stay lean. It's not a silver bullet, but preventing obesity can help prevent cancer," said Alice Bender, nutrition communications manager at the American Institute for Cancer Research. Bender said that right now, only about half of Americans are aware of the link between obesity and cancer. There are seven cancers that have good evidence linking them to obesity.And, a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can according to Bender."We're making progress with smoking, but it took years of education and changes in indoor environments that made it harder to smoke. Now, the message is that staying lean will lead to healthier outcomes," Bender said. "I think this report shows that people are becoming more and more aware that cancer doesn't have to happen all the time," she noted. "There are things we can do to reduce our risk." More informationLearn more about cancer risk factors and what you can do to

Ürümqi UV index The strength of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is expressed as a Solar UV Index or Sun Index.The UV Index does not exceed 8 in the UK (8 is rare; 7 may occur on exceptional days, mostly in the two weeks around the summer solstice). Indices of 9 and 10 are common in the Mediterranean area. The Sun Index forecast refers to the daily maximum. Burning Time

Shortly after my blogpost about whether or not this recession hurts homeschoolers, I received an email and a call from David Crary, of the Associated Press regarding my blogpost. Apparently he was asking the same question I was. I was mentioned in the resulting article that he wrote (which is featured below). He neglected to mention that I am Research Director for National Home Education Legal Defense - NHELD.In any case, my observations were corroborated and confirmed by the article: that homeschoolers are committed to homeschooling despite a downturn in the economy - and that they will find whatever way they can to continue to educate their children at home. In fact I also pointed out that while government school budgets are being slashed, which may cause some instability in the delivering of their curriculum, homeschooled kids continue to receive the same high quality that they always receive at home because the parents directly control the education of their children. I also said that the recession may indeed bring more families to homeschool their children because both parents may now be at home - and begin to work from home - and secondly, since the price of private school may become unaffordable that private school parents will choose to homeschool rather than put their child in government schools. Homeschooling allows for flexibility, and in this kind of economic environment flexibility is a key element.We spoke for about a half hour about the topic touching on the issues that I brought up in my blogpost as well as what some of my commenters has posted and here is the resulting article which features me as one of the interviewees:Amid hard times, homeschooling families persistMar. 3, 2009 01:13 PMBy DAVID CRARY • The Associated Press • March 3, 2009When hard times reached the Schneider household in central Oregon, the longtime stay-at-home mom took action - getting a job at Subway to offset a drop in her husband's earnings. What she didn't do was also notable: She didn't stop homeschooling her three teenage children.Colleen Schneider works evenings so she's home for her favored morning teaching hours. The family scrimps - more frozen pizza, less eating out. But an inflexible 9-to-5 job that would force her to quit homeschooling was not an option."I would fight tooth and nail to homeschool," said Schneider, 47, a devout Roman Catholic who wants to convey her values to her children. "I'm making it work because it's my absolute priority."Other families across the country are making similar decisions - college-age children chipping in with their earnings, laid-off fathers sharing teaching duties, mothers taking part-time jobs - with the goal of continuing to homeschool in the face of economic setbacks.Before the recession, the ranks of homeschool students had been growing by an estimated 8 percent annually; the latest federal figures, from 2007, calculate the total at about 1.5 million.While some families are giving up because of a stay-at-home parent's need to get a job, the recession overall will likely be a further boost to homeschooling, according to parents and educators interviewed by the Associated Press.We're going to see continued growth," said Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute in Salem, Ore. "The reasons parents home-educate are not passing, faddish things."Christopher Klicka of Warrenton, Va., senior counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Association and co-teacher along with his wife of seven homeschooled children, says hard times enhance homeschooling's appeal as private school tuition becomes unaffordable and some public schools contemplate cutbacks."People are looking to homeschooling as an alternative more now in light of economic circumstances," he said, citing its low cost and potential for strengthening family bonds.At Allendale Academy in Clearwater, Fla., which provides resources for homeschoolers, enrollment has risen 50 percent over the past two years to about 900 students as families desert private schools, says academy director Patricia Carter."Often one parent has been laid off," she said. "That makes private school tuition impossible, and they don't want to send their kids back to public school."Her academy charges $65 per year to support students through 8th grade, $95 for high school students, compared to private school tuitions often running many thousands of dollars per year.For frugal families, homeschooling can be a good fit. Used academic material is available at low cost; free research resources are on tap on the Internet and at libraries."Homeschoolers are pretty self-reliant," said Judy Aron of West Hartford, Conn., who has homeschooled three children. "They'd rather cut back on other things. ...They very vehemently don't want to see themselves as victims."Michael Marcucci, of Middlebury, Conn., is president of the Connecticut Homeschool Network, which has about 1,500 member families - including 34 who signed up in January alone."During difficult times, people tend to go back to basics," Marcucci said. "I know a family with five children - the father's been out of work 18 months and they're still homeschooling."His own family, with three homeschooled children, got a taste of that challenge last year when Marcucci, a banker, was out of work for six months. His wife continued homeschooling, rather than seek a job, and he supplemented his job-hunting with teaching stints of his own."It was a chance to reconnect with family, to get to know your children in a different way," he said. "I was excited about the opportunity to teach Greek history, to help out with algebra."Andrea Farrier, a mother of three girls from Kalona, Iowa, does double-duty - homeschooling her daughters and working part-time for her school district as a supervisory teacher for 23 other homeschool families. Several are struggling financially - in some cases because of a father's layoff - but abandoning homeschooling so the mother can find a job is not their response, Farrier said."These families are already sacrificing - when times get tough, there's no belt left to tighten," she said. "These are families who homeschool because public education wouldn't serve the needs of their children - it's the last thing they'll give up."Among Farrier's colleagues - both as a homeschooling mom and as a part-time teacher - is Crystal Gingerich, 44, of Kinross, Iowa.Her husband, Joe, used to be a self-employed electrician, but business dwindled and he's now a truck driver whose routes across the Midwest keep him away from home except on weekends. That leaves her single-handedly running the household on weekdays, and teaching her four children ages 15, 13, 10 and 4."It's definitely shifted the pressure load on me in terms of being a single parent when he's gone," Gingerich said. "But I'm doing what I love."In Michigan, among the states hardest hit by recession, April Morris, 44, of Auburn Hills remains committed to homeschooling even though she's now working full-time at Target - a job she started after her husband was laid off from his computer job.The three oldest Morris children have moved on to college, but 13-year-old Ben continues to homeschool, getting help from his father and older siblings as well as his mother, who works evenings and has Thursdays off to maximize her teaching availability."It's an easier adjustment for him than me," she said. "I still feel I'm supposed to be home with him all day."In Southfield, Mich., mother of eight Abbey Waterman says she's able to continue homeschooling her four youngest children thanks in large part to support from the four oldest, who've been willing to chip in with earnings from caddying, guitar playing and tutoring."We're used to making a lot out of a little," she said.So far, her husband, Kevin, has been steadily employed with a financial printing company, but the family takes nothing for granted."His company laid off two entire departments - so we're not sure he'll be laid off or not," Waterman said. "If he was, my college-age kids offered to get jobs so we could continue what we're doing."She said some of her friends have taken more drastic measures - selling their cars or even their homes - to keep homeschooling.Shelly Mabe, a coordinator for a group of 250 Christian homeschooling families in Michigan's Macomb County, said she hasn't heard of any of them giving up homeschooling - but some have moved to other states where laid-off fathers had better job prospects.In La Pine, Oregon, Colleen Schneider is still trying to adjust to the challenges that arose when a booming local real estate market collapsed and her husband's earnings in drywall work plummeted.Initially, she tried to work an early morning shift at Subway, but soon switched to evenings."I felt ripped out of my house," she said. "When you homeschool, the morning is a very precious time. You greet your children, encourage them to get on schedule. ...Otherwise, the tendency to sleep in and put things off really creeps in."Schneider hopes to leave Subway soon to work as a caregiver for the elderly, but she's intent on continuing to homeschool."I've seen too much good come out of it to change now," she said. I am very happy that homeschoolers were not portrayed as a group "in need of help" or otherwise shown as "victims of a bad economy" by the media.Time are tough for everyone, and homeschoolers are making due just like every other family affected by these times. Our self-reliance and can-do attitude serve us well in good and bad times and so does the flexibility that homeschooling affords us.

How a Million Dollar Product failed due to Lack of Experience with Chinese Factories by Emil Kirilov The difference between buying consumer goods from Chinese sites and producing a product or any component is huge. As always I write stuff that is based on real experience. Today I decided to share with you such story and give you the lessons we learned at Zekeng some time ago. Here is the story Everything happens in the summer of 2015. A client, for whom we worked on a product, got inspiration from a competitive product and changed the concept of the heater. Instead of the casual heater wire, we decided to use heater which is a metallic conductor, printed on a flexible band. The technology is very similar to that for making flexible ribbon cables and flexible printed circuit boards. The only difference is that instead of copper a specialized material is applied. Using this technology we were able to reduce the device size, to achieve more rapid heating of the evaporation chamber and to optimize the battery consumption. It sounded like a great deal until everything went wrong! The factories that could make such heater were only 2. One was based in the US and the other in China. Due to the very high price, we refused to use the services of the American factory, and decided to try the quality in China. Chinese factory also became a candidate for a supplier once we reach the mass production phase. We only needed detailed information about metal that is to be used in the factory to calculate the length and thickness of the wire. After many emails we didn’t receive this information. I can not tell you the exact reason, but we assume that it is some kind of preservation of know-how. Lesson #1 Sometimes it is impossible to access tech information from the factories Another thing we noticed, is that once we sent an inquiry to the factory, the next day we received several competitive offers from other factories. Later, it turned out that the factory is the same, but we were inundated with offers from other companies with different names. This is the next lesson: Lesson #2 China is the largest equalizer of information What we have also learned, not only from this incident, is that Chinese always answer with ‘YES’ and always agree with the client. Once I had the opportunity to meet Ivan Velkov and to hear his great lecture based on his life in China. I realized that answering with ‘NO’ is even considered impolite. Although we feel better when we get ‘YES’, it turns out that the result is not that good. Why? Because Chinese do what they have in mind although it is sometimes opposite to your request. We asked several times via e-mail ‘Will you send us technical documentation?’. Even the answer was ‘YES’ to all of them, we never received e-mail with any of the requested information. Lesson #3 The Chinese often answer with ‘YES’ even they don’t understand the question I will give again an example using the heating elements. Since we had no information on the material, we sent an example drawing asking them to make the calculations and to make the missing design in the shaded area. The most interesting is that on the question ‘Can you do it for us?’, they answered ‘YES’. Here is the drawing we sent: You can’t imagine how we felt after we got the result. For this mistake we paid $250 and waited for one month: This is ridiculous since we negotiate with company that makes heaters and printed circuit boards not shampoo bottles! We learned one more lesson: Lesson #4 The Chinese don’t think, they just manufacture The last straw was when we asked why they had produced this foolish thing. Then, as a response, we received something like ‘Put it in the device, it might work’. Obviously, they had no clue how conductors work! An engineering factory!? We came to the conclusion that we had to do our own design, based on material we don’t know. The only way this can happen is to explore it. We prepared a test design of various lengths and thicknesses of wire and sent the order. That cost us another $250 and one month time. Fortunately, we received what we expected: After some experiments we calculated all the coefficients we needed and made a new design based on them — another $250 and one month time. Hence the next lesson: Lesson #5 You need about 4 times more money and time When the new heater arrived we were shocked again! This time we got the right heater pattern but solder pads were on the wrong side! Eventually we were able to make a manual correction and to finish the prototype so we saved $250 and one month time. There was no more orders. Thanks to the collaboration with this factory and several other issues with the enclosure, the product failed in ‘time to market’. For those few months many Chinese replicas popped in the shopping sites. Until that moment our work was concentrated mainly on non-commercial and niche products. We have successful partnerships with many factories in China and in other parts of the world. This time, however, the product was a mass product. According to the business plan it had to generate revenues over $1 million from the initial sales through Kickstarter campaign. It is still not clear whether ‘the equalizer of information’ had not delayed us on purpose? Maybe it is a policy to give the advantage of local producers? Who knows? What we know is that Chinese replicas of famous products always appear quite quickly in the market. How it is possible? > Emil Kirilov My name is Emil and I’m engineer in electronics. The past 10 years I used to work as a firmware and software developer in established companies.

Day #124:Albert Einstein Quotes October 30, 2013 / Abraham Iyiola Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics. He was regarded as one of the most ingenious and quotable personalities of his generation. I have some of my favourite Einstein quotes. I have only chosen 20 as there is too much to chose. 1.“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited.” 2.“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” 3.“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” 4.“I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.” 5.“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” 6.“The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.” 7.“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” 8.“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” 9.“Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. 10.”Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction.” 11.”Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.” 12.”I want to know God’s thoughts; the rest are details.” 13.”The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” 14.”Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” 15.”The only real valuable thing is intuition.” 16.”A person starts to live when he can live outside himself.” 17.The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.” 18″Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing.” 19.”Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” 20.”Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.”

Fiery dead satellite re-entry this weekend 22 September, 2011 in Bencana, Maklumat KUALA LUMPUR (NST): A dead American satellite the size of a bus is expected to fall back to earth this weekend and Malaysia is among the countries within its impact zone. But the satellite is expected to break up into smaller pieces upon re-entry and the risk to public safety or property from the falling debris is said to be extremely small. Nevertheless, Malaysia’s National Space Agency (Angkasa) is monitoring updates from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) of the United States. The satellite is Nasa’s decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), and so far, the US space agency could not put the exact time and place where the 6,000kg object would fall. Nasa’s latest update showed the expected re-entry date as tomorrow, US time, plus or minus a day. This puts the expected date for Malaysia between tomorrow and Sunday. Angkasa’s spokesman said their team, based at the National Observatory at the Bukit Malut Dam in Langkawi, Kedah, is monitoring the satellite. “Although it is difficult to use the facility’s telescope to track the satellite, we will still try,” he said yesterday. “Our team is also monitoring Nasa’s website round-the-clock for the latest updates on the expected time and location of the re-entry.” Angkasa, unlike Nasa, does not have the equipment or expertise to monitor space debris or near-earth objects. The spokesman said members of the public could also monitor the updates through the Nasa website at . He said there was no need for people to worry as the satellite would break up into pieces and the odds of being struck was estimated at 1 in 3,200. He said the 20-year-old research satellite was expected to break up into more than 100 pieces as it reentered the atmosphere, most of them burning up. Twenty-six of its heaviest metal parts are expected to reach Earth, the biggest chunk weighing 136kg. The debris could be scattered over an area of about 800km. The UARS’ trajectory takes it between 57 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south latitude, which is also its crash zone. The zone covers everything from Canada down to the tip of South America, and from Siberia down to the tip of Africa and Australia. The UARS was launched on Sept 12, 1991, aboard space shuttle mission STS-48 and it was deployed on Sept 15, 1991. It was the first multiinstrumented satellite to observe numerous chemical components of the atmosphere for better understanding of photochemistry. UARS ceased its productive scientific life in 2005. US media advised its citizens not to pick up any debris that they suspect came from the satellite. The space agency says there are no toxic chemicals present, but there can be sharp edges. Also, it’s government property. It’s against the law to keep it as a souvenir or sell it on eBay. Nasa’s advice is to report any findings to the police. US media reports said that UARS was getting advance publicity because it was the biggest Nasa satellite to make an uncontrolled re-entry in about three decades.

Tag Archives: foto I sat watching the inauguration ceremonies this morning thinking of Medger Evers as his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams, gave the Invocation. Wondering if fifty years ago this June, as she watched her husband fight and die for the right to equal rights for all people, she could ever imagine that she would become the first woman to take this part in the ceremony. I wonder if brings any small peace to her heart. It did to mine. I sat watching the inauguration ceremonies this morning and I thought of my mother’s parents. My grandmother passed away before Obama’s career began. My grandfather so happy to see him elected the first time, and would’ve been thrilled again today, but he missed it by just a few months. From the time I was little, I loved looking at the photos of JFK’s inaugural and the gala the evening before, directed by my grandfather. I loved the stories about the terrible snow storm and how they had to work around the madness of it all. The show must go on. And yet, this show never aired because of sound and lighting difficulties. The space was so large and lighting for TV was an art yet to be mastered. It exists, but was never broadcast. It was a lineup so large it brought the biggest names from Hollywood to Broadway to DC. I found some old photos from the JFK gala online. Photos by the great Phil Stern. And as I looked through the contact sheets, spying some old familiar images and some old familiar faces, I did a double take. It was grandmother. In a few shots I’d never seen before. She didn’t look directly into the camera, but ever so slightly to the side. She was smiling, perhaps laughing a little. The look I’d imagine would have been on her face today had she lived to see this day. Leave a reply At BlogHer, I spoke about the power of Pinterest in leading in referral traffic over Twitter, Google, StumbleUpon, Bing and Yahoo. I spoke about how we can create images with the intent of building community and driving traffic to the site ethically and responsibly. What I didn’t have time to discuss were steps one can take to be sure the original content they’re sharing is protected by creating watermarks. In this age of content theft, a watermark can be a blogger’s best friend. While it doesn’t prevent theft, it can help an image gone astray be returned to its rightful owner. It can also act as a kind reminder to those who might otherwise use what is not theirs without thinking twice. Watermarking your images doesn’t require graphic design know how. From desktop to smartphone, here’s a guide to making your mark. WHY WATERMARK? FACT: Just because an image is on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram does not mean anyone can take it and use it as they please. An image may only be used according to the Terms of Service on each site. Read the TOS. As attorney and blogger Sara Hawkins explains, in regard to Pinterest, “Many images are pinned knowingly and offered up by the copyright holder. But there are also many images on Pinterest that the copyright holder has no idea is on there.” By watermarking the content you place online, you make a statement. An important one about taking pride in your work and valuing your content. If your watermark includes your blog name, it can bring readers to your site even if the image is found on a site where you didn’t provide permission. From your site to Instagram, here are some easy ways to put the finishing touches on your images. ON YOUR DESKTOP Traditionally, Photoshop has been the route by which many watermark their work. Using an image or text, one can create a transparent PNG file as an overlay on graphics and photos. Another option is to save that PNG file as a brush and simply “stamp” your work. Here is a tutorial via Adobe for creating a watermark in Photoshop Elements. Lightroom offers the option of exporting your edited photos with your watermark embedded. Adobe offers a tutorial here that walks you through the process. If PNGs, brushes and layers aren’t your cup of tea, not to fear. You have some great options online that require zero Photoshop ability, and, as of late, I’ve found myself using them over Photoshop to quickly watermark an image with great results. You can create watermarks with ease using free sites like PicMonkey or Pixlr. I happen to love PicMonkey’s interface and the ease with which you can use their tools and be creative. They offer a wide range of fonts (though I suggest keeping it clean and easy to read). Beyond text-based watermarks, you can also opt to use your own your logo or graphic watermark. Once you’ve edited your image using PicMonkey, click on the icon for “Overlays.” On the top left you have the choice of “Your Own.” Click and upload a PNG file from your computer, and add it to the image. (If you’re not Photoshop familiar, or had someone design your site logo, you might ask about having a PNG made to coordinate with your blog design that you can use with apps, like PicMonkey.) I am really impressed with the ease of some watermarking apps for the iPhone and iPad. In fact, you might not be able to tell those I make in Photoshop from those I create on my phone while in line at the post office or in a waiting room before a meeting. Also worth checking out is the app A+ Signature, as it allows the option of text based and handwritten mark-ups. I think iWatermark is the easiest of the apps on the market and can reach a large audience as it is also available for Droid devices, and they have desktop versions for Mac and PC users (the Mac version can be integrated to work with iPhoto). My experience has been on the iPhone, and I love that by simply emailing myself the PNG of my watermark, I can add it to images as I do in Photoshop…and faster. While A+ Signature and iWatermark make it easy to share your images to Twitter and Facebook, Phonto also has the option of posting to Instagram, which is a wonderful way to integrate watermarks into what you share. Instagrams have always been publicly viewable unless one makes their account private, but Facebook’s new integration places the public Instagrams people “like” on their Timeline, giving Instagrams an even larger audience. The option to watermark them is a nice one, and Phonto makes it easy. Whether you choose to watermark your images, or not, is entirely up to you. Respect for copyright online has a long way to go. FACT: The notion that because you share your creative content on the web makes it public domain is untrue. Watermark not because you’re overprotective, but because you’re proud of your contributions to this community. Every picture tells a story, and these stories belong to us. Copyright gives us the ability, the RIGHT, to decide when and where our work is COPIED. As more and more people find their work used without their knowledge, the issue of making your mark becomes an important consideration. The market for software and apps is large. Any favorites we all should know about? And if you have watermarking questions, please feel free to ask!

May 1, 2017 | alisonbutlermusic May Day is a time for DIY, media coverage of SATs angst, finishing up the last of the Easter chocolate and, like all bank holidays, probable rain. If you live somewhere Ambridge-like, there’s Maypole dancing. For secondary teachers, it’s also a time for marking GCSE and A Level coursework, and sending up desperate prayers about the fate of any students whose work is still incomplete. This year my coursework deadlines have been for my own work. Rather than spending the Easter holiday marking GCSE performances or A Level compositions, I was trying to make sense of Nietzsche. Unlike most UK PhD students, I’ve spent the first five terms of my degree doing coursework. And yes, there are similarities to doing GCSEs. Some courses have very specific requirements about how work is presented – not dissimilar to DT coursework back in 1999, where everything had to be done on A3 paper: the school only had one A3 printer and colour printing was expensive, so woe betide anyone who asked to re-print a page. There are the “big” assignments, often worth 40% of a final grade, that take months and often have a fair degree of freedom over topic and approach. And there are the “busy work” assignments, as my friend Amy refers to them, which are reminiscent of experiments for Double Award Science both in weighting and intellectual freedom. For me, there have been huge advantages to this system. I’ve read diversely and become aware of relevant theory, learnt from several professors (yes, in Canada we make university sound like Hogwarts), had regular writing deadlines, explored other disciplines, and had weekly opportunities for face-to-face interaction with other doctoral students. Crucially, I didn’t need to have a research proposal before starting the PhD, which is often the case in the UK. Instead, the coursework process has allowed me to really explore the field of music education and dip into other areas that interest me, and I hope that the research and dissertation-writing process (not called a thesis, as in the UK) will be easier as a result. Of course there are drawbacks too. The whole PhD process is longer, there will bits of courses that are unpleasant, and my perception is that coursework creates a bigger hierarchical divide amongst PhD students than that of the upgrade system in the UK. Plus it’s a bit demoralizing when I have to explain to UK colleagues that not only am I not nearly finished, I haven’t even started data collection. Some ‘concluding thoughts’, if I’m being scholarly, and ‘takeaways’ if I’m being teacher-y. Coursework is tough going at any age: I didn’t blog at all in March or April, and I know that most GCSE and A Level students probably faced even more pressure with deadlines. PhD structures vary considerably (some doctoral degrees at Western have actual written exams post-coursework, which sounds horribly like doing A Levels again), and we should try not to make assumptions about what others are experiencing. Finally, finding opportunities for choice and individuality has made my own work more valuable to me: from the infamous bacon and coconut bread of DT coursework, to analysis of music education provision for children with SEN in mainstream schools. And since I’ve been too busy unravelling Nietzsche to find a course-work related photo, here’s something generically moody and intense.

The Burning Question #ATF2013 Like many other stranded travellers this morning, the Sydney and Canberra fog delayed my morning flight (6 times in total) so I missed the opening keynote and welcomes. Instead my 2013 Australian Theatre Forum journey began with David Milroy’s keynote. The most important thing to know about David is that he was fabulously warm and intelligent and nothing I write could possibly capture the real spirit and generosity (and demand) of his words. David is a Palyku Man and Western Australian (Theatre Boom and FIFO dramaturgs for the future anyone?) and was the first Artistic Director of Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Theatre as the ‘last man standing’. He came to the arts late (in his 30’s’s) initially as an actor, where he realised two things. 1. He couldn’t act. 2. The power of theatre. David was asked to provide a provocation for ATF and it was one framed by David’s own sense of place, both physical and cultural and his journey thus far as an ‘old and submerging playwright’. David spoke eloquently about and around cultural misrepresentation, meddling and the recurring question of just what exactly is the definition of Aboriginal theatre? Can a non-Aboriginal person write an Aboriginal play? (this applies equally to Torres Strait Islanders but David focused specifically on Aborignality so I’m referring to Aboriginal theatre here) We all know ‘the winners’ (NB: no one really won in the colonisation of Australia, current and past generations have all been robbed of something deeply precious on both sides IMO) write history, so it’s no surprise that Aboriginal stories have often been told through a white (European) lens in the distant and recent past. David asked “Who is telling our story and why?” and it’s a question that I’m constantly asking myself about all the stories I write and engage with as an audience member. And the who and why of my own Aboriginal history (through my Nana’s father) that I have no access to explore/track down. These severed ties haunt me. The hunger to know and the fear of never knowing and having no avenue to pursue haunt me – these lost stories and all their echoes. All the things I’ll never know but want to know. Who will tell me those stories and how and why? What stories will I tell and why? David referred to many experiences during his career where Aboriginal actors were on stage like ‘puppet theatre’ with others behind the scenes pulling the strings. And other experiences where individual Aboriginal artists were expected to be the sole cultural advisor and then when things went wrong in the project were left with the fall outs in their communities. In the early days of Yirra Yaakin, funding bodies had trouble working with the company because the company didn’t neatly fit the model of a theatre company. The scope was broader with a strong connection to cultural community (I don’t have first hand experience of Yirra Yaakin, but I expect in a similar way to Big hArt and the long term and deeply layered engagement with community as part of developing any of their projects). The existence of the company and its practise was and still is political. How can it not be when we live in a world that continues to be so intrinsically racist? When people have to live with closed doors, stereotypes and missed opportunities, the work really couldn’t be anything but political. David raised all this and more with candour, humour and warmth. People like this being in the world make me want to #maketrouble (It’s a twitter thing). What do I mean by make trouble? They make me believe that together we can shake the ugliness out of these systems and that we can build something better. They make me want to be better. They make it okay to ask all my stupid questions.They make me want to be braver and shout from the rooftops all the simmering rage that sits beneath my rib cage, so that together we can turn this world inside out and build something that does have the strength and room for true colour blind casting. For a spectrum of individuality in culture, gender, sexuality and ethnicity. For stories that can be told and reshaped by all because they’ll be so deeply embedded in cultural understanding, respect and pride that we won’t need quotas or closed doors anymore. I know this is a long way off, of course. It may never happen even in my lifetime, but people like David and Racheal (who commanded attention in the Q and A following David) make me believe that it is possible. They make my heart sing with joy. As a side note, I was personally fascinated that Yirra Yaakin started as a youth theatre company initially before growing and reframing itself. Young people are so much at the heart of everything I think and do as the both the building blocks for the future and the responsibility of our present. I believe in and completely support the need for Aboriginal peopleto tell Aboriginal stories. For Aboriginal writers, performers and directors to reshape the narratives of Aboriginality and what that means in a traditional and contemporary world. I believe that quotas (for gender, ethnicity and culture) are not the whole answer, but I do believe they are somewhere we need to start to wade through this muck and filth (racism, stolen stories etc). We need to put in place these structures and fight for them so that eventually variety can become the norm to the point that we won’t need the structures (quotas) to support it anymore because everyone will automatically demand it because it will be mainstream for a good actor to play anyone and for good writers to write anything. On another side note – for those that don’t know – this week is Reconciliation Week, and it does matter. It should matter to all of us. Not as one week where we give ourselves permission to care, but rather as one week that symbolises and builds the commitment we all need to make to strive towards reconciliation with the land and with each other. It shouldn’t be a token government effort, but an opportunity for all of us to pause a moment and take stock of how far we’ve come and how much further we all have to go and to recommit ourselves to the fight. Going back to David’s keynote. What is the definition of Aboriginal Theatre? There is no one definition. But it’s not enough to tick the boxes. It’s not enough to rely on protocols (although they should of course be part of the conversation), we need to seek and consistently build meaningful collaboration. Not everything written about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is correct. And not everything should have been written down in the first place. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. – David Milroy A well meaning writer can cause a lot of trouble by not working collaboratively. There is no such thing as a ‘generic Aboriginal’. Individuals are tied to community and country and they will be the ones to cop it if something goes wrong. It’s also kind of creepy to have generic characters who aren’t connected to country (to place). Why are they even there? The Q and A post David was engaging, lively and passionate. Filled to overflowing with dozens of people more knowledgeable and talented that I can ever hope to be. People who are changing the landscape with the power of their words and their work. I was doing too much listening and not enough note taking, but this most of all stayed with me: An actor should be able to play anything. That is an actor. A good actor has a range. And a cultural range as well. Get away from putting on white middle class theatre. We have a racist industry, whether its by accident or complicit. It’s there. This is stifling all of us! – (I missed the name of the speaker but I think it was Fred someone? If anyone can enlighten me, please do so I can find/follow and love his work online) In the end we should all be able to play everyone. But we have to break the racism and the white monopoly on Aboriginal stories. It might take fifty years. It might take a hundred. And in the meantime white people need to sit down and shut up and listen to the people who are saying “We have been oppressed and this is our story.” Meaningful collaboration is essential when dealing with our (Aboriginal and shared) history. Is it really so hard to sit down and listen? To ask questions? To be brave? Lets have some respect for the population that has struggled to have its stories heard. – David Milroy Thank you David. And everyone like you. You’re making the world a better place for me and mine to live in. I hope I do it justice. Keep demanding that I do.

Haym Salomon Gottfried Feder John Amery Victor E Marsden William L Pierce Arnold Leese Henry Williamson Sylvia Stolz Ursula Haverbeck George S Patton Archibald Maule Ramsay Laurence A Waddell Marxist Labeling Sexual Bolshevism Sexual Depravity Magnus Hirschfeld Transgender/transsexual Harry Benjamin SEXPOL Gyorgy Lukacs Bela Kun (Kohen) Norman Spack Samuel Roth Noel Ignatiev Crimes & Criminality Helmuth James Graf von Moltke Alfred Redl Aaron Kosminski (Jack The Ripper) Kray Twins Jack “Spot” Comer Meyer Lansky The Yiddishers Yiddish Black Hand Kurt Eisner Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) The Black Sash Leon Brittan David Cameron-Levita Arthur James Balfour David & Ed Miliband Alois Lexa von Aehrenthal Henry Morgenthau Felix Frankfurter Arthur Greenwood Mikhail Lessin Louise Ellman Beatrice Fraenkel Luciana Berger Manny Shinwell, (Baron Shinwell) Alan Shatter Leslie Hore- Belisha Harold Laski Nathan Laski Greville Janner Gerald Kaufman Dominic Raab Geoffrey Dickens David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville Judah P. Benjamin Tom Lantos Operation Entebbe Herbert Samuel Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Clement Freud Jewish festivals Chanukah (Hanukkah) Religious Scriptures The Scofield Reference Bible Religious Terminology Sabbatai Zevi Donmè Julia Neuberger Rabbi Schneerson Cyrus I. Scofield Peter Hayman Sidney Reilly Morris and lona Cohen Sidney Stanley Jacob Golos Freikorps RSS for this section Featured in Communism, European, Holocaust, Holodomor, Zionism The Evolution of Genocide Until the close of WWII the ethnic European had never envisaged the concept of the total destruction of a people. Sure inter-tribal and inter-racial war was a feature of Europe historically but the physical intention to wipe out a specific racial type was never a part of the European mind set. In this light the word of Greek origin ‘holocaust’ meaning to consume by fire or burnt offering is of ritual consequence referring to an individual sacrifice. Nevertheless in 1948 the Jewish controlled United Nations convened a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). It insists that instances of ‘genocide’ have taken place throughout history. It was the Jew Raphael Lemkin who invented the term “genocide” in 1944 by combining Greek genos (γένος; race, people) and Latin cīdere (to kill) the essence of which suggest the destruction of a specific gene type. However, Lemkin defined genocide as follows: “Generally speaking, genocide does not necessarily mean the immediate destruction of a nation, except when accomplished by mass killings of all members of a nation. It is intended rather to signify a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves. The objectives of such a plan would be the disintegration of the political and social institutions, of culture, language, national feelings, religion, and the economic existence of national groups, and the destruction of the personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and even the lives of the individuals belonging to such groups.” In this he codifies a very specific notion of genocide pertaining particularly to ‘nation’. In 1944 it was still understood that ‘nation’ meant people not territory thus the 1953 edition of the shorter Oxford Dictionary was still defining genocide as the destruction of a race. Yet the very specificity of Lemkin’s definition indicates an intention for a theoretical assault on the concept of genocide. Almost 70 years of Jewish Marxist propaganda has corrupted the concept of Nation relating it to country rather than racial heritage. With this Marxist ‘politically correct’ version of Nation flooding the language later dictionary definitions of genocide have naturally been sanitised falling in line with Lemkin’s rather broad description. The idea was to initiate the concept of targeted annihilation but render the general word so bland that its parallel would be imbued with enormous sympathetic significance. This would explain the tidal wave of propaganda that hit in the late 60’s. It was at this point that as Holodomor Info states “Jewish Hollywood was tripping over itself to clutter the market with ‘Holocaust’ movies, dramas and documentaries.” The Jewish tribe engendered the word ‘Holocaust’ with a new meaning. In the Jewish construct the target for annihilation was to be very specific the use of the word ‘Holocaust’ was to be reserved for the Jewish tribe only. The significance of this is threefold. First in order to activate the ‘Holocaust’ construct it was necessary to introduce the ethnic European to an alien concept that of ‘genocide’ or the conscious destruction of a people. Initially the nature of this destruction or ‘Genocide’ implies that all people are equally worthy of life the conscious massacre of which being immoral. Therefore, the second issue is to give the word ‘genocide’ less impact by blaring its meaning. However, a counterpart of Genocide also meaning annihilation identifies a very specific people. Consequently the third and final task is to promote this construct as ‘unique’ so there is no doubt of the Jewish hallowed status. This sort of contempt for the ethnic European is rife throughout the Jewish community. The origin can be found in the Talmud, the Jewish book of law-Jehovah created man in human form so that the Jew would not have to be served by beasts. The European is consequently an animal in human form, and condemned to serve the Jew day and night. Midrash Talpioth p. 225-L Subsequent Rabbis, particularly in the occupied territory of Palestine, advocate these views and most notably in New York the infamous Rabbi Ginsburgh expounded the view that non-Jews may be killed in order to supply the Jew with organs. With this a group of Jewish Israeli men were arrested in connection with a massive human organ trafficking operation. It involved the removal of organs from living ethnic Serbs who were then left for dead in mass graves. There is no doubt that Ginsburgh’s statement provided the justification for this aberration. Ginsburgh’s announcements where published in the largest New York Jewish Newspaper yet no attempts have been made to demand a retraction despite the explicit nature of political correctness. The overt nature of Jewish arrogance also features on the university campus with the Jewish ‘Professor’ Noel Ignatiev who quite blatantly teaches the annihilation of the White race. In the meantime the demographic of Europe and its territories is distorted by the influx of coloureds and hideous propaganda promoting miscegenation (race mixing). Coloured importation into White lands and only White lands is indefensible and those who try are race traitors. Immigration is White Genocide and this is the object of the Jewish occupation of Europe. Nevertheless, a Jewish media monopoly restricts, corrupts and manipulates a tidal wave of European tradition strangling the ethnic people with ‘false guilt’ and Jewish Marxist propaganda. It requires an independent mind to break through the dogma churned out via the Jewish mainstream. However, it is necessary to question information received from any source and formulate one’s own opinion instead of blindly accepting like cattle (goyim) to the slaughter. It is now written in stone that the entire claim for a ‘Jewish’ homeland is a sham. The ‘Jewish’ argument for a homeland was based on being a pure race. Now it is confirmed that while there is Jewish DNA present they are no pure race but a mix of races including Semite. It is this Jewish blood that is the contaminant, the plague element that infects the host and changes the dynamic of the original but not the wholesome tribe their media propagates. Of course the historic racial legitimacy the Jewish tribe place on the land of Palestine is absurd it is like the Celts ‘demanding’ England back from the Saxon after 15 hundred years of occupation. Even the initial ‘Jewish demand’ for a homeland was subversive and not an upfront attack as an honourable Aryan tribe would have made. There is no doubt that the intelligence is inherited from European inter-breeding while the malicious part is solely a Jewish trait. The Jewish element is a racial reality. Degenerate is Jewish nature and it doesn’t matter how impure the race has become that trait will always dominate just as Jewish ‘entrepreneurs’ dominate pornography and the sex trade. Naturally provide a spiteful tribe with any measure of intelligence and the outcome is Zionist Israel. Therefore, a common sense explanation for their need for races to mix suggests inadequacy. The contention is why the ‘intelligent’ White European race is bowing and scraping to this vile repellent mix when it is so obviously malevolent. Whilst this ‘race’ has Jewish cunning and it is cunning to implement Cultural Marxism that turn the White against himself dumb down society and repackage everything that is bad as good and to encourage chaos where common sense once ruled. Nevertheless, it wasn’t wise of the White race to sell Europe to the Jew in the first place. However, our weakness is not the lack of intelligence but our good nature towards those outside our race. It is this ability to temper cold logic with empathy that the Jewish ‘race’ identifies and uses as a weakness against us. Quite frankly it has been our downfall. The White race needs to stop empathising with Jews and Negros. They are NOT our people and this time it has come back to bite. The White race must learn to protect only its own because given current trends there will not be a next time. In fact it would appear that those foreign races are dumbfounded at how easily the White man is letting it all slip away. The whole notion that the West has JUDEO-Christian origins is a fallacy. It is only Judaic because Jews have infiltrated the White West and impregnated their perverted Talmudic ‘morality’ into Western thought by means of their Cultural Marxist purge. White values are entirely different and an exploration of Ancient Greco-Roman or Germanic nations will inform one of this. Jewish Marxism’s methodology is typified by stealth infiltration of White Western institutions where Jewish influence infects all. Thus Cultural Marxism’s ‘march through Western institutions’ is hiding any trace of White European Civilisation and replacing it with manufactured White guilt. The psychology choreographed by Jewish Zionists on the street is remarkably similar in that all players involved or televised are Zionists puppets so that the Jewish equation remains concealed but involved. The plastic patriots like England’s EDL and the Gert Wilders Swedish Freedom Party offer an artificial ‘enemy’ for the ‘anti-fas’ to ‘condemn’. However both come out only for Islam. This method has worked like a dream for Zionists and seems to closely parallel the mechanism they use with the ‘holocaust’. This is in effect also a method of distraction. Jewish Israel is committing countless criminal acts and when accused yells ‘holocaust’ and with that the ‘West’ backs down. This blatantly contends that the Jewish race can murder with impunity because they claim victim status. This is absurd. Is the rape victim absolved of killing post rape because she was a victim…This would only lead to anarchy .Yet pathetic White Europeans infused with false guilt are still distracted by Jewish yelps of ‘holocaust’. With the revelation that the Jewish ‘race’ is a mixture and not the pure form that claimed legitimacy to a Jewish homeland, Jewish propaganda upheld since WWII begins to unravel rather swiftly. As with all Jewish Zionist exploits the story of the inauguration of the Jewish state is not a straight forward one but involves much manipulation and exploitation on the part of the Jewish ‘race’. This particular episode begins approximately 2 years into WWI in 1916. Germany has won outright and is negotiating peace terms. Meanwhile Jewish Zionists in Germany whispered in the ears of war mongers in the British government explaining that there was no need for Britain to lose this war as America could be ‘encouraged’ to enter as a British ally. In ‘compensation’ for this endeavour the Jewish Zionists wanted Britain to give them Palestine. This lead to the instigation of the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This is an official letter from the British Foreign Office headed by Arthur Balfour, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (from July 1902 to December 1905) and later the UK’s Foreign Secretary (from December 1916 to October 1919), to Lord Rothschild, who was seen as a representative of the Jewish people. The letter stated that the British government “viewed with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country”. “Little as the general public may suspect it, the charming, gracious, and cultured Mr Balfour is the most egotistical of men, and a man who would make almost any sacrifice to remain in office.” So not above back door deals with international Jewish criminals. Further intrigue follows as in 1999 a Jewish researcher unearths the apparently concealed heritage of ‘British’ Conservative politician Leopold Amery (1873 – 1955) who drafted the Balfour Declaration. In his memoirs, Amery stated that his grandmother fled Hungary following the attempted revolution in 1848 and settled in Constantinople where in 1849 she met and married a British doctor. William Rubinstein, professor of modern history at the University of Wales, asserts that Amery’s mother, Elisabeth Joanna Saphir, was born to Jewish parents in 1841. The family lived in Pest, later to become part of Budapest and contain the city’s first Jewish quarter. As assistant secretary to the war cabinet, Amery not only prepared the Balfour Declaration but was responsible for establishing the Jewish Legion, the first organized Jewish fighting force since Roman times, which became the forerunner of the Israel Defence Force. Meanwhile, in Russia a bloody revolution had just taken place between White Russian Nationals and red Jewish Bolsheviks. With the slaughter of their royal family by Jewish Bolsheviks the primary force in government White Russia had fallen. On consolidating their position in Russia one wonders if Jewish Bolshevik concerns did not turn to the situation in Europe. Nevertheless, 1919 saw the close of WWI and Germany’s final underhanded defeat. The international Jewish community waved the Balfour Declaration in triumph as Versailles carved out pieces of Empire. This saw the beginning of what now appears to be remarkably like a ‘softening up’ exercise in the same vein as Jewish Marxists practice today. A form of desensitisation so that when the supposed ‘event’ takes place the mass subliminally expects it and therefore does not question. A series of Newspaper articles appeared in the Jewish lead media purporting the victimisation of a ‘sacred’ number of Jews in Europe. Later articles ‘begged’ for the gates of Palestine to be opened for Jewish refugees. This prompt subterfuge is twofold. The series of article’s cunning early arousal undercut the continued horrific crimes being committed by Jewish Bolshevik’s in the Ukraine particularly during 1932-33 (the Holodomor holocausts). Though, at this point its main propaganda purpose seemed to be to modify White behaviour in favour of the poor false Jewish ‘victim’ and mobilise them behind the Jewish claim for Palestine. However, the Europe of 1933 was to face a significant challenge to the artificial balance of power enabled through WWI as Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. Hitler’s strong national sentiment provided the international Jewish community with an excuse to boycott German goods on the pretense that the Jews in Germany were under persecution. Again this was an attempt to provoke maltreatment which would exacerbate the ‘victim’ label already fashioned thus adding weight to Jewish calls for a homeland in Palestine. Of course this very public display is meant to distract the White indigenous away from the criminal acts performed by this self-same ‘tribe’ just as it is today. History will show that it is the Jewish hand that fosters debt and generated war in Europe. “The Allies gave the Reich two conditions, and their acceptance would have brought about an immediate cessation of hostilities, and a free rein for Germany in Poland. Those conditions were, Germany must return to the Gold Standard and the League of Freemasonry must be readmitted to Germany.” Like the Spartan King Leonidas before him Hitler refused to kneel. Germany would not be a vassal to a parasitic interloper unlike European nations allied with Jewish Bolsheviks. A very familiar Jewish Zionist ‘democratic’ response was to declare war on Germany. Clearly Hitler stood in the Jewish way just as Hussein and Assad have more recently. With 2 Jewish Zionist stooges-Churchill, Roosevelt and the Bolshevik Stalin controlling the allied forces a thoroughly dirty campaign ensued. On Churchill’s orders the RAF fired on any German aircraft meaning those specifically marked as medical relief were often shot down. However, nothing can compare to the saturation bombing Winston Churchill–in collusion with Franklin Delano Roosevelt–had prepared for the city of Dresden between the night of February 13th and 14th 1945. Set up as a hospital city for wounded soldiers no military unit or anti-aircraft battery was deployed in the city. Together with the 600,000 refugees from Breslau, Dresden was filled with nearly 1.2 million people. No interest was shown in targeting military installations 60 miles outside of Dresden. The goal was the German injured and civilians. There was a three-hour pause between the first and second raids. The lull had been calculated to lure civilians from shelters into the open again. To escape the flames, tens of thousands of civilians had crowded into the Grosser Garten, a magnificent park nearly one and a half miles square. According to allied reports it was a complete “success.” Within a few minutes a sheet of flame ripped across the grass, uprooting trees and scattering branches of others with everything from bicycles to human limbs. More than 700.000 phosphorus bombs were dropped on the 1.2 million people in Dresden one bomb for every 2 people. The temperature in the centre of the city reached 1600o centigrade. More than 260.000 bodies and residues of bodies were counted. Still, those who perished in the centre of the city cannot be traced. Approximately 500.000 children, women, elderly, wounded soldiers and the animals of the zoo were slaughtered in one night. The death toll of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined only amounted to 225,000 less than half the casualties of Dresden. Much greater emphasis must have been placed on slaying ethnic Europeans. However, WWII was not to last long enough for the desired Jewish outcome. In Jewish eyes Germany should have received the same fate as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the 1930s, there were scientists developing nuclear fission in both Germany and Japan. However the leaders of both of these countries sternly forbade them to continue their research. Adolf Hitler said he would never allow anyone in Germany to work on such an inhumane weapon, and the Emperor of Japan let his scientists know that he would never approve such a weapon. At this time the United States had no one working on nuclear fission. The disgruntled Jewish scientists from Germany contacted friends in the United States, and were told that there was a possibility of government provision for their work. Support from Albert Einstein was enlisted and a letter dated August 2 signed by Einstein was delivered by Alexander Sachs to Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House on October 11, 1939 confirming that fission bomb technology was not so farfetched. The result was the Manhattan Project the codename for a project conducted during World War II to develop the first atomic bomb. It is highly ironic to note that the technology for total destruction is shunned by 2 nations demonised and embraced by so called ‘democracy’. Leading the Manhattan project was Robert Oppenheimer, a psychotic Jewish pervert with possible homosexual/paedophilic tendencies and Communist connections. Oppenheimer’s disturbed and deeply jealous nature had him twice commit acts that almost lead to murder. A perfect candidate to advance the course of annihilation Oppenheimer cannot have been unaware of the devastation that his work had the potential for. Therefore, one finds his subsequent apology a false pretence. Incidentally the words used by Oppenheimer “I am become Death, the Destroyer of worlds” are taken from the Bhagavad-Gita, an ancient Sanskrit text of Aryan heritage. Can this be some sort of private tribal ‘joke’ at our expense-only one of Jewish heritage made a spectacle of ‘remorse’ signifying a metaphorical transference of guilt onto White hands. Even the language and exhibition from Oppenheimer does not indicate spontaneity. In fact the emotions displayed by both Oppenheimer and Einstein in reaction to the events that surrounded the 1945 atomic explosion are heavily contrived, one might even say coordinated. Some of Einstein’s biographers hail the modern era as “the Einstein Revolution” and “the Age of Einstein”, possibly because he set in motion the program of nuclear fission in the United States an area of science recoiled from by the dictatorships of this period. Yet even now so called ‘democracies’ still allow Einstein’s lies to insist that the atomic bomb was invented to prevent Germany achieving it first. Even now the Jewish terrorist organization that calls itself ‘Israel’ has a massive nuclear strike against its enemies and allies plan for if the entire occupation of Palestine is destroyed. Meanwhile, it cries ‘persecution’ at the mention of all its criminal activities. However in May 1945 the atomic bomb was not ready and wouldn’t be for several months. With Germany surrendered and the Japanese already privately suing for peace the grand theatre that was Oppenheimer’s live population on which to test the bomb was rapidly disappearing. John Foster Dulles response was to “Keep Japan in the war another three months, and we can use the bomb on their cities; we will end this war with the naked fear of all the peoples of the world, who will then bow to our will.” Not Oppenheimer’s first choice but still Dulles is obviously a Zionist and a threat to the White race. Consequently the outcome served Jewish interests just as well. Initially now that Germany was subdued all of Europe fell into Jewish Zionist clutches via their occupation of allied Governments. The Nuremburg Witch trials of 1945-6 were to secure the Jewish label of ‘victim’ and set the scene for the next 60 years of Jewish media deceit. This post-war act of judicial corruption was to advance Jewish ‘victimhood’ to the nth degree and helped consolidate Palestine as a Jewish homeland in 1948. One would believe the international Jewish community had achieved their ambition but even today the vast majority of Jews exist outside the state of Israel with the greatest population in the USA. The reality is that the theft of Palestine was implemented to provide Jewish Zionism with a central political power base. The state of Israel currently has a very far reaching voice with lobbies in most ‘democratic’ governments. It also maintains its nuclear arsenal while demanding the disarmament of its enemies. It was Voltaire who gave voiced to the notion “to learn who rules over you simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize”. Meanwhile, just as one attempts to confront the Jewish community with its crimes the same applies to Israel. The gentile world is immediately accused of anti-Semitism and subjected to cries of remember the ‘holocaust’ the act of which paralyses the gentile with ‘guilt’ in the face of Jewish ‘victimhood’. It is a remarkably simple and self-contained web that with its consistent stream of ‘holocaust’ propaganda confines the White mind in the Zionist illusion and yet relies so heavily on fabrication. Pull the thread that is their claim to racial solidarity and the whole deception collapses. There is no such thing as a ‘British’ Jew; there is no such thing as a ‘German’ Jew; there is no such thing as an ‘Italian’ Jew because in actuality there is no such thing as a Jew of purely European blood. The truth is a mongrel conglomerate admixture and a vile, hideous Jewish Zionist parasite that feeds from the National wealth of a host and sucks the indigenous population dry of its values, spirit and hope. No-longer is there a reason for the White world to shrink with remorse as this so called ‘tribe’ stabs us and screams out in pain, for their assertion of ‘victimhood’, so tied to their identity as a race, is mutilated along with their claim of ‘racial purity’. Accordingly the claim to Palestine, while ludicrous to anyone employing common sense, has ceased to hold any validity even in the realms of Talmudic Judaism. Meanwhile, the international Jewish community has yet to apologize for the bloody genocides of 1921-23, 1932-33 and 1946-7 that slaughtered upwards of 16.5 million Europeans during the Jewish Bolshevik regime, the 1.7 million German POW’s murdered by the Jew Eisenhower or the millions of German woman and children raped and murdered by the Red Bolshevik army on the orders of the Jew Ehrenberg. Far more ethnic European blood runs from Jewish hands than Jewish blood is manufactured in the indoctrination machine of Jewish Hollywood. Germany had not failed by 1945 but founded a glorious legacy that White Nations failed to recognise. Instead they allied with Bolshevism against brother and sold Europe into Jewish slavery. The greatest mistake was to allow a Jewish foothold in the Middle East. The faux Jewish state has formed the centre of global Zionism allowing the Jewish parasite a foundation from which to strike an ideological war against us. Jewish lobby’s occupy White governments worldwide and assure the interests of the foreigner at our expense. The contrived border divisions that Jewish Zionism maintains between White tribes are meant to be divisive. In the UK sectarian violence between English and Irish is constantly agitated. The so called Irish National Sinn Fein’s response to command was to flood the Irish Republic with third world immigrants. Naturally the Republic of Ireland so loved its identity that at the drop of its hat it sold its future to Marxist Europe. Indigenous displacement being much ‘less’ of a threat than English brethren ever was! Naturally the British Labour councils now invite Sinn Fein to march through English streets. Is this a deliberate incitement to violence because it certainly exacerbates old wounds. Meanwhile, hasty to counteract Sinn Fein’s plastic support for the Palestinian people, like gullible Christian Zionist sheep loyalists flock to lend Jewish Israel their backing so unbeknown to followers, both sides, Republican and Loyalist are moved by the Jewish hand. If Loyalist and Republican could shed their faulty leadership and focus their revolutionary spirit toward the greater goal their input would be vital to the collective. “Two stags were fighting in the forest and were so busy trying to destroy each other they didn’t notice that a pack of wolves were closing in” (Irish quote) After the Zionists have had their way there will be nothing left worth fighting for. We call upon the Irish people of both sides to look to a brighter light. The time has long past for parochial and provincial politicised borders. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Italy, France, Greece…all brothers of Europe-White Nationhood secures culture and heritage, but the only border Pan White Nationalism recognises is that of race. “Some people misunderstand evil and believe it will relent, and because their misplaced hope inspires dark hearts to dream darker dreams, they are the fathers and mothers of all wars. Evil does not relent; it must be defeated. And even when defeated, uprooted, and purified by fire, evil leaves behind a seed that will one day germinate and, in blooming, again be misunderstood.” This is the nature of Jewish Zionism whose occupation of White nations is divisive across the globe. The government of Britain is a Jewish terrorist organisation on UK soil. The government in Germany is a Jewish terrorist organisation operating on German soil. The government of the United States is a Jewish terrorist organisation on American soil, and Israel is the central Jewish terrorist organisation occupying Palestinian land. Their global Marxist regime is eliminating the White race both physically and historically from the world stage. “Jewish influence must be removed from the White equation” and only White tribes united in defiance will afford future White generations ideological armour to resist further Jewish Zionist incursion. “Let All the Poisons That Lurk in the Mud Hatch Out” The Jewish Bolshevik infection. The Jewish infiltration of White Europe has been two fold-blood and money. Writing in his book The Importance of Race in Civilisation Wayne Macleod noted that wealthy Jewish families had intermarried with the old British aristocracy “thereby racially renouncing all claims to nobility. A list of 87 names, including dukes, barons, earls, viscounts, lords and sirs, and their female counterparts, can be given of the British aristocracy that have Jewish blood. Another 40 names are those who have Jewish spouses, and another 43 have Jewish in-laws. This is the class which Britain has traditionally relied upon for her leadership and patriotic endeavours.” (Macleod pg 56) This effectively ‘surrendered’ British National interests to an international conglomerate via blood-fusion. Though this is unlikely to have begun until around the 18th century when Jewish wealth gained them an air of ‘respectability’ it has a similar aspect to large corporations in the business world who ‘swallow up’ smaller usually family run companies but keep the ‘family’ name. In a wider context The Jewish Hidden Hand was subtly identified by Walter Rathenau (1867-1922), a Jewish industrialist, writer, and statesman born in Germany who served as Germany’s Foreign Minister during the Weimar Republic. Writing in the Wiener Freie Presse, December 24, 1912, he said: “Three hundred men, each of whom knows all the others, govern the fate of the European continent, and they elect their successors from their entourage.” This reality was confirmed by Jean Izoulet, a Jewish professor at the College of France and a member of the Jewish secret society Alliance Israelite Universelle. Writing in his 1926 book “Paris Capital of Religions”, Izoulet said: “I certainly do not want to relinquish their Magisterium temporal the three hundred bankers who, at the moment, dominate the world.””(ZCF) David Cameron openly admits that he is a Zionist “whose belief in Israel is indestructible.” Furthermore at the annual luncheon of Conservative Friends of Israel, Cameron said that an academic boycott of Israel is completely uncalled for, and that attacks against Israel often slid into anti-Semitism. His fervent support for Jewish Zionism and their State even runs to the extent that he pledges support for Israel is “in the DNA” of members of ‘his’ party. One would imagine that this was a motivational seminar for Israeli politicians yet David William Donald Cameron, born October 9, 1966, is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the British Conservative Party. Cameron’s Great-Great Grandfather was Emile Levita, a Jewish financier born in Germany and descended from Renaissance scholar Elia Levita who obtained a British citizenship in 1871. This man was director of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, which became the Standard Chartered Bank in 1969. His wife, Cameron’s Great-Great Grandmother, was a descendant of the wealthy Jewish Rée family born in Denmark on her father’s side. One of Emile’s sons, Arthur Francis Levita (died 1910, brother of Sir Cecil Levita), of Panmure Gorgon stockbrokers, together with Great-Great Grandfather Sir Ewen Cameron, London head of the Hong Kong and Shanghi Bank, played key roles in arranging loans supplied by the Rothschilds to the Japanese Central Banker (later Prime Minister) Takahashi Korekiyo for the financing of the Japanese Government in the Russo-Japanese war. This should begin to give some insight into the Nation within a Nation that operates on White Western soil. Cameron’s Conservative ‘Friends of Israel’ (CFI) is not unique, Britain’s Labour Party have a ‘Friends of Israel’ (LFI) and both exist to finance Israel and lobby the British Parliament for pro-Zionist policies in line with the Jewish State. It is necessary that all political parties are covered as the Zionists manipulating British politics have to maintain an illusion of ‘democracy’. Cameron’s support and intention to legalise Homosexual marriage will have lost traditional Conservative voters Of course while this just proves that the party that calls itself ‘Conservative’ no-longer holds conservative values, it also suggests that this will be Cameron’s only term as British Prime Minister. However, it has not yet dawned on the British public that switching their vote to Labour or Lib Dem changes nothing. Therefore, waiting ‘patiently’ for the next election as leader of the British Labour Party is Ed Miliband. Edward Samuel Miliband, born 24 December 1969, is the younger son of Jewish immigrants. His mother, Marion Kozak born in Poland, is a Jewish socialist with links to Communist activists and his father, Ralph Miliband, born in Brussels was a Jewish Marxist academic who came to England illegally during World War II. Miliband’s father died in 1994, 7 years before his son’s had made any political mark. Ralph Miliband was buried next to Karl Marx, suggesting that the family was marked for success before they had become known to the public. Regardless both parents being notorious Jewish Bolsheviks gave the Miliband children David and Ed a great advantage in Britain’s left-wing politics as it turns a blind eye to Communist criminality. Nevertheless blatant militant-ism had to be toned down in favour of implementing socialism through stealth and giving a veneer of ‘British’ respectability to Zionist methodology. Naturally this includes the sensibilities of those closest to Miliband as he “will always be open to issues that concern the British Jewish community, whether they concern issues of the treatment of Jews in Britain or issues to do with relations with Israel. He intends to lead a Labour Party that remains a true friend to Israel.” Taken into consideration this man’s racial origin this begs the question the Jewish state first or Britain. Given his intense pro-Israel sentiment one should easily be able to answer that. Meanwhile, on the continent during early March 2012 Nicolas Sarkozy, seemingly desperate to encourage an upturn in voting his way, apparently ‘infuriated ethnic minorities by claiming that there were “‘too many immigrants in France”. Then a few weeks following Mohamed Merah, a ‘home grown Islamist gunman’ kills 3 soldiers and 4 of the precious ‘victim’ race 3 of them children and 1 a rabbi. Immediately after the supposed Al Quaeda activist is terminated in a shoot-out at his abode Sarkozy is calling for ‘unity’. This event might have been an attempt to make Sarkozy’s re-election a forgone conclusion but then it is not the first time those of Jewish origin have sacrificed their own for the long term agenda. At the memorial service in 1958 Moshe Sharett eluded to Jews killed by Zionists for propaganda purposes “it is necessary to sacrifice the few in order to save the many”. With Sarkozy we are in similar circumstances maintaining the Zionist controlling influence over Western politics and economics at all costs, after all the donations to Israel must keep rolling in. Sarkozy’s Jewish origins are no secret. ‘It is well known that Sarkozy’s mother was born to the Mallah family, one of the oldest Jewish families in Salonika, Greece.’ The Jewish section seem rather ecstatic about this but even more disturbing for the gentile sector is the revelation that Sarkozy once worked for — and perhaps still does— Israeli intelligence as a “sayan” (Hebrew for helper) as one of thousands of Jewish citizens of countries other than Israel who cooperate with “katsas,” or Mossad case-officers. In keeping with his Jewish heritage his policies are notoriously hypocritical in demanding Genocide for the White French but regarding the same as a humiliation for Arabs. New President “Francois Hollande, now Zionist pet…may have altered the style of rule but not the policies which remain the same”. The situation in America isn’t much different. The run for President is pretty much a two horse race between the incumbent fake Muslim and messiah of the teleprompter Barack Obama, and Mitt ‘we must destroy the Jewish enemy at any cost’ Romney. In reality, of cause, it is merely a question of which wealthy Jewish criminal gains control over the American Government. Goldman Sachs pulls Obama’s strings, while Romney sings the song of Sheldon Adelson. WAR, FAMINE, PESTILENCE, and DEATH, if it is good for the Jewish people one can certainly guarantee it will be BAD for everyone else. Bolshevik Sexual Revolution Sexual Perversion encompasses a pattern of degenerate sexual behaviour that includes homosexualism, paedophilia, miscegenation, transsexualism and bestiality. The cultural norms of human societies all over the world have developed an evolutionary rejection of these social ills as a means of survival. In fact the term ‘homosexuality’ wasn’t coined until 1869, by Karl-Maria Kertbeny. The entire concept of two people of the same sex being exclusively attracted to each other as a ‘sexual identity’ was a product of the ‘liberal’ 19th century. Prior to the concept of ‘Uranian’ man formulated by Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, there were ‘acts’ of sodomy and such like but no concept of a ‘sexual orientation’ outside of man and woman. The same can be said for perversions such as paedophilia. In Greek antiquity there were instances of pederasty, but the metaphysics of this was not based on a concept of ‘orientation’, but domination and hierarchy. While the term Sexual Bolshevism became popular in the 1920s, the political manipulation of aberrosexual behaviour pre-dates this by some time and grew out of freemasonic Jewish decadence in liberal capitalist urban centres in late 19th century Europe. The phrase Sexual Bolshevism in reference to the political nurturing of degenerate sexual behaviour seems to have been coined in Germany by Ludwig Hoppe, a Lutheran pastor from Berlin. In 1921 he wrote a pamphlet called Sexual Bolshevism and Defence against same (“Sexueller Bolshevwismus und seine Abwehr”). In this he blamed sexual agitators for spreading venereal diseases and dysgenic degeneracy. With the decline of Traditional Christianity in cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, concerns about morality were high in the Church. Elsewhere new ‘scientific’ and philosophical concepts were postulated in regards to the meaning of history. It was at this point that those of Jewish heritage such as Karl Marx✡ framed the so-called ‘class struggle’ and Sigmund Freud✡ postulated sex (libido) as the primary motivating force of history. A member of the Judeo-Masonic secret society B’nai B’rith, Freud authored Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality in 1905 and Beyond the Pleasure Principle in 1920. Hence references to ‘Bolshevism’ were related to Jewish Marxists being the force behind the normalisation of sexual perversion. Particular examples are Magnus Hirschfeld✡ and his Scientific-Humanitarian Committee and a decade later, Wilhelm Reich✡ who founded SEXPOL as an official wing of the Communist Party of Germany. Following the failure of state-Communism and working-class ethnic Europeans largely rejecting the attempt by the Jewish Bolsheviks to enslave and destroy gentile society, radical Jewish supremacists began to mould Sexual Bolsheviks (i.e. radical sexual perverts) into a new proletariat. Now Sexual Bolsheviks feature as tools alongside other manipulated patrons in the field of identity politics such as third-world immigrants and radical feminists. Inspired by the cultural Marxism (Political Correctness) of the Frankfurt School, a group of US-based Judaics developed a variation on critical theory called “Queer theory” to enhance the homosexual agenda. Michael Warner✡, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick✡ and Judith Butler✡ are at the forefront of this. Along with third-world miscegenation and abortion, homosexuality is a primary perversion promoted in society, under the guise of ‘tolerance’, ‘equality’ and ‘diversity’ as part of a rival Jewish supremacist strategy to attack the indigenous White European demographics. In Britain alone the marketing of sex as a past-time implies promiscuity and children are the direct targets. For example Channel 4’s Sex Education Show regularly provides explicit sexual information and live naked bodies to teenagers. The programme even goes as far as inviting parents to speak to their teenagers about their intimate sexual lives. The object is to have parents provide their children with contraception and allow promiscuity into their homes. The availability of free contraception, particularly condoms to teenagers only exacerbates the notion of a risk free ‘game’. The likes of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies flaunts the idea of teenage sex at music festivals and university ‘freshers’ fairs as if it is ‘normal’ for teenagers to ‘experiment’ when in fact it is irresponsible behaviour. It is also a smashing opportunity to warn about sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) that maybe a nasty reminder of too much unprotected sex. Never mind just make sure you get yourself down to a sexual health clinic and use protection in future… Advertisements for Chlamydia screening commonly have smiling apparently sexually active White teens in them compounding the notion of promiscuity in the European rather than the imported African Negro. This is incredibly dehumanising as promiscuity really isn’t that far from prostitution and maybe that is the point; redefining, particularly the White European female as sexual meat, while emasculating the White European man. There is a substantial difference between the notion of the White male-labelled such merely because it saw fit to be born with external genitalia, and the White Man builder of civilisations and an ideal the Jewish Bolshevik wishes to eradicate. Thus when confronted with the fully awakened White Man the Judaised Marxist will see only the twisted world of Zionism’s creation and spout rhetoric of the knuckle dragging Authoritarian. In the modern Marxist regime this marginalises the true White Man leaving only the conformist white male. He being coy feminised and the quintessential nerd, according to Zionist propaganda, where does White Woman turn. The answer is Jewish Zionism’s Hollywood illusion. Here manifests the artificial ‘hero’, a pretender to the ideal of civilisation building White Man produced from the ‘impotent’ African Negro. Understand unlike Great White Man the negro male has never built anything only destroyed. The trick of the Jewish Bolshevik is to transmogrifying the impotent Negro male into the Great Civilisation Building White Man. This is achieved through the magic of the media (smoke and mirrors). Consequently the notion of miscegenation becomes ‘normalised’ thus heralding the demise of the White race. The introduction of Sexual Bolshevism in all its perverse forms was meant to have a dramatic impact on the moral base of the White European. The availability of contraception incites promiscuity. Combine this with abortion and the ‘homosexual’ agenda White birth rates are well below replacement level. However, the use of immigration to ‘encourage’ miscegenation only confirms that the Jewish Zionist agenda is not merely to attack ethnic European demographics but to wipe the White race out completely. Hollywood Crime wave ‘German’ Jewish director Fritz Lang’s ‘classic’ thriller M is about a murderous child molester. Released in 1931, the film speaks for itself. Initially we see a city almost paralysed with fear; citizens dutifully protecting children become suspect merely for speaking to a lone child. In modern society this is all too familiar. Adults now steer clear of the unattended child for fear of the paedophile brand. In this light has advertisement really protected our children or made them all the more vulnerable. Here the term ‘advertisement’ is used in the broadest sense of the word for we can ‘advertise’ in many different ways. While the horror in M was only implied, in the years since Lang’s thriller films containing content of shocking and brutal violence have hit our screens. Not only is this violence reserved for the picture house but its scenes are cascaded over billboards and TV screens in an effort to publicise. This brutality and violence also appears in the graphically realistic computer and video gaming media readily on view to children. While this so called ‘entertainment’ is not supposed to be targeted at children its method of transmission is so invasive that it occupies the very social space. In this respect this repugnant phenomenon is what apathetic White man has allowed Western society’s ‘culture’ to become. Furthermore the explicit displays that haunt Western cinemas and creep onto the TV screens calling itself ‘entertainment’ appear as a sinister reflection of the constantly streaming news media. However, this begs the question ‘what came first the chicken or the egg?’ The insinuation is that reported news incites the fabrications of Hollywood. However, as early as 1931 a movie depicting child molestation when this perversion was not highlighted in the news paints a rather different picture. This type of film has promoted a mode or pattern of behaviour in the West that on the one hand desensitises but also extenuates what violent inclinations exists. Apparently life really does imitate ‘art’ or the Jewish Marxist rendition of art. Unsurprisingly then other renditions of Marxist Jewish ‘art’ now pervade the West. Black is hailed as the ‘Hero’ in the Hollywood movie convincing the White female of the inadequacy of the White male. There is a significant difference inferred upon the notion of the White male-labelled thus since it saw fit to be adorned with external genitalia, and White Man-the builder of Civilisations that Jewish Marxism wishes to eradicate. Meanwhile the Zionists fill Europe with this. The true cost is ignored by stupid White Liberals who swallow the false guilt spoon fed by the Zionist media. Consequently these are the female White trash that mixes with the immigrant coloniser that bastardise and ultimately destroy the White race. The overt miscegenation through immigration is cunningly augmented by Whites own altruism. Zionists registered charities bombard the West all year round with the ‘poor’ starving Third World. On a superficial level this turns the White outward against his own racial community and desiring the protection of another over your own is unnatural. This is sustained with the Marxist Zionist illusion that the White West built its Civilisation on the backs of the coloured Third World and thus ‘owes them’ a living. The Black slave trade is a prime example. Mainstream Zionist propaganda promotes the notion that the White European is wholly responsible. In reality of course Blacks sold each other into slavery and in Europe and America Black slavery has a far more Jewish flavour. Charities or privatised pet projects of various celebrities or politicians step up their begging at Christmas time. Remember the most famous pet project from Band Aid-Feed the World. All those artists coming together to tell the ‘West’ about those ‘poor destitute (Black) Africans. A similar ‘feat’ was attempted in 2000 with Michael Jackson. Incidentally despite the accusations of paedophilia Jackson’s music is still played and he is hailed as some sort of hero. On the other hand the press has hung, draw and quartered Gary Glitter. Quite possibly playing his music would be perceived as a criminal act by the Marxist Zionist elite. Apparently ‘justice’ has a colour bias. Whenever art or culture is presented in a Zionist Marxist forum it is discussed as a global phenomenon or a ‘human’ endeavour giving the impression of a single human animal without deviation. Yet dig a little deeper and see that the great civilisations to spawn such art and culture are White in origin. Archaeology and the sciences are uncovering genetic remnants of those cultures. However, these are not the ‘facts’ exposed through Zionist means. These images the Zionist controlled media do NOT want White Europe to see. The White public will find that the breakthroughs made in the sciences will engender a Marxist twist prior to their consumption or merely disappear. So when a gentleman of Caucasoid appearance was discovered in North America there appeared to be something of a cover up! As with Governments in Britain and Europe, it seems North America has too been absorbed by this creeping political correctness. “There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. WE are controlling the transmissions…” Sound Familiar, while this may be the opening of American Si-Fi series The Outer Limits, this sentiment is far truer than you think. There is a subtle difference between the original 1963 intro and the re-make. Originally the public were to go on a ‘great adventure’ now ‘they’ threaten to subvert our minds by “deluding us with a thousand channels or expanding one single image…” Think about that and the parasites that control the Western media. Since approximately 2005 the Jewish State of Israel has had ‘problems’ with third world immigration. In fact reading through these witness statements and one begins to see a startling familiarity “…rampant crime by migrants and say that it has become “Soweto,” a reference to the site of a 1976 uprising in South Africa. At a recent protest fanned by Zionist politicians, one lawmaker described the Africans, known here as “infiltrators,” as “a cancer in our body.” Of course any self-respecting White European citing similar scenes inflicted on his land by citizens of the Jewish State would be labelled ‘racist’. However, in Israel when the Jew finds something distasteful he takes to the streets and attacks the Africans’ stores and apartments. In Europe the White man would no doubt face a prison sentence for a ‘hate crime’ against the protectant migrant. Yet in the Jewish state the Africans were rounded up and detained in Concentration Camps only to be deported a short time later. More recently the Telegraph reported a Vatican official saying Israel is fostering intolerance of Christianity. Naturally reading between the lines what the article depicts is much more sinister. With graffiti, church burnings and defilement in the street the Jewish state is not turning a blind eye to violence against gentiles because the Talmud has always condoned it. In the past though Jewish acts of violence have always taken place through stealth and in secrecy. The theft of the land of Palestine has given the Jew a new arrogance and brought his evil into the light. In ‘his’ Jewish state of Israel the Jew does as he pleases and if that means spitting on Christian clergy or setting fire to their churches then he will. Naturally if in Europe the White man retaliates and burns a few synagogues or spits on a few Jews that’s anti-Semitism. It never occurs to the brainwashed Marxist liberals that ‘anti-Semitism’ is an invention of the Jew and would not exist without his sordid crimes. These are just a couple of incidents that indicate the height of hypocrisy that issues forth from Jewish realms. However, a continuing saga in the arena of Jewish hypocrisy has to be the matter of race. Again the Jewish state features prominently in this ‘dilemma’. Stubbornly insisting on its status as an ethno state, whose primary interest is Jewish. Even down to the law of return that in expressing “born of a Jewish mother” testifies to the racial element of this tribe. In Europe an accusation of ‘race hate’ was dropped because Jews so often claim that Judaism is only a religion. To prevent this occurring in future Jewish Zionist leaped into action and in 2006 the Religious Hatred Act in the United Kingdom was amended to the Racial and Religious Hatred Act. This is a clear case, not of ‘righteous’ ethno legislature but what is best for the Jews. In Europe what is best for the Jews is never good for the European and this is why the occupation of White lands must end. It is high time that the White male of Jewish Zionist propaganda crept back in the closet as Europe resurrects the Great White Man to tear down this Zionist house of cards. As most avid followers of Jewish Zionist scams will be aware, Simon Wiesenthal is as bigger fraud as soap and lamp shades Therefore, how the centre that bears his name maintains ‘credibility’ accusing Nationalists of ‘war crimes’ in the face of brazen Jewish Communist brutality is a remarkable feat of propaganda. Maybe Wiesenthal is just part of the financial package necessary to maintain the Jewish Zionist in the manner to which he has become accustomed. Nevertheless just because ‘one’ calls the White male cattle (goyim) doesn’t mean he stands in a field and chews grass, we see the hypocrisy so thick it rests like a fog over Europe. Rothschild Gamble Jewish Zionist Jacob Rothschild recently took a £130m bet on the demise of the Euro. So it would seem that this ‘illustrious’ banking family finally tires of toying with White man and now seeks to hasten the Euro’s inevitable collapse. This is not the first time the Zionist Rothschild family have ‘gambled’ so loosely with Europe’s future. There were vast fortunes to be made — and lost — on the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo. The Stock Exchange in London was at fever pitch as traders waited for this battles outcome. If Britain lost, English consuls would plummet to unprecedented depths. If Britain was victorious, the value of the consul would leap to dizzying new heights. It was here that by nefarious means Nathan Rothschild would multiply his already vast fortune. As the battle took place Rothschild had agents working both sides of the line to gather the most accurate possible information and carry the intelligence to posts strategically located nearby. Dawn on June 16, 1815, a Rothschild representative, possessing a top secret report was met at Folkstone. Scanning highlights of the report Rothschild was speeding towards London and the Stock Exchange in no time. At the Exchange, emotionless and expressionless Rothschild took up his usual position beside the famous ‘Rothschild Pillar. Meanwhile Rothschild agents began dumping consuls on the market and as hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of consuls poured onto the market their value started to slide. Then they began to plummet. Rothschild continued to lean against ‘his’ pillar, and to sell, and sell and sell. Consuls kept on falling. Word began to sweep through the Stock Exchange: “Rothschild knows.” “Rothschild knows.” “Wellington has lost at Waterloo.” When the consul was selling for about five cents on the dollar Rothschild signalled and on cue dozens of Rothschild agents made their way to the order desks around the Exchange and bought every consul in sight! A short time later the ‘official’ news arrived in London. England was now the master of the European scene. Within seconds the consul skyrocketed to above its original value. As the significance of the British victory began to sink into the public consciousness, the value of consuls rose even higher. Napoleon had ‘met his Waterloo.’ However the REAL implication never has yet… The Jew Nathan Rothschild had bought control of the British economy. Since then the Rothschild family have continued to play high stakes business and finance not always managing to come off to squeaky ‘clean’. Financier Nathaniel Rothschild lost a libel case against newspaper the Daily Mail that depicted him as a “puppet master” who used his friendship with a European trade chief to impress a Russian oligarch and help close a business deal. The article stated Rothschild had sought to impress Oleg Deripaska by unexpectedly bringing homosexual Jewish Zionist Peter Mandelson to a dinner the Russian held with bosses from the U.S. aluminium company Alcoa Inc. The newspaper said Rothschild had “pulled a very unexpected and also rather useful rabbit out of his hat” as Alcoa was worried about EU tariffs on Russian aluminium exports. Obviously true yet the Rothschild’s do not like their sleight of hand and insider trading to see the light. Unfortunately for this Jew it seems not all journalists or judiciary are in Zionism’s pay. Incidentally Peter Mandelson was a main player if not the main player in the creation of New Labour, however with such a close relationship with Rothschild it is far more likely that Mandelson is a frontman and Rothschild the real ‘brains’ behind the creation of New labour. With the neo-conservative movement in America created by the Jew Irving Kristol, this has a certain credible appeal. Capitalism and Communism are 2 sides of the same coin with Capitalist banking systems funding the exploits of global Communism. The nature of the game, for that’s all it is to the Zionist players, is to withhold a land’s wealth from its people. Consequently the Zionist parasites get immensely rich while the Nation’s conquered suffer crippling debt.

What is GAD? What is GAD? Photo from: Brunet GAD stands for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Classified in the category of Anxiety Disorders, such as PTSD and OCD, GAD is one of many issues many Canadians face regarding anxiety. The first thing you need to understand about anxiety disorders is this: Everyone has worries and anxieties over things in their life. GAD is NOT normal. What I mean by “normal” is that people who have GAD become obsessive over their every day life issues. Remember when Sally criticized you at work? A “normal” person would have forgotten about it in a day or two, someone with GAD obsessives over the comment for an extended period of time, as long as up to six months. According to the Canadian Mental Health Associated, GAD is defined as the following: “Generalized anxiety disorder is excessive worry around a number of everyday problems for more than six months. This anxiety is often far greater than expected—for example, intense anxiety over a minor concern. Many people experience physical symptoms too, including muscle tension and sleep problems.” (CHMA Website). GAD is also not just having anxiety over one thing. It’s having constant, stressful anxiety over everything. From work, to kids, to your new job, to your spouse, to the crowd at Wal-Mart, to the fear of having to give a presentation at work. Hence the term “general.” GAD isn’t just set off by one stressor, it is a combination of many. Like PTSD, and many other panic disorders, GAD has treatment options which can involve counselling, medication, support group, and self-help strategies. Of course, every person is different, so talk to your doctor about the right treatment option for you. It’s also important for loved ones to get involved with helping the victim treat their illness. The most important thing to remember is that the illness is the problem – don’t blame yourself if a loved one acts out because they are unable to cope with the amount of stress they are feeling. It’s just the illness, not you! If you want to help a loved one, talk to them or your doctor. It’s also important to remember that GAD going untreated can lead to other mental health problems, leading to more issues, such as depression. If you suspect a loved one needs help, talk to them about it. And most importantly, if you suspect a loved ones is at risk for suicide or you suspect they are making plans to end their own life, call 911 immediately! Remember, I am NOT a doctor, I am just living with GAD. If you need more information or help, contact your doctor and learn how you can cope with GAD/ or helped a loved one. There is lots more to learn about GAD, so do the research and help break down barriers for people living with mental health issues! Below are some resources for extra research of GAD and other mental health issues: Anxiety Disorders – Canadian Mental Health Association Generalized Anxiety Disorders – Canadian Mental Health Association – BC Division Generalized Anxiety Disorders – Mayo Clinic

Image March 10, 2012March 10, 2012belal90Leave a comment Man, motivated by his ego and lured by his apparent superiority, has always tried to distinguish himself from other beings. I was interested in this “dilemma” ,and while exploring the answers, I came across many definitions. Some said he was an animal which had the ability to think, others defined him by his ability to read, and yet others believed that man was different because he recognized the inevitability of death . These arguments made sense, but the last one in particular I found intriguing. In my opinion, it’s man’s understanding of this very basic fact which gives him his special qualities. When you’re aware of your own mortality and the fact that your time in this life is limited, you’ll try to make the best of this time to create, to develop, to enrich the world, to leave a clue that you were once here, and to achieve something which tells your successors that despite the fact that it’s unlikely that they’ll ever defeat death, it’s best if they die trying. My opinion gained evidence during the first days of my service at the hospital. In there, I’ve seen many of the faces of death. I witnessed an old lady with a brain tumor taking her very last breaths. I saw a young man who suffered severe head injury which left him brain-dead, so he was basically alive without even knowing it. I saw and saw, and as I observed I couldn’t help but think about the instability of life, and how at a glimpse it could all turn upside down. At times, I would imagine suffering the same condition, and I would find myself thanking Allah for the current moments I’m living and feeling grateful for every second I have. And there were incidences when I would drown into these thoughts and lose attachment to my surroundings only to come back to reality few minutes later when the doctor asks me a question or something. The emotions were overwhelming; my reaction to such sights was immense. It was “Humane” and so was its impact. This affection was loading me with great well to do my best to relieve the pain for those who suffer. It seemed to me that this would be the print I’m leaving. But as the days passed, they carried with them an unpleasant change. My strong reaction was fading; the affection is lessening! The compassion is still there, but it’s just not making the same influence. Patients were souls to be salvaged, and their complaints were stories to be told. They are now simply puzzles to be solved! I’ve come to realize this change lately, and I’ve been since confused, asking myself many questions: Does this make me any less of a human, a machine maybe? Were my concepts wrong at the first place? Or is this a normal human thing, an adaptation, a divine blessing which keeps the wheels going? If it is, is it supposed to happen this fast?! Would my fantasies about finding a cure for cancer fade eventually, too? The first assumption was particularly irritating, and I wouldn’t even dare to consider it, but the rest weren’t any easier, too! All the questions are tough and the answers to them -once found- are disturbing. They all dig deep into my self-perception. The quest for answers continues, but as it does, and although I know it actually may never end, part of me is now relieved because lately, I’ve come to realize that asking such questions is in itself part of being human, and this is an answer. In the following 8 hours, it’s completely the opposite. Having nothing to do, men get out to the streets, gathering in groups, discussing literally everything. Children are not different; those 8 hours are spent almost totally outside, playing, running, screaming, fighting and denying everyone their peacefulness. The best thing – for them – is that no one can blame them for the chaos they create; they are both children and bored after all. Once the power is cut, the grating noise from the power generators is something you can’t miss. In the families lucky enough to have one, there is a member assigned to the mission of running and maintaining the generator. It’s like he is the minister of generator affairs. When the clock declares that the blessed 8 hours of power presence are about to end, that minister must be all ready to perform his duty, or else, there would be a mess, and it is because of the serious responsibilities that he holds, he can’t be away from the household at the critical minutes when everyone is waiting for the power to go off, Everyone is counting on him. In my house, this person happens to be me. For most Gazans , the social life is synchronized according to this 8 hour cycle. If you are clever enough, you’ll manage to get your visits and outside tasks done during the 8 hours of power deprivation. Or else, you can kiss goodbye to your studying, forget about computer assignments, favorite TV show, peaceful streets. Yes, you got it right… For 8 hours. The best thing about all of this is that people have made their peace with the situation; it’s not annoying them anymore – except for internet addicts like me! I believe that soon enough, I’ll get used to it as had everyone else, until that day comes, let’s pray for the generator to stay safe and sound.

Warehouses of Gloucester Historic Docks By Quintin Lake January 18, 2015 // 6 The main basin of Gloucester Docks was the original terminus of the ship canal that ran from Sharpness, opened in 1827. The victorian warehouses and mills at Gloucester were mainly built for the storage and processing of imported corn. The old warehouses, were built with thick brick walls, a slate roof and strong wooden floors supported by cast-iron columns. The many small windows were intended more for ventilation than for light and were originally fitted with shutters rather than glass. The corn was stored in sacks that were lifted up to the required floor by manually operated winches in the loft. In 2014 Gloucester Docks was converted into a film set for “Alice through the Looking Glass” by Tim Burton with the addition of five tall ships. Here’s a clip from the BBC showing how the docks were transformed for the movie. Photographed as part of The Severn Project a walk from Source to Sea along the river Severn

Mission: Ames NASA Ames' researchers in the field Testing Robotic Life-Detection Technologies at the Rio Tinto Analog Site Posted on June 19, 2017 at 7:53 pm by Brian Glass. Leave a reply This month (June 2017), a joint collaborative team from NASA Ames and Spain’s Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) have brought and successfully tested astrobiology and sampling technologies at the Rio Tinto analog site in southern Spain, bringing these closer to future life-search mission readiness. One of the current leading future concepts for searching for signs of past or current life on Mars is the “Icebreaker” mission concept, which would send a Phoenix or InSight-like lander to Mars with a drill, robot arm and instruments capable of detecting signs of life, similar in some respects and appearance to the system tested at Rio Tinto. Under the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Moon and Mars Analog Missions Activities (MMAMA) program, the Life-Detection Mars Analog Project (LMAP) brought together in Spain a prototype 2m planetary drill by Honeybee Robotics, a 2m robot arm from MDA Aerospace (with an Ames scoop), and the Signs of Life Detector (SOLID) immunoassay instrument from Spain’s CAB, all managed and run by Ames drilling automation and robotic control software. This robotic system was mounted on an aluminum full-size InSight lander mockup and operated autonomously at Rio Tinto during the week of June 5-9. Rio Tinto, as an analog site, provides extremophiles living off the energy stored in a broad variety of target rocks underground, as we might find in places outside the Earth. LMAP lander field testbed, showing its 2m drill, robot arm and the SOLID instrument, is tested at the Rio Tinto Mars-analog site on June 8. Drilling a net 8m in 11 holes, the LMAP lander prototype autonomously acquired and provided pulverized sample material to the SOLID instrument, which subsequently detected several species of bacteria native to the Rio Tinto area’s unusually acidic (1.5-2.5 pH) soils. The robotic technologies demonstrated included fault detection and recoveries while drilling, precise placement and robotic delivery of small sample quantities (1-2 grams dispersed out of typically 50-100g), and operational real-time onboard planning and scheduling. “I was surprised at the smoothness and precision, it was really solid,” said Dr. Carol Stoker, the LMAP and Icebreaker chief scientist. Scoop on LMAP robot arm delivers 2g of drilled sample into the Signs of Life Detector (SOLID) instrument on the deck. The search for evidence of ancient climates, extinct life, and potential habitats for extant life on Mars, given the desiccated and irradiated conditions near the surface, will require drilling or some other form of subsurface access. By testing robotic drill and sampling systems together with prototype life-detection instruments to test the “ground truth” of organics and biomarkers found underground at an easily-accessible Mars analog site, the LMAP tests in Rio Tinto are an important first step. Posted on August 5, 2014 at 6:30 am by Brian Glass. Leave a reply Working on an otherwise-deserted Arctic island the size of the US state of West Virginia requires patience and complex logistics. Delays are commonplace as flights often operate only one or two times a week using small aircraft. Resolute has had weeks of bad weather… our HMP-14 team had flights cancelled twice and spent two unplanned days in Iqaluit. Streams appear during heavy rains around the Haughton-Mars Project base camp on Devon Island. A flash flood caused the camp to be temporarily isolated from the crater itself (uncrossable by ATV). Once in the field, the travel delays have left us with a shortened field season, only 8 days long. And even that has been affected by a cold and wet summer, even some flash flooding that temporarily left HMP base camp isolated from the crater trails, until waters subsided. Drill and robotic test camp inside Haughton Crater. “Drill Hill” impact breccia and permafrost make it an excellent textural analog for Mars drilling tests. Despite the delays, our team has persevered and set up the work camp at Drill Hill inside the crater, to test our prototype Mars drill and sample transfer arm. We have gotten a couple of gas samples for GETGAMM, and remain optimistic that we can catch up overall and still accomplish our technical goals. Ames student intern, April Davis, furrows in concentration while reassembling a sample transfer robotic arm. Posted on August 4, 2014 at 3:43 am by Brian Glass. Leave a reply Ames team members (Brian Glass and student intern April Davis) arrive in Iqaluit, en route to Devon Island, Nunavut. An Ames-led group of six departed California, Tennessee and Grise Fjord during the last part of July, headed for Resolute, Nunavut and then a charter flight to the NASA field test site at Haughton Crater on Devon Island. Team members for the current 2014 Haughton Crater deployment are: Dr Brian Glass, NASA Ames; Dr Pascal Lee, Mars Institute (based at Ames); April Davis, a student intern at NASA Ames; Bolek Mellerowicz, Honeybee Robotics; Jesse Weaver, Knoxville, TN; and locally Pauline Akeeagok from Grise Fjord. Haughton Crater is a 20-km diameter impact structure with well-preserved beds of ice-cemented impact breccia, and is considered an excellent-fidelity Mars-analog site. Team members will gather gas samples to acquire more data on concentration and carbon isotopic composition for both methane and carbon dioxide collected from sniffer drill strings, for assessing both the flux and source of background methane emission from bedrock in the Arctic. A new rotary-percussive planetary-prototype drill will be put through its paces at the Haughton Crater “Drill Hill” breccia site inside the crater. For the past decade a series of SMD-funded projects have advanced the technology readiness of both planetary drills and the automation needed to operate them at significant lightspeed communication distances from Earth. Drilling will be needed to access the Martian subsurface at depths of 1 meter or greater, and to penetrate the ice layers found by the Phoenix mission at the poles. It is the best means to retrieve samples from regions on Mars that could possibly harbor life now or in the past, and is a needed sample acquisition technology for multiple mission concepts proposed for 2020 and onward. The most recent generation of Mars-prototype robotic drills is the Icebreaker-3 rotary-percussive drill (see photo), which was tested in laboratory conditions this June at Honeybee Robotics in Pasadena. Its predecessor, the Life In The Atacama (LITA) drill, was tested at Haughton Crater in August 2013 (see earlier Mission:Ames posts) but lacked sufficient torque and shaft stiffness to make any significant penetration into the ice-cemented impact breccia at Drill Hill. Earlier, heavier drill designs were capable of successfully drilling to 1-3m at the site with the same drilling technology, but are too heavy to propose on an early-2020s Mars mission. The current GETGAMM ASTEP project (by Indiana, GSFC, JPL, and Honeybee Robotics; Dr Lisa Pratt, PI) uses deeply eroded Paleoproterozoic bedrock in southwestern Greenland as an analogue for Mars. In a three-year field campaign, the project has analyzed seasonal and diurnal variation in the concentration and isotopic composition of methane, ethane, and hydrogen sulfide in bedrock boreholes. GETGAMM has also used a copy of Honeybee’s “Life in the Atacama” (LITA-1) ASTEP-developed drill to drill 1-2m boreholes for monitoring. Unlike most drilling scenarios for planetary missions, however, GETGAMM jettisons its drill strings in each borehole rather than bringing them back up for other holes – requiring many drill strings, which serve as emplaced shaft casings to keep holes open for subsequent gas monitoring. In addition to its extensive Greenland field work, GETGAMM in the summer 2013 field season placed and sealed two monitoring drill strings at Haughton Crater (HMP Sites 2 and 3) which remain there currently (see photo). Methane (CH4) emissions on Earth are predominantly derived from thermal cracking of ancient organic matter in the deep subsurface or from microbial methanotrophic metabolism in low-salinity aquatic environments such as wetlands and lakes. Although seasonal methane emissions from wetlands and lakes in Arctic regions are starting to be reported, there is virtually no published data on background methane emissions from unvegetated zones of fractured bedrock where methane could originate from underlying sedimentary strata or from adjacent wetlands and lakes. GETGAMM study sites in Greenland (visited by Indiana University this past April) and the current deployment to Haughton Crater provide an opportunity to compare methane emissions from Archean-crystalline versus Paleozoic-sedimentary bedrock using perforated drill rods (sniffers) installed down to depths of 1 to 2 meters below the surface. (The second question is “Did you get sick?” Well, it was challenging to keep disciplined to keep my head straight, especially during the 1.8-2G periods. I did not get sick, but got close to being sick on Parabola #25. But it was totally my fault since I looked out the window between Parabola #24 & #25 and saw the horizon almost vertical and that messed with my head. Lesson learned: don’t look out the window.) In the interest of full disclosure, one payload had been having some intermittent issues that, like all intermittent issues, reared its head during a pre-flight end-to-end test a day before the flight. Luckily I had a contingency operations sketched out which performed perfectly. So when were on the plane and were doing the set-up and startup, I was really “uber-focussed” on the payload and not on myself for the first few cycles. When things started to get into a rhythm around Parabola #5 I had no idea we were 1/5th of the way done. Wow. “That was short. That was very short.” My comments after the very first parabola, which was a Martian (0.33 G) scenario. This image shows our team’s positions in between parabola 1 & 2. We did not have space enough to fully lay down so we reclined against the side of the aircraft. Left to right is Con Tsang, myself (monitoring a payload via a table), Cathy Olkin, and Alan Stern (face not visible). The photo is taken via Go-Pro camera on the head of Dan Durda who was across the way. Eric Schindhelm, who rounded out our team, was next to Dan and not in this view. The rapid change between the onset of low-gravity for about 10-15 seconds followed by 2-3 sec transition to what appeared to be about 30s of 1.8-2G forces was very unexpected. With each parabola I did start to realize that the set-up time for the manual operation of one payload took way too long. (Lesson learned) Sometimes we had unexpected escapes (I escaped my foot-holds on Parabola #7) and Eric Schindhelm (shown below) escaped the next one. Con was monitoring BORE and deftly diverted Eric’s collision path. For BORE, the key thing was to keep the box free from any jostling by others or the cables. The payloads. We had two payloads, each with different goals for the flight. The fact that a decision to tether them together (made a few weeks before the flight) complicated the conops (concept of operations). One was a true science experiment: BORE, the Box of Rocks Experiment. The other was primarily an operations test for the SWUIS, the Southwest Universal Imaging System. Both experiments are pathfinder experiments for the emerging class of reusable commercial suborbital vehicles. Providers like Virgin Galactic, X-COR, Masten Space Systems, Up Aerospace, Whittinghill Aerospace, etc. You can read more about this fleet of exciting platform at NASA’s Flight Opportunity page , where they have links to all the providers. From left to right: Dan & Con monitoring BORE (aluminum box with foamed edges) while Cathy holds onto the SWUIS camera doing a “human factors” test using a glove (yellow). Image from Go-Pro camera affixed to the SWUIS control box. View of the SWUIS control box and Go-pro camera (used for situation awareness) while Dan’s holding it. You can see the SWUIS target that we used for the operations testing. Image from a Go-Pro camera affixed to Dan’s head. Multiple cameras for context recording were definitely a must! (Lesson Learned) Dan Durda taking a test run with SWUIS on Parabola #23 (19th zero-G). With BORE, we ask the question: how do macro-sized particles interact in zero gravity? When you remove “gravity” from the equation, other forces (like electro-static, Van der Waals, capillary, etc.) dominate. In a nut shell, BORE is a simple experiment to examine the settling effects of regolith, the layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering rock, on small asteroids. Our goal is to measure the effective coefficient of restitution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_restitution) in inter-particle collisions while in zero-g conditions. The experiment consists of a box of rocks. There are two boxes, one filled with rocks of known size and density, one filled with random rocks. Video imagery (30fps) is taken of the contents of each box during the flight. After the flight, the plan is to use different software (ImageJ, Photoshop, and SynthEyes) to analyze the rocks and track their movements from frame to frame. The cost of BORE is less than $1K in total, making it in reach of a the proceeds of a High School bake sale! BORE does need more than 20 s of microgravity to enable a better assessment of rock movement, and this is exactly why this experiment is planned for a suborbital flight where 4-5 minutes of microgravity conditions can be achieved. Here, we used the parabolic flight campaign to test the instrumentation and get a glimpse of the first few seconds of the rock behavior. With this series of 15-20s of microgravity, we made leaps forward from previous tests using drop towers which provide only 1-2s of microgravity. Some BORE images from one of the zero-G parabolas. Top Row: (left) Rest position of and (right) free-floating bricks of known size (they are actually bathroom tiles from Home Depot) but have the ratio L:W:H of 1.0:0.7:0.5. Surprisingly this is near the size and ratio of fragments created from laboratory impact experiments (e.g. Capaccioni, F. et al. 1984 & 1986, Fujikawa, A. et al. 1978) and similar to the ratio of shapes of boulders discovered on the rubble-pile asteroid Itokawa (see below). Why is this important? Well, if you want to visit an asteroid someday and are designing tools to latch onto it, drill/dig into it, collect samples, etc. the behavior of collisional particles in this micro/zero-gravity environment is important. Scientifically, if you want to understand more about the formation, history and evolution of an asteroid where collisional events are significant, knowing more about how bombardment and repeated fragmentation events work is a key aspect. Source: NASA & JAXA. The first unambiguously identified rubble pile. Asteroid 25143 Itokawa observed by JAXA’S Hayabusa spacecraft. (Fujiwara, A. et al. 2006). The BORE experiment explored some of the settling processes that would have played a role in this object’s formation. SWUIS was more of a “operations experiment.” This camera system has been flown on aircraft before to hunt down elusive observations that require observing from a specific location on earth. For example, to observe an occultation event, when a object (asteroid, planet, moon) in our solar system crosses in front of a distant star, the projected “path” of the occultation on our planet is derived from the geometry and time of the observation, similar to how the more familiar solar and lunar eclipses only are visible from certain parts of the Earth at certain times. Having a high-performance astronomical camera system on a flying platform that can go to where you need to observe is powerful. So, SWUIS got its start in the 1990s when it was used on a series of aircraft. You can read more about those earlier campaigns at . Over the past few years I have been helping a team at the Southwest Research Institute update this instrument for use on suborbital vehicles that get higher above the earth’s atmosphere compared to conventional aircraft. Suborbital vehicles can get to 100 km (328,000 ft.; 62 miles) altitude, whereas aircraft fly mainly at 9-12 km (30,000-40,000 ft.; 5.6-7.5 miles). Flying higher provides a unique observational space, both spectrally (great for infrared and UV as you are above all of the water and ozone, respectively), temporarily (you can look along the earth’s limb longer before an object “sets” below the horizon) and from a new vantage point (you can look down on particle debris streams created by meteors or observe sprites & elves phenomena in the mesosphere). 100km altitude is still pretty low compared to where orbiting spacecraft live, which is 160-2000 km (99-1200 miles) up (LEO/Low Earth Orbit). For example, our orbiting laboratory, the International Space Station is 400 km (250 miles) in altitude. The SWUIS system today consists of a camera and lens, connected by one cable to a interface box. The interface box, which is from the 1990s version, allows one to manually control gain and black-level adjustments via knobs. It also provides a viewfinder in the form of a compact LCD screen. Data is analog but then digitized to a frame-grabber housed in a laptop. The 1990s version had a VCR to record the data, but since we are in the digital age, the battery-operated laptop augmentation was a natural and easy upgrade. The camera electronics are powered by a battery which makes it portable and compact. For this microgravity flight I introduced the notion of a tablet to control the laptop, to allow for the laptop to be stowed away. In practice this worked better than expected and my main take away is that the tablet is best fixed to something rather than hand-held to prevent unwanted “app-closure.” However, having a remote terminal for the laptop also would work. Here’s a series of three short videos (no sound) of three legs when I got to hold the Xybion camera on Parabolas #13, 14 & 15. This captures how terribly short all the parabolas are and if you are doing an operations experiment, how utterly important it is to be positioned correctly at the start. One test was to position myself and get control of the camera and focus on a test target. A second test was to practice aiming at one target and then reposition for another target within the same parabola. SWUIS_ZeroG_Parabola13_Web2 Above, the links are for lo-res (to fit within the upload file size restrictions on this site), no sound Videos of Parabola #13,14,15 (7,8 &9th in microgravity). By the third time I was getting faster at set-up and on-target time. In 1-G this camera and lens weigh 6.5 lbs. (3 kg) . Held at arms length, when I was composing the test in my lab, as I scripted the steps, I had trouble controlling the camera. In fact, I was shaking to keep camera on target after some seconds. I was amazed at how easy it was to hold this in zero-G, and complete the task. The Zero-G flight told us many things we need to redesign. One issue we learned was the tethering cabling was not a good idea and in some cases the camera, held by one person, was jerked from the control box, held by another person. In the next iteration, one of those items will need to be affixed to a structure to remove this weakness. My lessons learned from the whole experience: Everything went by very quickly. Being tethered was difficult to maintain. Design the conops differently (what we did seemed awkward). Laptop and tablet worked better than expected. Hard to concentrate on something other than the task at hand. Don’t plan too much. Have multiple cameras viewing the experiment. Need to inspect the cable motion via video, as it was hard to view it in-situ. Very loud, hard to heard, hard to know what other people were working on. The video playback caught a lot more whoops during transitions to zero-G than I remembered. Heard the feet-down call clearly but not the onset of zero-G. The timing between parabolas is very short. The level breaks were good to reassemble the cabling then. Next time, don’t hang onto the steady-wire which is attached to the plane (I got that idea from Cathy & Alan next to me) as it caused more motion than needed (the plane kept moving into me): instead remain fixed with the footholds and do crouch positions like Con & Dan did and let the body relax (Con & Dan were most elegant). And, my biggest take-away of all: If you want to do a microgravity experiment, I strongly recommend doing a “reconnaissance” flight first. Request to tag along a research flight to observe, perhaps lend a hand as some research teams might need another person. Observe the timing and cadence and space limitations. Use that to best perform your experiment. It is an amazing platform for research and engineering development and can truly explore unique physics and provide a place to explore your gizmo’s behavior in zero-G and find ways to make it robust before taking it to the launch pad. I am very much hoping to experience microgravity again! With these same two payloads or with others. One of the key points of these reduced-gravity flights, they fly multiple times a year, so in theory, experiment turn-around is short. Ideally I wished we flew the next day. I could have implemented many changes in the payload-operations and also in Kimberly-operations. Our team is now working to assess what worked and what did not work on this flight. We achieved our baseline goals, so that is great! Personally, I wished I had not been that focused on certain aspects of the payload performance and made more time to look around. However, that said, my focus keyed me on the task at hand, the payload performed better than expected, and when you have 10-15s, focus is the name of the game! I was assigned seat 3C for takeoff (and yes, they actually gave us boarding passes!). There are a few rows of seats in the back which all fliers have to be buckled in for take up. We boarded from the rear of the 727-200. There was an in-flight safety briefing (oxygen, life jacket, seatbelts). There is an emergency card, tailored for Zero-G, similar to what was provided for SOFIA. The plane is operated by Zero-G corporation, but registered under Amerijet. Its call sign was AJT213. The main body is empty with padded floors, walls and ceilings. There are specific areas to bolt down footstraps and equipment. For those items that cannot be bolted down, there are a series of Velcro strips we placed the day before. This turned out to be important as during the in between microgravity parabolas, you experience 1.2-2 G and holding free-floating equipment will immediate come crashing down. So this experiment which involve 5 separate free-floating equipment, having a “safe place to store.” At approximately 9:16 am EST (local time), we taxied and the takeoff felt just like a normal plane. At about 10 minutes after takeoff, we were instructed we could begin our set-up. This set-up leg is about 15-30 minutes in length. From our practice sessions last week we knew that setting up SWUIS took about 15 minutes (with no glitches). BORE took a similar amount and they are dovetailed in such a way that we need to go in parallel but also stage certain setup first. So the checklist came in handy to remind us our “dance” for setup. We put in fresh batteries for our equipment and got it up and running in a we bit more than 15 minutes, after experiencing a momentary pause when a known interference issue might have reared its head, but it played nice that morning. We had a pretty complex set-up, which I realized we should simplify on future flights and I made some oral notes into the audio-recorder. We knew from the review the day before we would be experiencing 25 parabolas in total, performed in bunches of five with a flat 1-2 minutes of 1 G of “level” in between. The first “set” would be four Martian (1/3 G) and one zero-G. The second set would be one lunar (1/6 G) and 4 zero-G. And all the remaining parabolas would be zero-G. There was only one experiment on board who had requested the Martian gravity, all others needed zero-G. I gathered that the tourist flights get 15 parabolas also similarly put in 5-sets, and depending on the experiments on the flight, the number of Martian & lunar parabolas are tailored appropriately. Besides the research teams, Zero-G assigns at least one “coach” per experiment group. He or she can help with the experiment logistics, and also provide assistance if one of the team comes down with motion sickness. To avoid motion sickness, I was strongly advised not to turn my head, or if I had to turn my head, to ensure I turned my entire upper torso and slowly, and this especially important during the high-G parts of the parabolas. Let me divert from the experience to summarize what the plane is supposed to do to provide these “periods” of reduced gravity. This “reduced-gravity environment” is created as the plane flies on a parabolic path: the plane climbs rapidly at a 45 degree angle (“pull up”), traces a parabola (“pushover”), and then descends at a 45 degree angle (“pull out”). During the pull up and pull out segments, everything on board, then crew and experiments, experience accelerations of about 2 g (and boy did I feel this! This was actually more striking than the <1 g). During the parabola (pushover), net accelerations are supposed to drop as low as 1.5×10-2 g for about 15-20 seconds. For me, this was the largest take-away of the entire experience: those periods of zero-G went by very, very, very quickly. Also the period of 2G felt like they went by much slower, but essentially they were the of similar duration. I was very surprised, but when I decoded my voice recorder results and looked at the camera data taken by our two experiments (which were time stamps) those “pushover” events were indeed in “20 s duration time chunks.” After 5 parabolas, the aircraft was leveled off to get us back to “old familiar” 1 G. This was a key time I learned to help re-position cables (and in many cases, people!) to get ready for the next series of five. We erred in our conops design to rotate things in threes, which did not work very well with the break after 5 parabolas. Having known now the importance of using those breaks, I would have designed the operations-experiment differently. The other science experiment was not affected by that issue. After speaking with other folks, apparently, the “20s duration of zero-G” is driven by safety limits on the aircraft’s flight profile, to drop only a few thousand feet during the parabolas. Here’s where the suborbital rockets (one-use) and the emerging new reusable commercial suborbital platforms come in, as they promise 4-5 minutes of microgravity in a single flight. This longer duration of zero-G is highly attractive for some experiments. However, others may still want multiple zero-G test times in a short time and those are nicely provided by these aircraft doing parabolic flight profiles. Our entire flight from nose-up to nose-down was only 2 hrs. The time between the start of parabola 1 and the end of parabola 25 was about 1 hr. It was quick. After the flight I looked up the flight path on flightaware.com and we were doing some pretty neat aerobatics over the Gulf of Mexico. Our altitude ranged from 25,000 ft. to 20,000 ft. during the parabolic maneuvers. My final blog summarizes my experiences of the flight and my evolving perspective on this type of platform for doing engineering, science and technology experiments. Posted on December 16, 2013 at 6:26 pm by Kimberly Ennico. Leave a reply This is the first of a three-blog series (part 2 here, part 3 here) of this little scientist’s first foray into microgravity research. I participated in a research flight provided by the Zero-G corporation. To read more about their company go to . Zero-G operates a Boeing 727-200F aircraft, “G-Force One,” specially modified for reduced gravity operations. They provide opportunities for research flights (people and equipment) and also opportunities for you to experience zero-G (people). For experiment/research flights, you can apply directly to Zero-G where they organize a flight once they have enough researchers to fill a flight, or apply to NASA through their Flight Opportunities program , when NASA organizes the flight-manifest and Zero-G provides the flight platform. University students have additional opportunities to get flights through NASA’s Microgravity University, http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/, with annual proposal calls. Had I known this when I was at school, I totally would have been a veteran flyer by now! Aircraft doing parabolic flight profiles are not restricted to the USA or to NASA. One list is provided here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced_gravity_aircraft. The day before the flight, the flight director and series of “coaches” provided by the Zero G Corporation, came around to each of the research groups to look at the payloads and ascertain safety items. Prior to our arriving at our departure airport (in our case, Titusville, FL, but the “G-Force One” does fly from many airports, see their website), each team had to complete a Research Package, which contains the usual information such as mass, volume, power (including specifying “kill switch” items) and particular requests for gravity (the pilots can fly the airplane to simulate Martian and Lunar gravity in addition to near zero-G). A series of weekly telecons were held in the weeks leading up to the flight to discuss interface needs and potential interference issues with others sharing the flight. We meet the other teams for the first time. There were 6 experiments aboard this flight along with a BBC crew for the show Stargazing Live. One of the BBC presenters, Dara Ó Briain, joined us on this flight. So Kimberly gets to be an (unnamed) extra on TV show! Loading up the plane via the back door to this Boeing 727. Not shown is that is another way to enter the aircraft via a large cargo bay door that can be opened on the side of the fuselage for larger payloads. For this flight, all the researcher’s experiments were all hand carried and broken down into smaller suitcase sized parts. (left) Securing one of the other experiments to the floor of the aircraft. You can see the large cargo door opened to the left. It was a hot day in Titusville, FL so it made setting up a bit cooler to have air circulating. (middle) Using loads of Velcro to provide “temporary” binding for our free-floating experiments during the high-G times. (right) Setting up and installing the foot straps (red cords) to specific locations on the floor. During this setup we learned where each group would be physically situated on board and we could re-assess interference items not previously considered. Each experimenter group was assigned a 10 foot x10 foot area on the plane and were designated by the color of their socks. We were the “grey team” and had a spot about half-way down the aircraft near the exit windows. After the configuration of all the mechanical hold-down areas, we did our powered tests and also checked for interference. All looked good. Anything we would bring the next day to board the flight had to fit in our flight suit. We next stowed our two suitcase payloads for takeoff and headed back to the hotel for a team briefing and light dinner. Posted on September 16, 2013 at 5:24 pm by Jessica Culler. Leave a reply This post was provided by Tristan Hall, a student from Florida State University on the Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS) airborne science mission. First off, sorry for not writing. I will make no excuses. Secondly, I got to fly in the DC-8! On a convection flight! The goal of the flight was to investigate marine convection in various stages: growth, mature, and dissipative. The mature is the best! Down at the far end of the base is the entrance to the hanger that houses all the science equipment. It was a bright crisp morning (crisp… HA! it was probably 80 F at 5 AM!), and I’m grateful to Nick for waking up slightly earlier than usual so he could drop me off. There was a safety briefing before we got on the plane for us newbies. It’s basically like the one you see on a commercial flight. However, there is a little addition in case of a gas leak on the plane. In case of this, there is a little hood that pops on over your head and constricts around your neck to protect you. After the video, there was the flight brief that basically just went over the science objective. Interesting note that they like to put in there: the plane had 126,000+ pounds of fuel! Post pre-flight brief I got to wander around for a few. This was fantastic! I got to walk up to the DC-8 and ER-2. RIGHT UP TO THEM! I could’ve touched the turbines if I wanted! There was a beautiful sunrise, and everything. Thank you nature for being you. (Photo credit to Tristan Hall) I tried as best I could to catch on to the lingo amongst the pilots and ATC, and boy was it interesting! NASA817 Heavy. That was the phrase I listened for. On the ATC channel multiple planes are talking so it can get confusing pretty quickly, but all I listened for was NASA817 Heavy. The “heavy” stands for (and I just Googled this, so naturally it’s true) when a plane is heavier than 300,000 pounds. How about that! On our ascent to altitude, a plane was in the region. “NASA817 Heavy, you’ve got traffic on your 11 o’clock”. Okay so, you know scenes in shows when planes crash in mid-air? I totally see that as plausible. After ATC said this, all three crew members stopped what they were doing and stared out the window. I did this, as well. I mean, I was basically flying the plane – these guys were depending on me. We kept looking… and looking… and looking until this plane comes zooming by. It looked like it was a mile away. Travelling at 300 mph, it doesn’t take long to get next to each other. As soon as the plane was in sight, it was out of sight. Thank an air traffic controller. The dance that the flight crew went through was impressive. The pilot was basically not to be bothered, ever, I gathered. He flew. If the co-pilot was doing something (turning a knob, or piloty things), and the pilot needed to do something that was in the way, the co-pilot immediately removed his hands and stopped what he was doing so the pilot could finish his task. This happened when the pilot just wanted to increase the thrust. Just something as simple as that, and all hands were out of the way. Amazing stuff. The flight itself was great, too. We were following storms, what else is better?! For ease of communication, the storms were named. One of the commanders on mission control on the plane was Hawaiian. He named one of the main storms we studied Leilani (heavenly lei; beautiful, eh?). Leilani (Image credit to Tristan Hall) This beauty was fun. We got into the updraft of the storm which maxed out around 10 m/s (22 mph; that’s pretty good) followed by a 7 m/s (16 mph) downdraft. I got to feel weightless for a good second or two. WOO! Let’s just say, I’ll never be troubled by turbulence on a commercial flight, anymore. Mid-flight we got to spiral down to the boundary layer (near surface layer). As we spiraled down… and down… and down… the oil rigs kept on getting bigger… and bigger… and bigger. Then we straightened out and flew at 350 ft. Yea… 350 FEET! From the OCEAN SURFACE! AT 300 mph! The oil rigs were zooming by. Flying near the surface (Photo credit to Tristan Hall) We finished a successful mission, and returned to Ellington. Landing was just as amazing as takeoff in the jump seat. The pilots kept asking me for hints on landing, and I was all like “guys… it’s your turn, you’ve got this”. The best I can compare that too is a simulator on your computer or something. Once the runway is in view it just keeps getting bigger and bigger, until the bump of landing. The end to a wonderful day. Overall, this was just an amazing experience. It was truly breathtaking and inspiring. The NASA Airborne Science program is unique. I hope to be a part of it for the years to come. There is so much imagination, and pure brilliance that goes into the science equipment onboard the plane. In case you are wondering, the plane is outfitted such that basically every-other window is removed and replaced with an instrument. So there are around 30 instruments sticking their little noses outside the plane. The engineers need to be very creative to design their apparatus so that it conforms to the plane. Speaking of the plane, there were first class seats, and Bose noise-cancelling headphones! Oh yea, top notch. These are essential as the plane is LOUD without the headset, and everybody needs to talk on the mission channel. The first class seats are must as who the heck wants to sit in a tiny seat for 8 hours, and not be able to move?! I will forever remember this experience. Well I left you hanging last time with me in pure overload and shock – nothing’s changed. This is still amazing, but now I’m overloaded because of the requirements of the job! I wake up early every morning and glean all I can from every model that I have access to. I then use my best judgment and years and years (3, cough) of collegiate knowledge to work on how the weather is going to change and affect our science objectives. For instance, there are these things in the atmosphere called shortwaves. [Begin digression] They are called shortwaves because they are smaller than the larger scale waves. Imagine an ocean wave rising toward the beach with a surfer on it. The surfer’s board makes waves within the big ocean wave. Those are short relative to the big ocean wave – shortwaves. They can kick cyclones (a spinning system – not necessarily a tropical cyclone) into action, or they can break off fragments of an upper-level disturbance away from the flow and make it remain in place for an elongated time dropping days of rain on one location (similar to about a month ago in the Southeast). Those are the fun, tricky little boogers in our atmosphere that like to stir things up. Jerks. [end digression]. The chemical modelers wanted to sample some smoke. So, we planned a mission for smoke with a flight plan all figured out to penetrate the higher concentrations. Well, as the plane neared the smoke during the flight, along came a shortwave and moved it all out of the flight path – sorry team. I love the weather – it really likes to mess with you when it has the chance. Predicting exact orientation, time of arrival, and intensity is universally beyond our control, though. We can tell that shortwaves will move through a system, with a range of intensity, and get an approximate time for arrival and orientation, but no combination of models will agree on all results. Time is flying by, I no longer know what day of the week it is. I only know if it’s a flight day or a planning day. Planning days are great! Certain teams have different objectives, so when conditions are favorable for more than one teams’ objective, a debate ensues! Us forecasters have to provide an unbiased overview of the weather in support of all objectives (hurricane… hurricane… hurricane…). However, when conditions are favorable for one objective, we will mention it (hurricane… hurricane… hurricane…). Monday (26 August) was the first of a two-day flight, also known as a suitcase flight. Nick mentions what that is below, so I’ll leave the explanation to him. On Monday’s weather briefing, all the models pointed to showers or thunderstorms within the area of Ellington (lingo: VCSH or VCTS. SH: SHowers, TS: ThunderStorms, VC: within the ViCinity (5 to 10 statute miles)). The DC-8 is a beast and can take off in mostly anything, while the ER-2 is a little fragile. It has giant wings and a tiny fuselage which requires strict criteria for takeoff and landing. Its wings are so big (this sounds like the beginning of a “yo momma” joke) that when it taxis it has special little training wheels to support them. The instruments aboard the ER-2 are susceptible to water, as well (why is a meteorological research vessel’s instrument susceptible to water?). Days go into planning these flights, so telling a group of people who are anxious for a research flight that they might not get to do it, is daunting. The forecast basically was looking like spotty convection. So, we thought the ER-2 could take off possibly between one of these atmospheric precipitable tantrums. The plane needs to be ready to fly and take off 2 hours before takeoff. The pilot (basically a super-low orbit astronaut; 99% of the earth is below this person as they fly at high altitudes), who wears a form of a space suit, can only be suited up for so long, so the flight can’t really be delayed for an extensive period of time. But I digress… again. We were instructed to come in and assist in the decision on whether the flight was a go or no-go. Well, we had to disappoint – it was too much of a risk for the instrumentation to get wet. However, the DC-8 got off without a hitch, and was en route to the Yosemite Rim Fire. The ER-2 had to sit in its hanger and wait for Tuesday. On Tuesday (27 August), the second leg of the suitcase flight, conditions were quite nice, and the ER-2 could takeoff to study air up along the Mississippi River Valley and Great Lakes region. The DC-8 took off from Spokane, WA to follow the smoke plume toward Winnipeg (sorry Canadians for the smoke, eh). Well… here is where the horn tooting comes in (enter XKCD comic about “tooting your own horn”. Google it, it’s hilarious.). Earlier in the flight plan while the plane was in Montana, I was looking at satellite and radar and noticed some small convection starting near Lake Manitoba. It seemed that the region’s conditions were favorable for afternoon convection (there was a sufficient amount moisture, to keep it minimal). Our NEXRAD system doesn’t supply data outside US territories. This is what the on flight crews have access to if they would like to look. It’s granulated and not the hires stuff we look at. I took it upon myself to read the met discussion from Environment Canada (cool name). A special advisory was issued for southern Manitoba indicating that the region, indeed, was going to experience some heavy convection. Yahoo! The plane’s 3rd waypoint down the road was right in the path of these storms – which were producing a good amount of lighting, including some cloud-to-grounds (CGs), by now. The plane was flying somewhere around 16,000 feet, and these storms were towering to 40,000+ ft. I sent out a warning on our communications channel (it’s really just an instant messenger called “xchat”… it’s not dirty… the “x” is just network lingo stuff) that the plane was headed for a direct hit with these storms. They were still 30+ minutes out, so there was no immediate danger, however, the storms were not going away – they were building. Radar image of building storms with lightning, flight track, and DC8 position. Blue icons are in cloud lightning strikes, while red are cloud to ground. (Photo credit to Tristan Hall) Ten minutes passed by and the storms were getting bigger, so, I sent out another warning with a graphic and a little more detail, and informed the big cheeses directly (who couldn’t see it due to the NEXRAD dilemma). They caught on that they couldn’t see the convection and that the plane was heading right into an electrified storm (that’s right! listen to the grad student who’s been staring at the radar all day!). Now, the plane has on-board radar, but it only can see so far, and the way these storms were tracking (along the next leg of the trip), the plane would have had to perform some crazy maneuvering to get around them and get back on track. So, the big cheeses informed the pilots on our xchat to confirm that there were troubling storms ahead, and that some moron wasn’t just saying “beware”. The plane was rerouted and on it went. I know… exciting right? Well it was! I directly had an influence into a flight track and… yea… I’ll say it… saved 40+ lives (but seriously, it wasn’t that dramatic, I kid). Now when I say something on xchat, I hope these people understand “thall” means business! Like sands in an hourglass, these are the days of my life in SEAC4RS. Keep following along, welcome if you’re new, and I thank you for reading. Our NASA-Honeybee Robotics team persevered, despite snow drifts that made it difficult on quads to reach the test site, and icing that periodically brought down communications. We tested the new Icebreaker-2/LITA drill, on an equal footing with other planetary-prototype drills tested at Drill Hill since 2004. It cumulatively went 3.2m depth over 4 holes… but found that the lightweight, low mass, low-downward-force design did not fare well in frozen breccia, with its deepest hole reached at 90 cm, where it stuck. Previous tested drill prototypes (with 3x the mass and more power) managed 1.5-3m depths under similar conditions at the same site. Given that this new drill was originally designed only for half-meter deep sampling from a mobile platform, it met expectations. And this is a successful test result — even if this drill design didn’t go deeper. It shows us where we are on the (light-weight/low-energy) vs (depth into hard materials) tradeoff here, compared to competing designs and concepts, and this is needed and useful for future drilling mission proposals and planning. Alex Wong from Honeybee Robotics sets up the Icebreaker-2 drill inside a dome tent on Drill Hill. Opportunistically, our team also sank three sniffer-shafts for the GETGAMM project (see last post), two with a commercial rotary-percussive hand drill (to 2m depths) and one with Icebreaker-2 (to 80cm). We drew cuttings and gas samples to carry back to NASA Ames and then to forward to Lisa Pratt and her team at Indiana University. The two 2m-deep monitoring stations remain on Devon Island for future monitoring and sampling. GETGAMM project gas-monitoring drill string, being sunk into the area known as Von Braun Planitia near Haughton Crater. We closed up the Haughton Crater camp on 21 August, packed our equipment in Resolute for shipment back to the USA and NASA Ames, and left the Arctic for Yellowknife and home over this past weekend. The Icebreaker-2 drill 2013 field test team, outside the Drill Hill dome tent in Haughton Crater: Alex Wang from Honeybee Robotics, and Brian Glass and Sarah Huffman from NASA Ames. I first arrived in Houston for SEAC4RS on Sunday, 18 August. My colleague Nick picked me up from the airport after a less-than-perfect landing. This was my second time arriving at Houston-Hobby, and 7th flight in two months; so naturally, I’m a pro. I took the stairs down to baggage and lugged my under-50 lbs baggage to go meet Nick at the pick-up area. Nick drove me to the hotel which is basically an apartment; including a kitchen with all the necessary amenities, and a living room. He had to go back to his shift at Ellington; so I was left to let my imagination run wild on what to expect tomorrow morning. Later my professor took me out for dinner, to my surprise, for all the work I’ve done back in Tallahassee. Thanks! On Monday we took off bright and early for Ellington. When I arrived, I was in awe that I’m at a NASA-affiliated facility. The Meatball is everywhere; there are planes, barbed-wire fences, and guards. I have to go into an office to get my visitor badge – they forgot to sign me up for the “restricted sector” badge… again. 🙂 Oh well, I’ll make do. Off to the hanger where our command center is. Being thrown into a shark tank doesn’t even come close to describe how I felt on day 1. Holy Toledo! 0-60 in 1.5 seconds. Everybody had already been in the swing of things for a couple weeks, by now, so I had to catch up fast! I had to look at the weather! Best Job Ever! Knowing how to forecast is more than just looking ahead – it’s looking behind, as well (that’s philosophical for ya there). I had been preoccupied in Tallahassee for the past couple weeks setting up a lab for ozonesonde measurements, so I had slacked a little on the whole “looking behind” aspect. In other words, I had no idea what the weather was like. Max and I filling a balloon for an ozonesonde launch. (Photo credit to Antonio Riggi) I spent all day trying to absorb everything. Every forecast model and how it compares to every other model. Every forecast discussion. Every historical satellite image I could find. Every variable of every model we have plotted on our FSU website and every other website out there (seriously, there are a plethora). Everybody here was on the same level as each other and knew what to expect of one another. I was overwhelmed. I felt underprepared, and I felt like I would never catch up. This was a nowcasting shift, which is similar to forecasting, but only a couple hours in the future. The flight plan was pretty set, and conditions weren’t too nasty so it was an easy shift. I spent most of my time looking back, getting to know the weather. Dinner was soup and salad at the hotel lobby. Free is good. Day 2 was a little better. On non-flight days we give a met briefing to lead off the science meeting. I got to see what to expect, and more importantly, what’s expected of me in the days to come. We report on current and future conditions, and point out specific regions of interest if they align with the science objectives of the campaign. Interests include convective outflow, smoke transport, and the North American Monsoon (NAM). After this, my time was spent understanding the atmosphere and its dynamic beauty. There is a trough in the east that just won’t go away, a cut-off low off the coast of California — with nothing steering it, a front moving down through the Great Lakes region, and nothing exciting over the Atlantic, to name a few. Dinner was “BBQ” provided by the hotel. It was chopped beef (not pork; or brisket!); however, it was sweet with a little too much liquid smoke. What’s with these Western folk? However, I had 2 buns, so I’m not really complaining. I do an excellent job of eating! Day 3 – Wednesday – another nowcasting shift. I felt way more comfortable today. I was getting into the swing of things, and feeling more comfortable speaking up. The flight for today wanted to sample convection before it was intense. So, we had to find where convection was going to be and direct the planes to it. We settled on northern Alabama which had plenty of little popcorn cumulus. A view of the flight path could make you sick, it’s so swirly. Imagine a child drawing scribbles on a piece of paper. The pilots get in to the clouds and just go wild. The return path for one of the planes looked like it would intersect too strong convection; so it got really exciting for about an hour — and tense. People were depending on our radar skills. Once the planes made it past the bad convection, Nick and I displayed our GR2Analyst skills recreationally. Those non-met folks were amazed — cross sections; 3D plots; they kept coming back with new people in-tow asking us to show the 3D images. Dinner was stuffed peppers from the hotel! Not too shabby, again. So far, I’ve seen an F-4, the 747 Space Shuttle Carrier, several NASA jets (which, for some reason nobody will let me drive. C’mon there are like 20 of them, let me take one out!), the DC-8 taxi, and the ER-2 take off and land, which has a chase car… Yup, a car that chases it as it lands, how do I get in that?! It has stabilizers on the back because it goes so fast!). I am learning fast, having a wonderful time meeting all these people, and having an EVEN MORE wonderful time forecasting and nowcasting. This is truly an experience of a lifetime. Thanks professor!

bk murli December 19, 2016 / shivneri10 20/12/16 Morning Murli Om Shanti BapDada Madhuban Sweet children, anger is a very big thorn. Many receive sorrow through it and you must, therefore, remove that thorn and become a true flower. What reassurance does the Father give the children who are becoming flowers from thorns? Children, the obstacles that Maya even now causes while you are becoming flowers from thorns will one day come to an end and all of you will go to heaven. Those iron-aged thorns will end. The Father has put you in the confluence-aged pot. Although Maya makes you wilt, the seed of knowledge is imperishable. This seed can never be destroyed. Song: Neither will He be separated from us nor will there be sorrow. Om Shanti Shiv Baba explains the deep secrets of knowledge to you sweetest beloved, long-lost and now- found, spiritual children through the body of Brahma. Firstly, you children heard in the song: Baba, we will sacrifice ourselves to You, no matter how many assaults we have to tolerate. Why are there assaults? Because human beings don’t receive poison (vice). You children know that, previously, you neither knew the soul nor the Supreme Soul; you neither knew yourself nor the Father. Therefore, it was as though you had animal intellects. In worldly terms, you know yourself and your father. Human beings of this time neither know themselves nor the Father from beyond this world at all. They say that God doesn’t have a name, form, land or time. Therefore, none of those things would be there for souls either. Those people don’t know the soul at all. They say that the soul is the Supreme Soul. You now know. They simply say for the sake of it that there is the soul and the being, that the soul is imperishable and the being is perishable. What is a soul? What is his form and colour? They know that his name is soul, but no one can explain what he is like, what he does, what type of part he plays or for how long he plays his part. No one can give the knowledge of a soul. You now know that a soul is a tiny star. An imperishable part of 84 births is recorded in a soul. The Shankaracharya soul is also playing his own part. No one even knows how a soul becomes satopradhan and how he then goes through the stages of sato, rajo and tamo. They simply say that a wonderful star sparkles in the centre of the forehead. They don’t know anything else. Not to know the soul means not to know God. At this time, this is a forest of thorns where everyone is a thorn. They neither know the Creator, the Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul, nor the beginning, the middle and the end of creation. You children know the soul and the Supreme Soul, but that too is numberwise according to the effort you make. Many of you children don’t know this accurately. Because of being body conscious, you are unable to imbibe fully; it is numberwise. Some of you ask: Baba, why is it like this? Baba says: Children, a kingdom is being established. All types are definitely needed for that. Those who have stone intellects would attain the lowest status of all. If you know something yourself you would also explain to others. You say that you will begin to explain as you make further progress. However, there have to be such ones, for only then can there be those who receive a low status. There is so much difference between a king and a subject! Here, both kings and subjects experience sorrow. In the golden age, neither kings nor subjects experience sorrow, but there is a difference in their status. Because of not imbibing fully, you are unable to explain to anyone. Then, one thorn or another will continue to prick you: sometimes that of greed and sometimes that of attachment. The evil spirits will continue to interfere. This definitely has to happen. You are Prajapita Brahma Kumars and Kumaris. Who is the Father of Prajapita? Shiv Baba. However, Shiva doesn’t have a father. This Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar are also the creation of Shiva. So, everyone is a soul. The Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul, is only One. You can never receive the inheritance of liberation or salvation from Brahma, Vishnu or Shankar, or from Lakshmi and Narayan or from any human being. Human beings neither know the soul nor the Supreme Soul accurately. Only the Supreme Father, the Supreme Soul, can enable you to have realisation of the soul. Salvation is received through knowledge. Only the one Father gives knowledge. Some children do a lot of physical service for the yagya. You receive marks through that subject too. The Father is now telling you children the story of immortality and the story of the third eye. In fact, these are not stories. This is spiritual knowledge. Know the Father and yourself! They say that just as a bubble emerges from water and then merges back into it, in the same way, we are created from the brahm element, that we play our parts and then become merged in the brahm element or become the brahm element, that there is no other knowledge of the Creator or creation. Only the Father comes and explains knowledge. His name is Shiva. Some even call Him Rudra, and some call Him the Remover of Sins. They have given Him many names and increased the paraphernalia of worship. They have given Him as many names as the acts He has carried out and they have built many temples to Him. The Father says: This is now the world of thorns, the ocean of poison. Everyone is made to write that God is not omnipresent. The Father comes and makes Bharat into heaven, and so the whole world becomes heaven. This doesn’t enter anyone’s intellect. All the scriptures are of devotion. Each one has knowledge of his own work. A carpenter has knowledge of carpentry and a doctor has knowledge of medicine. This is spiritual knowledge which only the Supreme Soul comes and gives. Human beings don’t know who the One called God is. In the Gita they have mentioned the name of Shri Krishna. This is the main thing. They have falsified the mother and father (the Gita) and so all the other scriptures have become false. Just as they have mines of artificial (false) stones, so here, these are like false stones. Those with divine intellects live in the golden age, the land of divinity. This is hell. They call out, “O Purifier come!”, and so they must surely be impure. Both heaven and hell exist in Bharat. When someone dies, it is said that he has gone to heaven. It doesn’t enter their intellects that the golden age is heaven. God establishes heaven, not hell. No one knows when the kingdom of Ravan begins. Although they study many scriptures and remain celibate, they are still born through vice. Sages and sannyasis too make spiritual endeavour. They ask the Father for liberation because they don’t want to stay in the dirty world. The Father says: First of all, know the soul, how he goes through the cycle of birth and death, how alloy is mixed into real gold and how he plays his part of 84 births. You have the maximum parts. Those who were deities take the full 84 births. Where did Lakshmi and Narayan go after they ruled the kingdom? Those souls must definitely have taken birth. Where are they now? No one knows this. Some people believe that, at this time, Christ would be in his beggary part. You know very well that Lakshmi and Narayan, who were the masters of heaven, have to take rebirth and complete their 84 births. Not all souls take 84 births. Let your intellects imbibe this knowledge. Without staying in yoga, you cannot change from thorns into flowers. It is only by having yoga that your sins will be absolved and you will become satopradhan flowers. While you are here, there will definitely be some trace of thorns. Once you have become flowers, you won’t be able to stay here. The golden age is called the garden of flowers. You are now in the forest of thorns, that is, in the kingdom of Ravan. All here are thorns. Those who make many thorns into flowers are said to be the real fragrant flowers. There is a particular white flower known as the king of flowers. Even when it is placed on a table it continues to bloom and its fragrance continues to increase. No one is such a flower. Since there is a king flower, there also has to be a queen flower (raat ki rani – queen of the night). Roses, jasmine etc. are very good flowers. They have flower shows where everyone brings very good flowers. Those who bring very good flowers are given a prize. You too are creating a garden of flowers. People offer flowers to Shiva and those include ratan-jyot (very fragrant flower) and even uck flowers. Baba has explained that He plays the part of making you children into flowers. I know who is a rose, who is a jasmine, who is a ratan-jyot and who is an uck flower. The worst of all are uck flowers: they behave like thorns. Some are very sharp thorns. Anger too is a thorn which causes sorrow for many people. You children have now stepped aside from the world of thorns. You are at the confluence age; you are changing from thorns into flowers. Just as a gardener removes thorns from the stems of flowers and puts them in a separate pot, so too, Baba has separated you. You are at the confluence age. You are continuing to be repaired. In spite of that, Maya makes you into thorns. However, once you belong to Me, these obstacles of Maya will finish one day. Then the flowers that are planted in this pot will all go to heaven. All the iron-aged thorns will be burnt away. There are so few of you flowers! You have been placed in the confluence-aged pot. The seed has been sown. When storms of Maya come, they make you wilt. Nevertheless, once the seed of imperishable knowledge has been sown, it is never destroyed. The Father sits here and says to you children: You children have to become very fearless. Baba tells you to write: We come every 5000 years at the confluence age to show you this fair and exhibition. Also write that this war takes place every 5000 years in order to make the old world new and to change the residents of hell into residents of heaven. Baba gives you many directions. He shows you very easy methods. Remember the Father and claim the sovereignty of heaven. Human beings continue to take a dip in water; they should then do that in the ocean. Rivers have emerged from the ocean. The ocean is the father of rivers. People should go and bathe there. However, that is salt water, which is why people go to bathe in the rivers of sweet water. You are now the children of the Ocean of Knowledge. The Ocean of Knowledge, the Purifier, is the Father; you are His children. It is understood of those who do a lot of service that they are very good flowers. Good flowers are repeatedly invited to the exhibitions because it is understood that so-and-so is cleverer than they are. However, regard has to be given to those who are clever. Baba always explains: Never become angry. Explain with love. When someone becomes angry, Baba understands that he has a powerful evil spirit in him. Some don’t hesitate to become angry with their parents and so they become even more degraded. Would the Lord of the Poor ever become angry with the poor? Baba, the Lord of the Poor, has come to make the poor wealthy. Those who are multimillionaires here will become maids and servants in their next birth. The poor who study well will go and become kings and queens. Some children who come to the centres don’t even give anything for Godly service. They don’t know that, by sowing a few seeds, their future can become so elevated. There is also the example of Sudama. He donated in the name of God and believed that he would receive the fruit of that in his next birth. Baba writes: Children, in return for one brick of yours, you will receive palaces. You give shells here and they become diamonds there. This is why there is the praise of “a handful of rice”. When people go to a Sikh temple, they definitely put something in there. However, here, the Father Himself is the Bestower. Achcha. To the sweetest, beloved, long-lost and now-found, children, love, remembrance and good morning from the Mother, the Father, BapDada. The spiritual Father says namaste to the spiritual children. Essence for Dharna: 1. Become very fearless and do the service of changing thorns into flowers. Continue to sow an imperishable seed in everyone. 2. The thorn of anger is very big. Renounce it and become very lovely. Do service with love. Have regard for the serviceable ones. Blessing: May you be an embodiment of authority who constantly swings in the swing of happiness with the greatness of truth. The praise of the children who are embodiments of the authority of truth is: When there is truth, the soul dances. The boat of truth may rock but it cannot sink. No matter how much someone tries to shake you, with your greatness of truth, you will swing in the swing of happiness even more. They do not shake you, but swing you in a swing. This is not shaking, but swinging, and so thank them for swinging you because you are swinging with the Father. Slogan: Let the light of all powers remain constantly with you so that Maya cannot come close to you.

Sympetrum fonscolombii Red-veined Darter close-up of immature male Red-veined Darter Exuvia (male, top view) Red-veined Darter male © David Marquina Reyes Red-veined Darter male © Montse Poch Click on images to enlarge Flight period: June to September (occasionally May, October and early November) The bright red males and clear yellow-brown females are attractive. The eyes are brown above and blue below and the wing bases are yellow. The pterostigma is yellow to orange strongly outlined in black. Male: becomes a deep red with maturity with red veins on the wings, particularly on the leading edges. The frons and the thorax are red-brown. Female: ochre yellow abdomen with two black lines along each side. The wing veins are yellow at the costa, leading edge and base. Immature males: coloured as the females but have only a single line along each side of the abdomen. Breeds in large shallow water bodies such as rice paddies in Sothern Europe. Fairly frequent migrant, principally to southwest England though scattered records from elsewhere (has reached Scotland). Breeds nearly annually, but colonies seemingly not stable. The various resident and migrant species of Darter in the UK are easily confused, the females being particularly difficult to tell apart.

Observational Study of Male Circumcision Using PrePex Device The study will measure the incidence of moderate and severe adverse events (AEs) associated with PrePex procedures, including both procedural and post-procedure events, and all device-related incidents such as dislodgment. To assure complete ascertainment of AEs, study-specific forms will be used to collect standardized data from the circumcision visit and all follow-up visits. Follow-up will be more intensive for the first 50 cases, and will revert to routine practice (two follow-up visits) for the remaining 375 cases. Device: PrePex device for male circumcision Prospective Observational Study of Male Circumcision Using the PrePex Device in Routine Clinical Settings in Kenya Further study details as provided by FHI 360: The incidence of moderate and severe adverse events (AEs) associated with PrePex procedures, including both procedural and post-procedure events, and all device-related incidents such as dislodgment. [ Time Frame: 42 days ]Number of participants with adverse events as a measure of safety, pain as measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and life table analysis of time to complete wound healing Acceptability of PrePex procedures among Kenyan clients [ Time Frame: 42 days ]Quality of life and satisfaction questionnaires Acceptability of PrePex procedures among Kenyan male circumcision providers [ Time Frame: 42 days ]MC provider questionnaires assessing ease and duration of procedures, problems encountered during procedures and post-procedure care, and opinions of PrePex compared to the forceps-guided method or other circumcision methods with which the providers are familiar Proportion of men ineligible for circumcision with PrePex [ Time Frame: 42 days ]Proportion of men presenting for MC who are excluded due to tight foreskin, frank phimosis or other criteria Proportion of men who do not return for removal at 7 days, and the level of effort needed for their active follow-up as well as their outcomes [ Time Frame: 42 days ]Proportion of men who do not return at 7 days and require active follow-up, as well as outcomes among men who do not return for scheduled removal and efforts required for active follow-up Costs of PrePex training and service delivery [ Time Frame: 42 days ]Costs of training and service delivery including human resources (number and cadre of operators required), and materials and supplies PrePex is a sterile device for adult male circumcision, consisting of an inner ring, elastic ring, placement ring, and verification thread. Proper sizing is facilitated by a sizing accessory. The elastic ring is loaded on to the placement ring, which is then placed at the base of the penis. The inner ring is placed inside the foreskin. The elastic ring is then deployed around the foreskin, clamping the foreskin against the inner ring. PrePex is manufactured by Circ MedTech Limited, is certified CE - Class IIa in the European Union, and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The World Health Organization, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and other global reproductive health organizations have recognized the protective effect of male circumcision in HIV acquisition. Male Circumcision (MC) is one of the few biomedical methods to demonstrate consistent effectiveness as an HIV prevention intervention in randomized controlled trials: three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa reported a protective effect up to 60% of circumcision against HIV infection. Subsequent studies have confirmed the value and persistence of MC's protection against HIV infection, and have demonstrated that MC also reduces the acquisition and transmission of human papillomavirus. A wide variety of instruments, devices, and techniques are used around the world for male circumcision. In 2008, WHO, UNAIDS and JHPIEGO released a draft document entitled Manual for Male Circumcision under Local Anesthesia, which includes step-by-step instructions for performing adult male circumcision using three different surgical procedures: the forceps-guided, dorsal slit, and sleeve resection methods. Procedure times for these techniques are approximately 20-30 minutes excluding anesthesia, involve control of bleeding and considerable suturing, and can be associated with a variety of complications. In the current African setting, only surgical circumcision is available for most adults. Recently, devices have been developed that have the potential to simplify and shorten both training time and surgical duration by eliminating the need for suturing and hemostasis as well as allow for task-shifting to lower level cadres of providers. Small-scale safety studies, RCTs, and field demonstration cohort studies are required before the safety, effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility of any device is assured. This is a prospective observational study of the PrePex male circumcision device, which will be conducted with the aims of ascertaining important adverse events or unexpected side effects that may not have been observed in other studies. This study will be conducted within a routine service delivery system to identify potential issues that must be addressed as MC services are scaled up in a variety of Kenyan settings. PrePex circumcision procedures will be offered in VMMC services, part of the minimum package of HIV prevention services recommended by the Kenyan MOH, including HIV testing and counseling, exclusion of men with symptomatic sexually transmitted infection (STI) and provision of syndromic treatment as indicated, provision and promotion of condoms, and counseling on risk-reduction and safer sex. This study is a prospective observational study of adult male circumcision procedures with PrePex in sites in Nyanza Province, Kenya. We will enroll a total of 425 men aged 18 to 49 who seek voluntary medical male circumcision. The first 50 men will undergo intensive follow-up with multiple follow-up visits, per secondary objective 2 above. The remaining 375 men will be scheduled for two follow-up visits at 7 and 42 days after PrePex placement, per standard practice in Kenyan MC service delivery. Men aged 18-49 years • Must be aged 18 to 49 years Must be uncircumcised (on examination) Must be in good general health Must agree to voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, or have documentation of testing no more than one week before the MC visit Must be HIV-uninfected Must be free of genital ulcerations or other visible signs of STI (on examination) Must be able to understand study procedures and the requirements of study participation Must agree to return to the healthcare facility for the full schedule of follow-up visits after his circumcision or be willing to receive a home visit Must freely consent to participate in the study and sign a written informed consent form Must have a cell phone or access to a cell phone. • Penis does not fit any of the five PrePex sizes Takes a medication that would be a contraindication for elective surgery, such as an anticoagulant or steroid Has known bleeding/clotting disorder (e.g. hemophilia) Has an active genital infection, anatomic abnormality (e.g. phimosis or hypospadias) or other disease or condition (e.g. extreme obesity, poorly controlled diabetes, sickle cell anemia, AIDS-like signs or symptoms) which in the investigator's opinion contraindicates MC or participation in the study Is participating in another longitudinal biomedical research study.

Hormonal Causes of Menstrual-Related Mood Disorders Brief Title ICMJE Hormonal Causes of Menstrual-Related Mood Disorders Official Title ICMJE 5HT1A and SERT Imaging During Pharmacologically Induced Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism With and Without Estrogen and Progesterone Replacement Brief Summary This study will explore possible hormonal causes of menstrual-related mood disorders (MRMD) by stopping the menstrual cycle with a drug called Lupron and then giving in sequence two menstrual cycle hormones, progesterone and estrogen. The study will first evaluate Lupron's effectiveness in treating MRMD and will then examine the effects of giving estrogen and progesterone on mood and behavior. In addition, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to study serotonin receptors and transporters - molecules in the brain that are thought to play a major role in mood changes related to the menstrual cycle. Menstruating women between 18 and 50 years of age who are in good health, not pregnant, and not taking medications may be eligible for this study. Women with MRMD must have had at least moderately severe MRMD or behavioral disturbances for at least 6 months within 2 years of entering the study. Healthy controls must have no history of MRMD or behavioral disturbances. Candidates undergo physical and neurological examinations, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and blood and urine tests. Results of a recent Pap smear (no longer than 12 months before beginning the study) must be available. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Drug treatment: Lupron is injected into a muscle once a month for 5 months. After the second month, participants receive estrogen or progesterone, or both, daily. Estrogen is delivered through a skin patch (20 micrograms per day) and the progesterone is taken as a rectal or vaginal suppository twice a day for the remaining 12 weeks of the study. Every day, all participants wear a skin patch and insert two suppositories, but at some point during the 12 weeks, active medication is replaced with placebo to allow the drugs to wash out of the body. Physical examination and blood draw: A physical examination and blood tests are done at the start of the study and several times during the study to assess general health, evaluate liver and kidney function, and measure blood cell counts. Response to treatment drugs: Responses to Lupron, estrogen, and progesterone are evaluated periodically with interviews and symptoms self-rating scales. Control subjects also take paper and pencil psychological tests. PET imaging: A total of six PET scans are done at three time points during hormone treatment. PET uses small amounts of a radioactive chemical called a tracer that "labels" active areas of the brain. For the procedure, the subject lies on the scanner bed. A special mask is fitted to the head and attached to the bed to help keep the subject's head still during the scan so the images will be clear. A brief scan is done just before the radioactive tracer is injected to help in analyzing the PET data. After the tracer is injected through a catheter (plastic tube) placed in the arm, pictures are taken for about 2 hours, during which the subject lies still on the scanner bed. MRI scan: MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of body tissues and organs. For this procedure, the patient lies on a table that is moved into the scanner (a narrow cylinder) and wears earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. The procedure lasts about 1 hour. This protocol has two outcome measures (5HT(1A) binding and SERT binding), two groups of subjects (women with MRMD and controls), and three distinct hormonal conditions (hypogonadism, estrogen replacement, and progesterone replacement). Our principal aim in this study is to investigate differences in the outcome measures in women with MRMD compared to controls. Our primary hypothesis is that 5HT(1A) binding will be decreased and SERT binding will be increased in women with MRMD. A secondary hypothesis is that women with MRMD, but not controls, will display reproductive steroid modulation of 5HT(1A) and SERT binding. This study will help test existing hypotheses about the pathophysiologic relevance of serotonin function in MRMD and the role of reproductive steroids in serotonergic regulation. First, we selected 5HT(1A) receptor binding as an outcome measure for the following reasons: 5HT(1A) function is modulated by both estradiol and progesterone, abnormalities of 5HT(1A) binding have been reported in both depressive and anxiety disorders as well as possibly MRMD, 5HT(1A) receptors have been identified as potential mediators of estradiol's antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test, and the 5HT(1A) system is involved in the regulation of GABA activity abnormalities of which have been implicated in MRMD. Second, we selected SERT binding as an outcome measure for the following reasons: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but not traditional antidepressants, are effective treatments for MRMD; abnormalities of SERT binding have been reported in depressive disorders in women, preliminary data suggest that women with MRMD are characterized by an elevated frequency of the long, more transcriptionally active polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR) (Roca et al); women with MRMD have altered imipramine binding and platelet 5HT uptake compared to controls as well as altered platelet paroxetine binding (which normalize with successful treatment with GnRH agonist); and, finally, SERT message, binding and protein have been reported to be changed by ovarian steroids in preclinical studies. We hypothesize that the effects of hormonal condition on 5HT(1A) (receptor) binding will differ in patients and controls. Specifically, we anticipate that 5HT1A binding will be decreased in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in patients with MRMD but not controls. Such a decrease, if a trait characteristic, will be demonstrable irrespective of hormonal state. However, as symptoms of MRMD are directly precipitated by estradiol or progesterone (see below), it is possible that symptoms are accompanied by state and steroid-dependent changes in 5HT(1A) binding and function. Consequently, our secondary hypothesis is that estradiol or progesterone induces changes in 5HT(1A) (receptor) binding in women with MRMD but not in control women. Similarly, we hypothesize that women with MRMD will have increased SERT binding activity compared to controls, consistent with the therapeutic efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in this condition. However, a secondary hypothesis is that estradiol or progesterone-induced changes in SERT binding will occur in a hormone-dependent and mood state-dependent manner. Specifically, consistent with the literature in rodents, acute changes in ovarian steroids will increase SERT binding in association with the induction of symptoms in women with MRMD but not controls. All patients participating in this protocol will have already participated in protocol No. 81-M-0126 and will have a prospectively confirmed and predictable relationship between their mood disorder and the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle; i.e., a 30% change in severity of symptom self rating scales, relative to the range of the scale employed, during the seven days premenstrually compared with the seven days post-menstrually in two out of three months of study. Women without MRMD: No history of menstrual-related mood or behavioral disturbances; Age 18 and 50 years; Not pregnant; Good medical health; The absence of menstrual-related mood disorders will be prospectively confirmed during a two month period prior to the study entry when subjects will complete daily visual analogue rating scales monitoring both mood and behavior as outlined in NIMH protocol # 81-M-0126. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV will be administered to all women prior to study entry. Any patient or control with a current and any control with a past Axis I psychiatric diagnosis will be excluded from participating in this protocol. Prior to treatment, a complete physical and neurological examination will have been performed (with normal chest X-ray and EKG) and the following routine laboratory data obtained: A. Blood --Complete blood count; thyroid function tests; renal function tests, such as BUN and creatinine; electrolytes; glucose; liver function tests, B-hCG for pregnancy test. B. Urine Routine urinalysis. GnRH agonist will not be administered to any subject with significant clinical or laboratory abnormalities. Additional tests and exclusion criteria. Results of PAP smear performed not longer than 12 months prior to onset of treatment will be obtained. Subjects taking birth control pills or diuretics will be excluded from the study, as will patients taking psychotropic agents (e.g., lithium carbonate, tricyclic antidepressants). All subjects will be required to use non-hormonal forms of birth control (e.g., barrier methods) to avoid pregnancy during this study. The following conditions will constitute contraindications to treatment with hormonal therapy and will preclude a subject's participation in this protocol. History consistent with endometriosis. Diagnosis of ill-defined, obscure pelvic lesions, particularly undiagnosed ovarian enlargement. Hepatic disease as manifested by abnormal liver function test. History of mammary carcinoma. History of pulmonary embolism or phlebothrombosis. Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding. Porphyria. Diabetes mellitus. History of malignant melanoma. Cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Cardiovascular or renal disease. Any woman meeting the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop Criteria (STRAW) for the perimenopause. Specifically, we will exclude any woman with an elevated plasma FSH level (> 14 IU/L) and with menstrual cycle variability of > 7 days different from their normal cycle length. Further, subjects will be warned not to become pregnant during the study and will be required to employ barrier contraceptive methods.

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 Recently some spectacular color photos of farm and rural life in the 30’s and 40’s has been circulating around the internet. These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color. A couple of the photographs are from Colorado. Members in Delta County Farm Bureau might recognize the scenery! Hauling crates of peaches from the orchard to the shipping shed. Delta County, Colorado, September 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress Hay stack and automobile of peach pickers. Delta County, Colorado, 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Posted on December 9, 2011 by columbialinguistics We have two really exciting talks coming up to close the semester, come have cookies and share interesting ideas with great professors! Names and Predicates With Delia Fara, department of philosophy, Princeton TODAY, Friday December 9th, from 4-5:30 Tyler Burge convinced us that names are predicates in at least some of their occurrences: There are relatively few Alfreds in Princeton. Names, when predicates, satisfy the being-called condition: schematically, a name “N” is true of a thing just in case that thing is called N. This paper defends the unified view that names are predicates in all of their occurrences. I follow Clarence Sloat, Paul Elbourne, and Ora Matushansky in saying that when a name seems to occur bare in an argument position of a predicate, it is really occurring in the predicate position of a definite description with an unpronounced “the”. I call these “denuded definite descriptions”. There are good linguistic reasons for defending the denuded-definites view. For example, it explains why “the” cannot be dropped in a sentence like the following: The ever-popular Bill will be speaking this afternoon; The taller Maria is downstairs. The definite article occurring before a name doesn’t get pronounced when it’s syntactically right next to the name. Denuded definite descriptions with names are incomplete definite descriptions since most names have multiple bearers. Incomplete definite descriptions are in general rigid, though. So the view survives Kripke’s modal Discourse Analysis and Music Daniela Veronesi Saturday, December 10th from 2-3:30 In recent decades, music making as a social practice has drawn specific interest in scholarly research, in that ethnomusicologists, sociologists, linguistic anthropologists and conversation analysts have started to explore the multimodal and collective nature of music practices and the role played by verbal communication and language use in the organization of music action and in the construction of musicians’ professional identity. Given the growing internationalization of music making, which affects ensembles’ composition and educational activities alike, an area of particular interest for linguists and conversation analysts is the study of interaction among musicians who do not share their linguistic repertoires: How do musicians, for instance, treat linguistic, cultural (and musical) diversity in such encounters? To what extent are linguistic resources – in the absence of a professional interpreter – made locally available and relevant for the organization of interaction? How does language use (lingua franca, code-switching, occasional translation) intersect with the intrinsic multimodal nature of music making in the accomplishment of different types of participation and courses of action? After providing an overview of this new emerging field of research at the intersection between language and music, in this talk I will discuss some data from an ongoing study on ensemble music workshops held in Italy by US composer and conductor Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris; the workshops, attended by music students and professional musicians, focused on “Conduction®”, a practice developed by Mr. Morris based on a lexicon of gestural directives employed to activate music action mostly without notation. In particular, we will see examples of how in such an exolingual setting 1) occasional translation is organized and contributes to shaping interaction; 2) the conductor multimodally introduces new directives and provides correction of music action and 3) social actors’ roles and individual and collective identities (conductor, teacher, professional musician, music student, the ensemble as a group) emerge and are negotiated in the workshops. The study adopts a multimodality oriented Conversation Analysis approach; methodological and pratical issues related to examining interaction from this perspective (for instance, data collection and transcription practices) will also be discussed. Filed under: Linguistics | Tagged: Daniela Veronesi, Delia Fara, speakers, talks | Leave a comment » Learning to Generate Understandable Animations of American Sign Language Posted on November 8, 2011 by columbialinguistics Join CLS at 4:30pm on Thursday, November 17th in Hamilton 306 for a talk by Matt Huenerfauth, entitled “Learning to Generate Understandable Animations of American Sign Language”. Refreshments will be provided. Hope to see you there! A detailed abstract follows: A majority of deaf high school graduates in the U.S. have a fourth-grade English reading level or below, and so computer-generated animations of American Sign Language (ASL) could make more information and services accessible to these individuals. Instead of presenting English text on websites or computer software, information could be conveyed in the form of animations of virtual human characters performing ASL (produced by a computer through automatic translation software or by an ASL-knowledgable human scripting the animation). Unfortunately, getting the details of such animations accurate enough linguistically so that they are clear and understandable is difficult, and methods are needed for automating the creation of high-quality ASL animations. This talk will discuss my lab’s research, which is at the intersection of the fields of assistive technology for people with disabilities, computational linguistics, and the linguistics of ASL. Our methodology includes: experimental evaluation studies with native ASL signers, motion-capture data collection of an ASL corpus, linguistic analysis of this corpus, statistical modeling techniques, and animation synthesis technologies. In this way, we investigate new models that underlie the accurate and natural movements of virtual human characters performing ASL; our current work focuses on modeling how signers use 3D points in space and how this affects the hand-movements required for ASL verb signs. Matt Huenerfauth is an assistant professor of computer science and linguistics at the City University of New York (CUNY); his research focuses on the design of computer technology to benefit people who are deaf or have low levels of written-language literacy. He serves as an associate editor of the ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, the major computer science journal in the field of accessibility for people with disabilities. In 2008, he received a five-year Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation to support his research. In 2005 and 2007, he received the Best Paper Award at the ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility, the major computer science conference on assistive technology for people with disabilities; he is serving as general chair for this conference in 2012. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006.

Dutch Tulip Fields I had a smaller class the day we did these “paintings” it was nice to be able to sit and quietly work on some artwork for a couple of periods with my students. I got the idea for this art project from the "A Faithful Attempt" blog We started the lesson in the computer room where I had them Goggle Image Search images of “Dutch Tulip Fields” and they wrote down the colours of flowers that they saw in the photos. After they looked up the tulip fields they did another image search for “Dutch Windmills”. They searched through the photos of windmills until they found one that they liked and wanted to try to draw. I told them they had to have it approved by me first so that they wouldn’t be doing any crazy super modern looking windmills. Once they found the windmill they wanted to try to draw they drew it out 2 times on a piece of scrap paper. The students always need to see what we are doing before we start doing it so I showed them some photos from these sites about what we would be doing and what it would look like in the end. We talked about things that we liked about them and how we might be able to improve on the examples (not that there was anything wrong with any of the examples… but everyone should strive to be unique and make their own piece) Back in the classroom I gave each student a stiffer piece of white paper and we put it on our desk landscape way. They drew a line about ¼ of the way from the top of the page (we are studying fractions in math so this was a good reminder of what that would look like) and then picked a point to draw all our other lines out from. Some drew the paths really narrow and we talked about how they would have a lot of work to do later on with colouring if they chose to keep it that way. Once they had sectioned it off I then had them draw really thin sections between each larger section for the green paths. I drew my own example on the white board as an example for them to follow along with. Once they were all done drawing the lines they drew in things along the horizon. The only thing I told them they had to include was the windmill they had practiced drawing in the computer lab. Some of them drew farm houses, trees, and fences as well. This next part they had a little difficulty getting. I suspect it was the word “outline” that they didn’t understand. I told them to outline each tiny section of green with a green marker (naturally, some started to colour in the entire section with their green marker). So every other section would be green on their paper. Once they had outlined one or sections I had them take a small paintbrush with water on it and run it over the marker. They thought it was really cool how the colour spread out. They then looked back on the colours they had looked up that tulips could be and picked some colours for the other sections of their fields. I’m not one to micro manage in art class so I told them that they could do a design in each section of their tulip fields or just keep doing outlines. We filled in these with colours using the same water technique. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use for the sky and horizon but I feel like we use paint a lot in our class so while we were working on coloruing with water I decided that they should also do the sky and everything along their horizon using the same technique (mostly because it would mean it was easier for myself). Anywho, our final products are below… I think they turned out quite good.

The more you know yourself and empower yourself, the more independent you are. The greater your sense of self, the better able you are to differentiate yourself from others. Independence involves personal awareness and inner resolve. The stronger these traits are, the stronger is your ability to make individual decisions and act in conscientious ways. By making independent decisions and acting with mindfulness, you are able to avoid being thrown off balance and becoming entangled in conflict. And this is what gives you freedom from outside control. Shopping With Consciousness The modern person hunts and gathers in the modern marketplace. In the old days of tribal life, people used their full capacities to sense what was around them. They watched, listened, smelled, and felt. Today we are very shut off from the full capacity of our senses. We are overstimulated and overwhelmed with too much input and not enough of the right kinds of input. When we go shopping in the supermarket, we tend to constrict our senses as we seek certain items and brands. This is because there is so much stuff that demands our attention. The larger the store, the more overwhelmed and constricted we are. This causes us to function in a less than conscious way. And this leads to many less than conscious buying decisions. Stores are consciously arranged to incite compulsive purchases in unconscious buyers. How many times have you returned home with a certain item and asked yourself, “Why did I buy this?” Remember, buyer, be aware! If it is better to give than to receive, why do we want so much? If it is better to receive than to give, why do we will still want more? If we give and receive in equal exchange, we actually get the most from the transaction. This is because everything we do brings more than just immediate results. Most of the things we do have far reaching effects. Almost none of our actions influence only the present moment. In order to gain the greatest benefit from what you are getting, remember to give in return. What is Productivity? Productivity is a common focus in the modern world. We even have apps for computers and mobile devices to help us be more “productive.” In fact, we now have so many productivity tools that we can be completely productive using productivity tools. But is this actually more productive? How many productivity tools do you need? Maybe being more organized in the first place is most productive? Being productive is not based only on activity. It is embedded in attentiveness and self-discipline. What you want to produce and how much you want to produce are up to you. Feelings and Emotions Feelings and emotions are the moods and responses we have to internal and external sensations. They are based on outer influences and inner perceptions. We sense things that elicit our personal reactions. And our responses to what we sense affect us physically. When you watch a scary movie, your pulse races and your nervous system speeds up. When you listen to relaxing music, your pulse slows and your nervous system is soothed. When you sit in traffic on your way to an important meeting, you feel “fight or flight” and can do little about it, except to just sit there and wait out the situation. Are you going to let yourself get stressed out, or are you going to take control of your responses? Life is dependent on the cycles of growth, transformation, and renewal. Whatever is taken is eventually reused or given back. Or, at least that is the way it is supposed to be. During your waking hours, you expend energy, so you need to get some rest in order to restore yourself. If you grow food and harvest it from the soil, you need to replenish the soil in order to grow more food in the same soil. When we use without somehow replacing what was used, we create an imbalance. There are no exceptions to this rule. “There are few models in our culture for conservation, restoration, and replenishment of resources.” ~ Donna Thomson Time management is something most people talk about but that few actually practice consistently. This is because we get easily distracted. We get distracted by outside events, but we also get easily distracted by our own thoughts and emotions. Many people find it challenging to stay focused, because they have competing ideas and feelings. When your mind is crowded with too many ideas and feelings, your energies are not concentrated. When your energies are not focused, your time is not used well. If you want to manage your time well, do not be distracted by inner disorder.

« Why does the EFC come as a shock to many parents? | Should you pay a $120,000+ premium for an elite college? » Again, STEM college majors are too darn hard for kids these days Students are choosing the easy college majors. … Although the number of college graduates increased about 29% between 2001 and 2009, the number graduating with engineering degrees only increased 19%, according to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Education. The number with computer and information-sciences degrees decreased 14%. Since students typically set their majors during their sophomore year, the first class that chose their major in the midst of the recession graduated this year. This student switched majors when she found an engineering lab project too darn hard. To avoid getting an “incomplete” for the course, Ms. Zhou withdrew before the lab ended. Since switching majors she has earned almost straight A’s instead of the B’s and C’s she took home in engineering. The issues: … introductory courses are often difficult and abstract… … high schools didn’t prepare them for the level of rigor in the introductory courses… … Science classes may also require more time … math and science—though not engineering—students study on average about three hours more per week than their non-science-major counterparts. Overall, only 45% of 2011 U.S. high-school graduates who took the ACT test were prepared for college-level math and only 30% of ACT-tested high-school graduates were ready for college-level science, according to a 2011 report by ACT Inc. One solution is to make STEM classes easier more accessible. Educators have tried to tackle the attrition problem with new programs that they say make engineering more accessible. In 2003, Georgia Institute of Technology split its introductory computer-science class into three separate courses. One was geared toward computer science majors, another to engineering majors, and a third to liberal arts, architecture and management majors. The liberal arts course cut down on computer-science theory in favor of practical tasks like using programming to manipulate photographs, says computer science professor Mark Guzdial. Since the switch, about 85% of students pass, he says. I don’t understand how this information supports the point that STEM-related jobs don’t pay enough: That may partly be because the jobs don’t pay enough to attract or retain top graduates. Science, technology, engineering and math majors who stay in a related profession had average annual earnings of $78,550 in 2009, but those who decided to go into managerial and professional positions made more than $102,000, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. What is the difference between a science grad who works in a “related profession” vs. one who is in a “professional position”? In almost any line of work, managers and professionals earn more than other workers. Rishi Kumar October 4, 2012 at 1:47 pm It is harder, I am currently majoring in Biochemistry. I’m taking biology and chemistry, both with labs this semester, along with English, history, and psychology. It is a LOT of studying, but I know that med school is not going to get any easier ( I plan to become a neurosurgeon). I have a test tomorrow in Biology on only three chapters, but there are a total of 300+ words to memorize, and I have a chemistry major tomorrow on 4 chapter–no formula sheet will be given and terms have to be memorized. Next semester I plan to take physics w/ lab, pre-calculus, chem 2 w/ lab, bio 2 w/lab, and English 2. When I hear STEM majors complain, I wanna smack them in the face. BTW, i’m taking all these classes at Georgia Tech on my first year Grace October 8, 2012 at 2:16 pm Rishi – Are you a “typical” STEM student at your school, regarding the effort you put in to perform well in your major? I suspect you are. But I think STEM majors that complain are mostly doing that to let off steam, right? They’re under a lot of pressure. Greg867 April 15, 2013 at 9:45 pm Rishi- you are only in pre-calc in college as a STEM major? Sorry to break it to ya bro but you are behind the curve, the physics class you will be taking will prolly be bs as well because to do real physics you need a calc background…. sorry to break it to you 😦 Rishi Kumar April 16, 2013 at 9:40 am It’s only my second semester in my freshman year! I’m taking calc1 in the beginning of my sophomore year! And I tried to sign up for physics, but like you said, I didn’t have calc1. However, I will be taking it concurrently with calc1 in the beginning of my sophomore year. Also, I recently started volunteering at Grady Hospital with 27 hours a month, and I still have 4 A’s and 1 B…and the semester is almost over! Rishi Kumar April 16, 2013 at 9:47 am Also, I know I can’t just take pre-calc, I’m not an idiot! Grace April 16, 2013 at 11:45 am Kudos to you, Rishi. Because I changed my major during my junior year, I took a few courses concurrently with their prerequisite courses and it was tough. Good luck! Rishi Kumar April 16, 2013 at 11:47 am Thanks Grace! Also, what exactly are you majoring in Greg867?

The challenge of managing diverse teams February 21, 2017March 6, 2017 Vincy Diversification increases the potential efficiency while increasing the complexity of team member management processes in which the team must understand the full results of the process. Intercultural teams may have higher performance than homogeneous teams, but may also experience greater losses due to incorrect processes. Cross-cultural team performance may be higher, may be lower, or no difference with the homogeneous team. For example, cross-cultural teams can look at an environment from multiple perspectives and may therefore increase their insight and result in higher performance. However, in interpreting and evaluating these perspectives, cross-cultural teams are more difficult than homogeneous teams, and losses can be caused by erroneous processes. As cross-cultural team members are more difficult to observe, understand and act in a similar way, cultural diversity can make teams run more challenging, and diversity makes it more difficult to agree on decisions. While homogenous team members communicate with each other more accurately and more willing to trust each other. Intercultural team members are often under more pressure than homogeneous team members because they often disagree about future expectations, the accuracy of relevant information, and the need for specific decisions. Therefore, in the cross-cultural team in the wrong feeling, poor communication, incorrect interpretation and evaluation after another. Diversity increases the uncertainty, complexity, and inherent chaos of the team’s operations, which in turn reduces team performance (Greenberg, 2017). There are some example talk about these leading organizations who are paving the way for the future of diversity and inclusion. BASF. Earning a spot on DiversityInc’s Top 50 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, BASF is a global force properly leveraging D&I. Ford Motor Company. Ford made DiversityInc’s Top 50 an impressive 11 times. Sodexo. Sodexo was the recipient of the Catalyst Award in 2012 and earned a spot on DiversityInc’s Top 50 on eight different occasions (Aperian GLOBAL, 2015). Companies will want to achieve the market share, profit margins, brand awareness and talent of the specific competitiveness, such as experience, skills, values, personality, etc. linked. However, the actual operation of enterprises in need is not an individual go it alone, but the team’s collective efforts, even the CEO will have the board and executive management to cooperate with the management company (Prokesch, 2009). Therefore, the combat effectiveness of the team will directly affect the survival and development of enterprises, but the team’s combat effectiveness is a simple superposition of individual competitiveness it? The answer is obviously no. In the day-to-day operations of the enterprise, each person in the enterprise has a specific division of labor, assuming different roles (technical experts, project team members, small team managers, business department heads, etc.), and in most cases , A person may be responsible for multiple roles or even slightly overlapping multiple roles (such as commitment to leaders, experts and team members of the triple role). In order to be able to successfully complete the assigned tasks, people need to combine their own competitiveness in a few to carry out, when selected part of their competitiveness to assume the responsibility as a team member, this behavior we define it as Assume the “team role.” (Team, 2017) There is the viedo talk about the “Belbin’s Team Role” What the most challenge of manage the diverse teams? Understand why people behave differently than expected According to Gugin’s survey, cultivating this understanding is the most challenging task facing the cultural diversity team. so, when you are managing people from a different culture you have to their norms and values in order to understand their behavior. Avoid getting frustrated and angry If you value always being on time you will get frustrated if some of your team members are notoriously late. Because they are usually late for appointments you might start adding attributes to their personality which are not rooted in reality but solely matches your perception of people who are always late. Instead of building a tower of prejudges try to mobilize curiosity with the purpose to uncover the underlying norms and values. When that has been achieved you might be able to reconcile the opposing views on time orientation. Motivating a cultural diverse team Some people find it highly motivating having a huge influence on how to organize their own job. They like to know what to deliver and enjoy the freedom to figure out themselves how, when and where to get the job done. Other people however will feel extremely uncomfortable with that “freedom”, because they will expect their manager to tell them how to do their job. In extreme situations nothing will be done until a detailed roadmap and job description has been provided. Achieve the desired level of efficiency Some people value to make decision fast and move on, while others value to take the time to analyze the situation thoroughly, consult their team and then make their decision. People who like to make decisions fast regard the consensus-oriented people as slow and inefficient. But research has shown that people who take individual decisions more often have to have to re-do their decisions than people who opt for collective decision making. So the collective decision making might take longer time, but it has a better quality. In reality we need to do both types of decisions, so reconciling the two views will lead to increased organisational effectiveness. HR managers state that a diverse team has many benefits such as market understanding, more innovation are creativity and more talents (Harvard Business Review). For my opine, leaders can also use Belbin’s team roles to leverage their strengths to turn them into power. For example, a person may have more potential than another person in achieving a particular task. REFERNENCES Aperian GLOBAL, 2015. Leaders in Diversity and Inclusion: 5 Lessons From Top Global Companies. [Online] Reply Vincy says: March 28, 2017 at 11:52 am Reduced turnover: Often employee conflicts with managers and colleagues lead to stress that could increase the employee turnover at the workplace. Not only does this lead to loss of productivity but increases the recruitment and training cost as well. However by ensuring inclusion the organisation can create an informal culture that in turn increases the employee loyalty and the employees’ sense of belonging in the organisation.

Inaugural Lecture: The Education of a Medievalist: English Godly Literature Unbound to be given by Professor Veronica O’Mara Professor of Medieval English Literature In this lecture Professor O’Mara will explore her on-going education as a medievalist in the light of developments in the discipline of Medieval English Studies. She will concentrate especially on the inter-related areas of preaching, the relationship between manuscript and print, and female literacy, which have been the main focus of her published research. She has chosen here to refer to ‘godly literature’, a term principally used in early modern studies, rather than ‘medieval religious literature’, a phrase that has an unfortunate tendency to be seen by the modern critic — and student — almost as a term of abuse. At the root of this lecture there will be three overlapping fields of enquiry that have informed all of Professor O’Mara’s research: a firm belief that period boundaries can be artificial and stultifying; the need for a nuanced understanding of what is meant by ‘literature’/’literacy’in a medieval context; and a conviction that we cannot be isolationist in studying English literature and history but must do so in a European context. In her interpretation of a selection of textual case studies that in different ways transcend historical boundaries she will ponder on some of the questions and issues that have most resonance for her, and, as she sees it, for the study of godly literature from England in the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries as seen against the background of European cultural, historical, and literary developments. The lecture is followed by a reception in the Derwent Café. Biography Veronica O’Mara, Professor of Medieval English Literature at the University of Hull, is a graduate of University College Dublin (National University of Ireland) where she obtained a BA (First Class) in Modern English and Old and Middle English, and an MA (Honours) in Old and Middle English. Her Ph.D. from the University of Leeds focused on Middle English sermons, which at the time was a developing area of study. She began her academic career as a Teaching Assistant in Old English at University College Dublin and as a Tutor in Medieval English at the University of Leeds. Following a temporary lectureship at the University of Keele, she was appointed a lecturer at the University of Hull, where she subsequently became a senior lecturer and professor. Professor O’Mara, a member of the University of Hull’s Andrew Marvell Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, has written or edited eleven books either singly or in collaboration, and thirty articles or book chapters. In the course of her publications she has worked alongside scholars from the universities of Antwerp, Dublin (University College), Hull, Leeds, Missouri-Kansas City, Pace (New York), Toronto (Pontifical Institute), and University of Wales Trinity St David. She is a member of the editorial board of Sermo: Studies on Patristic, Medieval and Reformation Sermons and Preaching and a member of the international advisory committee of the Index of Middle English Prose. She edited the journal Medieval Sermon Studies for the International Medieval Sermon Studies Society for some two decades, initially with Dr Simon Forde (Medieval Institute Publications) and later with Professor Carolyn Muessig (University of Bristol). In her work on Nuns’ Literacies in Medieval Europe, together with her collaborators Professor Virginia Blanton (University of Missouri-Kansas City) and Dr Patricia Stoop (Universiteit Antwerpen), she has edited essays by some fifty scholars from continental Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. External grant income or fellowships to fund Professor O'Mara's collaborative research projects has been provided by the Arts and Humanities Research Council; Bibliographical Sociiety; British Academy; Ferens Education Trust; Folger Shakespeare Library; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/Research Foundation Flanders; Huntington Library; Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society; Modern Humanities Research Association; Missouri Education Board; National University of Ireland; Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship; Society for Medieval Languages and Literature; Swedish Institute; Universiteit Antwerpen; University of Leeds; and University of Missouri-Kansas City. George De Boer Biennial Public Lecture Cryptography: From Enigma to Elliptical Curve Cryptography Virtual Wilberforce Thomas Gould and Gwilym Simcock Literary Locals: Scream if You Want to go Faster by Russell Litten Flow² (Part II) - David Braid and the Sinfonia UK Collective A most active, enterprising officer’: the boundaries of slavery and liberty in the Caribbean The Annual Victorian Lecture CultureCafe: New Hull Lives in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: A Celebration Hull: From City of Culture to Intercultural City The Annual Shakespeare Birthday Lecture ‘The Last Days of William Shakespeare’ BP Cultural Visions Lecture Series – Richard Twose Risk, Networks and Privateering in Liverpool during the Seven Years’ War The Berkeley Ensemble in concert International Conference on Musical Cultures, 3 - 5 April 2017 Hull Science Festival Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell: The Discovery of Pulsars and their Extreme Physics Water Fluoridation Conversation Can Music Change our Immune System? Personalised Medicine: Can Micro-Technologies Pave The Way? Hull’s Dan Billany: Teacher, Writer, War Hero IWD: International Women’s Day 2017 London Sinfonietta: under the skin by arrangement with studiocanal Student Showcase IV - Classical Between national and transnational: commemorating slavery and abolition in the French-speaking world Inspired in Hull: In conversation with Jeremy Darroch, Group CEO of Sky The Jazz Aesthetic at Hull Jazz Professor Jackie Ford - ‘Ethical Leadership and the Dark Side’ Tea-Time Talks: Digital Dystopias: Imagining Our Virtual Futures in a Post -Orwellian World Hull Independent Cinema at Middleton Hall: Moonlight Hull: City of Cinema (Sunday) Hull: City of Cinema (Saturday) IWD: The Female Gaze Hull: City of Cinema (Friday) Hull: City of Cinema Conference IWD: How to Start and Grow Your Business with Helena Hills Venn Lecture: ‘Maths versus disease’ Staff-led Ensembles The 2017 Andrew Marvell Lecture: Marvell’s Imagined Worlds Tea-Time Talks: Perceptions of Privacy, Surveillance, Trust, and Security in Online Life IWD: The role of business and business schools in addressing Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment Carry On Up the Khyber Film Screening Literary Locals: Novel on Yellow Paper by Stevie Smith CultureCafe: Medicine Made in Hull IWD: Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) Athena SWAN Masterclass Student Showcase III - Jazz and Pop Professor Kate Pickett - ‘Persisting in Error: Evidence for action in health and social policy’ Tea-Time Talks: The Strategic and Moral Implications of Cyber Attack Stevie Smith: Hull’s Forgotten Poet? Hull Independent Cinema at Middleton Hall: Jackie IWD: WOW Hull (Women of the World) IWD: Concert - Ethel Leginska: The Musical Pioneer IWD: Editing a 20th Century Gender History of Eastern Europe in the 21st Century Winifred Holtby: Politics and Art. IWD: Women Bishops in the Church of England: the new normal’ – The Rt. Revd Alison White What’s going on at WISE? Our current PhD students talk about their projects IWD: CultureCafe - Inspirational Women – A Celebration IWD: Structure and function of proteins involved in staphylococcal biofilms IWD: Research Impact for Research Applications and REF IWD: Inspired in Hull with Liz Sproat, Head of Education at Google IWD: Annual Mary Wollstonecraft Public Lecture 2017 IWD: Mary Wollstonecraft: Life, Work and Legacy Conference IWD: Pauline Oliveros Tribute Performance IWD: “Nitride single photon sources” - Hull Physics Seminar IWD Special by Dr Rachel Oliver IWD: Women in leadership - some reflections IWD: Understanding roles in elite sports performance IWD: Research Data Management Workshop Tea-Time Talks: ‘Saying it as it is’: Context and Tempered Agency in a Digital World IWD: Celebrating Suffragettes: Edith Craig and Ethel Smyth IWD: A tale of three projects: outcomes, complexity, and case-mix in palliative care British convoys and the maritime war for control of Europe, 1807-1814 Cancelled: ‘A woman’s career in the Police: a view from the top’ - Justine Curran IWD: In a World Film Screening IWD: Minerva Network for Academic Women Ensemble DeNOTE: Bach, Beethoven and Virtuosity Can life have meaning without God? Public debate The British Museum: Lines of thought – drawing from Michelangelo to now Hull Independent Cinema at Middleton Hall: Christine Richard Bean on Hull: A different Kind of Culture To celebrate Hull as the UK's City of Culture in 2017, the School of Drama, Music and Screen will host a 3-day International Interdisciplinary Conference based on the overarching theme of ‘Musical Cultures’ With input from the University of Hull, the Science Museum and science performers from around the country, this year’s festival is all about showcasing the role of science, maths and engineering within our culture. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell has made many exceptional contributions to physics. She is best known for the discovery of massive rotating neutron stars that appear to pulse regularly and so became known as pulsars. This interactive session will discuss how lab on a chip technology can be used as an alternative for testing drugs and helping clinicians treat patients. Dan Billany Exhibition at the History Centre from 28 February to 31 March At long long last Dan Billany is starting to be given the recognition he deserves And this was an... Colin Livett Here at the University of Hull, we are celebrating International Women’s Day with a programme of more than 20 events to reflect the great strides that women have made, and continue to make, in the University and beyond. Intoxicating. Captivating. Extraordinary. These are just some of the words used to describe the BAFTA-nominated score composed by Mica Levi that underpinned Jonathan Glazer’s 2014 sci-fi epic, Under the Skin. From pop to jazz, classical to electronica, our students are composing and performing stunning original pieces on a daily basis. A graduate of the University of Hull, Jeremy will share experiences and insights about the changing world of business and its implications for the leaders of the future. Funky contemporary jazz from University music students. Fun, infectious, lively - band has fun and the audience too! Darryl Davis Tea-Time Talks Series (Spring 2017): Spies, Trolls, Drones and Polls: Being(s) in Cyberspace Hull Independent Cinema presents: Moonlight Celebrating Hull's film and television makers and cinemas, past present and future. This exhibition is not simply for women. We are celebrating some of the city’s wonderful female artists – and we need your help to do that. Hull’s women form a strong part of the city’s lifeblood, and its artists are no exception. A three-day conference exploring and celebrating the contribution of Hull and East Yorkshire to British cinema and television. View Event Helena Hills is the Co-Founder & CEO of multi award-winning TrueStart Performance Coffee, the only coffee in the world designed for sports performance. Venn Lecture 2017 Professor Paul Hammond explores the landscapes of Marvell's poetry, beginning with Marvell's life in Hull. He will be speaking in the chancel of the church where Marvell’s own father once preached. ESRC RESEARCH SEMINAR ‘The role of business and business schools in addressing Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment’ Part of History@Hull's 'City of Culture' series of CultureCafe events Stevie Smith's recent editor Dr Will May, University of Southampton discusses hull-born Stevie Smith's unique, whimsical and deeply human poetry. Hull Independent Cinema presents: Jackie WOW is a festival of talks, debates, music, film, comedy and activism that celebrates women and girls and takes a frank look at what stops them from achieving their potential. Leginska was renowned for the fire, power and delicateness of her performances. She commanded some of the largest audiences of her day and in the early 20th century her piano rolls recreated the vivid reality of her live shows to enjoy in their own living rooms. Dr Catherine Baker is Lecturer in 20th Century History at the University of Hull and specialises in research on conflict, media and identity since the end of the Cold War. In 2013 she started editing a new volume on Gender in 20th Century Eastern Europe and the USSR, which was published earlier this year. Winifred Holtby is best remembered as the author of South Riding (1936). But Holtby’s prowess as a novelist was only fully appreciated posthumously. View Event The Rt. Revd Alison White was consecrated as Bishop of Hull in July 2015. She is the second woman to be made a bishop in the Church of England. View Event Come along and spend a heart-warming afternoon in the company of inspiring staff, students, local published poets and authors, and members of the local community from all walks of life. As part of the celebrations for Hull as UK City of Culture 2017 the University of Hull is hosting an interdisciplinary celebration of the life, work and legacy of the political theorist and activist Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797). Followed by the Annual Mary Wollstonecraft Public Lecture. A tribute performance for experimental composer and electronic music pioneer Pauline Oliveros who was best know for her philosophy of ‘deep listening’, an approach to music she described as ‘listening in every possible way to everything possible to hear no matter what one is doing’. To celebrate the International Women’s Day on March 8th, the Physics Subject Group will have a seminar talk by Dr Rachel Oliver from Cambridge University. Understanding roles in elite sports performance – organised by Sport, Health and Exercise Science. Celebrating Suffragettes: Edith Craig and Ethel Smyth, Collaborators in Women's Suffrage Drama, Art and Music Professor Fliss Murtagh, Professor in Palliative Care

Day 2 Day Money Practical Money Management Tips Maximizing Benefit of Tax Refunds It’s tax return time. Many households are receiving tax refunds now or will over the next month or so., but too often, these refunds – which can amount to several thousands of dollars – are spent on consumer goods. Such emotion-based consumer spending typically has no significant impact on the household’s net worth or financial stability. Instead, it tends to perpetuate the mindless spending cycle that keeps too many American households stuck in the rut of paycheck-to-paycheck living. Here is what we and other financial experts suggest such households ought to consider doing with their refunds instead: Set aside 25% of the refund for consumer spending, if the head(s) of the household feels “the urge to splurge.” This may help to satisfy the primal spender within. Add 25% of the refund to the household’s emergency fund. This should be held in accounts that are fairly liquid (or easily accessible). A savings account is a standard option, though its rates tend to hover somewhere between the average inflation rate and zero. Other possibilities include Certificates of Deposit that earn a little more interest than savings accounts. Money market accounts are also decent options, as well as interest earning online savings accounts. Rarely will you find an account that offers quick access to your cash but pays interest above the current rate of inflation. Use another 25% of the refund to pay down debts. Either send it to the account charging the highest interest rate or to the account with the smallest balance. Where I differ from many financial experts is that I also suggest that you consider paying down your mortgage debt. Even though there currently are tax incentives connected to mortgage debt, debt is still debt. Until a mortgage is paid off, the home owner’s freedom (to move, to rent out the home, etc.) is restricted, just as with any other type of debt. Lastly, use the final 25% to add to long-term retirement investments, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s and Individual Retirement Accounts. Although some of these suggestions might not be relevant to some households, the remaining suggestions probably are. Please feel free to share your own successes and experiences with your tax refunds. Savings on March 15, 2011 at 10:53 am Leave a Comment Tags: Budgets, Money Market, Saving, Tax Refunds Debt Management Program: A modified repayment plan available through nonprofit credit counseling agencies (disclaimer: I am employed by one such – see AICCCA.org for a list of nonprofit agencies nationwide). Such programs, known by their acronym of DMPs, target high interest rates and penalty fees. Credit counselors work with creditors to lower the consumer’s interest rates and/or cease any recurring penalty fees. While the debts themselves are not consolidated, the consumer makes just one payment per month to the credit counseling agency, which turns around and disperses the payments to creditors according to accepted repayment proposals. NOTE: Depending upon the consumer’s current credit history, there may be an initial drop in credit score due to the fact that accounts on DMPs must be closed to further usage, which may have a detrimental impact on the consumer’s credit usage ratio. However, FICO has not considered credit counseling as a direct factor in its credit scoring model since 1999, and on-time monthly payments have the greatest impact on credit scores. At the end of the DMP (which cannot last longer than 5 years), creditors should remove any notations on the consumer’s credit report referring to their participation in a DMP, thus leaving no lasting indication of DMP activity. Finally, while consumers can often work directly with a creditor to put into action a DMP for one solitary account, consumers with more than one account will usually find that their creditors are unwilling to provide interest rate concessions unless all of the consumer’s other creditors are also committing to them. That’s were the nonprofit agencies play such an important role. Consolidation Loan: This option allows consumers to replace multiple smaller debts with one large debt (and, consequently, many monthly payments with just one). NOTE: First, if you’re struggling to repay your debts, you likely have less-than-perfect credit, which means you won’t qualify for a consolidation loan at anything less than an astronomical interest rate. Even consumers who somehow find an affordable consolidation rate are then subject to same temptation as those who use home equity to pay down debts: to recharge those same credit cards back up to unmanageable levels due to poor money management plans and habits. Borrowing from Retirement: Some retirement plans allow the individual to borrow money or to outright withdraw invested money from their retirement account. There are usually extensive penalty fees associated with some of these options. NOTE: At the very least, the consumer who chooses this option becomes subject to the temptation to recharge their cards back to their original balances, just as the consumer who uses a home equity loan or a consolidation loan. Debt Settlement: You offer to pay the creditor less than what they say you owe them. Debt settlement can be done directly between the creditor and the consumer, or the consumer may contract with a third-party negotiator (which may even be an attorney) to pursue a settlement. NOTE: Now we’re getting serious. Debt settlement means, by definition, that you have no intention to repay in full the debts that you owe. Such intentions brought to fruition form the basis of a poor credit reputation that is circulated by consumer reporting agencies among potential lenders for the next seven years. Additionally, fees from third-party negotiators can tally up to 25% or more of the original debt, leaving the consumer still having to pay a total of 80% to 95% or more of the original debt owed. Personal Bankruptcy: Generally considered the final option where consumer debt is concerned, a chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy provides legal protections to consumers who are overwhelmed by their debts to such an extent that their creditors are threatening (or actually beginning) to take away all or portions of the consumer’s assets. Assets may include, for example, a home, vehicles, or even income. NOTE: No one enjoys going through bankruptcy. It’s not a pleasant experience. While our own statistics show that there is a fairly significant amount of recidivism among filers (close to 20% have filed before and 3% have filed at least two cases of bankruptcy before their current case), most people end up in bankruptcy due to job loss (about 40%), poor money management (25%) or excessive medical expenses (19%). Going through bankruptcy likely means giving up a portion of control over your own finances and even some of your assets. The consumer’s creditors receive so little of the amount they’re owed that bankruptcy has a solidly negative impact on a consumer’s credit for 7 years and remains on their credit reports for 10 years. I’m sure there are other, more creative, debt repayment options out there, so I invite you to share those of which you are aware. “Where that road leads is up to the individual, but I certainly hope it’s headed for fulfillment outside of the financial sphere.”

Fascinating! — Updated This puzzle has been going the rounds of the blogs down under, but I’m not sure how many of you may have seen it. When you go (and you really should) you’ll see the sihouette of a dancing woman. Well, she dances like the ballerina in your music box you had when you were twelve: an endless pivot. Question is: does she pivot clockwise, or counter-clockwise? If she’s going clockwise, you are primarily right-brained; counter-clockwise and you’re left-brained. It seems I am right, right, right, right, right-brained. I did eventually figure out how to see her turn the other way, but I can only do it for a second or two. The most I’ve managed is three or four revolutions counter-clockwise, and then, suddenly and inexplicably, ding!, she’s going clockwise again. For my brain, that’s her default revolution. Developmental stuff, memes and quizzes | 23 Comments Fall and haul Fall is well underway here in Ottawa. The trees are rapidly shedding the last of their leaves, which collect in crackling drifts against the curbs, the light is golden and slanted, the air is crisp. I love it. We spend as much time as possible out-of-doors, me in the vain hope that I can somehow stockpile the sunshine for the dimness that looms. Today, we headed to the library. It’s not quite a km away, an easy 8-minute walk for me; a gentle 20-minute trundle for the tots. A large part of the way there is uphill. I’m taking the two-seater stroller these days: Malli, Nigel and Tim are all quite sturdy walkers, and can stomp along for substantial distances, if I have the time to while away — and of course, I do! However, whereas young Timmy is an eager walker, ever pulling ahead of the traces, Malli and Nigel drag behind. Drag behind only as far as the length of their arms will allow, mind you, given that they’re not allowed to let go of the stroller. Up the long hill to the library we slog. I slog. And slog. And really, really slog some more. The stroller is heavy today. It’s as if I’m pushing through mud. It’s as if I’ve left the brake on. It’s as if Malli and Nigel are pulling backwards against the pull of the stroller with all their conjoined 50 or 60 pounds. Ugh. There’s not much I can do about this. If they let go, they’ll be three metres behind in twenty seconds. I give them small nudges, alternatively, first one, then the other. “Don’t drag, Malli!” “Move UP, Nigel.” Of course, it’s futile. All I accomplish by this is a series of small backward jerks on the forward momentum of the stroller as they move forward for a pace or two, then return with a tug to their original positions. Oh, well. It’s a workout, right? Better to focus on the muscles — butt and thighs — and just power them all, the fifty pounds in the stroller and the sixty pounds of drag, up that hill. You know, if my ass ever, ever gets droopy? There is simply no justice in the world. 4 Comments Interview Question, Fifth and Final: Parenting License? 5. Some people say that people should have to obtain a License To Parent before they are allowed to bring a child into the world. The implication is, some kind accreditation is necessary to do the job right. You’ve worked with lots of untrained mommies and daddies. Are children at risk or otherwise held back by parental ignorance? “Are children at risk or held back by parental ignorance?” If the ignorance is profound, yes. Most of us, however, trained or untrained, know to feed our children when they’re hungry, hug them often, and not to lock them in closets and hit them with sticks. Are they at risk or held back if the ignorance is just garden-variety inexperience? No. The idea of licensing parents is not new, of course, and there’s something to be said for the idea that we have to have a license to drive a car or own a pet, but not for something as life-altering as raising a child. However, there is a right and a wrong way to drive a car. The rules for driving safely are clear and readily taught. A test can determine with reasonable accuracy whether or not a person is safe on the roads. Pet licensing is more a public health/administrative issue than anything else – pets are licensed so they can be returned to their owners should they get lost, so there’s a mechanism to monitor that they’re all getting their legally-mandated innoculations, that sort of thing. We have birth certificates and innoculation records for our children which accomplish the same things. My question has always been: who would dole out the parenting licenses? Who would determine the curriculum? What would make it onto the curriculum? These things are so culturally-based. Moreover, they shift over the years. Parenting is just as influenced by trends and fads as anything else, and, fads as we all know, are mostly ephemeral dross. Pretty and appealing at the moment, perhaps, but with little lasting value. Here’s only one of many, many examples: We believe that it’s vital that children be bathed in language, that communication be facilitated as soon as possible, that parents ease a child into language learning by interaction, simplified speech, repetition, and talk, talk, talk. Did you know that not all cultures believe this? That some cultures speak to their children as they would to adults? That at least one doesn’t speak directly to them at all until the child begins to speak? (In this latter culture, mind you, the children are always with adults or other children, so they hear language constantly. They are just not spoken to very much. Language is not cut up into bite-sized chunks for them.) And yet in all these cultures, the children learn to speak, speak well and fluently? See my point? We believe you must speak to your children to encourage language acquisition; we believe this is a total and complete given. But it’s not. There is astonishingly little that can be unequivocably identified as “good” or “bad”, or “strong and effective” or “weak and handicapping”. It’s just not so clear-cut. Who, then, would have the right and the authority to say “You may have a child and you may not.”? On the basis of what skill set and knowledge? Would physical health be a factor? Could a handicapped person be refused a license? Or a person whose family history makes them more likely to die before the task of raising the child was finished? What would you do about accidental pregnancies to unlicensed parents – scoop the kid at birth to give to a more “qualified” parent? Although it’s undeniably good to be prepared for parenting, I believe a license is at best of questionable value, and at worse, actively detrimental to parents and families. How does one prepare for parenting, then? Hang out with kids. Babysit. Volunteer at a daycare or a day camp. Just get yourself a little face-time with some children. And you’ll do just fine. Even without a license. 12 Comments Adroit, he ain’t. Timmy is the wrigglingest child. He wiggles and he twitches and he fidgets. He doesn’t sit; he bounces in place. He doesn’t walk, he springs. He doesn’t run, he careens. He’s also skinny. Fifth percentile. Are we surprised? No. Are we worried? No. He’s been at the fifth percentile pretty much his whole life long. How can someone who is never still help but burn a lot of calories? He barely sits to eat. Ironically, eating is the one thing he does slowly. Very, very slowly. He’s not at all picky: He’ll eat anything you put in front of him. Just don’t ask him to focus on it! There’s too much to do! You’d think that someone who had so much practice with movement would be better at it, though. Two weeks ago, his mother had an appointment for the two of them to have their pictures taken. Portrait pictures, at a studio. The day before the appointment, Timmy’s nana came to visit. Upon hearing her voice as she entered the house, Timmy spun on his heel to run toward the front door. “NAna!!! NAAaaana!” Only he spun left when he should have spun right, and ran STRAIGHT into the doorframe beside himself. WHAM. They postponed the studio visit for a couple of week. They figured it would take that long for the big blue bump to disappear… Their new appointment is on Saturday. Today, the children sit on the benches that line my dining table, waiting for their lunch. As I enter with the tray of spaghetti and meatballs and broccoli, there is blur and a thud, followed by a wail. Timmy is on the floor. “Oh, Timmy. If you’d just SIT for once, this wouldn’t happen.” (Yes, I know. Rather less than tenderly sympathetic, but this happens three times a week, at least. It’s like that old joke, “Doctor, doctor! It hurts when I do this!” Doctor’s response: “Stop doing that.”) Sooner or later, you’d think that it would dawn on the boy that it is not in his best interests to continue with the behaviour that keeps getting himself hurt. Seems not. At least not “sooner”. I guess he’ll learn “later”. It’s never serious. He just plops on the ground with a jolt, not even enough to wind himself. He’s a resilient little dude, and generally scrambles back up himself with minimal fuss. Today he must’ve landed harder than usual, because he’s actually crying. I pick him up, give him a hug and a kiss, replace him on the bench. “And this time, SIT down, silly boy.” Dish out the spaghetti round the table. When I get to the bowls on the other side, so that I’m facing Timmy, I see that he has a blue bump that’s grown so quickly as to be almost visibly swelling. He must have hit the edge of the table or the bench on his way down, poor mite, something which he’s never done before. When his nana comes to pick him up at the end of the day, I point out the bump (not that she could really have missed the damned thing) and explain its origins and treatment thus far. (Ice, over roars of protest.) “Well. This one’s on the other side,” she notes as she kisses his battered wee forehead. “Usually he hits himself on the right. If he alternates, maybe the scarring won’t be permanent.” I guess you have to find your silver linings where you can. I also guess mama will be postponing their portrait appointment. Again. 5 Comments Defying Gravity: More complicated than you’d think Nigel (two and three-quarters) stands on the bottom step and leaps into the void. And lands on the hall floor, laughing. “I’m JUMPING! I JUMPED!” And does it again. And again. And again. Timmy (two and two months) stands on the bottom step and … takes a large, sort of bouncing step forward. Lands on one foot; the second foot lands a split-second later. “I JUMPIN! I JUMP!!!” Well, almost … Emily (two and no months) stands on the bottom step, coils to spring, and … pauses. Then re-coils, bends her knees, and … pauses. Coils once more, bends her knees, draws her elbows up high and tight so they jut out behind her tubby body, and … pauses. Then steps down onto the hall floor, jumps three times in quick succession — thud! thud! thud! — and makes for the dining room at a run. Which is an improvement. Let us flash back three months: Emily stands, both feet on the floor, coiled to spring. She bends her knees, tucks in her elbows, sticks her padded butt out, and, and, and — STANDS UP!! Hmmm… not what she was after. She bends her knees, tucks in her elbows, sticks her padded butt out, and, and, and — STANDS UP!! And swings her hands above her head!! (Well, her fingertips clear her head. The rest of her hands are in the range of her ears. But this is as far has her arms GO.) Let’s try that again. She bends her knees, tucks in her elbows, sticks her padded butt out, and, and, and — STANDS UP!! And swings her hands “above” her head, AND … LIFTS ONE FOOT OFF THE FLOOR!! “I DZOMP! MAHWEE! I DZOMPIN”!!!” So you are, sweetie. So you are. 6 Comments Nigel, Nigel, Nigel Nigel is feeling obstreperous this morning. We go to the park. We sit at the edge, the five of us, digging in the sand. Nigel has a bucket and shovel, like everyone else. His bucket is, apparently, far better than the other four identical buckets. He is indignant when the other children do not acknowledge his superiority. Worse, they don’t even care! Nigel trundles off with a bucket of sand, ascends the stairs on the play structure, and proceeds to dump his bucket of dirt down the slide. Damp dirt, as it’s a rather chill and damp day. “Nigel, it’s fun to play with the sand, but we can’t dump it down the slide. People want to sit on the slide, and they will get their bums all dirty. You can dump the sand on the table in the play house, if you like.” I explain as I swipe the slide clear of dirt. Nigel trundles down the steps and gets himself another bucket of sand. Which he proceeds to dump down the slide. “Nigel. What did I say about the slide?” “Don’t dump sand onna slide.” “Exactly. Now come clean the slide off.” He does. With a scowl. Then gets his little bucket, fills it with sand, AND DUMPS IT DOWN THE SLIDE. And scowls at me. “Okay, Nigel. Come off the play structure. No more climbing for you.” With another scowl — this is threatening to become permanent — Nigel stomps down the stairs. Stomps across the dirt. Stomps back to the others, who are still digging, chattering together, peaceful little companions to each other. “Hey! Timmy! Get outta my spot!” Seems like Nigel is going to have One of Those Days. aggression, Nigel, outings | 14 Comments Gardening and Hallowe’en and Rock Boobs It is far too nice a day to waste indoors. We scoop up some bulbs I bought that couldn’t be planted in last month’s unseasonably warm temperatures, and head out the door. Since it’s forecast to get colder after today and certainly won’t hit this week’s balmy temperatures (24C, 75F) until, oh, next JUNE, I think we’d best get those things planted. And since I’m busy gardening, perhaps I will let the tots tell you about their morning… Mary rakes the leaves off the garden. Gently, gently, so she doesn’t hurt the flowers that are still there. She makes a pile of leaves in the driveway. (We stay ON. THE. DRIVEWAY. We don’t go on the sidewalk, because it’s too close to the street! Anna! Anna you don’t go onna sidewalk! ANNA! That’s better.) Then we pile the leaves into the leaf bin. We love dropping leave in the bin. I can hold one, two, free, five, sebben, four leaves in my hands. We could drop leaves ALL DAY. (And they will, at that rate.) Sometimes we try to drop other things in the bin, too, but Mary makes us take those out. “The cat wants his ball, Nigel. Put this stick in instead.” “Garbage goes in the garbage can, Timmy. And don’t touch that thing anyway, it’s disgusting.” (It’s NOT disgusting! It’s interesting! And maybe tasty — and now it’s in the garbage. Mary is FAST, sometimes.) And then we dig holes in the garden. Amazing! Mary has kept us out of the garden ALL SUMMER LONG. We’re not even allowed to come into the garden, not even a little bit, not even once. We don’t even put ONE TOE in the garden. Because there are flowers in there and the flowers need soft dirt to grow in and no stepping on them. And now Mary’s digging holes ALL OVER THE GARDEN, AND she’s telling us to come in!! And drop rocks in the holes!! They’re not rocks? They look like rocks. They’re seeds? SEEDS? A special kind of seed, called a boob. Not boob? Bulb? A bulb is a kind of rock. Which Mary thinks will grow into flowers in the spring, which is what comes after the winter, which is when there is snow all over, which is very cold white stuff that falls instead of rain. In the winter we will dress in very warm clothes and play in the snow. Winter comes after Hallowe’en, which is next week. I am going to have my Hallowe’en with my mummy and daddy when they give me a costume to wear and we go outside and shout “Trick or treat” and people give us candies and then we say “Thank you”. I am going to have MY Hallowe’en, not YOU, Malli … “I have a Hallowe’en, too!” “No, I will!” “No, ME!” “ME, ME, ME, ME, MINE HALLOWE’EN!” Mary says everybody has a Hallowe’en, and Hallowe’en is a time, not a thing. But I will go with MY mummy at Hallowe’en. “MY mummy!” “No, MY mummy!” “NO, MINE MUMMY!” Mary says we’ll each go with our own mummy when we get our Hallowe’en. My mummy will get me MY Hallowe’en! “No, MY Hallowe’en!” “NO! MY Hallowe’en!” “NO!! MY MUMMY GET MY HALLOWE’EN!!!” Mary says we need to go inside now because it’s nap time. And I still think they’re rocks. You know, as the parent of an almost-22-year-old (who is living on her own after having graduated university), and an 18-year-old who is living at home while he works and takes a gap year before attending post-secondary school, I am acutely annoyed by the article. (And yes, my son is paying rent.) “Responsible?” In that entire article, there is not one single reference to the parents in this equation. No acknowledgement that it’s their home, too. No, wait: not “their home, too“. “Their home.” Period. The article expressed no awareness that, having had their child out of the house for four or five years, the parents might prefer to preserve their hard-earned parental autonomy. How “responsible” can it be to simply assume one can return to the nest as a chick, without any reference to the needs and realities of the people who own the nest? The self-absorption is appalling. It’s not “responsibility” he’s describing here, it’s expediency and sheerest self-interest. In the article, the author wonders “why do we … try to go from adolescent to adult in a matter of weeks or months?”. Hello? What were those four or five undergrad years all about? Obviously, the writer thinks that university students are in an extended adolescence until the very moment of graduation. Strange, I’d always thought that the four or five years of university or college were supposed to be the transition from adolescence to adult. They certainly were for me — but, oh, that was before the dawn of time and is no longer ‘relevant to today’s experience’. Excuse me. However, those four years also seem to have done the trick for my daughter, who is 21, and for many of her friends. Guess what? People do grow up in university, even in this day and age! Imagine. A large part of the problem probably lies with the parents in the equation, of course. Who has given these “children” the idea that it’s all right to continue to be children into their twentes? Who allows them back, and doesn’t charge them full market rent? Who infantilizes them so that they can’t make it on their own in the face of normal life challenges? The article is a pathetic rationalization of a fundamentally unhealthy dynamic. If we’re adolescents until our late twenties, that’s a whole decade frittered away. Why would parents encourage extended childhood in their adult-age children? Oh, that’s right: because we see childhood as nirvana and adulthood as something bad. Yup, I’m annoyed.

Vegetarian 101 First, I’m a bad blogger – sorry for all of the time without a post! Now, on with it.. A few months ago my mother called me, frustrated. Apparently my father had decided that he wanted to try to have “vegetarian week” and not eat any meat for a week. While my mother thought it was a good idea, she found herself a little lost in trying to come up with meat-free recipes that were reasonably nutritious and satisfying for an entire week. I’ve been cooking vegetarian for about three years now (since my vegetarian boyfriend came onto the scene and completely confused my kitchen habits). Since it’s been a while, I really don’t have much trouble cooking without meat, and can generally come up with quite a few vegetarian recipe ideas off the top of my head. That said, I had forgotten how difficult it was at first to adjust to the boyfriend’s dietary restrictions at first. I’m not sure if it helped my mom, but I wrote down a few of my tips for vegetarian cooking. If you’re learning to cook vegetarian or just want to think up more ideas for what to make on “Meatless Monday”, perhaps some of these will help you to make the transition a bit more easily. Try using eggplants, portabella mushrooms, or squash as a main dish - stuff them to make them even better. Make Main Dishes, Not Just Sides Vegetables are side items – at least that’s what most omnivorous chefs use them for. One of the big mistakes that people make when they start cooking vegetarian is to keep this mindset and just make more sides. You’ll find that a meal of mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn without the meatloaf for the main course might leave you feeling a little unsatisfied. The thing is that while side dishes are lovely, most of us need a main dish to feel like we’ve had a complete meal. Try using more filling and fulfilling vegetables for main dishes – eggplant and portabella mushrooms, or butternut squash are very meaty and have a great flavor. Eggs are also an excellent main dish (and can be added to more dishes than you expect). Don’t fall into the carb trap Yes, carbs are fantastic, but when eating out, you'll constantly be forced to eat pasta, rice etc. in order to avoid meat, so avoid the carbs at home. Many beginning vegetarians, especially those who don’t cook much, tend to turn to pasta, potatoes, and rice dishes as their main food source. All of these things are delicious and each is fine in moderation. If you’re not at least a little aware, though, some people will have toast for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and a nice plate of fried rice for dinner. Shockingly, you won’t end up feeling very lively or healthy if you eat that many carbs in a day. I recommend eating as few carbs as possible at first – you’ll find that you are practically forced to eat pasta or rice at many restaurants in order to avoid meat so avoiding them at home most of the time is good practice. Don’t Worry so Much About Protein (this part is NOT for vegans) I constantly hear about how vegetarians don’t get enough protein. I’m sure that in some cases this is true, but I’ve tracked my own protein intake and have never gone below what’s recommended for the day, even without trying and paying much attention. It's not as hard as you think to incorporate protein into your diet. This is a fried egg. I put fried eggs on top of sandwiches, include egg in fried rice, etc. Cheese, yougurt and beans, are also great if you're worried about protein. At my house, the key is to vary our diet pretty regularly. You’ll find that if you eat a little cheese, eggs, beans or yogurt with most of your meals, you’ll get more than enough protein each day. People who spend all of their time worrying about getting enough protein tend to eat tremendous amounts of protein-rich foods. This isn’t a bad thing, but isn’t really necessary. If you’re concerned about protein intake, I recommend eating some Greek yogurt for breakfast – you’ll find that a serving has a large portion of your protein for the day, which gets you off to a good start. Still concerned? Grab an egg and mix it in with just about anything – vegetarian fajitas, fried rice (with lots of veggies), or just fry an egg and eat it plain. Eggs are quick and easy options. Keep Snacks Easily Available One of the things about being a vegetarian is that you still have to eat just as often as everyone else. There are times when you’ll find yourself in the middle of East Texas in a diner where the entire menu is either meat, or made with meat products (think of green beans made with bacon grease etc.). While you could have a piece of bread and perhaps some butter, that probably won’t hold you over. Other times, you’ll come home from work with about five minutes of energy left and cooking just doesn’t feel like an option. First off, buy some Amy’s frozen meals. Keep one or two stocked at home and at work for a quick meal (They also taste great). Second, keep a few granola bars, maybe some dehydrated vegetables in the center consul of your car. They won’t go bad for quite a while and you can grab them when you need to – like when you’re in East Texas with a choice between eating meat and eating meat. It's important to eat a variety of foods in order to get the vitamins that you need. Everyone should think about variety in their diet, but it’s especially important for vegetarians. No matter what you’re eating, if you’re eating the same thing every day (or every 2 days), then you’re probably missing out on some aspect of nutrition unless you’ve worked out your diet with a nutritionist. Eating a variety of foods means that you’ll get a variety of vitamins and it keeps things entertaining. Give these tips a try if you’re a beginning vegetarian chef or even if you just want to eat less meat. I would love to hear any of your tips if you have more ideas for how to make vegetarianism easier and healthier.

Posted on July 16, 2012February 7, 2016 by Denise Gaskins Photo by Song_sing via flickr. In this Homeschooling Math with Profound Understanding (PUFM) Series, we are studying Elementary Mathematics for Teachers and applying its lessons to home education. My apologies to those of you who dislike conflict. This week’s topic inevitably draws us into a simmering Internet controversy. Thinking my way through such disputes helps me to grow as a teacher, to re-think on a deeper level concepts that I thought I understood. This is why I loved Liping Ma’s book when I first read it, and it’s why I thoroughly enjoyed Terezina Nunes and Peter Bryant’s book Children Doing Mathematics. Multiplication of whole numbers is defined as repeated addition… — Thomas H. Parker & Scott J. Baldridge Elementary Mathematics for Teachers Multiplication simply is not repeated addition, and telling young pupils it is inevitably leads to problems when they subsequently learn that it is not… Adding numbers tells you how many things (or parts of things) you have when you combine collections. Multiplication is useful if you want to know the result of scaling some quantity. — Keith Devlin It Ain’t No Repeated Addition Many Models of Multiplication All of us, whether children or adults, cling to our first impression of anything until reality forces us to revise that impression — and we tend to resist such revision as long as possible. Therefore, as homeschool parent-teachers we want to make sure that our students’ first impression of a topic is worth hanging onto, that it will serve as a solid foundation for future learning. For many of us, our first impression of multiplication was as “repeated addition.” Unfortunately, this is NOT a definition worth clinging to. I’ve written before about What’s Wrong with “Repeated Addition”?, so I won’t repeat that argument here. But let me point out several important mathematical situations where repeated addition is definitely not multiplication: Odd Numbers Make Perfect Squares Harmonic Series Can you identify what is different about each of the above situations compared to what our textbook authors Parker & Baldridge meant when they defined multiplication as repeated addition? That difference is the key to helping our children understand multiplication. Do not limit your children to a single model of multiplication, especially a model as fragile as “repeated addition.” Instead, explore the many real-life Multiplication Models collected at the Natural Math website. Point out to your children how almost every multiplicative situation has one significant feature: a ratio or this-per-that quantity. Sets items per set Skip Counting steps per skip Number Line Jumps spaces per jump Rectangular Array rows per column (or columns per row) Time and Money dollars per payment Fractals copies per iteration Combinations choices per option When we help our students learn to recognize this-per-that situations, we give them a tool that will serve them well as they deal with elementary word problems and will also prepare the way for proportional thinking in algebra and beyond. The Mad Scientist Model of Multiplication Multiplication is like a mad scientist’s ray gun that can enlarge or shrink things according to which scale factor the scientist sets: 55% 90 = 55% of 90 The ray gun has another setting in addition to the scale factor. This setting controls the type of growth or shrinkage. The scientist can make something grow by resizing (changing the size) or by replication (copying). With his Resize setting, he can turn a cockroach into a monster 413⅞ times its original size. Then he can switch to the Replicate setting, which creates multiple copies of the monster, until he has a whole army of giant cockroaches ready to attack. Similarly, the mad scientist can shrink things by resizing or by partitioning (cutting it down to a fractional part). The Resize setting may be used with any scale factor, but the Replicate setting needs a whole number scale factor (how many copies?), and the Partition setting needs a simple fraction or percent scale factor. The mad scientist’s Replicate setting is like the common textbook description of multiplication as repeatedly adding the same amount. If the mad scientist’s wife fixes six bowls of stew and lines them up in a row, she can use the Replicate setting to create row upon row of additional bowls, until she has more than enough stew to feed all the minions. Our students can use replication to model multiplication with rows of blocks, making an original row and then copying it again and again, until they have as many rows as the scale factor says. Reply perfectingparenthood says: July 17, 2012 at 1:09 pm Mmm, I see what you’re saying (maybe :). I tell my kids to think of one side of the multiplication as an object, like “five cents”, and then the other side is how many times to count that object. For me that is repeated addition and that’s how I get zero fives. You can even write it out, 3X5 = 5+5+5 and 0 X 5 is just nothing there (equals zero, because zero is a number). I would not say “added to itself” because that seems to presuppose at least one. Maybe I don’t get repeated addition. If you have to say “added to itself” then that could definitely be confusing and I would agree with you! But, I still would teach multiplication as counting objects, which is exactly how I teach addition (incrementing). Reply Denise says: July 25, 2012 at 9:02 am Actually, I’m really not concerned with whether multiplication “is” or “is not” repeated addition. That debate (which still rages off and on in various blogs) is merely my excuse for analyzing how we teach multiplication — and specifically, for pointing out that we must teach it in a way that distinguishes it from addition. The saddest thing that I have seen in my math classes is the student who reads a simple, one-step word problem and gets a glazed look in her eyes. Then she looks at the teacher for guidance and asks, “Do I add or multiply?” It breaks my heart that a child can learn to crank through mathematical steps and procedures and yet have so little understanding of what she is doing. We must teach our students how to recognize a multiplicative situation when they meet it in a word problem. And the best way that I know to teach such recognition is to point out and help students notice the multiplicand, the this-per-that ratio. Reply Alex | Perfecting Dad says: July 25, 2012 at 9:45 am Here here to that. It is very sad, generally, when children “learn” to deal with problems by simply matching up the data they see with the tools they have. See this in physics all the time. “Oh, I have a mass and a force in the problem, I will use my formula Mass X Force = Acceleration”. If they have two formulas memorized for the same variables then they are forced to guess because they truly have no idea what to do. Reply Scott Baldridge says: January 29, 2015 at 1:14 pm I love this discussion! (I stumbled upon it today while looking for something else.) Thank you Denise for expounding on some of the many ways students have to understand multiplication. There are a couple of things that I would like to add to the conversation about the misquote of my definition above. The actual definition stated in “Elementary Mathematics for Teachers” is: Definition 5.1. Multiplication of whole numbers is repeated addition: 3×5=5+5+5 } 3 times. (You have to imagine the “} 3 times” as a bracket underneath the 5+5+5.) The equation 3×5 = 5+5+5 is an important and inseparable part of the actual definition. The equation is designed to give meaning to the term “repeated definition.” Without the equation, the term “repeated addition” is completely meaningless as Denise points out with some nice examples of series. (To be honest, it was a bit of a shock to be quoted as saying that “repeated addition” was the entire definition, which is why I had to respond.) The reasons for including the term “repeated addition” at all when we wrote the book were a bit complicated. Let’s just say here that we were trying to “commandeer” the term in order to give it a reasonable meaning. (For example, Tom and I were getting tired of seeing it claimed to mean, “Add 5 to itself 3 times,” which leads to the expression 5+5+5+5.) The second issue is just how important the words “whole numbers” are in Definition 5.1 above. We are not claiming in our definition to give meaning to fraction, integer, or real number multiplication, or give meaning to scaling, area, or ratio versions of multiplication—only whole number multiplication. And of course, the definition is just the “formal” aspect of it: we back up the definition with lots of examples and models that help give the definition meaning in that section. Our books are set up to lead teachers (and parents) through the development process by following the Singapore Math textbooks grade-by-grade, and K-5 students are first exposed to multiplication in terms of whole numbers in grade 1. As we march through later grades in our books we expand and develop a much richer understanding of multiplication. Hope this helps! (On a side note: I should have a 3-part video series with my daughter on my website soon where she explains how she learned to multiply whole numbers when she was 4 years old. Should be fun.) It was certainly not my intention to pick on your book’s treatment of multiplication, but rather to let it stand as representative of the approach that the great majority of elementary textbooks take. The way you define “repeated addition” is exactly what everyone means by the term: that one of the factors is added to itself repeatedly, and the other factor names the number of addends. Even the people who are careless with their wording mean it to be taken that way. And the repeated addition model can be successfully extended beyond whole numbers. For instance, one can easily imagine 3.5×5 as 5+5+5+(half of 5). My primary complaint against defining multiplication as repeated addition is that tying the operations together that way doesn’t help students distinguish between them. In order to build a robust understanding, kids need to focus on the differences between multiplication and addition, not on the similarities (or the fact that one can be used to calculate the other).

can people who are pali experts converse in it? Postby alan... » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:15 am pretend there's two pali experts, one only speaks english, the other only spanish, but both know pali inside and out. could they communicate clearly by speaking pali? naturally they would have to fill in modern words that didn't exist back in the pali days. but other than that how would it go? tiltbillings Posts: 23012 Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am Re: can people who are pali experts converse in it? Postby tiltbillings » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:21 am WhenI was Thailand I heard monks speak at length with each other in Pali. Re: can people who are pali experts converse in it? Postby LonesomeYogurt » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:23 am I've met a monk who was capable of speaking "on the fly" in Pali, and I imagine he could converse well with another at his level. James the Giant Posts: 792 Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am Re: can people who are pali experts converse in it? Postby James the Giant » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:30 am I met a Canadian monk who was good at Pali but no other language, and when he went to some big international Buddhist conference he was able to speak in Pali to some of the other monks there who had good Pali. alan... Posts: 824 Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:37 pm Re: can people who are pali experts converse in it? Postby alan... » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:31 am tiltbillings wrote:WhenI was Thailand I heard monks speak at length with each other in Pali.awesome! i assumed this was logically possible considering it is a language and all... i just thought that there could be some odd feature of it that would make it too difficult or something. Postby alan... » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:35 am James the Giant wrote:I met a Canadian monk who was good at Pali but no other language, and when he went to some big international Buddhist conference he was able to speak in Pali to some of the other monks there who had good Pali.very cool. so in theory, if one was an expert in pali, one could forgo learning the language of a country but still be able to move there and communicate within a community of monks! neat.it's like our secret language... except it's not a secret. it's just really, really, really old, and dead, so no one but theravada buddhists care about it...although i suppose a pali expert could understand a sanskrit expert a tiny bit. so mahayana people can talk to theravada people a little bit in their secret language too! although as far as i know sanskrit study does not hold anywhere near the importance in mahayana as pali study does in theravada. Postby alan... » Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:29 am You would be able to talk with monks who know Pali at that level, which I would guess is not a common thing.nonetheless, if you learn pali, in many theravada temples in countries around the world there will be at least a few monks you can communicate with. however if you don't know it then you have to learn the language of whatever country you are in too have any hope of communication. so learn pali and you have a common language. this would be useful if you were going to be going from country too country staying at theravada temples, even though you wouldn't know the native language there would be people in each country whom you could have perfectly fluent conversations with. other than that it's just a fun idea. Postby tiltbillings » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:36 am The nice thing is, Pali is a relatively easy language to learn. Such books as the The New Pali Course , by Prof. A. P. Buddhadatta, Maha Nayaka Thera and Dr. De Silva's Pali Primer would be good resources, but if you are interested in reading sutta Pali, I'd skip the first and go with A.K. Warder Introduction to Pali after completing the second. The issue of pronunciation can be dealt with by using the Sanskrit pronunciations, and there are good resources for that on the Web. The first two books can be gotten free on the Web. Now, the above is my opinion, and opinions will vary. Kare and Sylvester will be good resources. Ideally, learning Sanskrit first would be a good thing, and with hard work, that could be done (assuming moderate language learning talent) is about 5 years, but learning any language even one's own is an ongoing, lifelong process. Postby alan... » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:49 am tiltbillings wrote:The nice thing is, Pali is a relatively easy language to learn. Such books as the The New Pali Course , by Prof. A. P. Buddhadatta, Maha Nayaka Thera and Dr. De Silva's Pali Primer would be good resources, but if you are interested in reading sutta Pali, I'd skip the first and go with A.K. Warder Introduction to Pali after completing the second. The issue of pronunciation can be dealt with by using the Sanskrit pronunciations, and there are good resources for that on the Web. The first two books can be gotten free on the Web. Now, the above is my opinion, and opinions will vary. Kare and Sylvester will be good resources. Ideally, learning Sanskrit first would be a good thing, and with hard work, that could be done (assuming moderate language learning talent) is about 5 years, but learning any language even one's own is an ongoing, lifelong process.i just want to be able to read suttas, that's all. and not even necessarily without an english translation nearby. for example the word "sampajanna" is translated like eight different ways and i've learned what it means in different contexts and what it's a contraction of. so learning things like that are really important too me. for now i'm learning the satipatthana sutta in english and pali. if could learn just this sutta in both languages and what the ins and outs of each word are that would be enough for me for a while!the contractions are where this becomes difficult! you can't look up a contraction in most pali english dictionaries, or if you can, it may not be under the heading you might think. instead you have too know the root words that it comes from which can be tricky if you don't know what words it's made up of.out of curiosity, if all i want too know is sutta pali, why would i learn sanskrit? Postby tiltbillings » Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:02 am alan... wrote:out of curiosity, if all i want too know is sutta pali, why would i learn sanskrit?It would help one better understand Pali. it is not, however, necessary. Postby alan... » Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:25 am tiltbillings wrote:alan... wrote:out of curiosity, if all i want too know is sutta pali, why would i learn sanskrit?It would help one better understand Pali. it is not, however, necessary.oh okay, since sanskrit came first and could be considered a root of pali it would be a good precursor? that makes sense. Postby tiltbillings » Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:48 am alan... wrote:tiltbillings wrote:alan... wrote:out of curiosity, if all i want too know is sutta pali, why would i learn sanskrit?It would help one better understand Pali. it is not, however, necessary.oh okay, since sanskrit came first and could be considered a root of pali it would be a good precursor? that makes sense.Though the two languages are closely related, Classical Sanskrit did not necessarily come first. Classical Sanskrit is a far more studied language than is Pali. I would only recommend Sanskrit if you have a talent for languages. "I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit.""I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress." Postby polarbear101 » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:50 am tiltbillings wrote:polarbuddha101 wrote:tiltbillings wrote:Though the two languages are closely related, Classical Sanskrit did not necessarily come first. Classical Sanskrit is a far more studied language than is Pali. I would only recommend Sanskrit if you have a talent for languages.It seems like it would be a whole lot easier learning all this (sanskrit and pali) at a University as opposed to on one's own.Sanskrit, definely, but, as i said, Pali is easier, and one could probably do okay on one's own. But the advantage of learning Pali with a skillled teacher is that one is less likely to mislead oneself. One of the important things, for exmple, in translations is that while the lexical meaning is important, it is how the word is used is its contexts that determines actual meaning of how the word is being used. Such cognate words as dharma and dhamma would have much the same dictionary meanings, but as we see these words used in Brahmanical/Hindu texts and in Buddhist texts, we can see that there are also meanings that are quite different by virtue of contextual usage.Well, I'm transferring to a University of California in the fall and I've found out that UC Santa Barbara offers courses in Pali and Sanskrit. However, I'm a philosophy major, so I've emailed the religious studies department there to find out if I would be allowed to engage in the study of Pali in depth even as a philosophy major. I was planning on going to UC Santa Cruz because I like the environment (redwoods) better but I suppose if I'm able to learn Pali in depth at Santa Barbara I may go there instead. If I did wind up going to UC Santa Barbara, do you think it would be a good idea to also learn Sanskrit while I'm there, because they teach that too. "I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit.""I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress." Nyorai Posts: 58 Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:44 am Re: can people who are pali experts converse in it? Postby Nyorai » Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:08 am pretend there's two mandarin experts, one only speaks english, the other only pali, but both know spanish inside and out. could they communicate clearly by speaking spanish? Unlike languages, has no barrier. To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana.If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path. He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self. Postby Kare » Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:12 am polarbuddha101 wrote:Well, I'm transferring to a University of California in the fall and I've found out that UC Santa Barbara offers courses in Pali and Sanskrit. However, I'm a philosophy major, so I've emailed the religious studies department there to find out if I would be allowed to engage in the study of Pali in depth even as a philosophy major. I was planning on going to UC Santa Cruz because I like the environment (redwoods) better but I suppose if I'm able to learn Pali in depth at Santa Barbara I may go there instead. If I did wind up going to UC Santa Barbara, do you think it would be a good idea to also learn Sanskrit while I'm there, because they teach that too. Even though Pali and Sanskrit are closely related, it may be a tough challenge to study both at the same time. You can easily get confused by the similarities and the differences. Much better to study one of them first and get familiar with it. Then it is much easier to study the other one afterwards.

Author: Dianne Morgan May 10, 2016 Dianne Morgan The Weird but Wonderful Benefits of Chaga Tea Chaga tea is famous in Europe for its amazing health benefits with no to less side effects on the consumer. (Photo Credit) Chaga mushroom is one of the ugliest mushroom that you will ever see, but this fungus that grows as a parasite on white birch trees have wonderful health benefits. Chaga mushroom is widely used as a folk medicine in many North European and Russian countries since the 16th century. Inonotus obliquus is used to treat a variety of ailments like stomach, liver, heart problems, sleep issues, stress, tuberculosis, infections, and even headaches, as reported in the Web MD. In some countries like Siberia, chaga is used as a blood cleanser and disinfectant. While chaga tea for cancer is famous in Norwegians, which is why they call the fungus kreftkjuke meaning cancer polypore. Russian author and Nobel laureate Alexandr Solzhenitsyn introduced chaga to the world making it famous as an anti-cancer medicine. Solzhenitsyn suffered cancer himself so he found a way to help patients like him have a natural medicinal supplement. Chaga Mushroom Tea Health Benefits According to the article in Live Strong, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center made a study that demonstrated the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune-strengthening properties of chaga mushroom. The Feng Shui London reported that Chaga is a primary adaptogen, immune system modulator, anti-cancer, gastrointestinal tonifier, and DNA protective agent. Here are the top six health benefits of chaga tea: Strengthens immunity Soothes pain Supports gastrointestinal health Stabilizes blood pressure and cholesterol levels Reduces risk of cancer Chaga is rich in different vitamins, minerals and natural compounds like super oxide dismutase, polyphenols, betulin and betulinic acid, beta glucans, phytosterols, and polysaccharides. These are the main ingredients to making a superfood like chaga mushroom which can be truly deceiving at first glance. Side Effects of Chaga Mushroom Chaga mushroom contains beta glucans that kind of display minor side effects like other mushrooms, such as reishi mushroom. Some people taking chaga tea report experiencing dry mouth and throat, itchiness, upset stomach, nosebleed and bloody stools. How to Brew or Make Chaga Tea Bags Approximately 12 cups of water should be bring to boil before adding 1 teabag of chaga mushroom or one-fourth cup of chaga chunks. About 12 cups will be made by making chaga tea recipe. The solution should be heated at low heat setting for at least one hour and filtered to remove the solid mushrooms. Leave the solution overnight before consumption. Learn how to fight stress with chaga tea. Cooled chaga tea is best served with natural honey, lemon juice, or maple syrup for added flavor. Experts said that these fungus look like encrusted black formations on wounded or dying white trees in temperate forests. It grows by eating the remains of tree cavities after a storm breaks the tree and cover it for protection. This awful-looking chaga mushroom can provide much more than looks since it possesses countless health benefits that amaze many scientists and experts. (Photo Credit) Health Benefits of Chaga Mushroom Chaga mushroom tea health benefits have been appreciated for centuries and have been proven by many studies to date. Benefits of chaga include improved digestion, less stress, anti-cancer, and better immunity. The Mother Earth News said that Chaga mushroom has exceptional high antioxidant properties that fight off the formation of free radicals in the body. Free radicals damage the body so its formation should be prevented by taking foods high in vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin B and different kinds of minerals like calcium, copper, iron, and zinc which are all found in chaga mushroom. Therefore, it also alleviates one’s risk of cancer. Most of the health benefits of chaga mushroom tea were performed in Russia where chaga in very abundant. Another benefit is the strengthened immunity. Drinking chaga tea regularly can boost a weakened immunity because it contains polysaccharides like beta glucans that stimulate the production of healthy cells in the body. In addition, chaga tea is also antiviral, antibacterial, anthelmintic, and anti-fungal. Aside from these things, chaga is a natural source of melanin that promotes healthy skin. This pigment helps the skin to be clear and free from issues like rashes, acne, and eczema faster. Lastly, chaga is considered an adaptogen that reduces that stress feeling which help balance the body inside and out. This leads to a more healthy cardiovascular health to avoid heart illnesses like hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Find out how chaga mushroom tea helps treat cancer. How to Make Chaga Tea Recipe Chaga HQ listed how to make a good chaga tea, know where to buy wild chaga mushroom tea and use that to brew yourself a nice drink. Now, break the wild chaga to smaller chunks and drop a handful in a liter of water. Bring the mixture to boil and strain to remove the solids from the brewed tea. Add honey or maple syrup for a much better taste. May 9, 2016 Dianne Morgan The Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea Chamomile is another ancient-old medicinal herb that is widely used in Greece, Rome, and Egypt. The herb became more popular in the Middle Ages because a number of people started to suffer from different kinds of illness and chamomile was the easiest and tasteful remedy. Furthermore, it is native across the world with many countries cultivating the herb like Egypt, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Morocco and different parts of Eastern Europe. The beautiful chamomile flowers blossom every summer which feature its golden color and fruity taste. Components of Chamomile Organic chamomile tea benefits are directed to its active ingredients that are said to have healing properties such as volatile oils (for example: bisabolol, matricin, and bisabolol oxide A and B), flavonoids that have antioxidant properties, and other therapeutic compounds. Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea The Herb Wisdom tackled the benefits of drinking chamomile tea. Surprisingly, there is an extensive scientific research performed at the plant for more than 20 years and confirmed its therapeutic benefits mainly antispasmodic. Antiseptic, antipyretic, antifungal, antibacterial and anti-allergenic. Chamomile Tea is popular all over the world for its amazing health benefits, fragrant smell, and delicious taste as a drink. (Photo Credit) One of the most popular is the health benefits of chamomile tea to sleep and anxiety since many people claimed that it helps them relax and sleep better. People with insomnia are also advised to take chamomile as a supplement rather than taking a medicine. The plant kind of has mild sedating properties that promote better and faster sleep. The Style Craze mentioned regular intake can eliminate troublesome sleep. Anxiety is also treated using chamomile with the help of its wonderful fragrance which helps anyone relax. Studies said that the tea contains chemicals like luteolin and apigenin that promotes relaxation. In addition, chamomile boosts the immune system to fight cold and common infections. It contains good anti-bacterial properties that will prevent the person from getting sick right away. Its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties sooth intestinal cramps. So if you are asking, “Is chamomile extract tea good for you?” Then go try ahead and see that it helps especially for people with an upset stomach. Furthermore, girls suffering from menstrual cramps and abnormally painful periods can take chamomile since it is already proven to be safe to ease that trouble away. It has high levels of amino acid glycine that reduces muscle spasms. Lastly, chamomile tea provides relief from headaches as mentioned in the Health Site. Migraines, for example, is a common illness that many are complaining of so the best and natural way to counteract it is to take chamomile tea. Chamomile Tea Recipe The first thing to do is know where to buy chamomile leaves tea so the leaves can be used to brew fresh tea. Now, get 2-3 teaspoons of the leaves and boil it with a cup of water. Leave it for 3 minutes to allow infusion and strain to remove leaves before drinking. Lemon and honey can be added for sweetened taste. The post The Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea appeared first on Chamomile Tea. Components and Benefits of Raspberry Leaf Tea Raspberry leaf is very rich in magnesium, iron, b-vitamins, and potassium that are common ingredients in easing leg cramps, nausea and improving the sleep of pregnant women. The intricate combination of these compounds make the health benefits of raspberry leaf tea special for the female reproductive system. Studies have shown that raspberry leaf takes effect in strengthening the pelvic muscles and uterus, which makes labors easier and faster as stated in Live Strong. About 1% of women all over the world is using raspberry leaf in different types to help pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. (Photo Credit) Furthermore, the raspberry leaf contains tannins that have astringent properties which are soothing for the body inside and out. Tinctures could be applied to damaged areas on the skin and also cure symptoms of gum diseases like gingivitis when used. High concentration of vitamin C is present on the leaf which helps boost the immune system that is great for fighting off illnesses and giving energy when tired. Effects of Raspberry Leaf on Women Raspberry leaf is very much associated with all stages of the life of women. Although there are not many studies made to prove these claims, folk writings and centuries of popularity shown that it is indeed effective. But it is still best to consult a doctor prior to adding raspberry to your diet especially if you are pregnant. Raspberry leaf tea benefits to pregnancy and fertility is discussed in Pregnancy AU and enumerated below: Treat morning sickness Relaxes tense and painful muscles of the uterus during contractions Prevents excess bleeding after childbirth Eases pains during cramps Promotes fertility to those with issues Increases supply of breastmilk Regulates menstrual cycle The Wellness Mama discussed how to make raspberry leaf tea recipe. The ratio should be 8 ounces of boiling water to 1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of raspberry leaf will make a really good tea. The mixture should be covered and allowed to stand for 5 minutes and taken as a normal beverage. Others prefer the tea cold and fresh so simply let it cool inside the refrigerator after brewing. How to Harvest Red Raspberry Leaf Herb The post The Goodness of Raspberry Leaf Tea appeared first on Raspberry Leaf Tea Blog. May 7, 2016 Dianne Morgan Reishi Mushroom Tea and its Health Benefits Ganoderma lucidum or reishi mushroom is famous in the East as a medicine ingredient. The name ‘reishi’ mushroom means “mushroom of immortality” with a direct Chinese translation of ling chih. During the ancient Eastern times, reishi mushroom was even called the “medicine of kings” since it offers unbelievable health benefits that will ward off almost all kinds of illness. Reishi mushroom tea health benefits were highlighted by writer Rebecca Wood in her book entitles “New Whole Foods Encyclopedia” where she said, “Reishi indeed sounds like a cure-all”. Her explanation as stated in the Natural News states that reishi is an immunostimulant which has proven to be very helpful for people with HIV and AIDS, Epstein-Barr, leaky-gut syndrome, chronic bronchitis, cancer and other infectious illness. Minor benefits involve the mushroom to take effect as a laxative, as a diuretic, helps those with insomnia and lowers harmful cholesterol in the body. Dried reishi mushroom is best used for tea to avoid its bitter taste and maximize the health benefits that it provides like treatment against cancer, infections, allergies and other diseases. (Photo Credit) The Benefits of Reishi Mushroom It seemed odd that this fungus can make so much benefit to the human body. The medicinal benefits of red reishi mushroom tea are famous for its antioxidant properties wherein it fights irregularity in the cells lowering chances of cancer cell growth. A study published in the journal Experimental Oncology confirmed the effects of reishi on human cancer cells and the fungus astonishingly prevents further cell damage. Since reishi mushroom is an immunostimulant, it means that it modulates, regulates and supports the immune system. The mushroom contains chemical compounds called polysaccharides like beta glucans that boosts the immunity. Another benefit is that it lowers blood pressure making it a popular choice for people with cardiovascular issues. It is highly advised in APA’s “Practical Guide to Natural Medicine” that people with hypertension should take this fungus as a supplement. In effect, it also lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood pressure and further prevents blood clotting. Lastly, a lot of people are suffering from allergic reactions. Reishi mushroom is one of the favorite additive to blend with allergy teas, as stated in Live Strong. Here’s a short summary of the illness that can be treated by reishi mushroom: Heart illness Virus infections Making Reishi Mushroom Tea The best way to brew or make reishi mushroom tea is with the use of dried and powdered mushroom. The raw or fresh mushroom is much less preferred since it tastes bitter and awful for most people, as said in the Health Line. it is recommended to drink the herb daily and a daily dose of the recipe will require half an ounce of dried reishi mushroom. The mushroom will be boiled with a pint and a half of water and put to simmer for another 45 minutes. Allow the mixture to stand for at least 30 minutes prior to consumption. Reishi Mushroom, A Shen Tonic and Immune Modulator May 6, 2016 Dianne Morgan Find Wellness with Elderberry Tea Elderberries or Sambucus is widely used in Europe, Western Asia, North America, and North Africa even in the ancient times. Because of its popularity, the medicinal benefits of elderberry are being studied and investigated. Elder plants make berries but before the berries appear, flowers bloom that is used to make elderberry tea. Its is stated in the Live Strong that a study at the University of Maryland Medical Center showed few studies on elderberry flower tea benefits. But much of its benefits seem to be associated to its rich antioxidant flavonoids. Herbalist would often recommend elderberry as an add-on to a patient’s health care. Components of Elderberry Elderberry is rich in different kinds of healthy compounds like organic pigments, amino acids, carotenoids, tannin, sugar, flavonoids, viburnic acid, rutin, and vitamins A, B and lots of vitamin C. Elderberries are slightly diuretic, diaphoretic and laxative. According to the Herb Wisdom, the health benefits of organic elderberry tea to cold and flu are mostly associated with the flavonoids that contain anthocyanins which are very powerful antioxidants that protect the cells from suffering damage. Elderberry Tea Health Benefits Usually, elderberry is used to treat different kinds of infection from viruses and bacteria, sinus pain, body pain, nerve problems, boost the immune system, and fix chronic fatigue syndrome. Other studies have shown the potential of elderberry for treating cancer and hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and also increase urine flow and sweating for a cleaner bodily system, as reported in the Web MD. People with cold and flu find it hard to soothe themselves especially with its symptoms combined with a headache, fever, sore throats, cough, and fatigue. The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health discussed how to make elderberry tea bags recipe to fight off cold and flu. A daily dose of elderberry tea will require four tablespoons of extract mixed with warm water, which should be taken for three consecutive days to obtain maximum benefits. Another major issue is sinus infection which is usually caused by bacteria. Studies have pointed out that drinking the tea combined with other decongestant and antibiotic medicines will clear up bacterial sinusitis more quickly than using medicine alone. Elderberry Tea Recipe One great recipe was thought in Wellness Mama, which could be taken immediately after preparation. About 2 tablespoons of dried elderberries will be used and boiled with 16 ounces of water for 15 minutes. Great health benefits can be obtained with added one-fourth teaspoon cinnamon powder and half teaspoon turmeric powder. Honey may be added to sweetened taste after the mixture was strained to remove solid elderberries. Simply refrigerate the solution if you prefer it cool. The post Find Wellness with Elderberry Tea appeared first on Elderberry Tea. May 6, 2016 Dianne Morgan What Makes Saffron Tea Good for You? Saffron tea was very loved by the ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians for its use in culinary and herbal foods as well as for folk medicinal use. Aside from its promising benefits, it also looks as pleasing as it sounds since it belongs to the lily family, where its flower has a delicate part that houses pollens. It is extremely difficult to make saffron tea since the bright red stigmas are carefully picked off the plant leaving only the golden stamen on position. Saffron tea made naturally from saffron threads may be taken iced or hot but its medical properties are best obtained at a higher temperature. Photo Credits Organic yellow saffron tea benefits have recently gained popularity with more clinical trials being conducted to show its health benefits, according to the author of “The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods” Michael Murray N.D. as reported in the Live Strong. Important Health Benefits of Saffron Tea Health benefits of saffron tea to depression is one of the most popular since it has been proven to have similar effects as the over-the-counter drugs. The anti-depressant effect of saffron, as discussed in the Health Benefits Times, goes through the nerves providing some sort of calming effect on the person. Experts say that the best thing is that saffron is a natural herb and regular consumption will not do much harm. In addition, it even provides prevention of depression if taken on a regular basis giving people the ‘happy’ feeling that everyone needs. Saffron is an aphrodisiac so saffron tea benefits to skin are more on the sexual side of the body making the drinker have increased libido than normal. The SF Gate reported that a cupful of saffron tea a day could lessen the risk of blindness in the future as a direct interpretation of the article “Saffron: Golden Secret of Clearer Sight”. Scientific studies showed that saffron has special fatty acid content that protects human vision. Clinical trials showed that eye vision of patients with eye issues significantly progress as they regularly drink saffron daily. Saffron Tea Recipe People should know how to make saffron tea bags recipe since it is very easy. They first need to purchase saffron tea bags or use loose saffron threads to make a tea. Every bit of saffron is important since it is very expensive. Experts advised that homemade saffron is the best since the quality is much more controlled. Threads will be steeped in room-temperature for iced tea beverages while 180 degrees Fahrenheit is needed to fully activate its aromatic and healthy components. Only a little over one milligram of threads is needed for 8 ounces of water and steep for 10 minutes. It is best to stir the solution before drinking to dissolve all threads in hot water. The tea can last for three days inside the refrigerator. The post What Makes Saffron Tea Good for You? appeared first on Saffron Tea. May 5, 2016 Dianne Morgan The Wonders of Organic Holy Basil Tea Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also called Tulsi, has been widely used in the ancient times dating to as far as 3000 years ago. The herb was termed “sacred” in the Rig Veda some time in 1500 BC making people celebrate it in the Purana, and highly appreciated and accounted for its Ayurvedic medicine – because it has organic holy basil tea health benefits. Tulsi is unlike any regular basil that is added to marinade sauces and food ingredient. Holy basil is native to Southeast Asia, as mentioned by Dr. Axe. this herb has been used for its medical properties for centuries which have been proven to treat different kinds of ailments. Holy basil is believed to be the cure for cleansing the body. Health Benefits of Tulsi Holy Basil Tea A study about holy basil has been reported by the Health Line saying that it was confirmed to have therapeutic value and its “health promoting qualities is sure to bear rich fruit.” But this 2010 study fail to conduct the test on humans because all results mainly came from animal samples. Tulsi is usually taken as a tea. It claims to provide treatment for a number illnesses. Tulsi, or holy basil, has made its way to providing significant developments in the field of herbal medicine especially since it is easily taken as a tea which provides a number of amazing health benefits. (Photo Credit) First, it heals wounds easily. This claim may seem to be supernatural but scientific studies showed that it has a chemical component that hastens wound healing. Second, it fights off bacteria. Bacterial infections have been a growing problem worldwide. And holy basil has been found to have some sort of antibiotic properties that fight off these deadly bacteria. Third, lowers risk of diabetes. People with diabetes need to control and manage their diet wisely. Experts suggest that they should know how to make holy basil tea recipe since it would be a good addition to help control their blood sugar levels. However, it is advisable to talk to your doctor first prior to using tulsi. Fourth, the Medicine Hunter reported several studies have shown that holy basil can significantly decrease the amount of harmful cholesterol in the blood so this herb is a really good treatment for the heart especially to those suffering from chronic stress. Fifth, it lessens the chance of having an ulcer. Tulsi has anti-ulcer properties because it has been known to reduce stomach acid and increase the production of healthy stomach mucus. Find out more about holy basil tea benefits to ulcers. And sixth, the journal Nutrition and Cancer published a study discussing the promising cancer-killing power of tulsi with its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Consequently, it protects the patient from having pain, stress, fever and protects important organs like the liver. People who take holy basil are found to be less likely to develop cancer cells throughout their lifetime. Holy Basil Tea Recipe and Health Benefits May 5, 2016 Dianne Morgan Stop Diabetes and Cancer with Bitter Melon Tea Benefits Bitter melon leaves may be used in making teas, extracts and tinctures that may be taken best as a hot beverage. (Photo Credit) Benefits of Bitter Melon Tea To Your Body Bitter melon, or originally bitter gourd, is a tropical plant with a long history of being used as an herbal medicine. Momordica charantia is native to Africa, Asia and South America which people usually eat fresh or made into fresh tea. Bitter melon is also called cerasee, balsam pear, or Karela, as reported in Live Strong. The plant resembles a small, warty cucumber best known for its power to decrease sugar levels in the blood. But experts want to remind people that self-medication using bitter melon is not advised until a doctor advises the patient to. There is no trash with bitter melon since its fruit, stem and leaves can be used to make teas, extracts, and tinctures. Herbal stores commercially sell bitter gourd tea bags, extracts and powder form for easier tea making since it is known for its antioxidant properties and cancer prevention. Anti-cancer Properties Some chemicals in bitter melon have anti-cancer properties as concluded in a study published in the journal Cancer Research in 2010. They found that it inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells in laboratory medium, but there is still no conducted clinical trials to support this claim. Bitter Melon for Diabetes and Weight Loss Since bitter melon is known for decreasing blood sugar level and increasing the degradation of glucose in the body, then it is a good remedy for diabetes. The plant has already been listed at the University of Maryland Medical Center for managing diabetes. Some scientists call bitter melon as the “vegetable insulin” but studies remain inconclusive since results vary from one person to another. The Life Hack said that bitter melon promotes weight loss when taken with proper diet and exercise. The plant has very low-calorie levels which make it good in maintaining a healthy weight. But its lack of calories is balanced with its high nutrient components and these are the benefits of bitter melon tea to diabetes and weight loss aspirants. Anti-oxidant Properties Bitter gourd promotes an overall healthier immune system that fights off infections and disease. There are several bitter melon tea recipe benefits that focus on increased immunity. Furthermore, it decreases the damages done by free radicals. A study published in Phytotherapy in 2005 found out that taking bitter melon tea in higher temperature increases the antioxidant activity occurring inside the body. Although bitter melon promotes a number of healthy benefits, the SF Gate still reminded readers that there could be some potential side effects when taking the plant. Some people reported that they experience side effects when taking it alongside certain medications. And other studies showed that it promotes abortion on animal studies making it inadvisable for pregnant women. May 4, 2016 Dianne Morgan The Facts about Ginger Root Tea Ginger has been widely used for thousands of years in the medical field even in ancient times since its effectivity cannot be denied. Experts suggest that the fastest way to indulge on these benefits is to sip on ginger root tea. Ginger root tea benefits are at its maximum when the tea is made with fresh ginger in water. Some teas available commercially may be flavored so always look for the one with ginger as its main ingredient. But prior to doing self-medication with its promising benefits, it is still best to consult your doctor about it. Find out the health benefits of ginger tea for migraine relief. Health Benefits of Drinking Ginger Root Tea One of ginger’s most famous promises is to kill nausea because ginger root tea helps the stomach settle into place when it feels ill, as reported in Live Strong. There are several studies that showed ginger’s effect in relieving morning sickness and motion sickness, and as well as other nausea-inducing treatments like chemotherapy or surgery. However, these studies is not applicable to everyone especially if they are having stomach-churning incidents – so it is best to take ginger tea recipe for stomach issues. Ginger root tea has been a promising herbal medicine in a variety of illnesses for thousands of years ago all over the world. (Photo Credits) Anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have been widely studied. One of which is published in “The Journal of Pain” in 2010 where ginger was used to relieve painful muscles and soreness created after exercise. They found that participants felt less pain intensity over the next three days as compared to those who were given placebo. Therefore, a conclusion in a study in The University of Georgia said that “daily ginger supplement reduced exercise-induced muscle pain by 25%”, as reported in the Medical News Today. Other uses of ginger include the ff: Treating cancer Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease Improves Bodily Circulation Clears sinuses Improves breath smell Blocks acid that may cause Heartburn Strengthens overall immunity These promises have been proven by studies to work on a lot of people who take ginger on a regular basis and as prescribed by doctors. Some use it regularly as an ingredient in their dish. How to Make Ginger Root Tea Bags Recipe The healthiest ginger root tea recipe will be made from fresh ginger roots that will be stripped to pieces, and simmered to low/medium heat for 15 minutes. Drain the mixture to remove remaining roots. Honey or lemon juice can be added afterward for flavoring and natural sweetener. Learn how to make ginger root tea.

Lisa Transcendence Brown☼ GodHead Gifts: Before Creation, Clearing Your Cache’ (Akashic Records) / Comments Off on Lisa Transcendence Brown☼ GodHead Gifts: Before Creation, Clearing Your Cache’ (Akashic Records) View Article Here Read More YOU OF THE LIGHT ARE ON YOUR WAY UP Mike Quinsey Higher Self 9-30-16 Galactic Federation of Light / Comments Off on YOU OF THE LIGHT ARE ON YOUR WAY UP Mike Quinsey Higher Self 9-30-16 Galactic Federation of Light View Article Here Read More Mike Quinsey – Higher Self – September-30-2016 / Matt Muckleroy / Comments Off on Mike Quinsey – Higher Self – September-30-2016 View Article Here Read More Pleiadian High Council of Seven – Love Creates a Force Field – September-22-2016 / Comments Off on Pleiadian High Council of Seven – Love Creates a Force Field – September-22-2016 View Article Here Read More Greg Giles ~ The Hidden Agenda of the Galactic Federation Show ~ Part 1 / Greg Giles / Comments Off on Greg Giles ~ The Hidden Agenda of the Galactic Federation Show ~ Part 1 War in Ukraine A quick word on Conspiracies: (Thanks to threeworldwars.com) There are three ways of exposing a Conspiracy: 1. One is for any of the participants in the conspiracy to break...View Article Here Read More Cover Up – Mainstream Reporting on Fukushima a Joke / Steven Laniers Metaphysical Directory - Main Article Directory / Comments Off on Think the Anti-GMO Movement is Unscientific? Think Again Sayer Ji, Green Med Info“Anyone that says, ‘Oh, we know that this is perfectly safe,’ I say is either unbelievably stupid, or deliberately lying. The reality is, we don’t know. The experiments simply haven’t been done, and now we have become the guinea pigs.” ~ David Suzuki, geneticistNow that the mainstream media is catching on to the public sentiment against GMO food, or at least against unlabeled GMO food, to the tune o [...]View Article Here Read More Ascension Earth 2015-05-09 17:40:00 / Comments Off on Rare & severe geomagnetic storm enables Aurora Borealis to be seen from U.S. tonight Excerpt from mashable.com Thanks to a rare, severe geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights may be visible on Tuesday night in areas far to the south of its typical home in the Arctic. The northern tier of the U.S., from Washington State to Michiga...View Article Here Read More Skywatch: Venus and Jupiter continue to accentuate the night heavens

Working with HD Wireframes Working with text How text is written on a website determines how successful the website will be. Well written text will build trust, educate, sell products, and get viewers to return. Best practices when adding text to a wireframe Select a sans-serif typeface or another typeface that is designed for readability for body copy Use white space well Break up paragraphs and get to the point Do not use different colors for the body text Create hover-over effects for hyperlinks and have the links a different color from the rest of the text Always double check spelling and grammar Cite any references and resources used Link additional information to other parts of the website (a great practice for web presence and search ability) Give viewers the ability to save and share the content Write content that is easy to skim & scan Know the audience Engage the viewer Working with color Hi-definition wireframes show the client what their website will look like as a final product. Providing the client with a Hi-definition wireframe vs. a low-fidelity wireframe can make a world of difference impression-wise with the client. It can also save you time by showing the client how the colors, images, media components, etc. they wanted will work together as a finished piece. Best practices when adding Hi-definition Wireframes Determine what color palette your client wants to use Make sure the color palette compliments the images you are using The first showing of the wireframe should be with the low fidelity wireframe When presenting the hi-definition wireframe explain to your client this is only a visual representation – no code has been done yet Keep the focus on the flow of the website – do not let the visual reference distract the client Maybe you would like to pick colors for your wireframe from photos you found? This website allows you to upload a photo and provides you with a color scheme to use! Posted in wireframes and tagged color scheme, high definition wireframs, webdesign on March 11, 2015 by dominiquevarron. Leave a comment Planning UX projects: the project brief UX Design: the Project Brief The project brief is an important first step in UX design projects. The project brief gives you the framework of the project, describing the goals and objectives. It helps the designer create a framework that connects what the client wants with what is to be created. It should be dealt with at the beginning and during the initial client interview. Another good thing about the project brief is it documents what the client initially asks for and if the client were to make changes halfway through the project, you, the designer, have documentation that shows what the original intentions were. Best practices to consider when designing a project brief Determine what the project goals are. What is the client trying to communicate and why? Who is the client, what do they do, and what business are they in? Who is the client target demographic and audience? Who is the client trying to target that they have not or have not been successful at in the past? Why? What are the specifications of the project? What is the budget? What is the deadline? Are there any limitations? How will the project be delivered? Ask the client to sign the project brief Provide the client with a copy of the project brief Here you can view some project brief examples Posted in design clients, UX, web design and tagged project briefs, user experience design, UX on February 10, 2015 by dominiquevarron. Leave a comment Unity and Contrast in typography Unity and Contrast Two important elements of the fundamentals of design are Unity and Contrast. Too much unity and you end up with something lacking attention grabbing appeal. Too much contrast and you may have something too chaotic for comfort. The key to excellent design is in finding a balance of contrast and unity that works well with the message you are conveying. Unity in typography lets the audience know that sections of type belong together. Body copy, like that in a novel, is usually uniform so that the audience can easily read for long periods without interruption. Unity in this sense, is used so that the audience can focus on the meaning of the words rather then the typography itself. The simplest type possible, such as Highway Gothic, is best for street signs to make sure the audience understands vital information. Unified type can be used to indicate when specific characters are speaking or even indicate feelings. Knowledge of typography is important of Advertising, which short form persuasion. Companies use persuasion in the form of type and brand identity. Advertisements much catch attention over the chaos of competing ads via print, television and internet. In typography, contrast is used to give the sense that items are different and stand apart. The type can be serifed, italic, bold, and placed next to a line break so that the black type stands out against the white background. Contrast is why the headline is the most important part of any message. Whatever you are creating, be it painting, logo or print media, visual conflict is an element that will catch the viewers attention. Balance is the act of creating with the right amount of unity and contrast. Until you have created that balance, its a matter of guess work. That’s why it is o.k. to make mistakes, getting it wrong first until you achieve balance in your design. Leave a comment Designer of the week: Edward Benguiat Benguiat Portrait Typographer Biography: Edward Benguiat Edward Benguiat, born on October 27, 1927, is a designer who has created many well known typographical designs. Born in Brooklyn, New York, his father worked at Bloomingdale’s as a display director and at the age of 9, began to learn the tools of the trade from his father. Before WWII, he began an interest in music and percussion will led to a love of Jazz. He enlisted in the Army during WWII and afterwords started his music career and gained popularity as a Progressive Jazz Musician. Edward later would say how graphic design and typography is comparable to the rhythm of music composition (Halperin, 2000). With his strong music background, he then used his GI Bill and enrolled into the Workshop School of Advertising Art. He became Paul Standards’ understudy. Edward would go on to have a successful career as a Designer and Art Director. He partnered with Ed Ronthaler and created Photo-lettering Inc. In 1953 he was an associate director of Esquire magazine. In 1962 he would go on to start is own New York design studio. Edward has been very influential in the typography world. He helped establish the international type face association, the first independent licensing company for type designers which aimed to market type design to the industry. This led to a growth in the type industry in the 1960’s. His first ITC Project was Souvenir. Condensed, and many more. Ed continues to create typefaces for ITC, including the recent Edwardian. Ed created or re-designed many well known logos including Esquire, Mcalls, The New York Times, and The San Diego Tribune, among many others. He is still very active and design, and having been a prolific designer since the 1960’s he has seen the change and growth in the design industry. He has said that “Too many people think that they’ve got a Mac and they can draw a logo or a typeface. You have to learn to draw first. The computer won’t do it for you” (Halperin, 2000) Edward received the Gold Medal of excellence from the New York Type Directors Club as well as the Frederick W. Goudy award. He currently does lectures around the world and since 1962, has been an instructor at The School of Visual Arts. Variables are used to store data and set values. Variables typically have an identifying name and value. (such as x = 3) This is similar to the concept of variables in math. Similar in concept to variables, arrays can hold many variables under a single name. The syntax of a programming language is the set of rules that govern the structure. Think of the syntax as the words and grammar of the language itself. Conditional Statements Conditional statements (sometimes called conditionals) are used to make decisions based on certain conditions. For example a conditional can allow JavaScript to perform an action if a variable is greater than or equal to “3”. Loops repeat a defined set of code over and over. They are usually paired with conditions to ensure they don’t loop forever. A function is a block of code that does something. For example, the prompt function displays a dialog box asking for user input. A great way to learn some of these concepts is through Code Combat, which is controlled through writing simple code. Posted in javascript, programming language, programming vocabulary for designers and tagged javascript, programming for designers, understanding javascript on January 13, 2015 by dominiquevarron. Leave a comment Demistifying Javascript JavaScript is a programming language made for web browsers which was initially made for basic image display, text and data but in the 1990’s Netscape developed it into what you see today. It is a language that allows web developers to make all manner of user friendly web items possible. It allows for a dynamic and user friendly experience. It handles complex procedures in the online environment such as making live feeds of sports updates and validating user data. You may be familiar with HTML and CSS. HTML is a markup language. Unlike a markup language which is excellent at organizing elements, Java Script adds a bit more bang for your buck as it is a programming language which means it has more capabilities then HTML. JavaScript can not only tell the browser how to arrange the web elements, just like HTLM, but it can interact with the browser in such a way that it is more like a conversation with the browser, rather then just a set of instructions. As a programming language, JavaScript is based on logic, algorithms and math. Even though this may seem like it is outside the arena of graphic designers, if you want to get into web design, it is important to understand how to implement programming languages such as JavaScript to create awesome functionality to websites. JavaScript is converted into machine code and interpreted by the web browser. This was initially a major issue in the 1990’s, as each browser interpreted JavaScript differently and some elements would not work properly from one browser to the next. JavaScript requires a browser to convert the script into something workable. Hopefully this brief overview was helpful in demystifying JavaScript. Posted in 2000 design, programming language, web scripting and tagged understanding javascript on January 7, 2015 by dominiquevarron. Leave a comment First Things First 2000 a design manifesto First Things First 2000 a design manifesto manifesto published jointly by 33 signatories in: Adbusters, the AIGA journal, Blueprint, Emigre, Eye, Form, Items fall 1999 / spring 2000 We, the undersigned, are graphic designers, art directors and visual communicators who have been raised in a world in which the techniques and apparatus of advertising have persistently been presented to us as the most lucrative, effective and desirable use of our talents. Many design teachers and mentors promote this belief; the market rewards it; a tide of books and publications reinforces it. Encouraged in this direction, designers then apply their skill and imagination to sell dog biscuits, designer coffee, diamonds, detergents, hair gel, cigarettes, credit cards, sneakers, butt toners, light beer and heavy-duty recreational vehicles. Commercial work has always paid the bills, but many graphic designers have now let it become, in large measure, what graphic designers do. This, in turn, is how the world perceives design. The profession’s time and energy is used up manufacturing demand for things that are inessential at best. Many of us have grown increasingly uncomfortable with this view of design. Designers who devote their efforts primarily to advertising, marketing and brand development are supporting, and implicitly endorsing, a mental environment so saturated with commercial messages that it is changing the very way citizen-consumers speak, think, feel, respond and interact. To some extent we are all helping draft a reductive and immeasurably harmful code of public discourse. There are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills. Unprecedented environmental, social and cultural crises demand our attention. Many cultural interventions, social marketing campaigns, books, magazines, exhibitions, educational tools, television programs, films, charitable causes and other information design projects urgently require our expertise and help. We propose a reversal of priorities in favor of more useful, lasting and democratic forms of communication – a mindshift away from product marketing and toward the exploration and production of a new kind of meaning. The scope of debate is shrinking; it must expand. Consumerism is running uncontested; it must be challenged by other perspectives expressed, in part, through the visual languages and resources of design. In 1964, 22 visual communicators signed the original call for our skills to be put to worthwhile use. With the explosive growth of global commercial culture, their message has only grown more urgent. Today, we renew their manifesto in expectation that no more decades will pass before it is taken to heart. Hans Bockting Irma Boom Sheila Levrant de Bretteville Max Bruinsma Siân Cook Linda van Deursen William Drenttel Gert Dumbar Simon Esterson Vince Frost Ken Garland Jeffery Keedy Zuzana Licko Ellen Lupton Katherine McCoy Armand Mevis J. Abbott Miller Lucienne Roberts Erik Spiekermann Jan van Toorn Teal Triggs Rudy VanderLans Posted in 2000 design, first things first manifesto and tagged 2000 design manifesto, first things first manifesto, Graphic Design History on December 11, 2014 by dominiquevarron. Leave a comment First Things First 1964 a manifesto a manifesto We, the undersigned, are graphic designers, photographers and students who have been brought up in a world in which the techniques and apparatus of advertising have persistently been presented to us as the most lucrative, effective and desirable means of using our talents. We have been bombarded with publications devoted to this belief, applauding the work of those who have flogged their skill and imagination to sell such things as: cat food, stomach powders, detergent, hair restorer, striped toothpaste, aftershave lotion, beforeshave lotion, slimming diets, fattening diets, deodorants, fizzy water, cigarettes, roll-ons, pull-ons and slip-ons. By far the greatest effort of those working in the advertising industry are wasted on these trivial purposes, which contribute little or nothing to our national prosperity. In common with an increasing numer of the general public, we have reached a saturation point at which the high pitched scream of consumer selling is no more than sheer noise. We think that there are other things more worth using our skill and experience on. There are signs for streets and buildings, books and periodicals, catalogues, instructional manuals, industrial photography, educational aids, films, television features, scientific and industrial publications and all the other media through which we promote our trade, our education, our culture and our greater awareness of the world. We do not advocate the abolition of high pressure consumer advertising: this is not feasible. Nor do we want to take any of the fun out of life. But we are proposing a reversal of priorities in favour of the more useful and more lasting forms of communication. We hope that our society will tire of gimmick merchants, status salesmen and hidden persuaders, and that the prior call on our skills will be for worthwhile purposes. With this in mind we propose to share our experience and opinions, and to make them available to colleagues, students and others who may be interested. Geoffrey White William Slack Caroline Rawlence Sam Lambert Ivor Kamlish Gerald Jones Bernard Higton Brian Grimbly John Garner Anthony Froshaug Robin Fior Ivan Dodd Harriet Crowder Anthony Clift Gerry Cinamon Robert Chapman Ray Carpenter Ken Briggs Posted in 1950s to 1970s, first things first manifesto and tagged 1964 manifesto, first things first manifesto on December 11, 2014 by dominiquevarron. Leave a comment Graphic Designers of the 1950’s to 1970’s Well known for his timeless and iconic logos. His work illustrates how some logos can withstand the test of time. If you’d like some more insights into Rand’s thoughts on design watch this supplemental video. Paul Rand Logos George Lois is the mastermind behind a number of timeless advertising campaigns, logo designs, and design concepts. Many of the pieces in this gallery contain supplemental commentary. George Lois Ad Herb Lubalin puts an emphasis on concept in his logo work. In addition to his design work, Lubalin is also known for his typefaces, including Avant Garde. Lubalin Logos Known for the iconic “I Love NY” logo. A celebrated designer whose work includes logos, magazines, packaging, and more. Milton Logo Leave a comment Importance of a strong portfolio and how to strengthen it As a Graphic Design student you may ask yourself pressing questions such as “How do I go about finding a job?” Students close to graduation often have no design experience beyond the academic so how do you find a job in a creative field? Everyone has to start somewhere, and successfully defining that starting point is key. The importance of the portfolio cannot be stressed enough; it is a showcase of the creative professional’s ability. This applies to all creative professionals in the visual arts, from freelancers to in-house designers. The resume is a list of skills, but the portfolio demonstrates these skills. Professionalism in a portfolio is an absolute must: but what does this mean? Steps Towards a Stronger Portfolio Consider the following when crafting a plan for an initial portfolio or for a portfolio review: All portfolio pieces should be professionally presented, both individually and collectively. This means clear, crisp imagery that highlights the work. Do not allow low resolution imagery, visible errors, or poor photography distract from the work. Portfolio pieces should be recent and relevant to the creative professional’s focus. If a creative professional is pursuing a web design position, package design examples are not going to exhibit the proficiency that the employer or client is looking for. There is nothing wrong with strategically preparing a portfolio; this is the professional’s opportunity to show that they’re a good fit. Student work is an acceptable inclusion, but it should be treated as a professional piece. This may mean refining work beyond the classroom. Self-initiated projects are also an acceptable portfolio addition. This is a great opportunity to showcase your creative potential, ideas, and execution. Note that a portfolio is not necessarily a timeline of work. It is a showcase of your best work, not of all your work. Include design narratives, briefly explaining the project (e.g., dimensions, date, any outside resources). Process is often important. Consider the most appropriate delivery method for the applicable creative focus. A website? A PDF? A printed portfolio? The Next Steps After fine tuning the portfolio and branding one’s resume, it’s time to start applying. This can vary, depending on career goals. It can include finding an agent, applying to live job listings, and searching for clients. Think from the employer or client’s perspective. Would you hire a professional with a lackluster portfolio? What would you want to see? It’s important to view one’s work without rose tinted glasses; there is always room for improvement. Ask other creative professionals for honest opinions, and take their criticism seriously. Improvement is a strong step towards professional advancement.

Purpose and Predicament in Popular Music Education The aim of undergraduate popular music education is to provide a space for indulging in pursuit of one’s art and craft. It’s a handful of years to focus on ‘me’. Who am I musically, socially, and emotionally, and how can I turn that into a meaningful life and career? At the institution where I teach, we also offer a master’s degree in popular music performance on which “you can focus on realising your unique identity as a musician”, unencumbered by too many external distractions. This virtuous obsession with the righteous destiny of one’s eminently deserving self is embedded in the essence what it means to be American (since the arrival of European settlers, anyway) and in what it is to be a successful citizen of the wealthy global north. We can trace it back to Aristotle’s ethics of “eudaimonism”, a model for those of us who, like this writer, “are quietly and decisively living their lives according to their own inner imperative”.[1 Along this journey of self-centredness, we are increasingly encouraged to be ever more ‘mindful’, to be exclusively and fully present in the moment. I have instinctively resisted that trend, except sometimes when I am drumming, writing, or teaching (Ruth Whipmann calls mindfulness out as unhelpful in this recent New York Times article), and only then because I can’t help it – I prefer to be distracted, I like to keep multiple plates spinning. But there is something toxic, I think, about this relentless pressure to focus on me, my time and my goals. With notions of musical success – however we might try to convince ourselves otherwise – so intrinsically interwoven with financial, commercial, and competitive ambitions, it starts to feel like so much navel-gazing, selfishness, and greed. There is a lot going in the world around us, and we have a duty to pay more attention to it The most moving success story of a former student to come to my recent attention is not that of the guy I’d taught drums for five years who just debuted at Carnegie Hall; honestly, I fought jealously and resentment when I heard that, albeit tinged with that guiltiest of protestant pleasures, Pride. I was moved to tears last month, however, reading a message from Chloe, a young woman I admired for her innovative, hi-tech “post modern trip hop/psych soul” music. Her email was a long, warm communication, oozing joy, compassion, and humanity, relaying how she had discovered something she finds as fulfilling as making music – her work with refugee children in the Calais ‘jungle’ in northern France (since razed by the authorities, causing the disappearance of over 100 unaccompanied children). After all of the marvellously clever rhetoric, musical insight, and drumming technique that I’ve shared with hundreds of students over 20 years of teaching, Chloe broke through the façade that I and others like me maintain, by actually making a difference to the world outside (although, paradoxically, inside) of our big, comfy bubble full of global capitalism’s victors and benefactors. Of course, she gained personally from her charitable work too – there may be little action that is purely altruistic – but this does not diminish her work, either in music or among refugees. Did I help her on that journey at all? I don’t know. I recall being struck by the words of Cambridge scholar, Mark de Rond, who during a conference presentation at the University of York, warned that in ethnographic research one always ends up betraying someone – either oneself or another. I wonder – with concern, some shame, and yet hope – if the same might be true of working as a professor in popular music education. I never aim to betray any of my students, the college, my responsibilities to my fellow humans, or myself, but I wonder about my priorities, and about those of the system that I love and which we serve. How to achieve the balance I am confident I am missing, is really anyone’s guess. For now, I’m looking to Chloe.

Can You Answer This Word Problem? Rodney Johnson+ , October 14, 2013 Rodney Johnson | Monday, October 14, 2013 >> Do you remember those word problems from Algebra? “If a coffee seller has 300 lbs of coffee at $5 per pound, how many pounds of $9-per-pound coffee should he add so that his blend averages $6 per pound?” That was the sort of thing I lived for in high school. A math problem wrapped up in words was right up my alley, which is probably how I got into this profession of writing about all things financial. Over the years I came to realize that not everyone shares my love of such problems. In fact many people run from them. However, I was not aware until recently that people bad at math are also writing about economics. The trend in part-time jobs is a case in point. Writers from Bloomberg to Moody’s have been addressing the question of part-time job growth over the last month, pointing out that it’s common for part-time jobs to flourish immediately after a recession. This might be true, but for all of those going by establishment figures (which we don’t), the recession formally ended in July of 2009. That’s not recent. In a business cycle, four years and three months is ancient history. There is no way that our economy should be creating a bunch of part-time jobs right now. Instead, we should have had part-timers converting to full-time work more than two years ago, if we retraced what typically happens after a recession. And how many of our recent jobs are part-time? “Not too many,” these bad-at-math people claim. Over the last year only three out of five new jobs created were part time, they say. The current employment structure of our economy has 20% part-time workers. Last time I checked, three out of five is 60%. This sets up a word problem from Algebra! If your existing labor force is 20% part-time, and you add (a very questionable) 1.8 million jobs that are 60% part-time, is part-time employment in your labor force shrinking, growing, or remaining the same? For those of you who hate word problems, I’ll give you a hint: Our labor force is quickly adding low-paying, low-skilled, part-time jobs that are diluting the existing structure of employment. While we’re not a part-time nation by any stretch of the imagination, adding more such jobs – particularly four years after the recession officially ended – is a travesty. We keep talking about such points to highlight the lack of progress in our economy. It’s not that we delight in this sort of thing. We want people to be very clear, not only about the current state of the nation, but also about what lies ahead. If a majority of the jobs we’re creating are part-time, then how are the workers in those jobs supposed to support their families? Or pay taxes? Or grow their savings? The slowly changing nature of our economy today has very long-term implications for the structure of our nation tomorrow. We would all do well to take a minute and consider another, yet related, word problem: If millions of young people join the economy and cannot earn enough income to support themselves, then how will they contribute to support the wellbeing of the millions of Boomers as they retire in the years to come? Rodney

Sensemaking and Analytics for Organizations Politics and counter-politics in project evaluation Ideally, project evaluation decisions should be made on the basis of objective criteria (cost/benefit, strategic value etc.). In reality, however, there is often a political dimension to the process: personal agendas, power games etc. play a significant role in determining how key stakeholders perceive particular projects. In a paper entitled Seven Ways to get Your Favoured IT Project Accepted – Politics in IT Evaluation, Egon Berghout, Menno Nijland and Kevin Grant discuss seven political ploys that managers use to influence IT project selection. This post presents a discussion of these tactics and some strategies that can be used to counter them. The seven tactics Before outlining the tactics it is worth mentioning some of the differences between political and rational justifications for a project. In general, the former are characterised by a lot of rhetoric and platitudes whereas the latter dwell on seemingly objective measures (ROI, cost vs. benefit etc.). Further, political justifications tend to take a “big picture” view as opposed to the detail-oriented focus of the rational ones. Finally, it is worth mentioning that despite their negative connotation, political ploys aren’t always bad – there are situations in which they can lead to greater buy-in and commitment than would be possible with purely rational decision-making methods. With that for background, let’s look at seven commonly used political tactics used to influence IT project decisions. Although the moves described are somewhat stereotypical and rather obvious, I do believe they are used quite often on real-world projects. 1. Designate the project as being strategic: In this classic ploy, the person advocating the project designates a project as being necessary in order to achieve the organisation’s strategic goals. To do this one may only need to show a tenuous connection between the project objectives and the organisation’s strategy. Once a project is deemed as being strategic, it will attract support from the upper echelons of management – no questions asked. 2. The “lights on” ploy: This strategy is to dub the project as an operational necessity. Here the idea is to indulge in scare-mongering by saying things like – “if we don’t do this, we run an 80% chance of system failure within the next year.” Such arguments are often used to justify expensive upgrades to legacy systems. 3. The “phase” tactic: Here the idea is to slice up a project into several smaller sub-projects and pursue them one at a time. This strategy keeps things under the organisation’s financial radar until the project is already well under way, a technique often used by budget-challenged IT managers. 4. Creative analysis: Most organisations have a standard process by which IT projects are evaluated. Typically such processes involve producing metrics to support the position that the project is worth pursuing. The ideas here is to manipulate the analysis to support the preferred decision. Some classic ways of doing this include ignoring negative aspects (certain risks, say) and/or overstating the benefits of desired option. 5. Find a problem for your solution: This strategy is often used to justify introducing a cool new technology into an organisation. The idea here is to create the perception that the organisation has a problem (where there isn’t necessarily one) and that the favoured technology is the only way out of it. See my post on solutions in search problems for a light-hearted look at warning signs that this strategy is in use. 6. No time for a proposal: Here the idea is to claim that it would take too much time to do a proper evaluation (the implication being that the person charged with doing the evaluation is too busy with other important matters). If successful, one can get away with doing a bare-bones evaluation which leaves out all inconvenient facts and details. 7. Old wine in a new bottle: This strategy is employed with unsuccessful project proposals. The idea here is to resubmit the proposal with cosmetic changes in the hope that it gets past the evaluation committee. Sometimes a change in the title and focus of the project is all that’s needed to sneak it past an unwary bunch of evaluators. Of course, as mentioned earlier, there’s a degree of exaggeration in the above: those who sanction projects are not so naïve as to be taken in by the rather obvious strategies mentioned above. Nevertheless, I would agree with Berghout et. al. that more subtle variants of these strategies are sometimes used to push projects that would otherwise be given the chop. Countering politics The first step in countering political ploys such as the ones listed above is to understand when they are being used. The differences between political and rational behaviour were outlined by Richard Daft in his book on organisational theory and design. These are summarised in the table below (adapted from the paper): Organisational Feature relating to decision making Rational response or behaviour Political response or behaviour Similar for all participants – aligned with organisational goals Diversity of goals, depending on preferences and personal agendas Rational, orderly. Haphazard – determined by dominant group Rules/Norms Optimisation – to make the “best” decision (based on objective criteria) Free for all – characterised by conflict Unambiguous and freely available to everyone Ambiguous, can be withheld for strategic reasons Beliefs about cause-effect Known, even if only incompletely Disagreement about cause-effect relationships Basis of decisions Maximisation of utility Bargaining, interplay of interests Organisational efficiency and effectiveness Individual/ group interest Although Daft’s criteria can help identify politically influenced decision-making processes, it is usually pretty obvious when politics takes over. The question then is: what can one do to counter such tactics? The authors suggest the following: 1. Go on the offensive: This tactic hinges on finding holes in the opponents’ arguments and proposals. Another popular way is to attack the credibility of the individuals involved. 2. Develop a support base-: Here the tactic is to get a significant number of people to buy into your idea. Here it is important to focus efforts on getting support from people who are influential in the organisation. 3. Hire a consultant: This is a frequently used tactic, where one hires an “independent” consultant to research and support one’s favoured viewpoint. 4. Quid pro quo: This is the horse-trading scenario where you support the opposing group’s proposal with the understanding that they’ll back you on other matters in return. Clearly these tactics are not those one would admit to using, and indeed, the authors’ language is somewhat tongue-in-cheek when they describe these. That said, it is true that such tactics – or subtle variants thereof – are often used when countering politically motivated decisions regarding the fate of projects. Finally, it is important to realise that those involved in decision making may not even be aware that they are engaging in political behaviour. They may think they are being perfectly rational, but may in reality be subverting the process to suit their own ends. The paper presents a practical view on how politics can manifest itself in project evaluation. The authors’ focus on specific tactics and counter tactics makes the paper particularly relevant for project professionals. Awareness of these tactics will help project managers recognise the ways in which politics can be used to influence decisions as to whether or not projects should be given the go-ahead . In closing it is worth noting the role of politics in collective decision-making of any kind. A group of people charged with making a decision will basically argue it out. Individuals (or sub-groups) will favour certain positions regarding the issue at hand and the group must collectively debate the pros and cons of each position. In such a process there is no restriction on the positions taken and the arguments presented for and against them. The ideas and arguments needn’t be logical or rational – it is enough that someone in the group supports them. In view of this it seems irrational to believe that collective decision making – in IT project evaluation or any other domain – can ever be an entirely rational process.

The Skald as Scholar In addition to writing poetry in modern versions of the traditional Old Norse and Old English meters, I also study those meters from a scholarly perspective. This week, I’m going to the 48th International Congress on Medieval Studies, where I’ll be presenting a paper on the uses of the galdralag meter in the Old Norse poetic corpus. It is a condensed version of a longer paper that takes a broader look at historical galdralag. In the future, I may post the shorter paper here or on my academia.edu page, and I intended to seek publication for the longer, more comprehensive paper. As a brief taste, here are the two introductory paragraphs of the shorter paper. What Goals had Galdralag? A Look at the Uses of the Meter. by Eirik Westcoat Stanza 101 of Snorri Sturluson’s Háttatal is a curiously repetitive piece labeled only with the word galdralag and no other description. The name means “meter of magic” and the use of the form is usually taken to indicate magic in the story being told, but does it really do that, and if so, can anything more be said about it? To answer that question, my study first attempts to identify all the instances of galdralag in the ljóðaháttr poetry of the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. To do that, I use a rule regarding the ending of ljóðaháttr full lines and I combine that with a concept of poetic lists in order to separate genuine instances of galdralag from those that simply appear to be consecutive full lines as a result of printing conventions. Using the resulting list of galdralag instances, I have analyzed them to first determine what themes occur in multiple instances, and then secondly and separately aspects of functionality in their usage. The findings show that notions of magic are well represented in the themes which include runes, fetters, memory charms, and curses. However, it is also seen that not all instances of galdralag refer to magic. The look into functional aspects of clarification, limitation, and expansion reveals a possible vector by which galdralag could have been seen as magical speech by the Old Norse.

February 11, 2017Uncategorized 1 Comment – we are what we eat In the North Sea a Cuvier Beaked Whale (total world population: 100,000) had to be put down because it was starving to death. Afterwards it was found to have ingested at least 30 plastic bags, blocking its intestines. 71% of the surface of the planet is water, and much of it is so deep it has not been unexplored. Yet despite that, in less than 100 years we as a species have managed to dump so much toxic waste into this precious and infinite resource (compared to the space we 7.4 billion occupy), that the life forms who dwell there are now facing extinction because they cannot avoid eating/ being contaminated by all our crap. We meanwhile continue to believe life goes on as normal. This week I have been reading the excellent (and recommended) BROTHER TO THE OX – The Autobiography of a Farmer’s Boy by Fred Kitchen. In it he writes about his experience of agriculture in England at the beginning of the twentieth century. His diet then, to keep him going for twelve hours (or more) a day, six days a week, being: breakfast – boiled bacon + milk, lunch – boiled beef + vegetables + yorkshire pud + ale, evening meal – boiled bacon + bread & butter + tea. All of which was produced on the same farm (except the tea), grown without inputs/ chemicals, and compared to what we eat/ farm today the nearest thing to a sustainable way of life. There was also zero waste/ pollution. Whales still behave live like this, as do all other living things. All except for us. Also this week I finally made a visit to a newly opened supermarket in a nearby town, as it is a luxury when normally all we have in Almonaster la Real is the equivalent of the corner shop. And inside it was indeed like an Aladdin’s Cave. There were literally thousands of different “foods” to buy. Yet instead of being a pleasant experience, my reaction was horror. Because not one of these things was actually what could be considered as real food. Let alone sustainable. It was all tainted/ poisoned in some way. Everything we buy is now. Because that is how food (as a business) is produced now. Even organic. Even the wholesome food we grow ourselves. Our planet is like the sea, polluted by our greed. No-one wants to hear this, or about sea-life dying. They want to continue buying this crap, be able to forget the consequence, and when they get ill rely on the Health Service to make them well again. While the sea fills up with the packaging/ waste until there is nothing left alive there, and the landmass likewise. High time to start doing something positive instead of believing others always know better.

Jesus for all JESUS – VEDAS & BIBLE ​ JESUS CHRIST. Many learned Vedic commentators of India of the past and present agree that animal sacrifices in India are true and actual. Shankara and Ramanuja who were recognized as religious leaders of the past, both recognize the practice of animal sacrifices in ancient time. In India during the Vedic period, saints observed Nara Medhya Yagnam (Cow body sacrifice), and Ashwa Medhya Yagnam (Horse body sacrifice). (Abel offering Sacrifice) The great scholar P.B. Kane has written volumes of books on Indian animal sacrifices. Mahavira and Gowthama Buddha alienated themselves from Vedic animal sacrifices. It was during Buddhist rule in India, animal sacrifices to gods and goddesses were forbidden. But, even then, in many villages and small towns these animal sacrifices are still followed by people. Many religious scholars are struggling to disprove and get away from the fact of ancient animal sacrifices during the Vedic period. They are seeking to write apologetic literatures, giving figurative interpretations to ritual accounts. There is nothing wrong in spiritualizing the sacrifice (Yogna) for Yagna (sacrifice) indeed is the shadow of reality. At the same time one cannot deny the history of animal sacrifices in the Vedic period. One cannot discard the evidences of Rig Vedha 10th mandala, chapter 91 and Yazar Vedha chapters 22, 23. The Bible too presents the accounts of many animal sacrifices, ordained by God under the Law of Moses. But here again, it is mentioned as shadow for the real sacrifice of God himself. The real and supreme sacrifice was to take place upon the cross of Jesus Christ. Christians do not observe animal sacrifices. They believe that the Lord and savior Jesus Christ has fulfilled all animal sacrifices in his one and only sacrifice. My humble opinion is, disciples of the Vedanta would make a grave mistake if they deny the old heritage of animal sacrifices of the Vedic times. It does not mean that these animal sacrifices need to be revived again. All animal sacrifices both in Vedic times in India and in Old Testament times in Palestine are shadows for the real sacrifice of God or Prajapatti (Praja = People; Pathi = god, so God is called god of people). The animal sacrifices are practiced even today in Indian Soil, though it is forbidden by the Government. Every home sacrifice many young lambs for their god. Christians will surely understand that how the Jewish animals sacrifices has a place in Indian soil, because Jews migrated to India especially to South India even before the birth of Jesus Christ. People in India still believe that by sacrificing an animal, the curses and sins of their family will be gone. In Tamil Nadu, India, I have personally witnessed such animal sacrifices and often spoke to the people about the parallels of Old Testament and Indian Vedic scriptures, which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. For many educated people it is an eye opener. Read the book of Moses 2, Leviticus Chapter 1″ 1-9. Jesus is the fulfilment of all animal sacrifices. Hebrews 7: 28; 9:28, 10: 10, 12,14 Atonement for Sins In the beginning, God allowed mankind to sacrifice animals, so as to make them understand that there is atonement for everyone’s sins, as it is written inThertiriya Aranyaka verse 3,Sarvapapa pariharo raktha prokshna mavasyam which means that the atonement is through shedding of blood only. Though the animal’s blood is not a substitute, it was expected that man would repent and turn away from his sinful ways by seeing the animal, which is being sacrificed on his behalf. But mankind started practicing it just as a ritual, and thus came into condemnation. If mankind were to be saved from this predicament, as Thertiriya Aranyaka 3rd verse says again, “thad raktham Paramatmena punyadana baliyagam” which means that-blood has to be through the sacrifice of God himself. The Purusha Sukta says, there is no other way other than the sacrifice of Purusha Prajapati.Purushao vava yagna(Chandokya Upanishad 3.16.1), God, the Purusha is the sacrifice. Not only by acknowledging but also by accepting this sacrifice as one’s own, and for one’s own sake, the identity of one’s self with the Divine Self is achieved. Vedic requirements for the Sacrificial Purusha The Rig Veda specifies ten important requirements for the sacrificial Purusha. 1. Should be without a blemish (Nishikalanga Purusha) Kaatyaayana Srautasootram describes in chapter six, that the water and fire were to be used for the purification of the animals, since blameless (defect less) animals are not available in this world. 2. The Purusha has to be separated from others While sacrificing the horse, the sacrificial horse is always separated from other horses. A bush of thorns is usually placed on the head of the horse to inform the people that this horse is separated from the sacrifice. Also the head of the horse is considered to represent the Purusha (Sathapatha Brahmana 13th kanda, 6.22). 3. The Purusha has to be rejected by his own people In Itareya Brahmana it is written that the sacrificial animal should be rejected by its father, mother, brother, sister and friends (2.16). 4. The Yagna Purusha has to suffer silently Rig Veda 5.46.1 says, “Like a horse I have yoked myself, well knowing to the pole. I seek neither release nor turning back”. 5. The Purusha has to be tied to a post In Satapata Brahmana it is written, never do they immolate an animal without tying it to a pole. “Na varute yapaat pasum alabhate kadachana (III -7.3.1)”. It is important to tie the animal to a sacrificial pillar before it is sacrificed. This pillar is called “Yupastampa (sacrificial pillar)”, which has now become a flag mast. 6. The blood of the sacrificial man should be shed Bruhad Aranyaka Upanishad (3.9.28.2) says, “Tvacha evasya rudhiram, prasyandi tvacha utpatah, Tasmaattadarunnaat praiti, raso vrukshadi vahataat”, As the sap comes out of the cut tree, blood comes out of the Purusha who is cut. 7. The sacrificed animal’s bones should not be broken In Itareya Brahmana 2.6 it is stated that the sacrificer separates the twenty-six ribs of the animal without breaking them 8. The sacrificed Purusha should return to life The Bruhad Aranyaka Upanishad says, “Yad Vruksho vrukshano rohati, mulannavatharah punah, martyah svinmrutyuna vruknah, kasmaanmulaat prarohati, Retasa iti maavocata, jivatastat praja yate, dhanaruh a iva vai crau vruksho, anjasaa pretya sammbhavha”, which means, if the tree is cut, it will grow again from its root. But after the man (martyah) was cut off by death, from which root does he come forth? Do not say that has is from the ratas (seed or semen) because ratas comes from the one who lives. Remember this man is dead. But this man (Purusha) comes alive, on his own. 9. The flesh of the Purusha should be eaten by his saints In Satpata Brahmana(5.1.1.1,2) we find that Prajapati gave Himself up to them, thus the sacrifice became theirs, and indeed the sacrifice is the food of the gods (saints). 10. The sacrifice is for all Verse 8 in Purusha Sukta explains, Tasmaad yagnatsarvahutah, pasuntamscakre voayaryaa, naananyaan gramyaasca ye. By that sacrifice, all these originated: sprinkled ghee and all kinds of animals of the sky, forest and country. The significance of sprinkled ghee represents the original sacrifice. Verse 9 of Purusha Sukta says: Tasmaad yagnat sarvahuta, nucha samaari jagnire, Chandaamsi jagnine, tasmaad yajustas naada jaayatah. From that sacrifice, Purusha offered everything that he had, including the Rig, Sama, Yazur Vedas and the Chandas (sacred writings). How meticulously these Vedic requirements have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ of Nazareth 1. Jesus Christ was without any blemish In the Old Testament Bible it is written, “Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf”(Levi 22:20). “Whether male or female, present before the Lord an animal without defect ” (Levi 3:1). The New Testament says, “In Him (Jesus Christ) there was no sin”(1 John 3:5). 2. Jesus Christ was separated from others The Bible says, “the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe” John 19:2, thus separating Him from others. 3. Jesus Christ was rejected by his own people The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “He (Jesus Christ) was despised and rejected and they shouted to crucify him”. Jesus said on the cross, “Eloi Iama sabaktani”, which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mathew 27:46). 4. Jesus Christ suffered silently “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the Shearer’s is silent” (Isaiah 56:7). 5. Jesus Christ was tied Ps. 118:27 says, “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar”. 6. Jesus Christ’s blood was shed This was fulfilled in Jesus Christ when he was nailed to the cross. “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but entered the most holy place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Without shedding blood there is no redemption” (Heb 9:12,22). 7. Jesus Christ’s bones were not broken In the Bible, Exodus 12:46 says that the bones of the animal should not be broken. Three hours after crucifixion, “when they (soldiers) came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs”(John 19:33). 8. Jesus Christ rose again from the dead “Him (Jesus Christ) God raised up the third day, and showed him openly” (Acts 10:40). “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept”(1Cor. 15:20). 9. Jesus Christ gave his body to be eaten At the last supper Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat; this is my body. Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the forgiveness of sins” (Mat. 26: 26,27). 10. Jesus Christ was given to all “He who did not spare His own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) God’s plan for Moksha For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Romans 3:23. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6. For He has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21. The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 6:23. And according to the law almost all things are purged with the blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.Hebrews 9:22. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10. That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9. Or do you underestimate His wealth of kindness and tolerance and enduring patience, unmindful that God’s kindness is meant to lead you toward repentance? But in line with your obstinacy and impenitence of heart you are treasuring up for yourself anger for the day of anger and the revealing of the righteous judgment of God, who will reward each person according to his deeds. Romans 2:4-6. For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11. So today if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart, but come boldly unto the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and pardon. Hebrews 3:15 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.

Cutaneous condition A cutaneous condition is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands.[1] The major function of this system is as a barrier against the external environment.[2] Conditions of the human integumentary system constitute a broad spectrum of diseases, also known as dermatoses, as well as many nonpathologic states (like, in certain circumstances, melanonychia and racquet nails).[3][4] While only a small number of skin diseases account for most visits to the physician, thousands of skin conditions have been described.[5] Classification of these conditions often presents many nosological challenges, since underlying causes and pathogenetics are often not known.[6][7] Therefore, most current textbooks present a classification based on location (for example, conditions of the mucous membrane), morphology (chronic blistering conditions), cause (skin conditions resulting from physical factors), and so on.[8][9] Clinically, the diagnosis of any particular skin condition is made by gathering pertinent information regarding the presenting skin lesion(s), including the location (such as arms, head, legs), symptoms (pruritus, pain), duration (acute or chronic), arrangement (solitary, generalized, annular, linear), morphology (macules, papules, vesicles), and color (red, blue, brown, black, white, yellow).[10] The diagnosis of many conditions often also requires a skin biopsy which yields histologic information[11][12] that can be correlated with the clinical presentation and any laboratory data.[13][14] The introduction of cutaneous ultrasound has allowed the detection of cutaneous tumors, inflammatory processes, nail disorders and hair diseases.[15] 1 Layer of skin involved 1.1 Epidermis 1.2 Dermis 1.3 Subcutaneous tissue 2 Diseases of the skin 4 Diagnoses 5 Lesions 5.1 Primary lesions 5.2 Secondary lesions 5.4 Distribution 5.5 Other related terms 6 Histopathology Layer of skin involved[edit] Main article: Integumentary system The skin weighs an average of 4 kg (8.8 lb), covers an area of 2 m2 (22 sq ft), and is made of three distinct layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.[1] The two main types of human skin are glabrous skin, the nonhairy skin on the palms and soles (also referred to as the "palmoplantar" surfaces), and hair-bearing skin.[16] Within the latter type, hairs in structures called pilosebaceous units have a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and associated arrector pili muscle.[17] In the embryo, the epidermis, hair, and glands are from the ectoderm, which is chemically influenced by the underlying mesoderm that forms the dermis and subcutaneous tissues.[18][19][20] Epidermis[edit] Main article: Epidermis (skin) The epidermis is the most superficial layer of skin, a squamous epithelium with several strata: the stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, and stratum basale.[21] Nourishment is provided to these layers via diffusion from the dermis, since the epidermis is without direct blood supply.[22] The epidermis contains four cell types: keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and Merkel cells. Of these, keratinocytes are the major component, constituting roughly 95% of the epidermis.[16] This stratified squamous epithelium is maintained by cell division within the stratum basale, in which differentiating cells slowly displace outwards through the stratum spinosum to the stratum corneum, where cells are continually shed from the surface.[16] In normal skin, the rate of production equals the rate of loss; about two weeks are needed for a cell to migrate from the basal cell layer to the top of the granular cell layer, and an additional two weeks to cross the stratum corneum.[23] Dermis[edit] Main article: Dermis The dermis is the layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue, and comprises two sections, the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis.[24] The superficial papillary dermis interdigitates with the overlying rete ridges of the epidermis, between which the two layers interact through the basement membrane zone.[24] Structural components of the dermis are collagen, elastic fibers, and ground substance also called extra fibrillar matrix.[24] Within these components are the pilosebaceous units, arrector pili muscles, and the eccrine and apocrine glands.[21] The dermis contains two vascular networks that run parallel to the skin surface—one superficial and one deep plexus—which are connected by vertical communicating vessels.[21][25] The function of blood vessels within the dermis is fourfold: to supply nutrition, to regulate temperature, to modulate inflammation, and to participate in wound healing.[26][27] Main article: Subcutaneous tissue The subcutaneous tissue is a layer of fat between the dermis and underlying fascia.[5] This tissue may be further divided into two components, the actual fatty layer, or panniculus adiposus, and a deeper vestigial layer of muscle, the panniculus carnosus.[16] The main cellular component of this tissue is the adipocyte, or fat cell.[5] The structure of this tissue is composed of septal (i.e. linear strands) and lobular compartments, which differ in microscopic appearance.[21] Functionally, the subcutaneous fat insulates the body, absorbs trauma, and serves as a reserve energy source.[5] Diseases of the skin[edit] For a comprehensive list, see List of cutaneous conditions. Skin diseases deaths per million persons in 2012 Diseases of the skin include skin infections and skin neoplasms (including skin cancer).[28] In 1572, Geronimo Mercuriali of Forlì, Italy, completed De morbis cutaneis (translated "On the diseases of the skin"). It is considered the first scientific work dedicated to dermatology. Diagnoses[edit] The physical examination of the skin and its appendages, as well as the mucous membranes, forms the cornerstone of an accurate diagnosis of cutaneous conditions.[29] Most of these conditions present with cutaneous surface changes termed "lesions," which have more or less distinct characteristics.[30] Often proper examination will lead the physician to obtain appropriate historical information and/or laboratory tests that are able to confirm the diagnosis.[29] Upon examination, the important clinical observations are the (1) morphology, (2) configuration, and (3) distribution of the lesion(s).[29] With regard to morphology, the initial lesion that characterizes a condition is known as the "primary lesion," and identification of such a lesions is the most important aspect of the cutaneous examination.[30] Over time, these primary lesions may continue to develop or be modified by regression or trauma, producing "secondary lesions."[1] However, with that being stated, the lack of standardization of basic dermatologic terminology has been one of the principal barriers to successful communication among physicians in describing cutaneous findings.[21] Nevertheless, there are some commonly accepted terms used to describe the macroscopic morphology, configuration, and distribution of skin lesions, which are listed below.[30] Lesions[edit] Primary lesions[edit] Chigger bites on human skin showing characteristic welts Macule and patch Papule and plaque Vesicles and bulla Fissures, erosions and ulcers A pustule on the cheek Macule: A macule is a change in surface color, without elevation or depression and, therefore, nonpalpable, well or ill-defined,[31] variously sized, but generally considered less than either 5[31] or 10 mm in diameter at the widest point.[30] Patch: A patch is a large macule equal to or greater than either 5 or 10 mm across,[30] depending on one's definition of a macule.[1] Patches may have some subtle surface change, such as a fine scale or wrinkling, but although the consistency of the surface is changed, the lesion itself is not palpable.[29] Papule: A papule is a circumscribed, solid elevation of skin with no visible fluid, varying in size from a pinhead to less than either 5[31] or 10 mm in diameter at the widest point.[30] Plaque: A plaque has been described as a broad papule, or confluence of papules equal to or greater than 1 cm,[30] or alternatively as an elevated, plateau-like lesion that is greater in its diameter than in its depth.[29] Nodule: A nodule is morphologically similar to a papule in that it is also a palpaple spherical lesion less than 1 cm in diameter. However, it is differentiated by being centered deeper in the dermis or subcutis. Tumour: Similar to a nodule but larger than 1 cm in diameter. Vesicle: A vesicle is small blister,[32] a circumscribed, fluid-containing, epidermal elevation generally considered less than either 5[31] or 10 mm in diameter at the widest point.[30] The fluid is clear serous fluid. Bulla: A bulla is a large blister,[32] a rounded or irregularly shaped blister containing serous or seropurulent fluid, equal to or greater than either 5[31] or 10 mm,[30] depending on one's definition of a vesicle.[1] Pustule: A pustule is a small elevation of the skin containing cloudy[29] or purulent material (pus) usually consisting of necrotic inflammatory cells.[30] These can be either white or red. Cyst: A cyst is an epithelial-lined cavity containing liquid, semi-solid, or solid material.[31] Erosion: An erosion is a discontinuity of the skin exhibiting incomplete loss of the epidermis,[33] a lesion that is moist, circumscribed, and usually depressed.[21] Ulcer: An ulcer is a discontinuity of the skin exhibiting complete loss of the epidermis and often portions of the dermis and even subcutaneous fat.[33] Fissure: A fissure is a crack in the skin that is usually narrow but deep.[29] Wheal: A wheal is a rounded or flat-topped, pale red papule or plaque that is characteristically evanescent, disappearing within 24 to 48 hours. The temporary raised bubble of taut skin on the site of a properly-delivered intradermal injection is also called a welt, with the ID injection process itself frequently referred to as simply "raising a wheal" in medical texts.[31] Telangiectasia: A telangiectasia represents an enlargement of superficial blood vessels to the point of being visible.[29] Burrow: A burrow appears as a slightly elevated, grayish, tortuous line in the skin, and is caused by burrowing organisms.[29][30] Secondary lesions[edit] Scale: dry or greasy laminated masses of keratin[30] that represent thickened stratum corneum.[29] Crust: dried serum, pus, or blood usually mixed with epithelial and sometimes bacterial debris.[31] Lichenification: epidermal thickening characterized by visible and palpable thickening of the skin with accentuated skin markings.[1] Excoriation: a punctate or linear abrasion produced by mechanical means (often scratching), usually involving only the epidermis, but commonly reaching the papillary dermis.[30] Induration: dermal thickening causing the cutaneous surface to feel thicker and firmer.[29] Atrophy: refers to a loss of tissue, and can be epidermal, dermal, or subcutaneous.[30] With epidermal atrophy, the skin appears thin, translucent, and wrinkled.[29] Dermal or subcutaneous atrophy is represented by depression of the skin.[29] Maceration: softening and turning white of the skin due to being consistently wet. Umbilication: formation of a depression at the top of a papule, vesicle, or pustule.[34] Phyma: A tubercle on any external part of the body, such as in phymatous rosacea Configuration[edit] "Configuration" refers to how lesions are locally grouped ("organized"), which contrasts with how they are distributed (see next section). Agminate: in clusters Annular or circinate: ring-shaped Arciform or arcuate: arc-shaped Digitate: with finger-like projections Discoid or nummular: round or disc-shaped Figurate: with a particular shape Guttate: resembling drops Gyrate: coiled or spiral-shaped Herpetiform: resembling herpes Mammillated: with rounded, breast-like projections Reticular or reticulated: resembling a net Serpiginous: with a wavy border Stellate: star-shaped Targetoid: resembling a bullseye Verrucous: wart-like "Distribution" refers to how lesions are localized. They may be confined to a single area (a patch) or may exist in several places. Some distributions correlate with the means by which a given area becomes affected. For example, contact dermatitis correlates with locations where allergen has elicited an allergic immune response. Varicella zoster virus is known to recur (after its initial presentation as chicken pox) as herpes zoster ("shingles"). Chicken pox appears nearly everywhere on the body, but herpes zoster tends to follow one or two dermatomes; for example, the eruptions may appear along the bra line, on either or both sides of the patient. Symmetric: one side mirrors the other Flexural: on the front of the fingers Extensor: on the back of the fingers Intertriginous: in an area where two skin areas may touch or rub together Morbilliform: resembling measles Palmoplantar: on the palm of the hand or bottom of the foot Periorificial: around an orifice such as the mouth Periungual/subungual: around or under a fingernail or toenail Blaschkoid: following the path of Blaschko's lines in the skin Photodistributed: in places where sunlight reaches Zosteriform or dermatomal: associated with a particular nerve Other related terms[edit] Collarette Comedo Eczema (a type of dermatitis) Evanescent (lasting less than 24 hours) Livedo Erythema (redness) Horn (a cell type) Poikiloderma Histopathology[edit] Hyperkeratosis Parakeratosis Hypergranulosis Acanthosis Papillomatosis Dyskeratosis Acantholysis Spongiosis Hydropic swelling Exocytosis Vacuolization Ulceration Lentiginous ^ a b c d e f Miller, Jeffrey H.; Marks, James G. (2006). Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. Saunders. ISBN 1-4160-3185-5. ^ Lippens, S; Hoste, E; Vandenabeele, P; Agostinis, P; Declercq, W (April 2009). "Cell death in the skin". Apoptosis. 14 (4): 549–69. PMID 19221876. doi:10.1007/s10495-009-0324-z. ^ King, L.S. (1954). "What Is Disease?". Philosophy of Science. 21 (3): 193–203. doi:10.1086/287343. ^ Bluefarb, Samuel M. (1984). Dermatology. Upjohn Co. ISBN 0-89501-004-6. ^ a b c d Lynch, Peter J. (1994). Dermatology. Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-683-05252-7. ^ Tilles G, Wallach D (1989). "[The history of nosology in dermatology]". Ann Dermatol Venereol (in French). 116 (1): 9–26. PMID 2653160. ^ Lambert WC, Everett MA (October 1981). "The nosology of parapsoriasis". J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 5 (4): 373–95. PMID 7026622. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(81)70100-2. ^ Jackson R (1977). "Historical outline of attempts to classify skin diseases". Can Med Assoc J. 116 (10): 1165–8. PMC 1879511 . PMID 324589. ^ Copeman PW (February 1995). "The creation of global dermatology". J R Soc Med. 88 (2): 78–84. PMC 1295100 . PMID 7769599. ^ Fitzpatrick, Thomas B.; Klauss Wolff; Wolff, Klaus Dieter; Johnson, Richard R.; Suurmond, Dick; Richard Suurmond (2005). Fitzpatrick's color atlas and synopsis of clinical dermatology. McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division. ISBN 0-07-144019-4. ^ Werner B (August 2009). "[Skin biopsy and its histopathologic analysis: Why? What for? How? Part I]". An Bras Dermatol (in Portuguese). 84 (4): 391–5. PMID 19851671. ^ Werner B (October 2009). "[Skin biopsy with histopathologic analysis: why? what for? how? part II]". An Bras Dermatol (in Portuguese). 84 (5): 507–13. PMID 20098854. doi:10.1590/S0365-05962009000500010. ^ Xiaowei Xu; Elder, David A.; Rosalie Elenitsas; Johnson, Bernett L.; Murphy, George E. (2008). Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-7363-6. ^ Weedon's Skin Pathology, 2-Volume Set: Expert Consult – Online and Print. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 2009. ISBN 0-7020-3941-1. ^ Fernando Alfageme, Cerezo E, Roustan G. "Real-Time Elastography in Inflammatory Skin Diseases: A Primer Ultrasound" in Medicine & Biology, Volume 41, Issue 4, Supplement, April 2015, Pages S82-S83 ^ Paus R, Cotsarelis G (1999). "The biology of hair follicles". N Engl J Med. 341 (7): 491–7. PMID 10441606. doi:10.1056/NEJM199908123410706. ^ Goldsmith, Lowell A. (1983). Biochemistry and physiology of the skin. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-261253-0. ^ Fuchs E (February 2007). "Scratching the surface of skin development". Nature. 445 (7130): 834–42. PMC 2405926 . PMID 17314969. doi:10.1038/nature05659. ^ Fuchs E, Horsley V (April 2008). "More than one way to skin .". Genes Dev. 22 (8): 976–85. PMC 2732395 . PMID 18413712. doi:10.1101/gad.1645908. ^ a b c d e f Wolff, Klaus Dieter; et al. (2008). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 0-07-146690-8. ^ "Skin Anatomy". Medscape. Retrieved 3 June 2013. ^ Bolognia, Jean L.; et al. (2007). Dermatology. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 1-4160-2999-0. ^ a b c Rapini, Ronald P. (2005). Practical dermatopathology. Elsevier Mosby. ISBN 0-323-01198-5. ^ Grant-Kels, JM (2007). Color Atlas of Dermatopathology (Dermatology: Clinical & Basic Science). Informa Healthcare. p. 163. ISBN 0-8493-3794-1. ^ Ryan, T (1991). "Cutaneous Circulation". In Goldsmith, Lowell A. Physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of the skin (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1019. ISBN 0-19-505612-4. ^ Swerlick, RA; Lawley, TJ (January 1993). "Role of microvascular endothelial cells in inflammation". J. Invest. Dermatol. 100 (1): 111S–115S. PMID 8423379. doi:10.1038/jid.1993.33. ^ "ecognizing Neoplastic Skin Lesions: A Photo Guide". American Family Physician. Retrieved 3 June 2013. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Callen, Jeffrey (2000). Color atlas of dermatology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-8256-1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n James, William D.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0. ^ a b c d e f g h Fitzpatrick, Thomas B.; Klauss Wolff; Wolff, Klaus Dieter; Johnson, Richard R.; Suurmond, Dick; Richard Suurmond (2005). Fitzpatrick's color atlas and synopsis of clinical dermatology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division. ISBN 0-07-144019-4. ^ a b Elsevier, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, Elsevier. ^ a b Cotran, Ramzi S.; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Nelso Fausto; Robbins, Stanley L.; Abbas, Abul K. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1. ^ "Description of Skin Lesions". The Merk Manual. Retrieved 3 June 2013. v Juvenile plantar dermatosis Nummular eczema Nutritional deficiency eczema Sulzberger–Garbe syndrome Xerotic eczema Pruritus/Itch/ Lichen simplex chronicus/Prurigo nodularis by location: Pruritus ani Pruritus scroti Scalp pruritus Drug-induced pruritus Hydroxyethyl starch-induced pruritus Senile pruritus Aquagenic pruritus Aquadynia Adult blaschkitis due to liver disease Biliary pruritus Cholestatic pruritus Prion pruritus Prurigo pigmentosa Prurigo simplex Puncta pruritica Uremic pruritus substances taken internally: Bromoderma Fixed drug reaction Nummular dermatitis Pityriasis alba Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji Disorders of skin appendages (L60–L75, 703–706) thickness: Onychogryphosis Onychauxis color: Beau's lines Yellow nail syndrome Leukonychia Azure lunula shape: Koilonychia Nail clubbing behavior: Onychotillomania Onychophagia other: Ingrown nail Anonychia ungrouped: Paronychia Chevron nail Congenital onychodysplasia of the index fingers Half and half nails Hapalonychia Hook nail Ingrown nail Lichen planus of the nails Longitudinal erythronychia Malalignment of the nail plate Median nail dystrophy Mees' lines Melanonychia Muehrcke's lines Nail–patella syndrome Onychoatrophy Onychomadesis Onychomatricoma Onychophosis Onychoptosis defluvium Onychorrhexis Onychoschizia Platonychia Pincer nails Plummer's nail Psoriatic nails Pterygium inversum unguis Pterygium unguis Purpura of the nail bed Racquet nail Red lunulae Shell nail syndrome Splinter hemorrhage Spotted lunulae Staining of the nail plate Stippled nails Subungual hematoma Terry's nails Twenty-nail dystrophy Hair loss/ noncicatricial alopecia: Alopecia areata totalis Ophiasis Androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness) Hypotrichosis Lichen planopilaris Trichorrhexis nodosa Alopecia neoplastica Alopecia mucinosa cicatricial alopecia: Pseudopelade of Brocq Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia Pressure alopecia Traumatic alopecia Tumor alopecia Hot comb alopecia Perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens Graham-Little syndrome Folliculitis decalvans ungrouped: Triangular alopecia Frontal fibrosing alopecia Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis Hypertrichosis localised generalised X-linked Prepubertal Acneiform Acne conglobata Acne miliaris necrotica Tropical acne Infantile acne/Neonatal acne Excoriated acne Acne medicamentosa (e.g., steroid acne) Halogen acne Iododerma Bromoderma Chloracne Oil acne Tar acne Acne cosmetica Occupational acne Acne aestivalis Acne mechanica Acne with facial edema Pomade acne Acne necrotica Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei Perioral dermatitis Granulomatous perioral dermatitis Rhinophyma Blepharophyma Gnathophyma Metophyma Otophyma Lupoid rosacea Erythrotelangiectatic rosacea Glandular rosacea Gram-negative rosacea Steroid rosacea Persistent edema of rosacea Rosacea conglobata Periorificial dermatitis Pyoderma faciale Granulomatous facial dermatitis Idiopathic facial aseptic granuloma Periorbital dermatitis SAPHO syndrome Follicular cysts "Sebaceous cyst" Epidermoid cyst Trichilemmal cyst Steatocystoma Folliculitis nares perforans Tufted folliculitis Pseudofolliculitis barbae Recurrent palmoplantar hidradenitis Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica of Bazex Acroosteolysis Bubble hair deformity Disseminate and recurrent infundibulofolliculitis Erosive pustular dermatitis of the scalp Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli Hair casts Hair follicle nevus Intermittent hair–follicle dystrophy Keratosis pilaris atropicans Kinking hair Koenen's tumor Lichen spinulosus Loose anagen syndrome Menkes kinky hair syndrome Monilethrix Parakeratosis pustulosa Pili (Pili annulati Pili bifurcati Pili multigemini Pili pseudoannulati Pili torti) Pityriasis amiantacea Plica neuropathica Poliosis Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome Setleis syndrome Traumatic anserine folliculosis Trichomegaly Trichomycosis axillaris Trichorrhexis (Trichorrhexis invaginata Trichorrhexis nodosa) Trichostasis spinulosa Wooly hair Wooly hair nevus Eccrine Miliaria Colloid milium Miliaria crystalline Miliaria profunda Miliaria pustulosa Miliaria rubra Occlusion miliaria Postmiliarial hypohidrosis Granulosis rubra nasi Ross’ syndrome Palmoplantar Apocrine Chromhidrosis Fox–Fordyce disease Sebaceous Sebaceous hyperplasia Diseases of the skin and appendages by morphology Epidermal acrochordon squamous-cell carcinoma Merkel-cell carcinoma nevus sebaceous trichoepithelioma Pigmented lentigo Dermal and subcutaneous epidermal inclusion cyst dermatofibroma (benign fibrous histiocytoma) lipoma xanthoma infantile digital fibromatosis granular cell tumor leiomyoma lymphangioma circumscriptum myxoid cyst Eczematous stasis dermatitis lichen simplex chronicus Darier's disease glucagonoma syndrome langerhans cell histiocytosis pemphigus foliaceus Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome tinea (corporis cruris pedis manuum faciei) pityriasis rosea secondary syphilis pityriasis rubra pilaris parapsoriasis ichthyosis bullous impetigo acute contact dermatitis pemphigus vulgaris porphyria cutanea tarda epidermolysis bullosa simplex Papular insect bite reactions transient acantholytic dermatosis lichen nitidus pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta Pustular gonococcemia dermatophyte coccidioidomycosis subcorneal pustular dermatosis Hypopigmented postinflammatory hyperpigmentation idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis hypopigmented mycosis fungoides Blanchable viral exanthems toxic erythema carcinoid syndrome fixed drug eruption erythema (multiforme migrans gyratum repens annulare centrifugum ab igne) Nonblanchable Macular thrombocytopenic purpura actinic/solar purpura Indurated scleroderma/morphea lichen sclerosis et atrophicus necrobiosis lipoidica Mucous oral candidiasis mucous membrane pemphigoid systemic histoplasmosis

Network-attached storage (NAS) is a file-level computer data storage server connected to a computer network providing data access to a heterogeneous group of clients. NAS [1] is specialized for serving files either by its hardware, software, or configuration. It is often manufactured as a computer appliance – a purpose-built specialized computer.[nb 1] NAS systems are networked appliances which contain one or more storage drives, often arranged into logical, redundant storage containers or RAID. Network-attached storage removes the responsibility of file serving from other servers on the network. They typically provide access to files using network file sharing protocols such as NFS, SMB/CIFS, or AFP. From the mid-1990s, NAS devices began gaining popularity as a convenient method of sharing files among multiple computers. Potential benefits of dedicated network-attached storage, compared to general-purpose servers also serving files, include faster data access, easier administration, and simple configuration.[2] The hard disk drives with "NAS" in their name are functionally similar to other drives but may have different firmware, vibration tolerance, or power dissipation to make them more suitable for use in RAID arrays, which are sometimes used in NAS implementations.[3] For example, some NAS versions of drives support a command extension to allow extended error recovery to be disabled. In a non-RAID application, it may be important for a disk drive to go to great lengths to successfully read a problematic storage block, even if it takes several seconds. In an appropriately configured RAID array, a single bad block on a single drive can be recovered completely via the redundancy encoded across the RAID set. If a drive spends several seconds executing extensive retries it might cause the RAID controller to flag the drive as "down" whereas if it simply replied promptly that the block of data had a checksum error, the RAID controller would use the redundant data on the other drives to correct the error and continue without any problem. Such a "NAS" SATA hard disk drive can be used as an internal PC hard drive, without any problems or adjustments needed, as it simply supports additional options and may possibly be built to a higher quality standard (particularly if accompanied by a higher quoted MTBF figure and higher price) than a regular consumer drive. A NAS unit is a computer connected to a network that provides only file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. Although it may technically be possible to run other software on a NAS unit, it is usually not designed to be a general-purpose server. For example, NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and configured over the network, often using a browser.[4] A full-featured operating system is not needed on a NAS device, so often a stripped-down operating system is used. For example, FreeNAS or NAS4Free, both open source NAS solutions designed for commodity PC hardware, are implemented as a stripped-down version of FreeBSD. NAS systems contain one or more hard disk drives, often arranged into logical, redundant storage containers or RAID. Vs. DAS[edit] When both are served over the network, NAS could have better performance than DAS, because the NAS device can be tuned precisely for file serving which is less likely to happen on a server responsible for other processing. Both NAS and DAS can have various amount of cache memory, which greatly affects performance. When comparing use of NAS with use of local (non-networked) DAS, the performance of NAS depends mainly on the speed of and congestion on the network. NAS is generally not as customizable in terms of hardware (CPU, memory, storage components) or software (extensions, plug-ins, additional protocols) as a general-purpose server supplied with DAS. Vs. SAN[edit] Visual differentiation of NAS vs. SAN use in network architecture NAS provides both storage and a file system. This is often contrasted with SAN (Storage Area Network), which provides only block-based storage and leaves file system concerns on the "client" side. SAN protocols include Fibre Channel, iSCSI, ATA over Ethernet (AoE) and HyperSCSI. One way to loosely conceptualize the difference between a NAS and a SAN is that NAS appears to the client OS (operating system) as a file server (the client can map network drives to shares on that server) whereas a disk available through a SAN still appears to the client OS as a disk, visible in disk and volume management utilities (along with client's local disks), and available to be formatted with a file system and mounted. Despite their differences, SAN and NAS are not mutually exclusive, and may be combined as a SAN-NAS hybrid, offering both file-level protocols (NAS) and block-level protocols (SAN) from the same system. An example of this is Openfiler, a free software product running on Linux-based systems. A shared disk file system can also be run on top of a SAN to provide filesystem services. In the early 1980s, the "Newcastle Connection" by Brian Randell and his colleagues at Newcastle University demonstrated and developed remote file access across a set of UNIX machines.[5][6] Novell's NetWare server operating system and NCP protocol was released in 1983. Following the Newcastle Connection, Sun Microsystems' 1984 release of NFS allowed network servers to share their storage space with networked clients. 3Com and Microsoft would develop the LAN Manager software and protocol to further this new market. 3Com's 3Server and 3+Share software was the first purpose-built server (including proprietary hardware, software, and multiple disks) for open systems servers. Inspired by the success of file servers from Novell, IBM, and Sun, several firms developed dedicated file servers. While 3Com was among the first firms to build a dedicated NAS for desktop operating systems, Auspex Systems was one of the first to develop a dedicated NFS server for use in the UNIX market. A group of Auspex engineers split away in the early 1990s to create the integrated NetApp filer, which supported both the Windows CIFS and the UNIX NFS protocols, and had superior scalability and ease of deployment. This started the market for proprietary NAS devices now led by NetApp and EMC Celerra. Starting in the early 2000s, a series of startups emerged offering alternative solutions to single filer solutions in the form of clustered NAS – Spinnaker Networks (acquired by NetApp in February 2004), Exanet (acquired by Dell in February 2010), Gluster (acquired by RedHat in 2011), ONStor (acquired by LSI in 2009), IBRIX (acquired by HP), Isilon (acquired by EMC – November 2010), PolyServe (acquired by HP in 2007), and Panasas, to name a few. In 2009, NAS vendors (notably CTERA Networks[7][8] and NETGEAR) began to introduce online backup solutions integrated in their NAS appliances, for online disaster recovery.[9][10] Implementation[edit] Computer based NAS – Using a computer (Server level or a personal computer), installs FTP/SMB/AFP... software server. The power consumption of this NAS type is the largest, but its functions are the most powerful. Some large NAS manufacturers like Synology, QNAP, Thecus and ASUStor make these types of devices. Max FTP throughput speed varies by computer CPU and amount of RAM. Embedded system based NAS – Using an ARM or MIPS based processor architecture and a real-time operating system (RTOS) or an embedded operating system to run a NAS server. The power consumption of this NAS type is fair, and functions in the NAS can fit most end-user requirements. Marvell, Oxford, and Storlink make chipsets for this type of NAS. Max FTP throughput varies from 20 MB/s to 120 MB/s. Uses[edit] ^ "NETGEAR Launches First NAS-Linked Online Disaster Recovery for Consumers and SMBs" (Press release). Reuters. Retrieved 2009-10-21. ^ "CTERA Networks Launches, Introduces Cloud Attached Storage" (Press release). Reuters. Retrieved 2009-10-21. ^ "File Server". v Fundamental storage technologies Semiconductor memory Magnetic storage Paper data storage Uncommon storage technologies Storage area network Magnetic storage media Wire (1898) Tape (1928) Drum (1932) Ferrite core (1949) Hard disk (1956) Stripe card (1956) MICR (1956) Thin film (1962) CRAM (1962) Twistor (~1968) Floppy disk (1969) Bubble (~1970) Racetrack (2008) Optical storage media Compact disc (1982) CD-R (1988) CD-RW (1997) DVD (1995) DVD-R (1997) DVD-RW (1999) DVD+RW (2001) DVD+R (2002) DVD+R DL (2004) DVD-R DL (2005) BD-R (2006) BD-RE (2006) Microform (1870) Optical tape (20th century) Optical disc (20th century) LaserDisc (1978) WORM (1979) UDO (2003) ProData (2003) HD DVD (2006) Magneto-optic Kerr effect (1877) MO disc (1980s) MiniDisc (1992) Hi-MD (2004) Optical Assist Laser turntable (1986) Floptical (1991) Super DLT (1998) Paper data storage media Writing on papyrus (c. 3000 BCE) Paper (105 CE) Railroad/Transit Punch Photograph (1880s) Punched card (1890) Edge-notched card (1896) Optical mark recognition Optical character recognition (1929) Barcode (1948)

Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape Location of Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape The Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (also Lednice-Valtice Area or Lednice-Valtice Complex, Czech: Lednicko-valtický areál) is a cultural-natural landscape complex of 283.09 square kilometres (109.30 sq mi) in the Lednice and Valtice areas of the South Moravian Region, near Břeclav in the Czech Republic. The Lednice-Valtice Area is registered in the list of monuments protected as World Heritage Sites (WHS) by UNESCO. It is adjacent to the Pálava Landscape Protected Area (Pálava Biosphere Reserve), a WHS registered by UNESCO several years before. The close proximity of two cultural landscapes protected by UNESCO is unique. 1.1 17th—19th centuries 2.1 Pavilions and follies 3 Preservation The House of Liechtenstein acquired a castle in Lednice in 1249, which marked the beginning of their settlement in the area. It remained the principal Liechtenstein residence for 700 years, until 1939 and World War II. 17th—19th centuries[edit] The Dukes of Liechtenstein transformed their properties into one large and designed private park between the 17th and 20th centuries. During the 19th century, the Dukes continued transforming the area as a large traditional English landscape park. The Baroque and Gothic Revival style architecture of their chateaux are married with smaller buildings and a landscape that was fashioned according to the English principles of landscape architecture. In 1715 these two chateaux (castles) were connected by a landscape alée and road, later renamed for the poet Petr Bezruč. The Lednice Ponds (Lednické rybníky) are situated between the villages of Valtice, Lednice, and Hlohovec; as are the Mlýnský, Prostřední, Hlohovecký, and Nesyt Ponds. A substantial part of the cultural landscape complex is covered in pine forests, known as the "Pine−wood"(Boří les), and in areas adjacent to the River Dyje with riparian forests. In the 20th century the region became part of new Czechoslovakia The Liechtenstein family opposed the annexation of Czech territory in the fascist Sudetenland by Nazi Germany, and as a consequence their properties were confiscated by the Nazis, and the family then relocated to Vaduz in 1939. After World War II the family made several legal attempts for restitution of the properties. However, they had passed post-war into ownership by the new Soviet Czechoslovakia. Of course its Communist government did not support returning large estates to exiled aristocratic landowners. After the Czechoslovakian Velvet Revolution in 1989, the Liechtenstein descendants again renewed legal attempts for restitution, which were denied by the Czech state, the present day owner of the properties. [2] — a Neoclassical hunting lodge from the 1810s, ashore of one of the Lednice Ponds Hunting Lodge (Lovecký zámeček) — a Neoclassical house from 1806 John's Castle (Janův hrad or Janohrad) — a Gothic Revival style folly of "artificial ruins" (Czech: umělá zřícenina, German: künstliche Ruine) in style of a castle, finished in 1810 — a Moorish Revival style "minaret" observation tower 62 metres (203 ft) high, located in the Lednice Castle garden (finished in 1804), that provides a view of the entire landscape. On clear days the Pálava Hills and Malé Karpaty Mountains can also be seen from the towers. — an obelisk erected in memory of the peace treaty of Campo Formio (1798) Pohansko — an Empire-style hunting lodge finished after 1812, it houses an exhibition of Břeclav Town Museum: close to the lodge there are both an important archaeological site of Great Moravian remains and reconstructed parts of the Czechoslovak border fortifications — an Empire-style hunting lodge from the beginning of the 19th century Preservation[edit] The garden follies and the conservatory of Lednice Park were listed in the 1998 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund, for their deteriorating condition resulting from insufficient financial resources.[4] The Fund had previously studied the preservation of Lednice and Valtice Castles, and after 1998 it helped fund restoration of the Valtice Rendezvous folly as a demonstration project with support from American Express.[5]

''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[New Hampshire|New Hampshire]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Carroll County''' ''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[New Hampshire|New Hampshire]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Carroll County''' + +{{NHDC}} [[Image:Nh-carroll.png|right|235px|Nh-carroll.png]] [[Image:Nh-carroll.png|right|235px|Nh-carroll.png]] Line 17: −Created 22 December 1840 from [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford]] County. <ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 181. [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref> +Created 22 December 1840 from [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford]] County. <ref name="HBG">[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;referer=brief_results ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.''] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 181. [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].</ref> ==== Boundary Changes ==== ==== Boundary Changes ==== {{NHCar towns|uncollapsed}}<br><br> {{NHCar towns|uncollapsed}}<br><br> −[[Image:{{NHCarrollCoTownsMap}}]] +{{NHCarrollCoTownsMap}} '''Villages:''' '''Villages:''' Line 43: −[[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap]] | [[Coos County, New Hampshire|Coos]] | [[Grafton County, New Hampshire|Grafton]] | [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford]] | '''Maine '''counties: [[Oxford County, Maine|Oxford]] | [[York County, Maine|York]] +[[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap]] | [[Coös County, New Hampshire|Coös]] | [[Grafton County, New Hampshire|Grafton]] | [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford]] | '''Maine '''counties: [[Oxford County, Maine|Oxford]] | [[York County, Maine|York]] === Resources === === Resources === *[=cemeteries-2 Conway, NH Cemeteries Records Database] *[=cemeteries-2 Conway, NH Cemeteries Records Database] *[=eaton-cemetery Eaton, NH Cemetrey Records Database] *[=eaton-cemetery Eaton, NH Cemetrey Records Database] −*[http://www.fryeburghistorical.org/ Fryeburg, Maine Cemetery Records and other Fryeburg genealogy sources]+*[http://www.fryeburghistorical.org/ Fryeburg, Maine Cemetery Records and other Fryeburg genealogy sources] *The New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association has the most complete list of cemeteries. This list is available at[ ]. *The New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association has the most complete list of cemeteries. This list is available at[ ]. *The [ Findagrave organization] provides a way for you to request that a volunteer will take a photograph of a gravestone. Often a volunteer will respond and will e-mail you the photo and add it to the web site. *The [ Findagrave organization] provides a way for you to request that a volunteer will take a photograph of a gravestone. Often a volunteer will respond and will e-mail you the photo and add it to the web site. Line 101: ==== Gazetteers ==== ==== Gazetteers ==== −*[http://files.usgwarchives.org/nh/carroll/history/gazetteers/1817towns.txt Carroll County Town Descriptions from Merrill's Gazetteer of New Hampshire (1817), ](accessed 20 August 2011). +*[ Carroll County Town Descriptions from Merrill's Gazetteer of New Hampshire (1817), ](accessed 20 August 2011). *See the Gazetteers section in the New Hampshire wiki article for information about several early New Hampshire gazetteers. *See the Gazetteers section in the New Hampshire wiki article for information about several early New Hampshire gazetteers. *Civil War service men from Carroll County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are many companies or regiments that were formed from men of Carroll County. *Civil War service men from Carroll County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are many companies or regiments that were formed from men of Carroll County. +:- [[1st Regiment, New Hampshire Heavy Artillery|1st Regiment, New Hampshire Heavy Artillery]], Company K. :- [[2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company F. :- [[2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company F. :- [[3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company G. :- [[3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company G. Line 196: :- [[11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company C. :- [[11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company C. :- [[12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Companies G and K. :- [[12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Companies G and K. −:- [[13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company A.+:- [[13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company A. +:- [[16th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|16th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Company B. +:- [[18th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry|18th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry]], Companies C and E. <references /> <references /> − +{{New_Hampshire|New_Hampshire}} </div> −{{New_Hampshire|New_Hampshire}} +[[Category:Carroll_County,_New_Hampshire]] −[[Category:Carroll_County,_New_Hampshire]] </div> Revision as of 17:45, 26 March 2013 United States New Hampshire Carroll County New HampshireOnline Records Contents 4.11.1 American Revolution 4.17 Town Records Carroll County CourthouseRt 171Ossipee, NH 03864Phone: 603.539.7751The Clerk of the Court has divorce and court records from 1859. Town Clerks have birth, marriage, death and burial records. The Probate Judge has probate records, and the Register of Deeds has land records.[1] Towns Organized Before 1800: Albany 1766Brookfield 1794Chatham 1767Conway 1765Eaton 1766Effingham 1788Moultonborough 1777Ossipee 1785 Sandwich 1768Tamworth 1766Tuftonborough 1795Wakefield 1774Wolfeborough 1770 History The county was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton (September 19, 1737 – November 14, 1832) who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and later United States Senator for Maryland. He was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was the longest lived signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress. He lived to age 95. Cemetery Records: Courtesy of the Conway Public Library Albany, NH Cemeteries Records Database Brownfield, Maine Cemetery Records Database Conway, NH Cemeteries Records Database Eaton, NH Cemetrey Records Database Fryeburg, Maine Cemetery Records and other Fryeburg genealogy sources The New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association has the most complete list of cemeteries. This list is available at. The Findagrave organization provides a way for you to request that a volunteer will take a photograph of a gravestone. Often a volunteer will respond and will e-mail you the photo and add it to the web site. If the above internet sources do not list your ancestor's name, you may wish to contact the cemetery sexton, town clerk, town library, or town historical society. Also check the Family History Library Catalog at , since the records may have been microfilmed. Censuses for 1790 through 1940, except for the 1890 population schedules, are available on several internet sites. The site is currently indexing many of these census records. Volunteers are needed! Check with familysearch.org about many indexing opportunities. The 1890 census, except for the list of Civil War veterans or their widows, was destroyed by a fire in Washington, D. C. in 1921. An interesting help for 1890 is the Town and City Atlas of the State of New Hampshire, published in 1892 in Boston by the D. H. Hurd Company. The atlas has maps for almost every city, town, and village in New Hampshire. The maps show the locations of homes, and the map gives the name of the person living in the home. The above web site is from the University of New Hampshire Library. Note: the 1890 census veterans' schedules for New Hampshire were preserved. They list Civil War veterans or their widows, and are available at ancestry.com. Church Records If you know the name of the town or city, and the denomination, you may wish to contact the local town historical society. They may be able to send you the names and addresses of churches of that denomination for the town. Or, if you know the town of residence and the ancestor's denomination, see the Church Records section in the general information for New Hampshire. That section lists archives and other record keepers for the various religious denominations. If you do not know the denomination, search for a marriage record. This may give the name of the minister. Then you can contact a historical society and learn at which church he was the minister. Also search for an obituary, which may mention the church the person attended. The death certificate may list the name of the cemetery. You can then write to the cemetery and ask if it is affiliated with a local church. The death certificate may mention the funeral home. Their file may have the name of the church, cemetery, or a copy of the obituary. Also, relatives might know the denomination. Different churches contain a variety of types of records. Many churches keep baptism, marriage, and burial records. Sometimes birth and death information is included. The church records of brothers and sisters, etc. may give clues. Court Records Carroll County court records are kept at the courthouse at Ossipee, New Hampshire. Some records may begin in 1841 when the county was established from Strafford county. For information before 1841 see the wiki sections for Strafford county. The Family History Library has microfilms of the following Carroll County court records: Supreme Court, 1861-1876 and 1876-1901 Circuit Court 1874-1876 Superior Court 1901-1916 Court Judgements 1861-1916 The records include plaintiff and defendant indexes for 1859-1897, and 1897-1928. Some New Hampshire counties are transferring their county records to the New Hampshire State Archives in Concord, New Hampshire. You may wish to contact the County Clerk or State Archives to learn if records have been transferred. Gazetteers For Carroll County the Family History Library has genealogical books or manuscripts for the following towns: Conway - There is an alphabetical genealogical collection on six microfilms. Eaton - There is the Keith Henney Family Records Card File, 1760-1947 on one film. Tamworth - A collection is available on one microfilm with forms sent out by the town clerk to be completed by families. Tuftonboro - A history book was written by John William Hayley in 1923. It has over 1100 pages and has genealogies. The Family History Library has the book. It is not on film. Wakefield - There is a film with various records compiled about 1949 by members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. NOTE: For most of the towns in Carroll County, the birth records to 1900, and marriage and death records to 1947, are on microfilms or in book form available through the Family History Library. These include Albany, Bartlett, Brookfield, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Hart's Location, Jackson, Madison, Moultonboroough, Ossipee, Tamworth, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Land and Property The Registry of Deeds at the county courthouse at Ossipee, New Hampshire has the deed records beginning in 1841. Some county records may be transferred from time to time to the New Hampshire State Archives in Concord, New Hampshire. You may wish to check with the county clerk, or the State Archives to ask if records have been transferred. The Family History Library has microfilms of the following deed records: Grantor (seller) indexes 1841-1860, and 1861-1909 Grantee (buyer) indexes 1841-1860, and 1861-1909 Deed volumes, 1-115, for 1841-1901. Please go to the Family History Library Catalog at familysearch.org and look under Carroll, New Hampshire - Land and Propery, for the film numbers. Local Histories The New Hampshire State Library at Concord, New Hampshire has a vast collection of books about New Hampshire towns and counties. Check their internet catalog for a town of interest. The New Hampshire Historical Society also in Concord has a very large collection of local history books and other publications. Maps Map of Carroll County, New Hampshire 1861, (accessed 20 August 2011). Contact the local historical society or public library. They may be able to photocopy a map or a section of a map for a small fee. The most complete listing of New Hampshire Revolutionary War soldiers is found in volumes 14-17 of the New Hamsphire State Papers. You can go to google.com, and look forNew Hampshire State Papers with the link to ancestry.com. There you will find a name index to voloumes 14-17, then you can go to the needed volume and page for information on the soldier. Often the place of residence is given. For a military history of New Hampshire, see: Potter, Chandler Eastman, The Military History of the State of New Hampshire. Concord, N.H.: McFarland & Jenks, 1866. (Family History Library film 1033664; fiche 6046858.) You can search this book on-line by going to google.com. Look for ancestry.com as the internet way to search this book. This history comprises events from the first settlements in New Hampshire to the rebellion in 1861. It includes biographical notices of many of the officers and explanatory notes. Civil War Familysearch.org is a free source for locating names of Civil War soldiers and sailors. Ancestry.com is available free at FamilySearch Centers and is also valuable for finding names of soldiers and sailors. You can go to ancestry.com and search for names in The Revised Register of the Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, by Augustus D. Ayling. This book gives the age, residence, and service information about approximately 32,000 New Hampshire Civil War veterans. The book is also available on microfilm or microfiche from the Family History Library. Town history books are available through the Family History Library, and other large libraries, for some of the towns in Cheshire County. They often contain extensive information concerning the war and the soldiers. History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, by Georgia Drew Merrill - Chapter XVII - Military Affairs in Carroll County Prior to 1860 - Soldiers in the Rebellion 1861-1865. See pages 134-185. - 1st Regiment, New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, Company K. - 2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company F. - 3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company G. - 4th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company D. - 5th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company H. - 6th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company D. - 8th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company I. - 11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company C. - 12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies G and K. - 13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company A. - 16th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company B. - 18th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies C and E. There are naturalization records at the Carroll Countycourthouse in Ossipee, New Hampshire. The Family History Library has microfilms of those naturalization records for the time period 1871-1942. These are records in the various courts in Carroll County. See the Family History Library Catalog, New Hampshire, Carroll, Naturalization and Citizenshsip for the microfilm numbers. If you are looking for naturalization records during the years 1861-1870 you might possibly find them among the court records. See the Court Records section above for information on the indexes and records. Newspapers A good way to find newspaper birth, marriage, death records, and obituaries is to contact the local historical society or public library They may be able to tell you which organization has the newspapers for their region. Go to the internet site of the Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire to see if there is a historical society in the town or region where your people lived. Look on the internet for a public library in the town. The New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire State Library, both in Concord, New Hampshire, have large collections of newspapers. Several companies are putting newspapers on the internet. They are indexed by ancestors' names. One company is genealogybank.com. They are adding newspapers regularly. They have many newspapers from New Hampshire, for example, newspapers of Concord, for 1790-1890, and some from the years 2002 to the present. You can do some searching free, and then you can purchase a subscription for a fee if you desire. Other companies include fold3.com and ancestry.com. Ancestry.com has some Portsmouth, New Hampshire newspapers. Type the name of the city and state in the Card Catalog Search. Probate Records Carroll County probate records begin with 1840 one year before the county was established from Strafford county. The Carroll County records are kept at the county courthouse at Ossipee. For probate records from the 1770s to 1840 see the records of Strafford County. Fortunately the Family History Library has microfilms of indexes to the probate packets for 1840-1936, and microfilms of the probate packets for 1840-1936. The packets often contain wills, administration records, settlements, court accounts, etc. See the Family History Library Catalog, Carroll, New Hampshire - Probate Records for the microfilm numbers. The Family History Library also has microfilms of several volumes of early probate court records: Administrations, 1840-1866 Guardianships, 1840-1870 Inventories and widows' records, 1843-1862 Wills and claims, 1840-1855 If you think your ancestor should be listed in the records above, but you do not find the records, there is a microfilm with unfiled propate papers, 1840-1936. These are mostly in alphabetical order. Taxation Many town tax records have been preserved by town clerks and town tax officials. Town tax records were generally taken each year. The Family History Library has many town records on microfilms. For film numbers see the Family History Library Catalog under New Hampshire - Carroll County - [name of town] - Town Records. There is an index to the town records (which include many tax records) from the early settlement of the town to about 1850. This is the Index to Early Town Records of New Hampshire, Early to 1850 (FHL films 14942-15052). The index cards list volume and page numbers for the town records, many of which are on Family History Library microfilms. The town records are listed in the Family Hiistory Library Catalog in the manner mentioned in the paragraph above. Town Records Town records are an important source of family history information from the 1600s to about the 1940s. The early New Hampshire town records to about 1850 have an every-name index. The index and film numbers are listed just above in the Taxation section. Many town records are still in the town offices. To see the types of family history information you might find in town records please go to the heading Town Records in our New Hampshire wiki article. Vital Records

« Intra- and interchromosomal interactions of point mutations occurring in the vicinity of the normal 5-and 3 ends via low and high O(2)-affinities on the beta-globin complex. Gluathione peroxidase (GSH-Px1-GPX1) a extracellular selenoenzyme expression modulates xenobiotic metabolising enzymes. » G6PD, Exon 12 is an exonic splicing silencer containing/substituted define codon regions involved in the G6PD mRNA¹ G6PD (EC 1.1.1.49) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [§§; †, ‡], situated at Xq28 locus-coding region is the rate–limiting enzyme, of the (PPP) pentose phosphate pathway. G6PD deficiency and its X-linked gene mutations exons 2-13 (160 different mutations) are the most common inborn error of metabolism, in human red blood cell (RBC) enzymopathy, among humans. G6PD is divided into 12 segments and involves an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) in exon 12 with 13exons and an intron present 5′ UTR, proximal to the 5′ bkp-breakpoint region. Intron comparisons from the second to the thirteenth exons of G6PD gene, 3′ UTR towards the 3′ end of the gene to exon 1 located in 5′ UTR G6PD is a region of deleted alleles (ASO-PCR) or G-6-PD the many population genetics variants/wild-type (160 different mutations and 300 G6PD variants) assuming that, at exon2 (2,3-BPG* levels) are hypothesized that G6PD partly ‘overlaps’ the IKBKG gene confined to the blood. The subunit (G6PD), consists of the biochemical–characteristics of 531 amino acids. This enzyme is the only process in mature red cells for NADPH–generation it involves oxidation of glucose as a » hexose « ( xenobiotic compounds) pathway (‘naturally found in D-* and the unusual L- Monosaccharide forms or between 2,3-BPG*) pentose and hexose phosphates, an alternative to glycolysis, converts glucose in which ATP is produced’ from the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate into ribulose 5-phosphate in liver cytosol in which a residue in the dimer interface (@ 37° C) structural G6PD is a NADP+ dependent. At the tetramer interface an Apoenzyme (PDB:2BH9), that stimulates G6PD to produce (reversible enzyme transketolase (TK) presence is necessary) more NADPH. Hemolytic crises or dysregulated NADPH oxidase located in the 3‘ dependent 5’ UTR G6PD in humans determines the response, in which G6PD deficiency is prevalent with development of chronic hemolytic «« anemia (CNSHA–HNSHA) associated with food-induced or a exogenous–agent and drug–induced º‘ ª hemolytic crises which led to the discovery of G6PD deficiency. Sulfatase (STS, EC 3.1.6.2) catalyzes Phenyl-Piracetam  it also stacks well and involves the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway in the employed doses in related induction of certain enzyme (Glucose 6PD) synthesizing activities (glycolysis) five metabolite levels of insulin signal transduction. These include, Sulforaphane  or broccoli-sprout extracts increased cell-lysate NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) phase II activities (Tanshinone IIA⊕), administered to cells and in human supplementation studies, were found to be in balance with green tea extract (GTE), (EGCG) epigallocatechin-3-gallate  to generate detoxifying reactions to hepatotoxicity (can be prevented by amalika, Emblica officinalis  which supports the chemopreventive action of the silymarin extract Silibinin , of the milk thistle) preventing nitric oxide-mediated lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant defense system (GSH) glutathione ( GSH-Px and GR) depletion, via an antioxidant response element (ARE ⊕) mechanism-based inhibitor, element (NRF2) regulates (ARE)-regulated genes. A lack of NQO1 protein predisposes cells to benzene toxicity and to various forms of leukemias and toward therapeutic modulation (Acetylcysteine  and acetaminophen) of pulmonary oxygen toxicity. G6PD-deficient variants is the result of various enzymopathies (but not GPI-chronic hemolysis), that glucuronidated–bilirubin values (UGT1A1 genotype) tended to parallel, (CNSHA) hyperbilirubinemia with hemolytic anemias, single amino acid substitutions resulting in ‘mutation of variants’. Or to inherited³ and acquired physiologic changes in red cell enzyme G6PD deficiency leading to favism ( an A- variant reaches the polymorphism level the commonest a Mediterranean form, other alleles A, A+, the primordial human type B cell and normal B+ and a rare B- phenotype are neutral. Malaria-infected human red cells possess at least two pathways (in a dimer — tetramer equilibrium) where carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes (allozymes are variants often neutral) the native structure may serve different roles [malaria resistance] in the G6PD-deficient erythrocyte) and transmitted biochemical poly(A) characteristics (58 different -missense-mutations account for 97, poly(A) -substitutions-towards mutation of variants) divided into 5 classes of energy metabolism {chart} enzymes. Where GSH represents red cell enzymes involved in glycolysis, enolase (ENO), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), phosphofructokinase (PFK  that phosphorylates fructose 6-phosphate (PHI)), hexokinase (HK), aldolase (ALD), and pyruvate kinase (PK)) activity. From class 1–chronic variants with administration of 8-azaguanine to class IV–increased enzyme activity. NADP-linked enzymes, malic enzyme (ME, EC 1.1.1.40) malic dehydrogenase (MDH) that catalyzes (NAD-ME) by the chemical reaction to NADP-ME and ATP:citrate lyase (ACL) and (IDH)-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICD) channeled NADPH into the fatty acid biosynthesis influences carbohydrate metabolism and partly account for stimulated nucleotide synthesis. Poly(A) RNA by carnitine– palmitoyl (CPT) and acyl (ACO) mRNA, or HMG–CoA oxidase donating activities in inhibition of meiotic maturation, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) was also measured in the forming DNA adducts. The metabolism of xylitol remains intact to complete the NADPH cycle. The G6PD gene is X-linked, G6PD synthesis leading to G6PD deficiencies which occurs in the oocyte where X-inactivation ( Xq13-XIST; 314670) large deletions or a loss-of-function mutation does not occur or might be lethal, had affected the red cell and white cell series differently, in the mouse presumably the polymorphisms of hemoglobin are on the X chromosome in man, according to hybrid cell studies of a number of domesticated species. Exon 12 is an exonic splicing silencer containing other-(exons II, III-IV, V, VI-VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI-XIII)-spliced exons regions and an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) in exon 12. Using the G6PD model, Exon 12, may define 12 base pairs, or two DNA base substitutions in the deamano-NADP (EC 1.1.1.49) utilization. A regulatory element within exon 12 controls splicing efficiency and the rate of intron removal. The UGT1A1 gene and the exon 12 of G6PD gene and the polymorphisms of UGT1A1 two DNA base substitutions C1 and C2 for example Gly71Arg from Arg to His are the mutational activities (dimer pink PDB: rasmol_php SNP: L235F, Figs. 1-2 and 3) of serine-arginine-rich (SR), proteins located in exon 12 of the G6PD gene. The most common mutations are: 1376 G–>T substitution abnormality (C1) and 1388 G–>A (G6PD Kaiping) abnormality (C2) is A–>G in exon2, both in exon 12 binding to the C-rich motifs (ESE) blocked binding of the serine-arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) but not SRSF4, PDB-2I2Y. Where G6PD partly ‘overlaps’ the IKBKG gene PDB: 2JVX–blue-cartoon located in the ribbon with the ESE-red-exon (XII) 12. The G6PD gene is 18 kb long divided into 12 segments ranging in size from 12 base pairs to 236 bp and interacts with elements in the beta-globin HBB common polymorphism site C1311T/IVS-II promoter are more common forms of the protein hemoglobin in the beta-globin HBB derived from the 3′-end of intron 7 is one of the 2 types of subunits in human red cell (RBC) G6PD. An ratio between heterozygote and hemizygote in males and between hetero and homozygote in females of cellular components evident from the state of G6PD activity modified by the rate of (GdX PMID: 8786131, PDB:2BH9 a deletion variant of G6PD PMID-17637841) intron removal , shows that an intron present on the 5′ UTR (located on Fig. A, the end of blue cartoon situated near the broken blue strand) of G6PD the first intron of the G6PD genome isozymes can be observed, ‘GdA and GdB‘³ can be bound by NADP by a direct source of ROS effects of high glucose, inhibition of PKA decreased ROS can use a direct repeat-3 (DR3) vitamin D response element liganded vitamin D receptor.

Re: How to Minimize Wireless Interference How to Minimize Wireless Interference by ATTU-verseCare This guide will give you a brief introduction on how to minimize wireless interference in your home network. In the home environment, many things can interfere with consumer wireless network devices. These devices, referred to by their IEEE standard number (802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n) operate in the 2.4 GHz band, which is a highly crowded spectrum. By use of a simple freeware tool, you can optimize your wireless network to avoid interference from other wireless networks operating near you. The following terms are used in this guide: 802.11b - This is an older wireless standard that can operate at data rates up to 11 Mbps. Access points using only 802.11b are not very common anymore. 802.11g - The most common wireless standard, and the one that is used in the U-Verse RG. It can operate at data rates up to 54 Mbps by the standard, although some manufacturers have used proprietary methods to achieve higher data rates, such as up to 108 Mbps. These data rates can usually only be achieved if the same manufacturer's equipment is used at both the access point and on the client computer. 802.11n - The newest wireless standard, can operate at data rates up to 300 Mbps. 802.11n is subject to more interference than 802.11b or g because it uses a larger slice of the 2.4 GHz spectrum. Channel - The 2.4 GHz spectrum is divided into channels, numbered 1 through 11. Most wireless access points, including the U-Verse RG, can be set to use a particular channel. Selecting which channel to use is the most important thing to avoid interference. You would ideally like to select a channel that is not in use by neighbors, and far away from other channels that are in use. Received Signal Strength (RSS or RSSI) - This is the strength of the wireless signal in the air at the receiver. This ranges from -100 dBm (the noise floor) up to 0 dBm (theoretical maximum). Signal strengths below about -80 dBm are generally too weak for a laptop to connect to. Typical signal strength inside the house, if your wireless access point is working properly, is -60 dBm up to -40 dBm. SSID - This is the name of the wireless network, which is set at the access point. The U-Verse RG has a default SSID of "2WIRExxx", where xxx is a 3-digit number. Frequency Spectrum - This is a range of elecromagnetic frequencies. The ones we are interested in are the ones used by 802.11, which ranges from 2.412 GHz (center frequency for channel 1) up to 2.462 GHz (center frequency for channel 11). This program, InSSIDer, is the program you can use to get information about all the wireless networks in your vicinity. InSSIDer can be downloaded from the Metageeks.net web site. Once you have downloaded InSSIDer, install it and run it on a laptop with a wireless network card. At the top of the screen will be a pull-down menu listing all wireless network cards in the computer. Select your wireless network card (most laptops only have one). Also select the "2.4 GHz" button to the right of the pull-down menu. After those selections are complete, click the "Start Scanning" button on the left. After a few minutes of scanning, you will end up with a screen that looks like this: The top part of the window shows all the different wireless networks that have been seen by your laptop. For each wireless network, listed is the vendor (the manufacturer of the access point), a check box which controls whether this wireless network is graphed in the bottom graphs or not, a signal strength meter (this also has a lock icon on it if the wireless network is protected by some type of encryption), the MAC address of the access point, the SSID (name of the wireless network), the channel that the wireless network is using, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) in dBm, the encryption/security protocol the network is using, whether the network is an access point or an ad-hoc (computer-to-computer) network, the highest supported network speed in Mbps, and the time that the network was first and last seen. The location column only functions if you have a GPS peripheral installed in your laptop. On the lower left is a graph that shows the received signal strength (RSSI) over time. The colors correspond to the color of the check box in the list at the top. On the lower right is the most important graph, it is a graph of all the wireless networks seen and the frequency/channel that they are operating on. As you can see here, my home network (SSID = danzone) is operating on channel 9. Channel Overlap 802.11 wireless does not use just one certain channel, unfortunately. The channel that the wireless network is operating on is where the frequency is centered, but the actual frequencies used extend away from that channel in both directions, and actually overlap 2 channels on each side. Thus, my access point, while it is centered on channel 9, is using frequencies from channel 7 up to channel 11, and is subject to interference anywhere in that range. The width of each set of frequencies used is 20 MHz (this is important to know later when we talk about 802.11n). The set of frequencies used can also be called a lobe, named from the shape of the frequency curve. Wireless Access Point Location If you have a large house, especially a 2-story, you may want to take the laptop at this point to all the rooms in the house where wireless is likely to be used, and watch the received signal strength graph (lower left) over time. Make sure that you have an adequate wireless signal (greater than -60 dBm) in all rooms where wireless will be used. If you have a room where the received signal strength drops below -60 dBm, you may want to look into relocating the wireless access point, or adding an additional wireless access point in your home. Identifying the Best Channel to Use Next, you may want to clean up the channel graph by removing wireless networks that are too weak to interfere. Go through the list and uncheck any wireless network where the received signal strength (RSSI) is less than -85 dBm. These networks are generally too weak to worry about, and removing them from the channel graph will let you see the stronger networks. From the graph on the lower right, you will be able to get a feel for what will be the best channel for you to use. Take a look at the other wireless networks in your area, and see if there is a spot in the channel map that looks the least busy. For my location shown above, that would be channel 8 or 9. There are 2 networks operating on channel 6 (SARA and Buffalo), and one network operating on channel 11 (user-PC-wireless). SARA and Buffalo have frequency components extending up to channel 8, and user-PC-wireless has frequency components extending down to channel 9. However, the frequency components at the tail ends of those networks are small, leaving a lot of room at channel 8 or 9 for my network to operate. The lower part of the spectrum (channels 1 through 6) is very crowded in my area, so I probably shouldn't try to use those channels. They may work, but there is more potential for interference. To change the channel on the U-Verse RG, go to the following link: =C_2_1 At the top, you will see a pull-down menu for the wireless channel. Select the channel that you identified as being the least busy, and then click Save at the bottom. Changing the Channel on other Wireless Access Points/Wireless Routers Other routers have similar settings to let you change the wireless channel. Follow your manufacturer's directions to configure your router or wireless access point. Automatic Channel Selection Some routers have the ability to automatically select the wireless channel, and will try to select the one that is the least busy automatically. The U-Verse RG is supposed to do this, but it doesn't always work. Other routers may also do this, and you may have to turn this feature off if you want to select the channel manually. Once you have changed your channel, your laptop will disconnect and reconnect to your wireless network. Verify with InSSIDer that your network is operating on the channel you selected. Using your Own Wireless Router or Access Point If you have your own wireless router or access point, you will want to turn the wireless on the U-Verse RG off to prevent it from interfering with yours. Go to the following link: If you have an 802.11n wireless access point or wireless router, there are additional things you need to know. 802.11n operates as if it was two separate 802.11g access points. One set of frequencies is the "primary" set and operates just like an 802.11g access point. This set of frequencies (the primary lobe) is 20 MHz wide, just like an 802.11g access point. Any clients that are 802.11g-only connect to this primary lobe. The 802.11n access point then selects another 20 MHz wide lobe (the secondary lobe) exactly 4 channels away from the primary channel. Thus, for example, if the primary lobe is on channel 9, the access point begins operating a secondary lobe on channel 5. This results in a total of 40 MHz of bandwidth being used for the 802.11n access point, overlapping a total of 8 channels (in this example, channels 3-7 for the secondary lobe, and 7-11 for the primary lobe). This is why 802.11n is generally subject to more interference than 802.11g, because the large slice of the spectrum that it uses can pick up more interference (double the width of an 802.11g access point). As a further complication, some laptops with 802.11n network cards can be set to operate in 802.11n single-lobe mode. In this mode, the laptop connects using 802.11n protocols, but only to the primary lobe, resulting in a maximum speed of 150 Mbps. If you have a laptop set to do this, InSSIDer will report the 802.11n access point channel as if the laptop was operating in 802.11g mode (channel reported as the primary lobe). Potential Sources of Interference other than 802.11 Networks Many consumer devices operate in the 2.4 GHz band. All of these devices can interfere with your wireless network, and they won't show up on InSSIDer's graphs. Some of these devices are: Microwave Ovens - A very common offender. Microwave ovens can have interference that appears all over the spectrum, but many microwave ovens have interference specifically near channel 11 and channel 7, and somewhat in between as well. If the microwave oven is a problem in your household, try using the lower channels (1-3) for your wireless network. Cordless Phones - Another common offender. Older cordless phones operated in the 900 MHz band, these won't interfere with wireless. Some new cordless phones offer 5 GHz capability, or 1.9 GHz capability (the 1.9 GHz phones are marketed as "DECT 6.0"). Either of these types of cordless phones won't interfere with 802.11 wireless. 2.4 GHz phones have 2 different types: One type hops frequencies all over the 2.4 GHz spectrum, causing a lot of interference on every channel. A second type stays on one particular frequency, and can be selected to others by the user using a switch or by programming the phone through the keypad. If you have the former, you may be out of luck. If you have the latter, they typically operate in the low channels (channel 1-3), but you will have to look at the specs to see the exact frequencies. To correlate the frequencies with the 802.11 channels see the 802.11g article at Wikipedia. Bluetooth - Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, but is typically very low power. Additionally, there are protocols that wireless and Bluetooth use to peacefully coexist, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Wireless Video Senders - Most of these devices operate in the 2.4 GHz band, and their frequencies can overlap 4-6 channels. You will have to look at the specifications to see what frequencies are in use. Baby Monitors - These devices operate very similarly to the wireless video senders, but typically don't overlap as many channels. 802.11 NIC Quality Another item frequently overlooked is the quality of the 802.11 NIC used in the laptop. Most laptops with built-in wireless have a decent wireless chipset, but some do not. In particular, the Intel 2200 NIC is one known to have frequent problems. For 3rd-party 802.11 NICs, it is unfortunate but many people have problems with the 2-Wire NICs provided by AT&T. A name-brand 802.11 NIC such as one from Linksys, D-Link, NetGear, TrendNet, etc. will likely have much better performance. While the use of InSSIDer won't eliminate all wireless problems, it can be used effectively to identify a channel that has the least likelihood for interference from other wireless networks, can be used to verify that your access point is operating on the channel that is assigned, and can be used to verify signal strength in all parts of your house. WIth that plus the other points in this guide, you should be able to get optimum network performance on all of your wireless computers. What about changing the channel on the netword card itself? I am using a desktop with Windows Vista-I have an external wireless usb to connect to my wireless uverse router. I downloaded the inSSIDer program and the uverse router is already on channel 11-nothing else comes up as channel 11, however, the linksys ae1000 is on channel 6 and there are other wireless routers, etc., that are picking up on channel 6. I have no other problem with my other wireless devices in the house. Blackberry Torch, IPAD. They all connect wireless fine and stay connected. I should have had the installer put EVERYTHING in my computer office. ##**&^T)*Y and be able to plug in hardwired. I may have to run a 100 foot cable so that this connection doesn't keep dropping out. BTW, I did click off the power management for the nic and the usb port...so that they don't go into powersave. This helped 'a little'. Any suggestions? no 2.4 ghz phones... If you're using your own Linksys router, then turn off the wireless on the 2Wire router, and move the Linksys to channel 11.You cannot change channels on a wireless network card when it's in infrastructure mode (i.e. connected to a wireless access point). The wireless access point controls what channel is used, not the card. No, I'm not using my own router. I was just telling you what my linksys ae1000 card said under the inSSIDer program. I foolishly let AT&T install that router across the house in my bedroom. I should have had him put it all in my computer room where my desktop is. The wireless drops out on my desktop all of the time... I am not conflicting with any other wireless on channel 11, which is the channel my router is on. Guess I better get a hundred foot ethernet cable and drill holes... Message 34 of 47 Ah, OK, the LInksys you mentioned is the client adapter on the computer.OK, in that case, then yes, you're running into a range limitation issue. There are a few things you can do:1. Run a wired connection using Cat5e cable. Most difficult, but most reliable method.2. You can use powerline Ethernet adapters. These are kind of expensive, and don't work as well as a wired connection.3. If you have a coax cable running between the two locations, you can use MoCA coax adapters. Probably about the same price as powerline Ethernet adapters, but would probably work better.4. If you use your own wireless access point, you may be able to do better than the RG's built-in wireless, since you could conceivably buy a router with a higher-powered radio and a better antenna. This would probably cost as much as powerline Ethernet or MoCA adapters.5. If you have wired Ethernet already running from the RG to somewhere else in the house that's closer to where the computer is, you could use your own wireless access point in that location which may overcome the range issue. network key on router gave network key to neighbor would like to block access any suggestions Re: network key on router Go to this page, and type in a new password, then hit the Save button: Use custom Wireless Network Key Once you change the password, use MAC filtering on this page: =C_2_1a Put your devices in the ALLOWED column, anything else in your area, put them in the BLOCKED column. If you know the neighbor's Network name, you can find his MAC address now and block him there. This page is for the RGs settings--see if you can change it (if neighbor hasn't already). IF the neighbor has already changed the passwords, then you'll have to do a factory reset of the RG and start over. It's a tiny button on the back of the RG. After you get all of that done, then change your encryption type to WPA2 (not WEP or WAP) as it's really difficult to hack, on this page under SECURITY: Authentication Type If you need more help, don't be afraid to come back and ask; we can walk you through it. I know that's a lot, but you need to get your Network locked down so the neighbor can't ever use it again. When you say another "wireless access point" to what are you referring? What would I be looking to buy? Do U-verse technicians offer this? "3) If you have to use 2.4 on your AP then ONLY USE CHANNEL 1, 6, or 11. Forget all the rest. It is to complicated to explain here but when you use any other channel you are part of the interference problem." Everyone needs to read this again. The problem is that if your router sees another transmission in its band, it will wait until the other device is done before it transmits. The way that WiFi signals are spread out the best utilization of the WiFi band can only happen if everyone uses only channels 1, 6 & 11. If someone "finds a nice hole" at channel 4 and plops his WiFi signal there, he is actually blocking and being blocked by signals on channels 1 & 6. Unfortunately the U-verse RGs automatically search for any quiet channel. Mine wanted to lock onto channel 5. They should not be allowed to do this. Also, "N" routers and other "super" routers on 2.4 GHz can block twice as many channels and also be blocked twice as many other routers. Some people install an "N" router thinking they will get higher speed and actually end up getting lower speed. I saw this demonstrated once on Tech TV. Me too

CYBEREYE—Commentary Can't remember all your passwords? Try these tricks By William JacksonJul 23, 2009 There is no perfect way to make passwords both convenient and safe, but there are some tricks and techniques that can help. A recent column on the relative security of complex passwords and simpler — but possibly safer — pass phrases caught the attention of a number of readers. Apparently, quite a few people struggle with the challenge of keeping their portfolio of passwords secure and manageable at the same time. The problem with passwords is that managing secure ones becomes difficult when you have more than one or two, and most people have many more than that. A typical complex password runs to eight characters and contains letters, numerals and special characters. A pass phrase, as the word implies, is much longer. But because the phrase can mean something to the user, it can be easier to remember, and its length can make it strong without arbitrary characters. Mushegh Hakhinian, security architect at IntraLinks, pointed out in a recent blog posting that a pass phrase that contains 16 letters — all lower case with no numerals or special characters — can provide in the neighborhood of 10 million more possible combinations than an eight-character complex password that uses upper and lower case, numerals and other characters. One reader agreed with the math but not necessarily the conclusion. “While there is a 26-character set in our alphabet, the fact is that most words only use a subset of those characters and follow predictable patterns (how many all-consonant words can you think of?),” he wrote. “I think longer pass phrases are useful and easier to remember, but I don’t think we’ll be getting rid of mixed case and special characters by making longer pass phrases.” Dave Simpson, technology director for the Frederick County, Md., Sheriff’s Office, offered a pattern-based technique to keep passwords pseudo-random yet memorable — starting with a letter and then adding letters according to a pattern on the keyboard. “Then you only need to remember one letter: the beginning letter,” he wrote. “The secure part is the pattern you choose on the keyboard.” If you have a QWERTY keyboard in front of you, you can refer to it to see the patterns he suggests. “You could go ‘asdfghjk’ (too easy). Or you could go ‘qazwsxed’ (harder). Or you could go ‘qpwoeiru’ (still harder).” Unfortunately, I imagine that such patterns probably have been anticipated and that password-cracking programs know to search for them. Still, the resulting passwords are probably at least as secure as the average passwords most of us use and can be easily changed. Another writer pointed out that sentences used as pass phrases can contain quotation marks, numerals and other characters, making them even more secure than the average password while remaining memorable. “I have tried to crack pass phrases such as this but gave up after a month,” he wrote. If you are of a linguistic or literary bent, you can take this technique to the extreme. “If your system, as mine does, accepts foreign characters, you can mix in a quote in Hebrew characters among the English, French, Spanish, German,” he wrote. “My PGP pass phrase is an original poem of mine — never written down any place — in German. Easy for me to remember since I wrote it. I will publish it when I change pass phrases.” We’ll be waiting for it.

Women in the Public Spaces: when Personal becomes PoliticalMarch 16, 2016 “After attending the International Gender Workshop in 2014, I started to realize that I was a feminist. Before, I did not identify myself as one. The opening of the format of workshops for a wider public widens perspectives, because these workshops are shaping persons.” Anna Arganashvili, Partnership for Human Rights, Georgia The 5th International Gender Workshop “Women in the Public Spaces: when Personal Becomes Political” was hosted by the Tbilisi office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation during March 2-4, 2016. The cycle of workshops took its start since 2012 and was jointly organized by the international offices of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. As the workshop previously organized in Tbilisi, Kyiv, Berlin and Warsaw had a more closed format, this year we decided to open our event for all interested parties. Besides the moderated panel discussion sessions, guests were invited on a Feminist Tour in Tbilisi (March 2, 2016), which was guided by philosopher and women’s history researcher, Lela Gaprindashvili and historian Irakli Khvadagiani. The tour included 4 destinations and focused on women herstories connected to these places: The Writers’ House: exemplary biographies of Georgian women writers of 19th and 20th century and their fates. Memorial of Society for the Promotion of Literacy among Georgians – the memorial, which is build in front of Georgian Chancellor’s, does not mention a name of even one Georgian woman, who were the core leaders of the society; National Youth and Children’s Palace – in one of the halls, meetings of parliament of the first democratic republic of Georgia took place. Among the members of the founding congress, there where were 5 women. Museum of Elene Akhvlediani (1901-1975), Georgian artist. Side events included exhibition of artist Victoria Lomasko “Feminist Trip to Dagestan-Kirghizstan-Yerevan-Tbilisi”, which was organized at the Goethe Institute (March 3, 2016). The exhibition featured the initial stage of a large-scale project – it constituted a series of trips around the post-Soviet space, the key research topics of which were the following: gender issues (women’s rights, attitudes towards LGBT persons), interethnic relations, various forms of grassroots initiatives and activism. Women representing a variety of social environments are the main protagonists of the graphic reports Lomasko produced during her visits. Exhibition also included works produced by the participants of the “Feminist Stencil Workshop”, which was conducted by Victoria a week prior to the event. The Nascent Debate: Gender Related Research’s Value Added Compared to Donor Driven Experiences of the Past - Nvard Manasyan, Education Expert, Armenia. Panel IV: Gender Equality in Law: Experience and Challenges. Moderator: Tamara Gurchiani, Lawyer, Georgia. Equal rights for men and women in Germany: How a constitutional principle was transformed into reality - Keynote speaker Ulrike Schultz, Lawyer and Senior Academic at the Fern Universität in Hagen, Germany. Changes in legislation for gender-sensitive justice - Anna Arganashvili, Partnership for Human Rights, Georgia. European framework of gender issues integrated in constitutionalism - Monika Platek, Professor of Law and Head of Criminology Department at Institute of Criminal Law, Poland. Panel VI: Mobilization of Women’s Groups: Challenges and Setbacks. Moderator: Anna Dovgopol, Heinrich Boell Foundation Ukraine. What happened on 25.11.2014 - Baia Pataraia, Lawyer, Member of “Women’s Movement in Georgia”, Georgia. Shared space and collective leisure time as mobilization tools -Anna Khvyl, Researcher and activist in several initiatives (including Feminist Workshop and Neighbourhood Festival), Ukraine. Women Artchitects and Gender Mainstreaming in Urban Planning - Milota Sidorova, Urban designer, Czech Republic. Mobilization of women in Turkey for their own agenda: basic issues of struggle and campaigns - Irem Yilmaz, Istanbul Feminist Collective, Turkey. “We are thankful for organizing such en enlightening workshop. And now we want to ask you: what WE can do for you?” – asked Milota Sidorova during the final round of evaluations. Sure, the contribution to the workshop was invaluable, but as a response to the question - participants were asked again to submit papers based on the presentations, which is planned to be published as a printed book during 2016.

Roman Death at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester Date: March 8, 2014Author: Prof. Howard M. R. Williams 3 Comments The skeleton in the Grosvenor Museum I have just reviewed a new edited book by Myra Giesen entitled Curating Human Remains: Caring for the Dead in the United Kingdom. It is a valuable and rich collection, and only now it is published can you gain a sense of how necessary it was. The book looks at the practical and ethical issues surrounding how human remains are stored, displayed and used for educational purposes and scientific research in the UK. Museums are a key focus. I have reviewed this in the Archaeological Journal 171 for 2014, out in Sept 2014 but online before then. I open my review thus: “This edited collection is of use and value for anyone interested in mortuary archaeology, museums and human remains” and I conclude thus: “The treatment and curation of human remains in the UK is now a key area of ongoing debate and this book has a place in informing those involved and interested in recent developments.” A lead cremation urn – on display in a section on lead mining and lead artefacts in the Newstead gallery, Grosvenor Museum As I have blogged about before, I am also co-editing my own collection on human remains and public engagement, provisionally titled Archaeologists and the Dead: Mortuary Archaeology and Contemporary Society. This book has a wider geographical span than Giesen’s and is interested in other dimensions of the relationship between archaeologists dealings with the ancient dead and our current attitudes and practices surrounding death. Still, in both Giesen’s book and my book, we have a rich range of case studies regarding the ways in which dead bodies are key parts of the archaoelogical story about past societies. The temporary exhibition at the British Museum on Vikings is but one example. And while there are groups that object to human remains on display, seen most visibly in the recent objections to the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre, they are a small minority. One criticism of both books can be made. Both Giesen’s and my forthcoming book struggle to tackle the complex issues affecting the curation and display of human remains in smaller – local and regional – museum contexts in the UK, where space is limited, human remains might not be as spectacular and eyecatching (i.e. mummies, bog bodies and masses of human skeletons), and yet still constitute an integral component of local and regional narratives of the human past on display from prehistory to recent times. My son taking a break below the reconstruction of a Roman tombstone Mark Hall’s contribution in Giesen’s book (focusing on Perth Museum and Art Gallery) and a fraction of my paper on the display of cremated remains in my own forthcoming book (discussing the rich range of human remains on display at Colchester Museum) are the key exceptions that come to mind. Still, in the published literature, the museum focus tends to be on national and international collections such as the Great Northern Museum or the Museum of London. Yet a large proportion of the human remains on display and curated in the UK are within smaller contexts as opposed to national and international museums. The Grosvenor Museum, Chester, is a fascinating case study in this regard because it highlights how remains from mortuary contexts can be put on display even with extremely limited available space for permanent exhibitions. There is only a single, disappointing case for the whole of prehistory in the rgion and there is no post-Roman archaeology gallery. Still, for the Roman period, the Newstead gallery contains a lead cremation urn and numerous artefacts from mortuary contexts, such as brooches and glass vessels. The Webster gallery of Roman stones has a superbly lit and rich selection of Roman tombstones excavated from Chester. Finally, at the end of the Roman stones gallery there is a new display focusing on death and commemoration, using an exmaple of a centurian’s tombstone. Roman tombstones on display at the Grosvenor Museum Now there is a skeleton on display, so this is not a desperate attempt to avoid the display of the dead per se on some purist ethical drive to annihilate the presence of the ancient dead from public view. However, this skeleton was found in a Roman well, and may have been someone who fell to their death or else whose body was deposited in a clandestine fashion. Whatever the explanation, the bones are not conclusively the result of ‘mortuary practice’. So, what is most striking of all about the Grosvenor Museum is how they do all this, and discuss death, society and the afterlife in the Roman period, without substantial displays of human remains. Partly this is due to practical reasons – the tombstones were already well out of context long before they were recovered. Likewise, many of the mortuary artefacts were recovered long before detailed records were being made of their funerary contexts. Furthermore, there is simply not enough space in the Grosvenor Museum for exhaustive displays of body after body. Whatever the precise cause, the Grosvenor is an important example that challenges the assertion that the display of bodies – cremated, inhumed, or otherwise – is necessary for the archaeological narratives to be successfully conveyed for educational and scientific purposes in UK museums. Or to put it another way, one does not have to omit disucssions of death, burial and the afterlife because of a reluctance or inability to display mortuary contexts and human remains. Today I went into Chester by train and visited the Grosvenor Museum with daughter no. 2 and son no. 1. As well as stuffed birds and art galleries, we dwelt long in the Roman galleries, enjoying the many Roman artefacts on display. The skeleton was present, and popular with my kids, but so were the Roman stones. Now I am a strong advocate that human remains should remain integral to museum collections and displays and that, without indigenous objections, I would concur with Tiffany Jenkins, Duncan Sayer and others, that we should not rush to omit human remains from display out of a misguided and confused understanding of ethics. Indeed, I have published on the contrary, citing the varied and rich ways in which human remains inform the human story from earliest prehistory to recent times. Still, are themes of death, commemoration and afterlife beliefs only served by sticking skeletons in cabinets? No. Daughter no. 2 and the Castle Street Wells skeleton There are many media and many avenues to address human mortality and deathways in modern museums and both advocates and critics of the display of human remains often miss this key point. The Grosvenor Museum, by design or by happenstance, shows us some of the ways in which stories of life and death in the human past can be conveyed without the presence of dead bodies. The lesson is that, outwith the specific ethical issues regarding when, how and why we display human bones and bodies, there is the bigger issue of how we create exciting and informative displays that enrich visitors’ experience and understanding of life and death in the human past.

Ready for Gross National Happiness? GDP is the most common indicator for wealth adopted by many countries in the world. How about the happiness index? We read some studies have established the happiness rate, and listed countries as well. A recent Sustainability paper entitled “Avoiding the Limits to Growth: Gross National Happiness in Bhutan as a Model for Sustainable Development” reporting useful materials for whom interested in happiness index. The author, Jeremy S. Brooks discuss Meadows et al.’s work in the context of the literature on sustainable development and well-being as well as the development trajectory of Bhutan. Brooks suggests Bhutan’s development approach mirrors Meadows et al.’s recommendations and provides one model for sustainable development. The ideal of maximizing Gross National Happiness (GNH) exemplifies Bhutan’s commitment to holistic development and dovetails with arguments about the shortcomings of approaches that emphasize economic growth. “I provide examples of how GNH has been put into practice, describe how happiness is being measured, and discuss the emergence of social norms and a shared Bhutanese identity that may contribute to sustainable development,” says Brooks. According to Brooks’ study, an alternative to growth-centric development is viable. However, while Bhutan’s standard of living has increased, the country faces challenges, the most important of which may be their ability to manage rising consumption levels. Read more at:

Apple’s data centres “least green” Posted: April 23, 2011 in environment Tags: global warming 0 Via TUAW Apple has come in last place among a list of tech companies in the latest Greenpeace tech report How Dirty is Your Data? [PDF]. While Apple has made some pretty big strides over the last few years in trying to eliminate environmentally unfriendly chemicals from its products, Apple placed last in this list due to its heavy reliance on coal power at its data centers. The report compares energy consumption and sources made by Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter, IBM, Microsoft, HP, Akamai, Amazon and Yahoo. In it, Greenpeace points out that Apple’s new North Carolina data center, which is set to open this year and will supposedly be primarily used for cloud-based computing services, will triple Apple’s energy usage and use the same amount of energy as 80,000 US homes. Of that energy, 62 percent will be provided by coal (one of the dirtiest energy sources), and 32 percent of it will be provided by nuclear power. This isn’t the first time Greenpeace has expressed concern over Apple’s energy footprint regarding cloud computing. In March of last year, Greenpeace also expressed concern about the North Carolina data center that runs on “dirty coal power.”

Palm Give aging technology a chance June 8, 2014June 14, 2014 / Eric W / 9 Comments Think twice before throwing out your old tech. Perhaps that disused piece of junk can have a second chance in your next DIY project. Let’s rewind the clock to 2001: NASA lands the first spacecraft on an asteroid, Gladiator wins the Academy Award for best picture, and Handspring releases the Handspring Visor Neo, the company’s affordable PDA competitor of the Palm Pilot. At the time, this baby was screaming (for hand-helds) with a 33MHz processor, 8MB of RAM and a high resolution 160×160 pixel gray-scale display. The following year, I was lucky enough to get this high-tech piece of portable technology as a barter deal for helping a neighbour understand how to use their own PDA. I kept my Visor in working order over the years and it was still limping along when smartphones became affordable and I didn’t need it any more. After it was clear that my old friend was no longer useful as a practical tool, I looked into selling it on eBay, but found more equivalent devices that went unsold than sold so I had the choice of either throwing it out or trying to find something else to do with it. Since I’m not inclined to ‘e-waste’, I started digging around for potential ways I could repurpose it on the internet. Handspring made it’s niche in the PDA market with their springboard expansion slot, so I was really interested in figuring out how to hack it (the device has a docking interface and an IR transceiver, too). Given its age, I had a LOT of broken links to sort through, but I eventually found NS Basic Palm, Pocket C palm, Palmphi, and Palm OS Emulator. It took a while, but I was finally able to hijack the emulator from POSE and use a ROM that I found online to use for exploring the potential of the programming languages on the go. I found out that Handspring once had a development kit for the springboard expansion slot, but was disappointed to find that it was no longer available from Palm. While I was excited at the prospect of writing apps for a new platform, I realized that there was no way I’d be carrying the Visor around with me on a daily basis, so aside from can-I-do-it curiosity, the Visor was doomed to be recycled. The turning point was when I discovered that the Handspring PDAs (and I suspect other Palm Pilots as well) used serial protocols to sync data with the PC. If you look at the circuit board inside the serial docking station, the connection is direct from PDA to PC. I suspect that the only addition the USB docking station brings is an FTDI. The most exciting discovery was that Pocket C had a couple functions allowing the Visor to establish the serial connection and push data independent of syncing. I suppose I should have figured that this was possible since the Targus Stowaway keyboard connected through the docking port. This was such a revelation: If serial comms was possible, then I could connect this little computer to anything with a serial port… The possibilities were endless. A few wires and a Molex connector were all I needed to tap into the serial connections on the cradle I decided that the best thing I could do was to relieve my computer of the burden of driving my Lynxmotion robot arm. Since the development software I had didn’t include objects like buttons and sliders, I created my own. Using basic drawing features like boxes, lines, and text, I was able to create a GUI with buttons, indicators, and a slider so I could engage the serial port and individually control each servo in the robot. In the process of developing my program, I realized that I needed a controller that could read data from sensors if I wanted the arm to do anything useful, so as it turns out the Visor wasn’t a good fit for the robot arm in the long-term, but the device had proven itself. Who knows what else I might be able to use it for in the future? Maybe it’s going to be my next universal remote control? I still haven’t figured out how to dig into the springboard expansion slot, but I suspect that it’s going to unlock an even bigger potential for my little friend. Perhaps the next step is to reverse engineer the GPS expansion I bought years ago, but could never get to work. My standalone robot arm with it’s new(ish) computer brain The big lesson I learned here was your next project doesn’t have to start as $100+ in new electronics, maybe it starts with that old gadget you have laying around with lots of hidden potential.

A survey on predicting the popularity of web contentAlexandru Tatar1Email author, Marcelo Dias de Amorim1, Serge Fdida1 and Panayotis Antoniadis2Journal of Internet Services and Applications20145:8DOI: 10.1186/s13174-014-0008-y© Tatar et al.; licensee Springer. 2014Received: 21 November 2013Accepted: 4 July 2014Published: 13 August 2014 AbstractSocial media platforms have democratized the process of web content creation allowing mere consumers to become creators and distributors of content. But this has also contributed to an explosive growth of information and has intensified the online competition for users attention, since only a small number of items become popular while the rest remain unknown. Understanding what makes one item more popular than another, observing its popularity dynamics, and being able to predict its popularity has thus attracted a lot of interest in the past few years. Predicting the popularity of web content is useful in many areas such as network dimensioning (e.g., caching and replication), online marketing (e.g., recommendation systems and media advertising), or real-world outcome prediction (e.g., economical trends). In this survey, we review the current findings on web content popularity prediction. We describe the different popularity prediction models, present the features that have shown good predictive capabilities, and reveal factors known to influence web content popularity. 2 Scope of the surveyLet us now define the scope of this survey. The term web content is effectively generic as it broadly defines any type of information on a web site. It can refer both to the subject of the information and the individual item used to deliver the information. In this survey we define web content as any individual item (in the form of text, image, audio, or video), publicly available on a web site, which contains a measure that reflects a certain level of interest showed by an online community.On the Internet, the popularity of web content can have different connotations. If by content we refer to the subject of the content, such as a person or an organization, then popularity could be expressed by a greater web presence or activity. From a different perspective, one may see web content as an individual web link and define popularity as the popularity of the link (the quantity and quality of inbound links). For the scope of this survey, we consider popularity from the standpoint of the relationship between an individual item and the online users who consume it.Seen from this perspective, there are different metrics used to quantitatively evaluate web content popularity. The classical way of doing this is to measure the number of views. However, this information is often hidden from the online users and crawling engines. For example, social networking sites, for various reasons, usually do not disclose this information to the online users [9]. But nowadays, with the growing prevalence of Web 2.0 platforms, there are new indicators – publicly available – that reflect users’ interest. In response to the publication of a web content, users can now provide a direct feedback, through comments and ratings, or further share it in their online social circles (using, for example, Facebook, Twitter, or Digg). These metrics capture different levels of user engagement and provide valuable information, complementary to view counts: rating improves the quality of publications, comments increase the time spent on a web page, and sharing gives content a greater notoriety. In general, it has been observed that there is a moderate correlation between the different popularity metrics [9]–[13], as they probably capture different types of habits on the Internet (to observe, comment, rate, or share). In this context, studying these metrics individually or how they relate to each other [14],[15] provides a wider and better perspective of what the popularity of a web content actually means. 3 A brief history of the evolution of popularity prediction methodsThe beginning of this research area can be found in the early studies on users’ web access patterns [16]–[19]. An important observation of these initial studies was that the distribution of users’ requests for web pages is highly skewed and could be described by a Zipf’s law [18]. Online videos, accounting for a significant amount of Internet traffic, have been one of the main attraction of these early measurements [20]–[27]. During this initial phase, researchers have looked at the degree of skewness in the popularity of videos [20],[21],[24],[25] (to determine potential benefit of caching videos) and analyzed which probability distribution best describes the video access patterns (to understand the mechanism that explains users’ consumption patterns [28]). These studies revealed that the interest generated by a web content is transient, heterogeneous, and often unpredictable [24],[28].After the properties of Web access patterns have been sufficiently well understood the challenge became to actually predict content popularity [29],[30]. The first prediction methods were built on the observation that there is a strong positive correlation between the popularity of a web content at different stages during its lifetime [28],[30]. As a result the first prediction methods consisted in linear regression functions that use the amount of attention that a web content generates early after publication to predict its popularity afterwards. The prevalence of Web 2.0 platforms, rich in metadata about how users interact with the web content and with peer online readers have further contributed to a fast evolution of this research area. Prediction methods based on the online social connections created between the users have been proposed, content published on various web sites has been analyzed, and different measures about web content popularity have been considered.These initial prediction methods were simple but often inaccurate for web content that remains attractive for longer periods of time [30]. An important step forward has been made with the finding that the evolution of web content popularity over time can be described by a only small number of temporal patterns [31],[32]. Thus, more accurate prediction methods that include information about the evolution patterns of content popularity, have been proposed [32]–[34]. But the content published on a web site is part of a global information ecosystem as it can spread on several web sites and reach consumers through different communication mediums. So, a further breakthrough in the design of more accurate prediction methods has been made with the development of algorithms that can extract and cross-correlate information from different web domains [14],[35],[36]. 4 Types of web contentUsers attention is spread across multiple web sites and various types of web content. Some of the most popular types of web content studied so far include: user-generated videos that account for a great percent of Internet traffic [37]; news articles, massively diffused through social networking sites [38] and heavily consumed on mobile devices [39]; stories published on social news aggregators that provide an even greater exposure to the most popular content on the Internet; and items (comments, photos, or videos) published on social networking sites, the most popular platforms to share information and encourage users’ participation on a global scale.Examples of the variety of web content, gathered from different web sites and used in the context of popularity prediction, are illustrated in Figure 1, together with information about the number of items and the time period covered by each data set. Data sets used as case studies to evaluate the performance of prediction methods. On a log-log scale we depict the total number of items and the cumulative time period covered by each data set. Online videos. YouTube, the world’s largest video sharing platform with 100 hours of upload per minute [3] and more than 1 trillion worldwide views per year [40], has been the main focus of the existing studies. The site’s content, with more than 200 million unique videos, covers a broad range of topics and is sustained by a big and active online community [41]. Studying the popularity of YouTube content is challenging given the ever-growing number of videos, the many features that the platform provides (e.g., video recommendations, internal search, online social networking), and the limitations associated with the retrieval of a representative sample of videos [42].The popularity of YouTube videos, commonly expressed by the number of views in research studies, follows a heavy-tailed distribution that, depending on the data set and the method used to fit the distribution, can be described by power-law with exponential cut-off [28], Weibull [41], log-normal [42], or Gamma distributions [43]. But the popularity of videos over time is highly non-stationary. From a high-level point of view, the popularity growth of videos over time can be represented by power-law or exponential distributions [44]. A more fine-grained analysis exhibits even more complex and diverse patterns. For instance, Crane and Sornette found that, while the activity around most YouTube videos can be described by a Poisson process, many videos reveal similar activity around the peak period that can be accurately described by three popularity evolution patterns [31]. Similar temporal evolution patterns have been observed by Figueiredo [45] and even more diverse shapes have been discovered by Gorsun et al. [32].In addition to YouTube, the popularity of videos published on other platforms has been studied (e.g., Daum [28], Dutch TV [44], DailyMotion [46],[47], Yahoo! video [47], Veoh [47], Metacafe [47], Vimeo [34]), but on a smaller scale, and no significant differences have been signaled in terms of popularity distributions.Online news. The primary source of information in the digital world, news, are created in large numbers and massively diffused through online social networks [38]. Compared to videos that catch users’ attention for a longer period of time, the interest in news articles fades quickly, within days after publication [14],[48]. The popularity of online news, frequently expressed by the number of comments (the number of views are rarely disclosed by news platforms), is also highly skewed, and can be described by power-law [49],[50] or log-normal [51] distributions.Social bookmarking sites. The third major type of web content analyzed so far is represented by stories posted on social bookmarking sites such as Digg [30],[52],[53], Slashdot [29], or Reddit [53],[54]. Content published on these sites experiences an even greater rate of change with stories reaching their attention peak in the first six hours after publication and being completely saturated within one day [30]. Prediction becomes even more difficult in this setting given the complex interactions between users [55],[56] and the promotion algorithm based on the collective opinion of users [57],[58]. The popularity of the content published on these sites is described by a heavy-tailed nature that is best represented by Weibull [53] or log-normal distributions [30],[52],[59].Social networking services. Designed with the idea of facilitating interactions among people on the Internet, these sites allow users to build and maintain online social relationships with people that share common interest, background, or real-life relationships. While there are different types of social networking services the most popular are the ones built on the idea of content sharing. Microblogs, such as Twitter and Weibo, are a specific type of social networking services that have been extensively studied. These platforms are probably the most dynamic representation of social media. Users create and share information in the form of short messages, known as tweets, containing up to 140 characters. When a user posts a (re)tweet it becomes visible to all its followers (i.e., members of the social group). Content can easily spread through the social connectivity graphs as followers can further share the content to their own list of followers. Two metrics have been used to measure the popularity of a tweet: the number of users that receive a message in their tweet feed [60], or most commonly, the number of retweets. The popularity of tweets is also highly skewed and can be described by a power-law distribution [61]–[63].Tweets are probably one the most ephemeral type of web content as they become popular very fast and they quickly die out. For example, studies conducted on Tencent Weibo found out that an insignificant number of tweets get retweeted after one day [63]. Similarly, a study on Twitter revealed that most tweets receive half of their retweets within the first hour after publication [64]. Useful predictions thus need to be done in the order of minutes after the post of a tweet.In addition to these main categories, content published on other web sites have been used for popularity prediction tasks such as threads published on discussion forums (DPReview, MySpace [65]) and movie ratings on IMDb [36]. Due to the relevancy of the results we also include in our analysis the prediction results for the content published on two applications: an interactive video sharing application (Zync) [66] and a joke sharing application (JokeBox) [67]. 5 Evaluating the prediction modelsTo provide a more explicit description of the prediction algorithms, let us introduce the terminology and the measures used to evaluate the efficiency of the prediction methods.Terminology. Let c∈C be an individual item from a set C observed during a period T. We use t∈T to describe the age of an item (i.e., duration since the time it was published) and mark two important moments: indication time t , representing the time we perform the prediction and reference time t , the moment of time when we want to predict content popularity. Let N ) be the popularity of c from the time it was published until t and let N ) be the value that we want to predict, i.e., the popularity at a later time t . We define N ̂ the prediction outcome: the predicted popularity of c at t using the information available until t . Thus, the better the prediction, the closer N is to N ).Evaluation. We distinguish two prediction goals: (i) Numerical prediction – predict the exact value of the popularity, (ii) Classification – predict the popularity range that an item is most likely to fall in. 5.1 5.1 Numerical prediction There are different ways to assess the efficiency of a numerical prediction [68]. Mean Squared Error (MSE – Equation 1) is used to report the average of the squared errors. By taking the square root of MSE, one can express the error in the same dimension as the estimated value (RMSE – Equation 2). One important limitation of squared errors is that they put too much weight on the effect of outliers, and in this case reporting the absolute errors is a good alternative (MAE – Equation 3). Absolute errors can be meaningfully interpreted if one knows the range of the actual popularity values. Otherwise, a good way of expressing the prediction performance is through relative errors such as the Mean Relative Error (MRE – Equation 4) and Mean Relative Squared Error (MRSE – Equation 5). Relative measures are also useful to compare the efficiency of prediction algorithm across studies, as in most cases the popularity values have widely different ranges (e.g., the number of views on YouTube is several orders of magnitude greater than the number of comments on a news web site). Special attention should be paid when using these error measures for zero-inflated variables as the relative error is undefined when the actual value is zero. Another way of expressing the prediction error is through the Relative Squared Error (RSE – Equation 6), Root Relative Squared Error (RRSE – Equation 7), and Relative Absolute Error (RAE – Equation 8). The error in this case is expressed relative to the performance of a simple predictor, the average of the actual values (computed on the training data set). The quality of a numerical prediction can also be reported using the correlation coefficient or the coefficient of determination (R2). Compared to the previous measures, which show how the estimated values diverge from the actual ones, these evaluation criteria can only express the degree of linear association between the two variables (predicted and actual values). RMSE MRSE RRSE 5.2 5.2 Classification This prediction problem can also be addressed as a classification task, where, assuming that the popularity range is known, one can split this interval in k non-overlapping popularity ranges. Thus, given the k possible outcomes the prediction goal is to correctly predict the popularity class of a web content. Various metrics are available to evaluate the quality of a classification method [68],[69]. Accuracy, one of the most reported metric, is used to express the proportion of correctly classified instances. This measure is nevertheless inappropriate when dealing with highly imbalanced classes, which can often be the case when referring to web content popularity, characterized by a heavy-tail nature. For example, a possible experiment could be to learn a classifier that predicts which videos will get more that 106 views on YouTube - a “small” class (1%) according to a recent study [70]. A simple rule, that decides that all videos receive less than 106 views, will correctly predict 99% of the cases. Thus, a good level of accuracy is obtained without even learning any prediction rule on how to detect the popular items. To measure the performance of the classifier on a “small” class, a good alternative is to use precision, recall, or F-score (the harmonic mean between precision and recall). But F-score measures the performance of a classifier for only one class. To report the aggregate performance over multiple classes, a good solution is to use the macro-average measure (average F-score over all k classes). 6 A classification of web content popularity prediction methodsTo structure the prediction methods, we propose a classification that groups the methods according to the type and the granularity of information used in the prediction process (Figure 2). A classification of content popularity prediction methods. 6.1 6.1 Single domain We define a domain as the web site where an individual item resides, regardless if it has been created or shared from an external source (e.g., news article shared on social bookmarking sites). Methods under this category are used to predict content popularity using only the information available on the web site. 6.1.1 6.1.1 Before publication One of the most challenging objectives is to predict the popularity before the publication of a web content, relying only on content metadata or the online social connections of the publisher. 6.1.2 6.1.2 After publication The alternative is to include in the prediction model data about the attention that one item receives after its publication. Aggregate behavior. A common approach is to deduce future content popularity using the aggregate users’ attention after the publication of a web content. This solution can further be separated in three main categories: Study the cumulative growth of attention, i.e., the amount of attention that one item receives from the moment it was published until the prediction moment. Perform a temporal analysis of how content popularity evolves over time until the prediction moment. Use clustering methods to find web items with similar popularity evolution trends. Individual behavior. Instead of treating each user’s action equally, one may further refine the prediction model by taking into account individual user behavior. 6.2 6.2 Cross domain Explaining popularity from the perspective of single domain is limited due to the complex users’ interactions across different platforms. Methods under this class draw conclusions by extracting and transferring information across web sites. 7 A survey on popularity prediction methodsSeveral popularity prediction methods have been proposed in the last decade, from simple linear regression functions to complex frameworks that cross-correlate information from different web sites. We describe these methods following the classification proposed in Section 6 and present their performance on predicting the popularity of different types of web content. A summary of these methods is also presented in Table 1.Table 1 Summary of the popularity prediction methods presented in the survey ClassMethodsData setsBenchmark modelPerformance/RemarksBefore publicationSVM, Naive Bayes, Bagging, Decision Trees, Regression [72]Feedzilla Shows an accuracy of 84% in predicting the popularity range of a news article.Before publicationRandom Forests [71]AD, De Pers, FD, NUjiji, Spits, Telegraaf, Trpuw, WMR Good performance in identifying which articles will receive at least one comment.Cumulative growthConstant growth [29]Slashdot Good performance in predicting the number of comments one day after the publication of an article (MSE = 36%).Cumulative growthConstant scaling [30]Digg, YouTubeConstant growth, Log-linearOutperforms the constant growth and the log-linear models in terms of MRSE.Cumulative growthLog-linear [30]Digg, YouTubeConstant growth, Constant scalingOutperforms the constant growth and the constant scaling models in terms of MSE.Cumulative growthSurvival analysis [65]DPreview, MySpace Using the information received in the first day after the publication it can detect with 80% accuracy which threads will receive more than 100 comments.Cumulative growthLogistic regression [61]Twitter The model can successfully identify which messages will not be retweeted (99% accuracy) and those that will be retweeted more than 10,000 times (98% accuracy).Temporal analysisMultivariate linear regression [33]YouTubeConstant scalingAn average improvement of 15% in terms of MRSE compared to the constant scaling model.Temporal analysisReservoir computing [77]YouTubeConstant scalingMinor improvement compared to the constant scaling model.Temporal analysisTime series prediction [32]YouTube Designed for frequently-accessed videos. Good performance in predicting the daily number of views.Temporal analysiskSAIT [63]TwitterRegression-based methodsPredict the number of tweets using information from the first hour after content publication. An improvement of up to 10% compared to regression-based methods.Popularity evolution patternsHierarchical clustering [32]YouTube Designed for rarely-accessed videos. The model shows good performance for short-term predictions but significantly larger ones for long-term predictions.Popularity evolution patternsMRBF [33]YouTubeConstant scaling, Multivariate linear regressionAn average improvement of 5% in terms of MRSE compared to multivariate linear regression and 21% compared to constant scaling model.Popularity evolution patternsTemporal-evolution prediction [34]YouTube, Vimeo, DiggLog-linearSignificant improvement compared to the log-linear method. The model can be used to predict the temporal evolution of popularity.Individual behaviorSocial dynamics [81]DiggLog-linearIt incorporates information about the design of the web site. Shows an accuracy of 95% in identifying which articles will get on Digg’s front page.Individual behaviorConformer Maverick [67]JokeBoxCollaborative filtering solutionsAdequate for platforms that rank content based on user votes. Better performances than collaborative filtering solutions.Individual behaviorBayessian networks [64]Twitter MRE of 40% when predicting the total number of tweets using the information received in the first five minutes after publication.Cross-domainLinear regression [36]IMDb, Twitter, YouTube Designed to predict movie ratings using social media signals. The best performance was achieved when using textual features from Twitter and the fraction of likes over dislikes from YouTube.Cross-domainLinear regression [14]Al Jazeera Results show that a model based on social media reactions in the first ten minutes has the same performance as one based on the number of views received in the first three hours.Cross-domainSocial transfer [35]YouTube, TwitterSVM basicShows a 70% accuracy in identifying which videos will receive sudden bursts of popularity (60% improvement over a model that uses only the information available on YouTube). In the vast majority of cases, prediction methods rely entirely on the information available on the web site where content has been published. Predicting the popularity of an item before its publication is particularly useful for web content characterized by a short lifespan. News articles, which are time-sensitive by nature, fall under this category and have been analyzed in two studies [71],[72]. Tsakias et al. address this prediction task as a two-steps classification problem: predict if news articles will receive comments and if they do, if the number of comments will be high or low [71]. The proposed prediction method is a random forest classifier trained on a large number of features (textual, semantic, and real-world). Using several Dutch online news sources the authors show that one can accurately predict which articles will receive comments and observe that the performance degrades significantly when trying to predict if the volume of comments will be high or low. Bandari et al., using the number of tweets as an indicator of news popularity, formulate the prediction task both as a numerical and a classification problem [72]. The authors show that predicting the exact popularity of news articles is prone to large errors (R2=0.34), but that predicting ranges of popularity is more effective, with an accuracy of 84% when identifying articles that would receive a small, medium, or large number of tweets. Aggregate behavior The methods under this category have been used to predict web content popularity based on the aggregate users’ attention received early after content publication. Cumulative growth. One of the first solutions, used to predict the popularity of Slashdot stories, is proposed by Kaltenbrunner et al. [29]. The model, which we will refer to as growth profilegrowth profile (we adopt the terminology used in [30]), assumes that, depending on the time of the publication, news stories follow a constant growth that can be described by the following function: where P(t ,t ) is a rescaling parameter and represents the average growth of a story from t to t The effectiveness of this method was tested on a large corpus of Slashdot stories and shows a reasonable performance in predicting the popularity of stories using the aggregate users’ reactions in the first day after news publication (average MRE of 36%). Describing future popularity as a linear relationship of the popularity at earlier stages is also proposed by Szabo and Huberman under the constant scalingconstant scaling model [30]: Parameter α is computed in such a way that the model minimizes MRSE and is described by the following expression: Szabo and Huberman also observe a positive correlation between the popularity of an item early after its publication and its popularity at a later stage and propose a logarithmically transformed linear regression model (log-linearlog-linear) expressed as For the coefficients of Equation 13, β0 is computed on the training set using maximum likelihood parameter estimation on the regression function lnN ) = β0(t )+ lnN ) and σ is the estimate of the variance of the residuals on a logarithmic scale. This method shows good predictive performance on several data sets: Digg stories [30], YouTube videos [30], articles published on a French news platform [73], and Dutch online news articles [51]. For example, Tsagkias et al. observe that, by using the number of comments received in the first ten hours after the publication of news articles, one can attain good performances in predicting the final number of comments (average MRSE of 20%) [51]. A different approach is proposed by Lee et al. [65]. Instead of predicting the exact amount of attention the authors study the possibility of predicting if a web content will continue to receive attention from online readers after a certain period of time. The prediction model proposed for this problem (Cox proportional-hazards regression) is a widely used method in survival analysissurvival analysis that allows one to model the time until an event occurs (a typical event is “death”, from which the term survival analysis is derived). While the main utilization of this method could be to predict the lifetime of a web content, by changing the definition of an event, the method can also be used for popularity prediction tasks. The solution proposed by Lee et al. is to consider as event the time when a web content will reach a popularity value above a certain threshold. The performance of this method was tested on threads from two online discussion forums, DPreview and MySpace, with popularity expressed as the number of comments per thread. Using different statistics related to the users’ comment arrival rate the authors show that, by observing user activity in the first day after publication, the method can detect with 80% accuracy the threads that will receive more than 100 comments. Regression-based methods have been frequently used for this prediction task. Tatar et al. use a simple linear regression based on the early number of comments to predict the final number of comments for news articles [74]. The authors observe that there is no significant improvement when using specialized prediction models as a function of the category and the publication hour of an article. Marujo et al. study the problem of predicting the number of clicks that news stories will receive during one hour. Various prediction methods have been tested (multiple linear regression, regression-based trees, bagging, and additive regression) using different features extracted from the news web platform. The authors show that by combining different regression algorithms one can obtain fairly good results (MRE = 12%) in predicting the number of clicks received by news articles during one hour. Cho et al. use a linear model on a logarithmic scale to predict popularity ranges for political blog posts [75]. The authors show that, by looking at the number of page views in the first 30 minutes, one can classify articles in three classes of popularity with 86% accuracy. A different approach is proposed by Tatar et al. who study the performance of three popularity prediction methods (simple linear regression, linear-log, and constant scaling) to order news articles based on their future number of comments [50]. Using a data set of news articles and comments, the authors show that, out of the three methods, a simple linear regression is the most adequate for this prediction task, suggesting that a smaller least squares error does not imply a smaller ranking error. Predicting the popularity of web content, based on the aggregate user behavior, has also been addressed as a classification problem. Jamali and Rangwala use the number of comments that Digg stories receive in the first ten hours to predict the final Digg score [56]. By training different classification methods the results indicate that it is possible to predict the popularity class of a Digg story with an accuracy of 80%, 64%, and 45% when separating stories in 2, 6, and 14 ranges of popularity. Hong et al. study the problem of predicting the number of retweets for Twitter posts [61]. The authors address this problem as a multi-class classification task, where, for a given tweet the goal is to predict the range of popularity and not the exact retweet count. Using a logistic regression classification function and various content, topological, and temporal features the authors show that they can successfully predict which messages will not be retweeted (99% accuracy) and those that will be retweeted more than 10,000 times (98% accuracy). Temporal analysis. For web content that captures users’ attention for longer periods of time (e.g., certain videos that are viewed during several months or even years) it has been observed that the aggregate-based prediction models are prone to large errors [30]. To improve the prediction effectiveness, one solution is to design models that can weight users’ attention differently based on the recency of the information relative to the prediction moment. For this type of evaluation, the aggregate user behavior is sampled in equal-size intervals of duration δ where x (i) is the popularity of an item c during the i th interval, and X ) is the vector of popularities for all intervals up to t : X )= [ x (1),x (i)] Pinto et al. rely on this approach to predict the popularity of YouTube videos [33]. Using a sampling rate of one day the authors use a multivariate linear regressionmultivariate linear regression expressed as The parameters of the model, Θ(t )= [ θ1,θ2,..,θ ] are computed to minimize MRSE under the new definition of estimated popularity. Using a collection of YouTube videos this model shows a significant improvement compared to the constant scalingconstant scaling model. For instance, predicting the popularity of a video one-month after its publication using data from the first week shows an average improvement of 14% over the constant scalingconstant scaling model. The main drawback of this algorithm, as mentioned by the authors, is that in order for the prediction methods to be effective, additional exploration is needed to decide on the optimal history length and the sampling rate. Reservoir computingReservoir computing[76], a novel paradigm in recurrent neural networks, is proposed as a model that could consider more complex interactions between early and late popularity values (between X ) and N )). More specifically, this technique is used to build a large recurrent neural network that allows one to create and evaluate nonlinear relationships between X ) [77]. On a small sample of YouTube videos this model shows a minor improvement over the constant scalingconstant scaling model in predicting the daily number of views based on the observations received in the previous ten days. For videos that are popular over long periods of time (those that receive views during at least half a year), Gursun et al. [32] observe that the daily number of views can be modeled through a time series predictiontime series prediction model using Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA). Thus, the popularity of a video at a given day n, x (n), can be predicted using the following formula: where α1,…,α are the parameters of the autoregressive model, θ1,…,θ are the parameters of the moving average, and ε ,εn−1,… are the white noise error terms. The model shows good performance in predicting the number of daily views based on the viewership received in the previous week (p=q=7), with an average MRE error of 15%. The main limitation of this method is that it has a very high computational cost as it requires one ARMA model for each video. To improve the scalability of the model the authors use principal component analysis (PCA) as follows: 1) use PCA to find the main principal components that can approximate the time series for the entire collection of videos and 2) apply ARMA modeling to the principal components instead of the individual time series. This solution significantly improves the scalability of the model (e.g., it requires 20 ARMA models to make predictions for the entire collection of videos) and shows a minor decrease in the prediction accuracy (MRE = 0.12 when using individual ARMA models compared to MRE = 0.14 when using principal component analysis). Kong et al. propose kSAITkSAIT (top-k Similar Author-Identical historic Tweets), an algorithm that can predict the popularity of tweets one, two, or three days after publication based on the retweet information received in the first hour [63]. The underlying assumption of this algorithm is that, tweets are retweeted in a similar manner depending on the author of the tweet. The prediction algorithm is thus user-specific (there is one prediction function for each user) and uses as predictive features only users’ retweeting behavior as it does not include any information about content itself or about users’ centrality in the graph of social interactions. Each tweet is described by a set of features (e.g., retweet acceleration, retweet depth) derived from the time-series of the retweets published in the first hour after publication by the direct and n-level followers, the publication time of the tweet, and information about the users who retweeted the original tweet. When a new tweet is posted, the algorithm computes the similarity of the tweet and all other tweets published by the same user, selects the top-k most similar tweets, and estimates the popularity of the target tweet as an average of the popularity of the top-k most similar tweets. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated on a data set from Tencent Weibo and compared to several regression-based methods. The algorithm shows good prediction performance (an improvement of up to 10% in terms of MAE compared to regression-based methods), but training a personalized function for each user makes it difficult to be implemented in large-scale social networks. Popularity evolution trends. Several studies reveal that the evolution of content popularity over time can accurately be described by a small number of temporal patterns [31],[32],[45],[78]. Crane and Sornette provide one of the first evidence of this fact while analyzing the popularity evolution of YouTube videos [31]. The authors observe that a Poisson process describes the attention around the majority of videos (90% of the videos) and the remaining ones follow three popularity evolution trends (illustrated in Figure 3). These trends are characterized by a single popularity peak but different patterns in which the popularity grows and declines. For more accurate predictions it is important to know that content exhibits well-known temporal dynamics, as the prediction function can be adapted to the specific shape of popularity evolution [31][45][32]. Example of three popularity evolution trends discovered by Crane and Sornette (and similar with some of the trends presented by Figueiredo and Gursun et al.). The figure shows the average number of views over time normalized by the number of views during the peak day. One of the first models that exploits the temporal evolution patterns is proposed by Gursun et al. [32]. While analyzing the viewership around YouTube videos the authors observe two overall categories of videos: those that are consistently popular over time and those that are viewed during a small period of time. The second category is characterized by short-time popularity bursts and can be described by a small number of temporal patterns. To reveal these patterns the authors use hierarchical clusteringhierarchical clustering based on the time-series of videos popularity during 64 days centered on the peak. This strategy reveals that, for videos that are viewed during short periods of time, there are ten common shapes that describe the temporal evolution for most of the videos. Once these shapes are detected the prediction task consists in mapping videos to the clusters that best describe their evolution until the prediction moment (t ) and in using the temporal evolution trends of the clusters to deduce future video popularity. On a sample of YouTube videos, this method shows good performance in making short-term predictions (predict the number of views in the next day) but significantly larger ones in making long-term predictions. Pinto et al. put forward an improvement to the multivariate linear regressionmultivariate linear regression model by proposing a solution that captures the similarity between videos in terms of their temporal evolution patterns [33]. The model assumes that the temporal popularity evolution of a subset of videos is representative for the entire population and could be used to improve the prediction accuracy. More specifically, the prediction model, called multivariate radial basis functionmultivariate radial basis function (MRBF), is described by the following relationship: where C1∈C is the representative subset of videos and w is the weight associated with each item. RBF stands for the Radial Basis Function with Gaussian kernel (chapter 6 [79]) and measures the similarity between the target video and each video in C1. Training MRBF model involves finding the optimal parameters Θ and w to minimize MRSE, setting the optimal values of RBF kernel, and finding a representative set of videos. The performance of this model shows an average improvement of 5% over multivariate linear regressionmultivariate linear regression and 20% compared to the constant scalingconstant scaling model. Ahmed et al. propose a model that uses a more granular description of the temporal evolution of content popularity [34]. Instead of using a set of representative items to describe the entire evolution of content popularity, this model selects representative members during regular intervals of duration δ and defines rules to model the transitions among subsequent intervals. The representative members for each interval are computed using Affinity Propagation clustering algorithm [80]. To calculate the similarity between items, the authors derive two features from X ): one that compares if two items receive the same proportion of users’ attention and another one that measures if the two items experience a similar popularity growth. Once the clusters of popularity are identified, they are grouped into a probabilistic framework used to describe the evolution of content popularity between clusters over time. Thus, by knowing to which cluster an individual item is most likely to belong at time t , one can predict its popularity at a future moment of time t The performance of the model was tested on three data sets (YouTube, Vimeo, and Digg) and shows a significant improvement over the log-linearlog-linear model. For example, when using the observations received in the first 24 hours to predict the popularity four hours ahead, this model shows a MRSE error of 1% for Digg and 3.5% for Vimeo and YouTube; a significant improvement compared to the log-linearlog-linear model that shows a performance of 17% for Digg, 24.2% for Vimeo, and 29.7% for YouTube. Individual behavior Instead of treating each user’s reaction equally in the prediction process, models under this category draw conclusions based on individual user behavior. Social dynamicsSocial dynamics, the model proposed by Lerman and Hogg, describes the temporal evolution of web content popularity as a stochastic process of user behavior during a browsing session on a social media site [81]. In its original form, the model is designed according to the characteristics of the social bookmarking site Digg: stories can be found in three sections of the site (front, upcoming, and friend list pages), users can express their opinions through votes, and stories are arranged in pages or promoted to different sections of the site based on the dynamics of votes. User behavior is modeled through a set of states that describe the possible actions that one can take on a site: browse through the different sections, read news stories, and cast votes to further recommend them to the Digg community. Browsing sessions are dynamic as stories circulate through the site (i.e., they may appear on different sections of the site or change position on the page) depending on the voting results. Individual user behavior is thus linked to the collective behavior, which in the end explains how stories receive votes over time. More specifically, the number of votes a story receives depends on its visibility and general interest. Visibility is expressed as the probability of finding a story in different sections of the site and interest is linked to the quality of the story estimated by the voting dynamics. The authors validate the model on a small sample of Digg stories by studying user’ reactions to the publication of stories and by taking into account the online connections created between Digg users. By using this algorithm, the authors reveal that they can predict in 95% of the cases which stories will become popular enough to reach Digg’s front page. For platforms that allow users to cast positive and negative votes on the content, Yin et al. propose Conformer MaverickConformer Maverick, a model used to predict content popularity based on users’ voting profiles [67]. The underlying assumption of the model is that, in the voting process, users can have two behaviors: obey the general users’ opinion (the “conformers”) or be against them (the “mavericks”). The profile of a user is in-between these two extremes but in general one trait prevails. The first step is to build user profiles based on the voting history by comparing individual votes with the overall appreciation of the content, i.e., if the majority of votes is positive or negative. These profiles are later used to decide if an item will become popular by analyzing early user votes. Receiving positive votes from conformers and negative ones from mavericks is then considered as a good indication that an item will be appreciated by the majority. Using data from a joke sharing application the algorithm shows a better performance than a collaborative filtering solution. Zaman et al. propose a probabilistic model based on Bayesian inference to predict the popularity of Twitter messages [64]. The predictive features are content-agnostic and based on retweets time-series and the social connectivity graph of the Twitter users. The model is based on the assumption that Twitter users have similar actions with regard to the post of a tweet that creates a pattern in the evolution of tweets popularity. In particular, the probability of a (re)tweet to be retweeted depends on the number of followers and the distance from the user that originally generated the tweet. Using a small data set of 52 tweets, the method shows a good performance (given the difficulty of the task), with an average MRE error of 40% using the retweeting information received in the first five minutes after the publication. The second major category of methods is used to predict web content popularity using information from multiple web domains: extract data from one domain (e.g., social media) and transform it into knowledge to predict web content popularity in another domain (e.g., the site where content was published). Currently, only methods that predict content popularity after publication based on the aggregate behavior have been proposed. Oghina et al. use data from Twitter and YouTube to predict movie ratings on IMDb [36]. By training a linear regression model on several textual features extracted from Twitter and various statistics from YouTube (likes, dislikes, and comments) the authors show that they can accurately predict movie ratings on IMDb. The authors indicate that the best performance is obtained by combining the ratio of likes over dislikes from YouTube activity with the subjective terms (positive and negative unigrams about the movies) extracted from Twitter. The algorithm proposed by Roy et al., Social TransferSocial Transfer, extracts information from Twitter to detect videos that will experience sudden bursts of popularity on YouTube [35]. The model consists of the following steps: extract popular topics from Twitter, associate these topics to YouTube videos, and compare the popularity of videos on Twitter with their popularity on YouTube. A disproportionate share of attention on Twitter compared to YouTube is then used as strong evidence that a video will experience a sudden burst of popularity. Topics are learned by analyzing Twitter stream, extracting topical words, and finding topics from words with semantic similarity. Each topic has a certain popularity on Twitter based on its prevalence in the Twitter stream and the time it first appeared. The algorithm uses the Social Transfer framework [82] to map videos – using only the textual information from the title and video description – to topics extracted from Twitter. The popularity of a video on Twitter, expressed by the popularity of its topic, is then compared to its popularity on YouTube (represented by number of views) and, if the difference is significant, the video is considered susceptible to receive a sudden burst of attention. Using data from YouTube and Twitter, and by training a support vector machine classifier, the algorithm shows that it can predict with 70% accuracy which videos will experience a significant increase in popularity on a daily basis. This strategy shows an improvement of almost 60% compared to a model that uses only the information available on YouTube. Castillo et al. propose a prediction method that collects information about the early attention that news articles receive on social networks to predict the total number of page views on a news site [14]. The statistical method used for this task is a multiple linear regressionmultiple linear regression that uses as input the following variables: number of Facebook shares, number of tweets and retweets, entropy of tweet vocabulary, and the mean number of followers sharing the articles on Twitter. Using a collection of Al Jazeera news stories, the authors show that a model based on the social media signals received in the first ten minutes after publication achieves the same performance as one based on the number of page views received in the first three hours. The effectiveness of cross-domain prediction methods indicate that, when information related to a web content is spread across multiple web sites, aggregating information from multiple sources can significantly improve the prediction accuracy. In particular, the information extracted from Twitter proved very useful in learning more accurate prediction models. The benefit of using social streams as an additional source of information can be explained by the fact that sharing is one of the most popular methods to reach information on the Internet. And, as sharing rarely happens inside the originating web domain, this information provides an additional – and more reactive – perspective about the actual popularity of a web content. 8 What makes web content popular?The magic formula of what makes a web content popular is still unknown but some of the ingredients have been discovered. The content of a web item (e.g., the topic, message, or quality) plays a major role in its future success [83], but there are other elements (e.g., dissemination factors, promotion, or social influence) that have a significant contribution. Identifying the factors that impact content popularity is important in building more accurate prediction models by understanding which are the significant variables (i.e., variables that show a causal relationship) that should be used in a model or in finding alternative proxy variables when the original variable is difficult to measure. In this section we present the factors known to have a strong impact on web content popularity and we indicate in Section 9 which variables have already been used in a prediction model.Content matters in the amount of attention that a web item will receive. Emotion is one of the most important drivers for online audience. Videos, evoking strong and mostly positive emotions, are more likely to be shared within online communities [84]. Similarly, content that generates high-arousal emotions (e.g., awe, anxiety) disseminates faster on the Internet and captures a larger amount of users’ interest [85],[86]. The quality of the content [87],[88] and its geographic relevance [89],[90] are also positively correlated with content popularity. The topic of the content is also important as content popularity is susceptible to bursts of attention in response to real-world events [91]. On the other hand, there are elements that have a negative impact on content popularity. One of them is the presence of multiple versions of the same content that tends to limit the popularity of each individual copy [28].There are also several content-agnostic factors that have a strong impact on the popularity growth [92]. Popular Internet services, such as search tools, recommendation systems, and social sharing applications can extent web content visibility and increase its popularity. Taking the example of YouTube, the internal search engine accounts for most of the views, followed by the recommendation systems and the social sharing tools [12],[92]. But the outcome of these services also play an important role in how popular a web content will become. For example, it has been observed that videos acquire a greater number of views if they are recommended in the related list of other popular videos [15],[93] and the higher the position of a video in the list the greater the number of views [94]. The recommendation system thus creates a strong linked structure between similar videos, which influence each other in terms of popularity [95]. This information can be extremely valuable to newborn videos that can have a greater chance of becoming popular if they manage to create links – by choosing a relevant title, description, or keyword set – with similar popular videos.Social sharing acts as an additional catalyst of user attention. Diffusing videos through social networks, blogs, or e-mail services generates peaks of attention during short periods of time [70]. Similarly, the social connections created within a site play an important role in how popular a web content will become. For example, it has been observed that in the early stages after the publication of a web content the greater the social network of the publisher the greater the increase in content popularity. Finally, social influence can have a non-negligible consequence on the popularity growth. A study conducted by Salganik et al. reveals that, when users are informed about the collective decisions of other individuals, the popularity of songs are driven by a “rich-get-richer” effect [87]. 9 Predictive featuresAccurate predictions depend on the predictive characteristics of the variables used in the model. While most prediction models proposed so far use the popularity at early moments as the only predictive variable there have been several attempts to include other features in a prediction model. We provide a brief summary of the various features used in the prediction models and report their predictive performance.Characteristics of content creators. The online media ecosystem is populated by content creators (independent producers, professional bloggers, mainstream mass media, or news agencies) with different but relatively stable – and maybe predictable – audience. Including the identity of the content creator in a prediction model is exploited by Bandari et al. who notice that the publisher of a news article is one of the strongest predictor of the number of tweets that a news article will generate [72].Textual features. Certain words or key phrases that probably refer to hot or controversial topics often produce a significant amount of attention. There have been two efforts to include textual features in a prediction model. Tsagkias et al. extract the top-100 most discriminative terms from various news sources and observe that these terms have a strong performance in predicting which articles will be highly commented [71]. Similarly, Marujo et al. show that popular key-phrases have a strong predictive power in predicting the number of views for news articles [96].Content category. Designing specialized prediction models depending on the category of the content showed little benefit in predicting the popularity of videos [33] and new articles [72],[96]. The only notable exceptions have been signaled for YouTube Music videos [33] and news articles related to Technology section [72]. The low predictive performance of using this information in a prediction model can be explained by the overlapping scope of categories, with content often belonging to multiple categories at once [28],[72].Named entity identification. Popular entities in the real world (people, locations, or organizations) can often be a catalyst of user attention in the online sphere. Tsagkias et al. observe a strong impact in including popular entities from Netherlands in a prediction model designed to spot news articles that will receive a high number of comments [71].Sentiment analysis. The specific emotion triggered by a web content is highly correlated with its online popularity [86] but extracting the correct sentiment and learning how to use this information for popularity prediction is a difficult task. The subjectivity of the language has shown little predictive power in predicting the volume of tweets for online news stories [72]. However, it has been observed that articles that are written in a more positive or negative voice, associated with strong emotions (e.g., admiration or anger), are good indicators of how viral articles will become [85]. In addition, Oghina et al. observe that subjective terms from the discussions about movies on Twitter can successfully be used as a predictive variable in predicting movie ratings on IMDb [36].Social media signals. As we saw in Section 7.2, social media conveys valuable information about web content popularity. Castillo et al. show that the attention that news articles generate across social networks (number of Facebook shares, number of tweets and retweets, the language of the Twitter messages) is effective in predicting the popularity of articles on a news site [14]. Oghina et al. successfully use information from Twitter and YouTube to predict movie ratings on IMDb. Another example of the predictive power of social media has been reported by Roy et al. who show that the popularity of a topic on Twitter provides a good indication that a YouTube video will experience a sudden burst in popularity [35].Social sharing viewing behavior. Yahoo! Zync is an application that allows users to share and jointly manipulate video content in real time. Shamma et al. study how users’ actions during a sharing session can be used to predict the popularity of YouTube videos and observe that these interactions are strong indicators of videos with a high number of views [66].Real-world features. Content published in online media is strongly related to real-world events but transferring information from the physical to the online world is very challenging. An attempt to employ real-world information in the predictions process has been done by Tsagkias et al. who show that there is an insignificant benefit in using the weather conditions (average temperature in Netherlands) to predict the number of comments for news articles [71]. 10 Shaping the future: Applications of web content popularity predictionIn the modern information age accurate popularity predictions can prove valuable to different actors: online users can filter more easily the huge amount of information; content producers and content providers can better organize their information and build more effective delivery platforms; and advertising networks can design more sophisticated and profitable advertising strategies. However, predicting the popularity of web content, as useful as it seems, has been employed in few real-world applications. We review the current practical uses of these methods and propose new applications that could benefit from this research area.The capacity to predict the viewership or the engagement around web content can be used as a tool for content optimization. For example, news web sites select and organize articles from a highly dynamic content pool. Instead of relying on human editors (a practice that is still common nowadays), web sites can refine their decisions through automatic solutions using online content optimization methods [97]. Agarwal et al. show that they can significantly increase the number of clicks for Yahoo! news articles if, instead of using human editors to select and arrange the articles, one uses automatic selection algorithms that measure users’ interest in news articles [97]. In this context, accurate popularity predictions, used to highlight and recommend articles, can improve user experience and boost the site’s traffic. Moreover, by monitoring and reacting to social media signals, editors can increase the traffic through social media optimization solutions [11]. Currently, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no online evaluations of how the prediction methods described in this survey could be used to increase the traffic on a web site. In an offline setting Marujo et al. show good performance in predicting the number of clicks that news articles will receive during one hour [96]. Still in an offline evaluation mode, Tatar et al. explore the efficiency of two popularity prediction methods to rank news articles based on the future number of comments and show that the log-linearlog-linear model could be an effective method for this ranking problem [73]. It is also important to understand how users react to information about the predicted popularity. Even if web content shows a mild resilience to self-fulfilling prophecies [98] the prediction outcome can become a strong form of social influence that inflates or dampens the success of a web item. One solution to this problem is to create a feedback loop to listen to users’ reactions and adjust the decisions depending on how the audience is responding to the prediction outcome.Information about the future amount of interest that web content will generate can also be valuable in online advertising as an alternative to existing contextual ad placement models [99]. The possibility to quickly spot the future popular items on the Internet creates the opportunity of additional profits for advertising agencies. Popularity prediction methods can also be used in the context of online marketing. For example, suppose that a company initiates a marketing campaign on social media with the goal of reaching a certain number of online users. To measure the success of a campaign one possible strategy is to wait until the interest in web content fades away. A more useful solution would be to monitor and predict in real-time the amount of interest that a certain post will generate and decide more quickly if additional publications would be needed [60].Faced with an ever increasing traffic demand, content providers and content delivery networks set large-scale caching infrastructures to distribute copies of the web content across multiple locations. Optimal placement of replicas [100] – in terms of location and number of copies under bandwidth and storage constraints – depend on how accurate one can predict the future users’ demand: which content will be popular [70], its geographic locality of interest [89], and the amount of attention that it will generate.Cache replacement policies (i.e., decide on which item to evict from a cache when there is no available space) remain an important issue for the performance of a proxy cache. Traditional cache replacement algorithms use the historical information about content requests to decide which item to keep in the cache to maximize a certain performance metric (e.g., hit rate, the amount of saved bandwidth) [101]. Two of the most used replacement policies, even nowadays, are LFU (prioritize the most requested item) and LRU (prioritize the most recently requested item). One way to improve the efficiency of cache replacement algorithms is to actually integrate popularity prediction methods in the cache replacement decision. Famaey et al. propose P-LFU, an adaptation of LFU that determines which content to evict from the cache based on the predicted future demand [102]. Four generic functions (linear, power-law, exponential, and Gaussian) have been used to predict future content demand with the exponential distribution showing the most accurate results. Using a workload trace from a Video-on-Demand service the authors show that popularity prediction methods can increase the cache hit-rate with up to 10% compared with LFU cache replacement strategy.Another domain where popularity prediction can prove valuable is mobile data offloading. Under the increasing consumption of mobile data traffic, telecom operators look for new solutions to reduce the traffic from cellular networks. Opportunistic networks have recently been proposed as an appealing solution to offload content with non-real time constrains, where, instead of using the cellular network infrastructure, mobile users can retrieve content from collocated peers [103].In this context, one possible strategy is to benefit from the spatio-temporal mobile users requests, proactively replicate (prefetch) popular web items into mobile users’ cache according to the predicted future demand, and rely on device-to-device communications to treat future content requests. To increase the performance of this strategy, the decision of what content to replicate should reflect content popularity dynamics, i.e., to replicate web content according to the predicted demand. If popularity predictions are accurate enough, future content requests could be handled by collocated mobile users and thus bypass the communication with the infrastructure and reduce network traffic and battery consumption. If, however, predictions are inaccurate, this will lead to an inefficient use of mobile and network resources. In this scenario, the benefit of predictions could be even greater if, in addition to predicting the number of users interested in a web content, one could also predict which users will trigger the requests. Social networks have become an important mechanism for information spreading and by learning the social structures created by users one can understand the patterns of information diffusion [7],[104] which further gives one the ability to predict when a user will be interested in a certain content. This type of approach has been proposed by Malandrino et al. that show that, by predicting information cascades, mobile users’ requests can be treated in advance which can lead to a reduction of up to 50% of the cellular data traffic during periods of high data traffic loads [105].Major Web search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing are always looking for new ranking factors to improve the relevancy of their search results. Over the years, search algorithms have become extremely sophisticated including hundreds of ranking factors based on the content of a web page or its importance in the Web graph. But even these complex algorithms may sometimes fail to retrieve the relevant information. For example, when searching for relevant information in the Blogosphere, Gonçalves et al. observe that commercial search engines (UOL, Yahoo!, and Google) failed to correctly retrieve an important percent of the relevant blogs on the first page of the results [106]. In the same study the authors show that the results of the query can significantly improve by including the popularity of the blog in the search algorithm. A search engine that includes the collective users’ opinion about web content in its algorithm – if one has access to the different popularity statistics – is probably the future evolution of search engines [107],[108]. Predicting web content popularity could fit well in this context as the outcome of a search query could prioritize future popular web content over expired one. 11 Summary and outlookIn this article we reviewed the current state-of-the-art on web content popularity prediction methods. We presented the different prediction methods, reported their performance, and suggested several applications that can benefit from these findings.Even if research on predicting the popularity of web content has been an active area in the latest years there are many avenues that wait to be explored. We suggest some possible directions for the future work.Predicting long-term popularity evolution. Most of the previous studies address the problem of predicting the exact amount of attention that a web content will receive up to a future moment in time. While this is useful for timely detections of popular items, a greater impact would come from a long-term evolution forecast [34],[45] (i.e., to predict how content popularity evolves over time). Knowing this can reveal how content progresses through the different stages of popularity: initial growth, peak period, decline, and even popularity rebounds. This information can help online advertisers or content delivery networks in making more profitable decisions, focusing on a content during its popularity peak and wasting fewer resources on expired items.Building richer models. In addition to early popularity measures, several studies analyzed the predictive power of various features. We believe that this direction has not been fully explored and further work is needed in finding more powerful predictive features. For example, except for Bandari et al. that use the identity of the publisher in the prediction model [72], to our knowledge no other work has studied the predictive power of a content publisher. Yet news columnists and video publishers attract a significant and maybe predictable audience on their own.The topic of the web content plays an important role in its future popularity. The daily agenda of discussions on the Internet and mainstream media is centered on major topics with limited and different life cycles. Thus, capturing trending topics and learning how to include them in prediction models can lead to a major breakthrough in the prediction accuracy. Research in this field has made important advances in the recent years. Leskovec et al. show that the attention that online users pay to certain topics can accurately be described by six time-series shapes [109]. Similarly, Nikolov et al. propose an algorithm that can accurately predict the trending topics on Twitter earlier (with an average of 1.43 hours) than the internal algorithm used by Twitter [110].For web content characterized by a very short lifecycle it has been observed that timely predictions present a real challenge. For example, news articles quickly become popular and "die-out" within hours. One way to improve the predictability of news would be to extract recurrent events over time, observe the level of interest that they generate, and predict when these future events will take place. Predicting global events in various fields (e.g., economy, seismology, society), as challenging as it may seem, is nevertheless plausible. Radinsky et al. propose two algorithms for this prediction task: PROFET, an algorithm that predicts the terms used in the future news stories based on the historical web query patterns [111]; and Pandit, a system that can predict future events given an existing news event [112].Understanding and merging user activity stemming from different web channels is an important direction to follow. Up to now, Twitter feed has been used as the main source of information. But there are other potential directions to explore. For example, analyzing Web users’ query behavior can unveil important insights about the popularity of certain topics and the ability to predict search queries, as showed by Radinsky et al. [113], could be incorporated in a popularity prediction model. Wikipedia is also a valuable source of information. Important real-life events are quickly recorded on Wikipedia and real-time monitoring of this channel can be transformed into valuable information in a prediction model. Wikipedia Live Monitor is a good example of automatic monitoring tool that detects breaking news events by studying simultaneous user activity for certain topics edited in different languages [114],[115].Beyond popularity predictions. Studying online content popularity should be used not only to better understand the dynamics of content consumption but also to improve various web services. For instance, by understanding which factors influence content popularity, content producers can design the genome of popular content. Although there are many factors that are difficult to control, creating content that is original (remember that multiple copies of the same content has a negative impact on popularity [28]), fresh (the advantage of the first-comer [92]), emotional (stronger emotions are correlated to content viralness [85]), and by tagging it with popular keywords (to appear in more popular recommendation lists [93]) can increase the likelihood of web content becoming popular. Then, online advertisers should try to figure out how to seize the opportunity of finding popular content in advance and design novel monetization strategies. Finally, there are few reports on how content popularity prediction can be used to design more effective networking solutions. Yet predicting web content popularity dynamics can be used to design more scalable content delivery solutions that proactively replicate content according to the future users’ demand. 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#1089 – Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport by Emma Carlson Berne 1939-1945 biography Capstone Press Emma Carlson Berne Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories) Jewish children in the Holocaust refugees World War II Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport Series: Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories Written by Emma Carlson Berne Capstone Press 2/01/2017 112 pages Ages 8—12 “You’re five years old. You’re on a train with a group of other children. You’ve said goodbye to your parents and are traveling to a new country. You may never see your parents, or your native land, again. This was the experience of 10,000 children who escaped the Nazis on the Kindertransport. Memoir pieces, poems, photographs, and other primary sources tell the tales of seven of these children. The experiences of these young refugees shed light on how it felt to lose one’s home and family in World War II, and how it might feel for today’s refugees.” [BACK COVER] [WC 342] Berne relates the story of seven children (five boys, two girls), who left Germany and Australia between 1938 and 1940 for the safety of Great Britain. It all began on a night referred to as Kristallnacht—The Night of the Broken Glass. Loyalists to Hitler smashed the windows of 7000 Jewish businesses in Germany and Austria, hurting and sometimes killing men and boys—Jewish men and boys—even more were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Aid organizations began asking Great Britain to accept refugee children. The country agreed to accept those under age 17, who traveled alone, and, once they were out of danger, left England. The seven children in this book fled aboard a Kindertransport to England by ship, plane, or train. Given the subject matter, Berne did an excellent job gearing the language toward middle grade kids. Berne used memoirs, photographs, and interviews. The most poignant words (in italics) come from the survivors, as they recount their lives before and after the kindertransport. These heartfelt stories give readers a viewpoint not often seen in history—that of a child. The seven children ranged in age from five to fourteen. One young boy carried his yellow teddy bear, another child gripped a rabbit’s foot; objects from home, too precious to leave behind. The final chapter recounts each child’s life after the war. Most led long, productive lives. Back matter includes a timeline, glossary, bibliography, and source notes. Teachers will find discussion questions and additional reading. Reading Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport was not difficult, yet it was emotional. Berne does a great job relating the Nazis era. She relates the dangers and the history of the time, then steps aside, allowing the children to tell their own story. One young boy, who had boarded the kindertransport, pressed his face against a window, trying to see his parents. Dad told him to smile. The young boy tried his best to obey. A Nazi soldier, supervising the train, saw the emotional interaction and said to dad, “So young and already a hero.” The kindertransport carried many heros. During the Nazis regime, 10,000 children rode a kindertransport. When the war ended, the children and their families were to be reunited. For most, it never happened—their parents had died in the Holocaust. Despite this horrible ending, Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport is uplifting more than it is gloomy. Kids who read this nonfiction book will see the resilience these children possessed.

Did I Ever Tell You… Our Nacozari turquoise comes from the same mountain range as Bisbee turquoise, which is why it has such a beautiful blue color. The Bisbee mine in Bisbee, Arizona produced some of the most gorgeous turquoise in the world. Like most American turquoise mines, the Bisbee mine is closed now after 95 years of production. They shut down operations some time in the 1970’s. Bisbee turquoise is really hard to find nowadays and when you do find it, it’s really expensive. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is headed in this same direction, as their mining operations shut down just a few years ago. The neat thing about turquoise, especially American turquoise, is that it NEVER goes down in value. But, did I ever tell you… Besides turquoise, the Bisbee mine also produced the “world’s best” botryoidal malachite and beautiful crystals of blue azurite you’ll ever see? The most impressive thing (besides the turquoise of course) is that this mine also yielded 4 million tons of copper (4 million!!), 100 million troy ounces of silver and almost 3 million troy ounces of gold. WOW!!! Can you believe that? Me either! It’s mind boggling. Today the mine is shut down, but the town of Bisbee remains. Besides their rich mining heritage and mining town atmosphere, you can still see the huge open mining pit and there is an underground mining tour available there. If you ever get to Bisbee, you must visit the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum. There you will find displays of over 100 specimens of the minerals that made Bisbee, Arizona famous. How To Tell If You Are Buying Dyed Turquoise July 31, 2009linvalentine Uncategorized If a stone is advertised as turquoise it could be referring to the color rather than the stone. If it is advertised “turquoise like” or if advertised with turquoise in front of the name of the actual stone, i.e., turquoise Howlite, then you know it isn’t turquoise and the price should be lower than what you would expect to pay for actual turquoise. Everybody has their pet peeve. Mine is “purposeful misinformation” when it comes to selling gemstones. Not just turquoise, but any gemstone. You know, when you ask a seller or dealer a question about a stone they are selling, they should have an answer for you. At first, the number of people who told me they like knowing the mine their turquoise comes from when they buy from us surprised me. After doing some online research, however, I was even more surprised to see the number of sellers who never even mention what kind of turquoise they are selling. It was all labeled the same, just “turquoise”, i.e., Turquoise Necklace or Turquoise Earrings, etc. After asking around I found that the sellers didn’t know where their turquoise came from. In checking further, I was astonished at how many people were selling turquoise on the Internet that was clearly not turquoise at all, but rather, dyed stone of some kind. That was several years ago. Not much has changed since then. In fact, I think the situation is worse now. It’s very hard to tell sometimes whether or not beads are dyed, especially if you only have photos on the Internet to look at, but there are some things you can watch out for. One of the most common problems for consumers is the enormous amount of dyed Howlite being sold. Because of the veining, it can be very hard to tell if you are getting real turquoise or an inexpensive stone like Howlite that has been dyed to look like turquoise. Here is a link to a page I created for you with several different photos of dyed Howlite. This will give you an idea of what to watch out for. The egg photo on this page is used as an example on Wikipedia of what dyed Howlite looks like and how real it can look to an unsuspecting buyer. There are also some photos on this web page of plastic beads next to authentic turquoise beads so you can see the difference. Of course you won’t have the luxury of seeing these side-by-side when buying online or perhaps even in person, but you can at least get an idea of what to look for. You will notice that up against the ‘just a little bit too perfect’ fake beads, even spherical turquoise has some color variation which is apparent in all natural color beads (i.e. the little swirls of color variations you see, plus the beads are not all exactly the same color). There is actually Howlite for sale on the Internet right now called “Sleeping Beauty turquoise Howlite” and is priced in the range of what you would expect to pay for turquoise. Believe me, there is no such thing as “Sleeping Beauty turquoise Howlite”. This is clearly dyed Howlite and has no actual turquoise within the stone itself. To their credit, some sellers will actually tell you they are selling turquoise Howlite (turquoise, referring to the color in this case). Obviously this is dyed stone because Howlite is white in its natural state. If this is what you like and what you want, then by all means buy it! Buy what you are attracted to. Obviously, the seller is being honest. Just make sure you are not paying authentic turquoise prices for an inexpensive stone that has been dyed. I receive mail frequently from people asking me to tell them if they bought “real” turquoise or not or asking me to tell them something about the turquoise they bought from a “dealer” they found online. The most recent letter was from a woman who was told she was buying Pilot Mountain turquoise. The picture she sent me was of travertine (also called Mexican Onyx) and reconstituted turquoise inlay. In reality, there was very, very little turquoise in the beads she probably paid handsomely for. There are times when dyed Howlite or other stone dyed to resemble turquoise looks so real that the average person cannot tell. The very best way you can protect yourself from misrepresentation is to obtain written documentation of your purchase. Turquoise dealers are required by law to accurately and truthfully represent the stones they are selling. The Federal Trade Commission guidelines suggest that buyers get a receipt from the seller that includes vital information about their purchase such as the condition of the turquoise they are buying, the mine it came from and whether or not the color is natural or dyed. If you are buying a Native American made piece of jewelry (with or without turquoise) you should also make sure you are buying the real thing by asking for the name of the person who made the piece and the name of the tribe, and get it in writing. An authentic piece of Native American made jewelry with documentation is far more valuable than a replica. A reputable dealer will not hesitate to give you this information. A customer should always be able to trust the person who is selling to them and should be able to “get it in writing” when in doubt. Your biggest defense is to educate yourself about turquoise as much as you can and to always “get it in writing”. My love of Turquoise and desire to share it with others led me to begin a business selling Turquoise several years ago, starting with the gorgeous Sleeping Beauty variety. Our first store only carried only Sleeping Beauty Turquoise in only one size, 8mm nuggets. It was great! After receiving many requests for other sizes and shapes we expanded our store over time into what you see today at The Turquoise Chick. The price of turquoise has almost doubled in the past few years so our prices and our inventory look much different today than they did back then. (Which is a great reason to invest in American Turquoise! It is running out and getting more and more valuable over time.) Turquoise colors range from light to medium blue or greenish-blue. Spider web turquoise, a popular variation, displays veins of matrix (its host rock) in web-like patterns. Persian (Iranian) turquoise is considered the finest quality and also the most expensive. It exhibits an intense light to medium blue, typically with no matrix. It has the ability to take on a glossy polish. Other turquoise varieties including American, Mexican, Egyptian, and Chinese are a significant source today. My Sleeping Beauty Turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty Mine located in Gila County, Arizona. One of my greatest joys is working with and introducing people to the Master Healer. There simply is nothing like it! I guarantee it!

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Ann Margaret Millspaugh 1 Howard Liebers (MarbleRoad Founder), Jonny Grave (Bluesman), Patrick Hawkins (of Benny), and Linsay Deming (Singer/Songwriter) Performing for a cause is different than the average concert; there’s a certain appeal philanthropy brings to a musical experience. Musicians can’t be stereotyped as self-promotional or egoistical; instead, they’re lending their voices as a catalyst for change, creating new pools of potential fans and interested attendees. The LEAP Sessions event this Wednesday, Feb. 29th, presented in partnership with Listen Local First (LLF), sheds light on the relationship between philanthropy and music. No, it doesn’t have the publicity of Bono and the ONE Campaign, but it’s a microcosm for the power of 21st century art and advocacy. Howard Liebers, founder of MarbleRoad, followed the typical path of many DC transplants: college, then an entry level position at a non-profit, and ultimately a director level position working in health policy with the DC Primary Care Association. As a young professional in DC, Howard was a driven 9-5er, using his free time to map his love for indie pop culture around the city. But, unlike most DC dwellers in their early 20’s, who are slowly making their way out of the Adam’s Morgan bar crawl, Howard was unexpectedly faced with the death of one of his closest friends, Craig Nolan. Prior to Craig’s death, Howard didn’t know anything about “rare diseases”, but after Craig’s tragic experience with a rare cancer, a type of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Howard became passionate about learning more about this issue – what qualified, who’s affected, and how society addresses these health issues. What he discovered was extremely disheartening. Firstly, it’s difficult to be diagnosed correctly if you have a rare disease because of the disconnect between primary healthcare physicians and rare disease specialists. Rare disease researchers are often siloed within their own specialties with limited patient interaction. The general knowledge base of primary care physicians often cause rare diseases to go undiagnosed and subsequently untreated. Additionally, since rare diseases in the US are defined as diseases affecting less than 200,000 people, there is little financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest in research. Treatments are often extremely expensive and unaffordable. In 2010, Howard Liebers incorporated the organization MarbleRoad here in DC, and saw an opportunity to integrate his love for indie culture with his newfound passion for rare diseases. MarbleRoad utilizes a campaign called IndieMatch to raise funds to support its mission. The IndieMatch strategy seeks to develop strategic partnerships between independent artists and musicians to support philanthropic opportunities. Using this model, MarbleRoad launched a kickoff event on Make a Difference Day in 2010, held in Alexandria, VA, featuring donated artwork by David Foox, Meredith Towsand, Elizabeth Jameson, Regina Hooliday, and Vesna Jovanoic, and Julie Gideon-Smith. In 2011, MarbleRoad hosted the Flammable Heart Exhibition during National Health Center Week, displaying collections of artwork at the Lyons Wier Gallery in New York City, in partnership with Lutheran Family Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Brooklyn. Money raised for the organization goes towards subsidizing rare disease treatments and bridging the communication gap between rare disease specialists and primary care physicians. Fast forward to 2012 – MarbleRoad’s third event, but the first ever “LEAP Session”. By now, it’s not difficult to see why MarbleRoad and Listen Local First have partnered for this debut. In contrast with previous MarbleRoad events, LEAP Sessions brings together indie musicians (not artists). Yet, the IndieMatch concept still holds strong. As an advocate of the local music scene, LLF is bringing together some of DC’s best artists and bands, and introducing some new acts to the excitement of the DC music marketplace: Nelly Kate (Richmond), Linsay Deming (DC), SoftSpot (Brooklyn), Caged Animals (Brooklyn), Benny (DC), and Jonny Grave & The Tombstones (DC). Together, IndieMatch and Listen Local First will be able to connect individuals through music and philanthropy by showcasing local talent and raising awareness for rare diseases. The first of many to come, these LEAP sessions will be held annually on the last day of February. (Rare Disease Day is always held on the last day of February – the fact that Feb. 29th only happens once every four years reflects the low incidence rate of rare diseases, hence the name – LEAP Sessions: a rare day for rare disease.) Deidree Bennett, Managing Director at the Dunes, shares her excitment: “As managing director of the Dunes, and I’m looking forward to the LEAP SESSIONS event on a very personal level; I suffer from a rare hereditary form of Primary Lymphedema. Therefore it is my pleasure to welcome MarbleRoad to help spread awareness about the more that 6,000 rare diseases in the U.S., and the people with them who need your support. Here is my story. Waiting for the Bus Might Never Sound the Same Again Posted on February 27, 2012 by stephmit Reply Hey locavores, check out some exciting news from LLF-partner and local singer songwriter René Moffatt! On Monday, February 27th, DC-based singer-songwriter René Moffatt releases his first music video, Route 42, a song about the trials and tribulations of commuting via bus in the District. The song, featured on Moffatt’s debut EP Here And Now Is Home was inspired by Moffatt’s daily commute through the heart of the city on the well-known Mt. Pleasant line primarily serviced by the 42 bus. Over the last few years, Moffatt has spent countless hours waiting for this bus and decided to pen a song in tribute. Live performances of Route 42 have yielded a growing following for the song as listeners (and riders) empathize with this experience that so many District residents endure daily. THE SONG: The hook-filled melody-driven acoustic homage follows the 42 bus through Farragut Square, Dupont Circle, ending in Mt. Pleasant where, in the video, a surprising twist of fate occurs. Moffat wrote the music and lyrics for Route 42 and the song was recorded and produced by prominent area producer Marco Delmar of Recording Arts. THE VIDEO: The music video for Route 42 was partially funded in part by a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) and a successful Kickstarter Campaign. Produced by American University film graduate student Alex Bryant, the video was shot on locations throughout the District in mid September 2011. THE WEBSITE: Moffatt designed and developed the42bus.com to host the video. The website is sponsored by local businesses in and around the 42 bus’ route. LOCAL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION: During the week of February 27-March 4th, area businesses will be featuring promotional products inspired by the Route 42 music video. Participating businesses and products include: Tryst: Route 42 Signature Cocktail for $4.20 The Diner: Route 42 Signature Cocktail for $4.20 Hello Cupcake: Signature logo Route 42 Cupcake Yola: Route 42 Latte Flying Fish: Route 42 Rocky Road Bus Tire – (chocolate cake with caramel, dipped in chocolate with Rocky Road crumble) Reggae Recording – See-i See-i Modern Rock Group – More Humans, US Royalty Modern Rock Records – Demon Station More Humans, Mirrors US Royalty Pop Rock Group – Deleted Scenes, Vegas with Randolph Pop Rock Recording – Young People’s Church of Air Deleted Scenes, Above the Blue Vegas with Randolph New Artist of the Year – Paul Pfau and the Dimestore Band Album of the Year – Mirrors US Royalty, One World Sovereignty Nappy Riddem Songwriter of the Year – Margot MacDonald Video of the Year – Neon Magazine Bosley Record Company of the Year – Fort Knox Recordings Producer of the Year – Oddisee Electronica DJ – Will Eastman Electronic Recording – One World Sovereignty Nappy Riddem Folk Contemporary Vocalist – Maureen Andary of The Sweater Set Folk Contemporary Recording – Goldmine The Sweater Set, Here and Now is Home Rene Moffat Jazz Duo/Group – The Funk Art Jazz Recording – Memoir Among Brothers Jolley Bros Rapper – Kokayi, Oddisee Rap/Hip Hop Recording – Rock Creek Park Oddisee Sockets Records: Making DC Music Just a Little Bit Weirder Since 2004 Posted on February 6, 2012 by stephmit 1 by Steph Mitesser, LLF contributor and blogger at Rhythm Without Representation If you analyze what influences a city’s artistic growth, you’ll inevitably discover the reasons are numerous, inextricably intertwined, unpredictable, and somewhat random. An A + B = C formula for an excellent local music scene will never emerge, but certain factors always come into play—i.e., creative people, enticing venues, etc. A less visible factor, however, is effective channels for local musicians to produce, distribute, and promote their music. In DC, those channels strengthened significantly as a result of Sockets Records, a label founded by DJ/ local music maven Sean Peoples. Sean and his cohorts have established a community of talented artists—many of them friends—who create some of the most exciting and innovative music to come out of the District in recent years. So how did it happen? How did Peoples take a humble CD-R-pressing operation to a real-deal label in just seven years? Well, an insatiable appetite for music, an expert pulse on all things creative in DC, and just enough insomnia to fuel the inevitably sleepless life required to balance it all…those all help. Peoples founded Sockets in 2004 as an offshoot of his weekly radio program, and his proactivity couldn’t have come at a better time. The city struggled to recover from the break ups of some crucial hometown acts like Q and Not U and Black Eyes; weird music surely existed, but it needed a bit of cultivating and a lot of exposure. “Bands were breaking up, bands that had a lot of young people following them,” Sean recalls. “That really dealt a blow. I was doing anything I could to make some noise during an otherwise quiet time.” And noisy it grew. Under the pseudonym DJ DLX, Sean began pressing CD-Rs of his favorite local artists, with a heavy focus on all things experimental and underground. In 2005, Sockets released its first official compilations, Audiozines 1 & 2, and held its first live showcases. Despite this initial momentum, the label wasn’t immune from the ebbs and flows of DC music, and Sean hit the pause button on Sockets for a full year in 2008. When the label returned in 2009, it returned to a changing city and a rapidly evolving musical landscape; Sean and his friends were ready to capitalize on both. Thus, some changes were in order: the label began to produce CDs and vinyl LPs instead of CD-Rs, and they used a blog to promote new acts that were coming on board and generating buzz, such as DC punk outfit Imperial China. Sean also joined forces with a friend in New York to represent Fly Girlz, a project involving middle school girls from rough Brooklyn neighborhoods rapping over remixes from underground DJs. Unsurprisingly, the resulting tunes turned some heads. While the project diverged from Sockets’ exclusive DC focus, Sockets’ number one concern remains sound, not geography. “I just want to promote amazing music, and amazing music is being made everywhere,” Sean states simply. Not to mention that the buzz from Fly Girlz inevitably benefited each and every band on Sean’s label. “It was an exciting time,” said Imperial China’s Brian Porter. “DC’s scene had always been a collaborative, tight-knit community, but now we were experiencing some healthy competition. I witnessed Hume, another Sockets band, playing some amazing music, and I thought, ‘Wow. I want to put out something like that.’ It’s inspiring.” Another wave of momentum came with the success of DC-based hip-hop group Cornel West Theory, who had been part of Sockets since the Audiozines—and friends with Sean since their days at American University. The band’s first full-length album, 2009’s Second Rome, received plenty of both critical acclaim and commercial buzz, even leading to Chuck D of Public Enemy to dub Second Rome one of his favorite albums of the last five years. This communal, DIY attitude of DC music completely infiltrates the label’s operations, and it inspires musicians and friends alike to get involved. Patrick Wixted, Peoples’ longtime friend and now partner at Sockets, lists this as his motivation for taking a leading role at the label. However, perhaps an even greater indicator of Socket’s success comes when artists work with Sockets not solely because of an attachment to DC or friendship with the owners, but simply because it makes sense as a working musician. Take, for instance, Deleted Scenes, arguably the most well-known group on Sockets’ label, currently rocking a 7.8-Pitchfork-rated album and a nationwide tour. The band released their first full-length album, 2009’s Birdseed Shirt, on a small Brooklyn-based label, but for their milestone 2011 album Young People’s Church of Air, they looked to the District—and not necessarily due to any sentimental attachment to their hometown. “Sockets picked up steam around the same time we did as a band,” says Deleted Scenes’ bassist Matt Dowling. “Sure, it’s great that we can work with our buddies in DC and that we are fans of the other bands they represent. But ultimately, Sockets offers crucial resources for local musicians to widen their footprint; they have the plug ins to get our music out there, and that’s what musicians in DC need—exposure.” Looking at Sockets in 2012, we see a local music initiative truly hitting their stride. With a bevy of fantastic local artists gaining steam under their watch, a successful artist showcase at Black Cat last week, and a hidden gem of an artist releasing an album with them this year (Cigarette—check them out, you won’t be sorry), Sockets shows no signs of slowing down. Owner Sean Peoples, whether through his label, his DJing, or his legendary party hosting (Fatback, anyone?), offers a fantastic example of how to move beyond appreciating local music to truly taking a personal stake in the success of local artists. Whatever success Sockets achieves, the label has proven it won’t lose sight of one simple, admirable goal: to help the DC community produce great music, and to help we, the fans, rock out to it. Stir It Up: What are the Ingredients for Local Music? Posted on February 2, 2012 by Ann Margaret Millspaugh 1 Image Courtesy of Facebook.* In our attempt to uncover what “local music” is, the subject of cover bands is undoubtedly a divisive issue. On the one hand, cover bands are local performers. They’re providing music for people in the area, satisfying a demand for raw moments of on-stage impulses and audience engagement. On the other hand, they’re exploring music rooted in a different time and place, using words and sounds from distant stories and experiences. DC may have some music shortages, but cover bands are not one of them. White Ford Bronco, a 90’s cover band, has approximately 1900 Facebook “Likes” and over 470 Twitter followers. Yet, their musical inspiration doesn’t stem from a deep-seeded desire to make it in the music industry (on their info page, the “Record Label” field says Who’s going to sign a cover band?), it comes from “the critical parental advice of Danny Tanner and the food at the Max. And the Peach Pit. The cuckolding of 90210 and Melrose Place. The red one pieces and the authority of David Hasselhoff that looks over the Los Angeles County Beaches.” For the DC community, White Ford Bronco serves as a medium to bring life back into polyester pantsuits and the Olsen twins. And, while the band members are all DC dwellers, with an allegiance to the DC music scene, the majority of their music (if any) is not. When almost every song performed can be searched and played within seconds, it’s evident that the cover band appeal comes from the performance, the individual musicians and the experience they cultivate locally. In fact, it could be argued that cover bands exclusively serve the local community by reviving an era or genre in the most authentic form of localism possible – through their present audience. Human Country Jukebox, a country cover band, credits their appeal to the personal touch they incorporate into classic hits. Jack Gregori, Human Country Jukebox singer and guitarist, cautions against cover bands being “too authentic” and sounding too much like the original recording. “The crowd zoned out because you’ve heard that all before. I try to avoid that particularly as a cover band. You have to be feeling it, particularly playing a part – interacting with the crowd. Especially the back and forth connection you feel with people listening to you. With some cover bands, this doesn’t exist. Struck me as something to be avoided – you can be ‘too good’ – too precise.” Image Courtesy of Facebook.* As a cover band, you’re rarely aspiring for a musical breakthrough – you’re aspiring to engage and satisfy your audience through pre-existing content. Sean Pool, a local fan and music connoisseur, makes an interesting analogy: “Cover bands are definitely local. It’s like a micro-roaster – the coffee beans come from all over the world, but they roast them and serve them in-house.” The fact that they’re not writing music in DC or about DC doesn’t discount them as local musicians or performers. The value added to the music community illuminates that where a piece of music is written is not the only determinant of locality. That said, the significance of original work cannot be understated. At Listen Local First, we exclusively feature musicians who produce and record their own work. Local music, music that is written and produced in a specific place, becomes an avenue to highlight local experiences, places, and circumstances within the universality of human understanding. Songwriting and musical production tap into deeper principles – those periods of understanding and empathy, jealously and despair, that “speak to the soul”. DC activist Zach Zill discredits cover bands as local music, claiming that “local music is about the creation of culture that people in one small geographic area can share in common and relate to. Most cover bands don’t fit that criteria because they’re rehashing cultural reference points much larger than that.” While cover bands are (arguably) created through their performance, songwriting and musical production compound many dimensions, exploring an inward sense of physical places and communities. John Evantin, a local singer/songwriter, differentiates local bands from local music: “Physically speaking are cover bands local bands? Yes. Is the music they’re playing local music? I don’t know.” So, what do you think? Do cover bands localize the voices of great musicians or is original songwriting a necessary ingredient in local music?

Social Media Resolutions A couple of months ago I wrote about rethinking my involvement with app.net. Since then nothing interesting has happened in the ADN-sphere but the trend of users leaving for other places has continued. As I've already mentioned back then there are a lot of interesting alternatives. Manton Reece's Snippets, for example, has not been released yet but it has been renamed to micro.blog and runs a very successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Jason (@matigo) and Robert (@33Mhz) are still devoted to 10Centuries and pnut respectively. With Mastodon, another interesting contender has entered the field of "decentralized social networks" and luckily it doesn't reinvent the wheel but is compatible with GNU social. I'm committed to embrace and experiment with different networks for personal use. I would like to also be "more social" on these networks and interact more with people instead of just dumping my reading recommendations which make up the majority of my social posts at the moment. At the same time more of my investment into social media will be centered around my new project CloudObjects, its blog and the related social media channels. Cutting down the reading backlog As you might have guessed from the amount of links I'm sharing on Twitter, App.net, my website and sometimes Facebook, I read a lot of blog posts and news articles. I'm always eager to hear what's going on in the tech space as well as the world at large and I like to learn people’s opinions. You could say I'm an information addict and admittedly reading often is just procrastination, but I like keeping an open mind and also consider myself a curator. Links to information comes in through different channels; email and personal messages, social media feeds and my RSS reader (yes, I still use one!). I typically check social media during breaks or while waiting for something else, so I rarely read entire articles the moment I encounter them. Instead they get added to a reading list. Then I set aside some reading time where I process that list, read the articles and then decide whether they might be of interest for someone else and where to share them. I also sometimes add quotes from the article to my personal research notes or create a bookmark if I want to rediscover the article later. If you are interested I can share more about my general reading workflow or the tools I use in another post, but today I want to focus on one specific aspect: the growing backlog. Rethinking my involvement with App.net I've always been a supporter of app.net. I love the idea of a social networking backend that is free of advertisements and has a business model that is completely aligned with the goals of third party developers building products on top of it - a true and sustainable platform. The API is well-designed and the annotation system makes a lot of things possible that can't be done on other networks. For example, what you are reading right now is stored as an annotated post on app.net. Apart from its technology, the network also has a great community of interesting people - or had, at least. As you also know or have experienced, app.net is on its decline. There is no active development from its founders and the number of active subscriptions is decreasing. A community effort called ADNFuture is trying to support and grow the network but so far it has not been very successful (which I'm not saying to criticize the people involved - and even if I wanted to criticize someone I'd have to start with myself who hasn't been as active within ADNFuture as I intended to be). What worries me about the rise of Ello and Telegram At the DLD conference in Munich this January, WhatsApp founder Jan Koum announced that the $1/year subscription fee will be dropped and WhatsApp will be completely free for users. The company will look into business-to-consumer communications and charge businesses instead. The mothership Facebook is looking into ads for monetization of Messenger. Now I know a lot of people are wary of Facebook and look for alternatives in the messaging and social networking space, for companies who do business differently. My favorite attempt at an alternative social network was App.net which charges $36/year. Sadly right now it seems that the network is actually shrinking. Another alternative social network seems to be doing much better: Ello. They started with an anti-advertising message and instead they charge users ... well, nothing. Initially they announced that they'd eventually add premium features for a fee but short of selling branded t-shirts there's no visible business model at the moment. Then, however, I read this article: Founder Paul Budnitz describes Ello as "a safe and positive community where creators publish, share, and eventually sell inspiring work." (the emphasis is mine). My understanding of this quote is that Ello's business model is now no longer about selling something to their users but helping their users sell things to each other and earning money by sharing revenue. If this is true, the so-called "anti-Facebook" is going down the same route as other networks. Improving your Daily Routine In an article about evening routines, Benjamin Hardy refers to the book The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy in which the author argues "that a person’s morning and evening routines are the 'bookends' of a prosperous life". Daily routine is all about small habits and, as Belle Beth Cooper (who works at Buffer) writes in her article about becoming a morning person, small habits can be "stacked up" to achieve "big wins" in the long term. I'm always striving to improve myself and, while there are many aspects in my life that I should work on, starting with the daily routine is a no-brainer. Personally I prefer the term framework over bookends (that's probably the nerd talking) because I believe that when I have a good morning and evening routine with small positive habits improving other aspects within this framework will become easier. In this blog post I've collected some of the things I'm doing, or at least try to do, to improve my own daily routine. I hope that some of it can be helpful for you, too. My personal website runs on phpADNSite, an open source project "that allows you to present your microblog posts and conversations happening on the social networking backbone app.net on your own domain in your own visual style". So far phpADNSite has been a stateless system; it would run on a webserver and fetch all content from the app.net API on demand. This saves users from maintaining their own storage system while still participating in the IndieWeb but of course the site will be gone in the event of an API downtime or, even worse, the "ADNpocalypse" in which the service shuts down. To change this and increase trust in phpADNSite as a viable way to run an IndieWeb site I've used the latest app.net "#CommunityHackDay" on 30th/31st January 2016 to start the first steps to turn my software into a true PESOS system. The implementation has been extended with a new ArchivePlugin. This plugin archives data into a storage system. I've implemented a FileSystemStorage class which simply places all posts into date-based folders on the filesystem, but other storages could be added as different implementations of the PostStorage interface. I'm thinking of RDBMS like MySQL, NoSQL-storages like CouchDB or even external cloud storage systems, both developer-oriented like Amazon S3 or consumer-oriented such as DropBox. Whenever you or someone else visits your site, new or changed posts are automatically archived so the archive always stays up to date with your posts on app.net. Read more 4 · 2 · 3 · 2016/02/01 08:39 · Permalink Will Medium own blogging and why does content move towards silos?! A few days ago, Dave Winer, who is known for his work on RSS and blog and podcasting software as well as being an advocate for syndication and the open web, published a post on his blog called "Anywhere but Medium". The post is an explanation of a tweet he sent previously in which he asked people to not publish (only) on Medium. Blogs are distributed media and part of the open web. Everyone can put up a blog on their own or a shared domain through a myriad of hosters and everyone with any browser can read them. Also, blog posts have permalink URLs through which we can refer to and recommend posts. On the other end of the spectrum we have sites who are content silos and essentially own a certain type of content. Twitter owns microblogging, YouTube owns video, SoundCloud owns audio and so on. Of course there are always alternatives and nobody prevents you from publishing any type of media on your own site, but the alternatives are often dwarfed in comparison. Dave is worried that something similar could happen to text blogging and, as an IndieWeb supporter, I can relate to that sentiment. I recently recommended trying and promoting alternatives to Facebook. Dave essentially did something in the same spirit for Medium. My Social Networks A few days ago, I coined the Social Web Vendor Diversity Challenge. The first part of the challenge is about using social networks, apps and websites that are not owned by Facebook in an attempt to demonstrate and preserve the diversity of social software out there. The second part is about telling people which sites you are on. This post is now my own reply to this part of the challenge, so here's a list of what I use regularly: App.net: This network launched as a paid, ad-free alternative to Twitter which promised not to screw up third party developers (like others had done before) and let everyone build an ecosystem of different apps around the service. Unfortunately the network didn't see the growth it wanted to see and thus it's not further developed at the moment. It's still running indefinitely, though. There is a strong community of great people on it (which heavily skews towards developers and other geeks). Of course there's also a free tier if you want to test the service without paying. See my app.net profile or sign up for app.net. The Social Web Vendor Diversity Challenge Since people started using the web to connect to their friends on social networking websites there have been countless of these sites. There used to be Friendster, then there was MySpace and finally there was Facebook. German students may remember StudiVZ. Now it seems Facebook is here to stay. None of its predecessors have ever been this large or well-funded. Facebook got to where it is now through a combination of doing the right things and being lucky until it reached the tipping point where the lock-in effects of the network became too strong for anyone to surpass them. Well done, Facebook, congratulations! Nature has taught us that ecosystems with a high biodiversity tend to be stronger, agriculture has taught us that monocultures in farming tend to cause problems and capitalism and market-based economies rely on competition to stay healthy. Innovation happens when companies need to compete and in turn consumers profit from increased supply, more choices and lower prices. Monopolies are mostly seen in a negative light and countries have antitrust and competition laws designed to prevent them. The last commit to the phpADNSite GitHub repository was on the 6th of August and I had some uncommitted changes lying around on my computer as well, so I thought it was about time to make some updates to my App.net-related open source project. This blog post is to inform you about the changes that I deployed today. The major change is the introduction of so-called views. These are custom pages that show a subset of posts from your account. I have created two of those views. One is for Longposts and shows all the long form blog posts with the respective annotation (like this one!). The view currently requires the #adnblog hashtag but - since all clients that I know of that create Longposts add it - it should not be a problem. The second view is, as I think, slightly more interesting. It is called "Top Posts" and shows the posts with the most replies, favorites or reposts. It uses a slightly simplified version of the algorithm that I've used for HottextApp and also shows popularity as a temperature value. The Story of Pocket I like reading stories of entrepreneurs building their startups into a successful company. Even though you cannot duplicate success, of course, there's always some lessons learned which you can apply to your own projects and startups. First Round Review published an article about the read-it-later service Pocket and its founder Nate Weiner, titled The Story Behind How Pocket Hit 20M Users with 20 People. I really enjoyed reading the piece, but its quite a long read, so I thought I could try and condense the information both for my own reference as well as everyone else who's interested but too impatient to read the whole thing. Introducing HottextApp A while ago I announced an app.net web application called HottextApp. In this post I want to explain what exactly HottextApp is, how it works and why I wrote it. The main idea of HottextApp is to show you the most important posts from the people you follow on app.net - a filtered home stream of the "hottest" posts! Why is this useful? Well, if I didn't check my home timeline regularly I sometimes felt overwhelmed by the number of posts that I'm seeing which often are replies and bits of conversations which only make sense when you read the whole thread. That's why HottextApp only shows posts which stand on their own or are the start of a new thread. All posts with links are filtered out (which is why it's called hottext, indicating it considers only text posts), because I also wanted something that just lets me see what goes on inside the network, not adding new material to my pages-to-read-later queue. The posts are shown not in chronological order but ranked on an assigned "temperature", an idea that was inspired by the Fever RSS Reader. Confessions of a Pomodoro Technique Addict The pomodoro technique is a simple tool designed to increase productivity. Its basic idea is very simple: Try to eliminate all distractions and focus on a single task for 25 minutes without interruption or procrastination. When the timer rings, take a short break; and then rinse and repeat. It also advises to write down tasks accomplished for each pomodoro and planning your time in those 25 minute slots. I've started using the pomodoro technique around three years ago out of the frustration that I felt not getting enough done while not being able to say where all the hours in the day had gone and how much I exactly spent working and where time was lost with procrastination. My own personal implementation is to simply track time spent on tasks with a timer and - after each pomodoro - write down what I've done in a few words or a sentence, thus generating a pomodoro log for each day. I also write down the number of pomodoros that were canceled because there was an interruption which I couldn't ignore. I apply it to all tasks which I'm doing on my own, no matter whether related to my company or personal. Phone Numbers and the IndieWeb I recently wrote a blog post about using domains, emails or phone numbers as user identifiers, in which I argued that the good old phone number is becoming an important mainstream user identifier again. To follow up on that, I would like to write down a few thoughts about connecting phone numbers and the (indie) web, looking at use cases as well as the required technology and protocols. When I install an OTT messaging app such as Threema, Viber or WhatsApp on my phone, it scans the phone's address book and looks up which of my friends it knows. Not only can I now write them through the app, I may also receive some current information from them, such as their nickname, current status or a profile picture. This information can be shown in the messaging app itself or, for example, my native phone app could display the availability of a person when I'm initiating an outbound call or show the user's own profile picture with an incoming call. This is something that neither of these apps do right now; implementations do exist but I can't remember any right now. The only problem is that for any of these use cases, both me and my friend need to have the same app because the implementation is based on looking up each other's phone number in an internal, proprietary database. User Identifiers: Domains, EMail or Phone Numbers?! At the IndieWebCamp last week I held a session on PhoneNumbers and the IndieWeb. Since attendance was minuscule but some interest was indicated, also by @flashblu after my post, I wanted to make a short write-up. But before talking about the idea I had or the technical implementation of it I wanted to talk about phone numbers and user identifiers in general. When the first version of OpenID was created in 2005, it came out of the blogging community LiveJournal and using domains/URLs as identifiers for users seemed like a natural fit: a website was needed by the implementation to discover a user's OpenID server. But also from the user perspective it made sense, as blog comments were one of the primary use cases and bloggers typically provide their own blog URL when commenting on other blogs anyway. I spent the last two days in Düsseldorf for the IndieWebCamp Germany 2015. The IndieWeb movement is something I've sympathized with and been following for quite a while but haven't been at any of their events so far, so I was glad that I could attend this one. And even though I was affected by the railway union strike, the travel experience was not too chaotic. The event was happening as a side event to the "beyond tellerrand" conference (which I didn't have enough time to attend as well) and the location and food was sponsored by sipgate, a VoIP provider and mobile carrier. They deserve a big shoutout and "thank you" for their job, because not only was their office a very nice and modern location that was suited very well for the event, the food they served over the weekend was probably the best I've seen at free tech events so far! Makes one kind of jealous of their employees :) Social Networks - Communities or Utilities?! This is something that has been on my mind a lot recently, especially in terms of what is happening with "alternative" social networks such as App.net and, most recently, Ello, but also the larger networks and the web in general. I'd like to postulate that social networks can be used in one of two ways, as communities or as utilities, and that this is both influenced by the network itself through its design and architecture but it also has a lot to do with the individual users and how they would like to perceive it. Users can even be a "community type" or "utility type" and the opinions of users of these types may often clash with each other. The "community type" is typically heavily invested into a social network. They connect and bond with new people and also help others to connect and they shape and adopt trends and memes happening inside a network. For them, the service provider and its members become a single entity that they are emotionally involved with. They often use smaller networks with tight-knit communities where everyone seems to know each other or carve their own slice out of larger networks which then is perceived as representative of the network as a whole. Why App.net should kill Broadcast A lot has been written about App.net during the last months after the first uncertainty and then the revealing "State of the Union" blog post, pondering whether the network is dead or not or what went wrong and what should be done. I would like to add one of my - probably controversional - opinions to this; one which I believe has not been voiced yet: App.net should kill its Broadcast feature! The Broadcast feature, when it was introduced, came as a surprise to me because it was oddly misaligned with the rest of App.net. A company that was targeting developers to innovate on social apps on top of their backbone (and said they only built their Alpha client to have at least something to show and not building a mobile microblogging client themselves) launched a feature that was completely bound to their own mobile apps.

Tagsart journal, Art Journal Every Day, flowers, gratitude, paper collage, paper flowers, pink, Zentangles I have been keeping a gratitude journal for years. About 4 years ago I started doing it in art journal format using altered books. Not long after that I started this blog as a record of that journal and has blossomed into so much more. Recently I started a professional art blog. I will continue to maintain both blogs for as long as possible. This is my first time using a mixed media sketchbook as my gratitude journal and I’m really enjoying it. I have been exploring acrylic paints and that exploration is reflected in my journal. I also us it to experiment with different media. For example, the flowers in the upper left page were experiments for my Mandala 41 with Rhododendron painting. I didn’t like how they looked with the mandala but I really enjoy them in my art journal and I’m going to use my “plaid” paper in a large mandala I’m currently working on, I think. Stay tuned… I’m continuing to explore the Zentangle® Method. The tangled squares use a pattern called Paradox that I’m really enjoying. The text and images document what has happened with whom in the last few days and weeks. I had a really long conversation with a dear friend who is fighting cancer. I used a new to me pen to start her drawing and it didn’t work quite how I wanted, but I’m so grateful to include her in my journal. The new pens are from a spiritual doodling class that I’m taking at my Unitarian church. This week I have been making lots of cards for various people. One of my sons has a birthday coming up and I have a few other friends who are also fighting cancer. All of my cards have had something that uses Zentangle® tiles or inspired art. I hope you have a beautiful day. Back to Gratitude and Paint 12 Tagsacrylic paint, art, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, grateful, gratitude, gratitude journal, Zentangles I have been working on layers in my art journal and have been so busy with Zentangle® classes and art, but here is the page layout of the buildup to the CZT27 and planning our trip to Connecticut and Rhode Island. I included my first Zentangle® tile from the seminar and my dinner coupon for the first evening. The meals at the Providence Biltmore were fabulous. They were awesome in their skill in accommodating gluten free and special dietary needs. There were quite a few of us at the seminar and I got some good tips on that too! They made some gluten free brownies that everyone loved! You can also see some random flowers I drew/painted on scraps of paper. They turned out pretty well. I’m still playing with cutting painted paper and using layers in my art. I feel like things are coming together, so to speak. The background of all of these pages were from my Lenten painting marathon. They have been great fun to work on. I should probably get back to them so I can continue to have art journaling backgrounds ready! I played with more layers and tried out new pens and tangle patterns during and after the seminar on these pages. I’m also working on a mandala that I’m going to submit to a show out here and I’m a little nervous. This is a different market from Wisconsin! I’m learning about combining inks and acrylic paints and pens and gel pens with interesting, and sometimes smeary, results. The daffodils are from a napkin from a pot luck dinner I participated in at MUF (Morristown Unitarian Fellowship). There is also a quote from The Buddha Walks Into a Bar by Lodro Rinzler. “One way to think of this dignity is to equate when you are on the path with unraveling a ball of yarn. You have wound your sense of self so tightly that it’s hard to be anything other than you, a big ball of yarn. That’s just who you are, not string, or threads, but a ball of yarn.” The thing about living with daily migraines is it has helped me see the threads in myself, not just the ball of yarn. Don’t know if that will mean anything to you, but it gets me through a lot of my days. Oh! And I have Zentangle® classes scheduled to teach! And my professional art website is getting going! Check it all out here! Tagsart journal, Art Journal Every Day, cherry blossom, cherry trees, found word poetry, In time of silver rain, Langston Hughes, Mixed-media art journal, poetry, Spring Dots and text seem to be the theme of this weeks gratitude journal. The left page has my sketch of a weeping cherry tree and text from magazines of things I’m grateful for. I like having Swim and Feline adjacent, if only in my journal. I was introduced to the Langston Hughes poem on the right page by a new friend and it is perfect for this week. In time of silver rain The earth puts forth new life again, Green grasses grow And flowers lift their heads, And over all the plain The wonder spreads Of Life, Of life! The butterflies lift silken wings To catch a rainbow cry, And trees put forth new leaves to sing In joy beneath the sky As down the roadway Passing boys and girls Go singing, too, In time of silver rain When spring And life Are new. Tagsacrylic paint, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, collage, flower, Mixed Media, Mixed-media art journal, Spring Gratitude usually abounds for me in the spring. I love spring flowers. I love spring candy (even if I can’t eat it anymore) and I even love spring rain. Here are the pages from my last week or so. I’ve been painting a lot – both the small paintings and the backgrounds of pages in this journal so you will see more cohesive and intentional painting in the next few gratitude journal posts. The 50 small paintings book is due back at the library tomorrow so I’m going to hit the paint while I have it. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get it again to do justice to a few of the more complicated pictures I want to paint. Some of this is progress on the community mandala, some is my 2 (fairly) new yoga classes that I am loving!!!! I’m trying to make to do lists again. I got away from them for a while but I love making and checking them and seeing them in my journal pages. Lots of green writing because I love green and life is so green and fecund these days. Breathe it in! Mom Turns 80: So Much Gratitude 28 Tagsacrylic paint, art, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, gel pens, mandalas, Naomi Novik, quote We made the trip to Wisconsin and back to New Jersey this last week and there was so much to be grateful for! I’m really pleased with the impact my daily painting has had on the backgrounds of my art journal. I didn’t paint on the trip or yesterday, but I’m getting back to it today. My Mom turned 80 and my oldest sister did a great job organizing a party. It was great to see family and friends. Our boys hadn’t seen each other in more than a year and the night before Mom’s party the four of us went out for dinner and a movie. Beauty and the Beast was beautiful and the boys loved the music. We also got to see quite a few friends we hadn’t seen in so long. The “happy birthday” on the journal page is from one of the napkins at the party. I drew little mandalas on the page while my mom and I talked and caught up in the days before the party. The quote is from the Naomi Novik book “Uprooted” that Mike and I listened to on our drive out to WI. “I was a glaring blot on the perfection. But I didn’t care: I didn’t feel I owed him beauty.” I hope you have a beautiful day on this rainy, Spring day. Circles of Compassion and Mandala 35 15 Posted by Jeanette Clawson in Gratitude journal, Quotes ≈ Leave a comment Tagsacrylic paintings, Albert Einstein, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, compassion, gratitude, gratitude journal, quote, Theology, Unitarian Here is my gratitude journal entry for the recent past. It includes my new dahlia stencil and circles cut from paintings my boys did in preschool. My husband has a hard time parting with memorabilia and this is one compromise that helps. Plus I really love how the colors and textures of their uninhibited painting come together. I had attached the circles from their art before I found the quote that is written on this page. A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ― Albert Einstein I’m taking a class at my Unitarian Universalist Church called Building Your Own Theology and it is an exploration of what I believe. Part of our homework this week was to find a quote about human nature that resonated for us.This one really works for me. I finished a new coloring page this week also. It is available for purchase in my Etsy shop. Mandala 34 and Jung on Mandalas 20 Posted by Jeanette Clawson in Gratitude journal, Mandalas, Quotes ≈ 2 Comments Tags100 Mandalas, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, Jung, Jung quote, Mandala, pink, quotes The quote from the 18th isn’t super legible but it says, “I saw that everything, all paths I had been following, all steps I had taken, were leading back to a single point – namely, to the mid-point. It became increasingly plain to me that the mandala is the center. It is the exponent of all paths. It is the path to the center, to individuation…” C.G. Jung I have lots of pink on these pages because I’m knitting 2 chemo caps for good friends who are currently fighting breast cancer. Neither one of them is into pink at all, but I have it here for them where it won’t bother them. Posted by Jeanette Clawson in Flower of the Day, Gratitude journal, Mandalas ≈ 5 Comments Tags100 Mandalas, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, dictionary page, dictionary page art, flowers, Gratitiude journal, gratitude, leaves, Mandala Last week I didn’t make a gratitude journal post so this week you get 3 pages and some mandalas that I’m selling on Etsy! There is a lot of good in this scary world, even now. I got some Caran d’Ache Neocolor II artist crayons and played with mixing them and adding water for these flowers on a black gesso background. I didn’t paint the flowers on the gesso, I left white flower shaped spaces on the page. Then I played with different white tools for drawing lines on the black. The little mandala/lotus flower was practice for a mandala that is now for sale on Etsy. The torus mandala on the right hand page is a mock up for a community mandala I hope to do at my church. I’m really excited about it. The left hand page is an experiment that didn’t go very well. I’m still sorting through lots of boxes of stuff from the move and I came across a really old silk scarf and I thought it would be cool/interesting to put it in my art journal. It made it really difficult to write on the page and it disintegrated more when I put it on with acrylic matte medium. So I added some more acrylic paint and used paint to write on it – still a little messy. I have noticed that I’m using more black in my journal. I do like the contrast it provides, but it also reflects the darkness I’m feeling these days. I posted this mandala on Etsy for $60. I’m going to post this mandala on Esty for $20. Posted by Jeanette Clawson in Gratitude journal ≈ 3 Comments Tagsacrylic paint, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, art therapy, gratitude, inspiration I’m doing oversized index cards as (one of) my art journaling outlets to share with the art therapist I am seeing. I have been doing this since mid-December so I’m way behind in blogging about art journaling. This may look familiar. I had another one that was part of the holiday card development, but I didn’t photograph it. The journaling part is on the other side of the index card, so that is a different way of doing this. I struggle with anxiety and depression and the holidays are difficult for me so some privacy with my journaling was nice. I have had a variety of therapists in the past, most of whom have been extremely helpful with the challenges I have faced. But working with an art therapist is so exciting! I look forward to my appointments in a new way and feel more connected to my art process. I highly recommend it to anyone! Here is what else I’ve been up to and each one is influenced by the many art projects I have going right now. You will see more as I finish things, I promise! Influenced by my acrylic painting classes. (above) Playing with acrylic paints influenced by The Creative Edge by Mary Todd Beam. (below) I have a mixed media notebook that I’m using to art journal everyday and I will be sharing that soon! Let’s make something beautiful! Variety of Art Completed (mostly) 16 Tagsacrylic paint, acrylic paints, art, art journal, Art Journal Every Day, collage, gratitude, gratitude journal, layers, mail art I have been working on a complicated gratitude journal page layout and I just finished it. These pages have been quite a process, like a lot of the art I have been making lately. I will post pictures of the pages in process and some mail art that I’m working on and haven’t yet completed. completed page layout This has a few layers of paint and paper. The left hand page represents a lot of love and sadness the week following the election. The right hand page has a lot of mail related ephemera. Some of it is my gratitude for our ability to pay our bills. Some of it is my love for getting and sending snail mail. Some of the stamps and postmarks are important in my life. In any case there is a lot of gratitude, but I wanted it to look prettier. So I added some more paint. The left hand portrait is of my younger son who had a difficult week. The white on the right side was following up with the “whitewashing” idea from my process painting and some ideas I have for art with a complex yet subtle background. I am practicing some more with the mail art project that you will see momentarily. I did some journaling on the white with colored pencils, but it isn’t very visible. Even less so when I put the mandala on it.

Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know Everyone age 20 and older should have his or her cholesterol measured at least once every five years. A blood test called a lipoprotein panel can help show whether you're at risk for coronary heart disease by looking at substances in your blood that carry cholesterol. This blood test is done after a 9-to-12-hour fast (no eating) and gives information about your: Total cholesterol–a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. LDL (bad) cholesterol–the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries HDL (good) cholesterol–HDL helps remove cholesterol from your arteries Triglycerides–another form of fat in your blood that can raise your risk for heart disease Major Risk Factors That Affect Your LDL Goal High blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher or on blood pressure medication) Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL) Family history of early heart disease (heart disease in father or brother before age 55; heart disease in mother or sister before age 65) Age (men 45 years or older; women 55 years or older) See how your cholesterol numbers compare to the table below: Total Cholesterol Level Less than 200mg/dL 200-239 mg/dL Borderline high 240mg/dL and above LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level LDL Cholesterol Category 100-129mg/dL Near optimal/above optimal 190 mg/dL and above HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level HDL Cholesterol Category Less than 40 mg/dL A major risk factor for heart disease 40—59 mg/dL The higher, the better 60 mg/dL and higher Considered protective against heart disease What Affects Cholesterol Levels? A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels. These are things you can do something about: Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level rise. Saturated fat is the main problem, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. Weight. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL and total cholesterol levels, as well as raise your HDL and lower your triglyceride levels. Physical Activity. Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight. You should aim to be physically active for 30 minutes on most, if not all, days. The TLC Diet. The TLC Diet. This is a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol eating plan that calls for less than 7 percent of calories from saturated fat and less than 200mg of dietary cholesterol per day. The TLC diet encourages you to choose a variety of nutritious and tasty foods. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish, poultry without the skin, and, in moderate amounts, lean meats. The TLC diet recommends only enough calories to maintain a desirable weight and avoid weight gain. If LDL is not lowered enough by reducing saturated fat and cholesterol intake, the amount of soluble fiber in your diet can be increased. Certain food products that contain naturally occurring substances found in some plants (for example, cholesterol-lowering margarines) can also be added to the TLC diet to boost its LDL-lowering power. More information on the TLC diet is available in the Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf). Weight Management. Losing weight if you are overweight can help lower LDL and is especially important for those with a cluster of risk factors that includes high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels and being overweight with a large waist measurement (more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women). Physical Activity. Regular physical activity (30 minutes on most, if not all, days) is recommended for everyone. Drug Treatment. Even if you begin drug treatment to lower your cholesterol, you will need to continue your treatment with lifestyle changes. This will keep the dose of medicine as low as possible, and lower your risk in other ways as well. There are several types of cholesterol-lowering drugs available, including: Statins, which block the liver from making cholesterol Bile acid sequestrants, which decrease the amount of fat absorbed from food Cholesterol absorption inhibitors, which decrease the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food and lower triglycerides Vitamins and supplements—Niacin, which blocks the liver from removing HDL and lowers triglycerides, and omega-3 fatty acids, which increase the level of HDL and lowers triglycerides Your healthcare provider can help decide which type of drug is best for you.

Recycling has become a big thing in this nation. We are encouraged to find a way to reuse many things that in the past we would have just pitched in the garbage. When I was growing up recycling was a way of life we just didn’t have a special name for turning other people’s trash into our treasures. My mother was great at finding ways to reuse things even if it wasn’t designed for that purpose. I have continued that tradition in my home. Let me share with you some ideas for using things you already have to help beautify or organize your home. Use old mugs, pitchers, and glasses to hold and organize groups of things. Most of us have a collection of mugs, glasses and pitchers that are the last of a set or they have a chip in them so they are not safe for liquids. These containers can be used for all kinds of things. I have used mugs and glasses to hold flower arrangements. Often they are a better size than the vases that I own. I use pretty mugs as pen and pencil holders that I place near each phone and between Larry’s and my chairs in the family room. They are decorative and that way I have a writing utensil handy when I need it. I use pretty glasses to hold cotton balls in the bathroom. I have a large, heavy pitcher that holds my curling irons next to my sink. Use small candy, sauce, or pickle dishes for something other than food. I have an assortment of decorative dishes that I have inherited or been given over the years. Most of them are never used for the original purpose. For instance I have a long narrow china dish originally made for holding things like celery. It is just perfect on my bedside table to hold my hand cream, nail file, and other things that I like to have handy. I have a little cut glass dish that I use by my sink to hold safety pins and hair clips that I use regularly. The point is to be creative. Just because that dish was made for food doesn’t mean that is the only thing you can use it for. It is so much better to use a pretty dish to organize a group of things and make that area look nice than to keep it stored in a cupboard and never see it. Leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper. Instead of buying shelf paper to line your cabinet shelves and your drawers, use leftover wallpapaper or wrapping paper. Vinyl coated wallpapers makes great kitchen shelf paper because it is scrubbable. I have heard of new brides using their wedding paper to line their drawers. When my children were born, I used the paper from the shower presents to line the drawers in the nursery. It was a nice way to remember all the love that was bestowed on my family by our friends. Toilet paper and paper towel rolls have all kinds of uses. I use toilet paper rolls to hold extension cords and small appliance cords. Folding them and stuffing them inside the roll saves a lot of untangling when you need to use the cord. These rolls can be used to wrap ribbons around. Wrap each ribbon around the roll and secure it with a small straight pin. Next time you need a ribbon it will be easy to spot the color that you want and it won’t be wrinkled. Ice cube trays can be used to organize your drawers. Do you have old ice cube trays stuffed in a cupboard somewhere? Those little square holes could be great for those small items that you keep in your junk drawer. You could fill those holes with hooks, nails, screws, paper clips, all kinds of little things that you don’t want to throw away but never can find when you need them. If you don’t have a nice jewelry box or armoire, put some ice cube trays in a top dresser drawer and use the divisions to store your earrings Empty jars can be used to store all kinds of small items. Take the labels off of clear glass or plastic containers then write on them with a magic marker or attach mailing labels to them that you can write on. These can be used for batteries, screws, nails, hooks, innumerable things that are small and get lost easily if just thrown in a box or drawer. Empty shoe boxes make nice dividers for your lingerie drawers. Instead of investing in plastic dividers for your sock and underwear drawers, why not use shoe boxes? If you have children at home, you probably have an assorment of shoe box sizes. Find the size that fits your drawers and the items you want to store. Once you work out a system for storage of these small items you will find that it is much easier to grab what you need in the morning because you are not rummaging through a mixed up mess in your drawers. Next time you want to organize something check your cupboards and closets. You might just find some great surprises that will improve the organization and beauty of your home. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has “an expected end” for us. Nothing surprises God! When we left Marshall Baptist Church there were many tears. I couldn’t even begin to imagine why God was calling us to the Midwest to build a Christian Camp on faith. That is what Larry told me we were called to do. In the late summer of 1982 my husband sat at our kitchen table and shared with me the burden that he was struggling with. He felt God was calling him to go to the Midwest and build a Christian Camp. He had already been struggling with it and arguing with God that this would not work. After all, we were not trained in camp ministries. He paused in his narrative, looked at me and said, “You are white as a sheet. You look scared to death.” Oh I definitely was! I told him that there were many reasons this scared me. First he was talking about moving to Iowa. He may not have noticed but that is above the Mason Dixon line and it snows more up there in winter then I wanted to see in a lifetime. THIS FLORIDA GIRL DOES NOT LIKE TO BE COLD. 🙂 My next objection was moving to a small Midwestern town where everyone watched you and knew your business or at least made something up. I grew up in Longwood, FL a suburb of Orlando. We had lived in Greenville, SC and Winston-Salem, NC. I liked cities with all the shopping, museums, concerts, people. I had been to his hometown which is like a Norman Rockwell painting. It’s a lovely place to visit but I didn’t want to live there. 🙂 Then I pointed out that I did NOT like camping. My idea of roughing it was Holiday Inn with the windows open. Yes, I went to camp with our teens because I loved them and was willing to put up with some inconvenience for a couple of weeks to see their lives changed. But, for the rest of our lives to be a camp directors wife? Not my idea of fun! Because I am a woman, and have the right to change my mind, I even pointed out that I did NOT want to be a camp director’s wife. I wanted to be a pastor’s wife. The ironic point here is that before I met my husband I had emphatically told my mother that I had never dated a preacher boy and I was not going to marry a pastor! Last, but not least, was the fact that Larry was talking about moving on faith that God would provide. That was NO guaranteed income. Now, I could trust the Lord to provide all kinds of appliances, furniture and luxuries and unheard of prices because I prayed. The problem here was that he was suggesting we trust him to provide housing, utilities and food. We’ll starve and freeze to death! Do you see the problem with all my objections? It was all about me, my comfort zone, and being willing to step out on faith. We had been teaching our teens that you must be willing to do the Lord’s will and trust Him to provide even if it wasn’t what we wanted to do. We were serving God in Winston-Salem. Why couldn’t we stay there? Because you can’t serve God in the wrong place and be blessed. When Larry and I were married, I promised to go wherever the Lord called him to assist him in the ministry. I was not going to break my vow to God and him; but, I told my husband that he would have to pray for me to get used to this idea. This was not even close to my plan A for our lives. In fact, it was dangerously close to plan Z. 🙂 So we told the church we would be leaving in January and started making arrangements to move to Iowa. Yes, I said January. What person in their right mind moves to Iowa in January?! We did. In the next installment I will tell you how God’s timing was perfect and His provision was just enough

There are THAT many calories are in that? Or … Why you need to food journal. October 2, 2013 by mybattlebuddyfitness Right now, wherever you are, whatever time of day it is, try the following: write down EVERYTHING you ate / drank in the last 24 hours. It’s ok, I’ll wait . . . all done? OK, now, I want you to write a calorie number right next to each item on your list. NO CHEATING, you are not allowed to look anything up on the internet. I mean, you ate it right? Surely you know how many calories were in each and every item you ate. Last steps, are you still with me? Write down the fat (in grams) and carbs (in grams) for each item on your list. This may take a couple of minutes, so don’t rush yourself. For fun, now go out and look up the calorie counts for what you ate along with the fat and carbs in each item. Make some new columns so you can compare your thoughts about what you ate to reality. I’m willing to bet on the following: 1) You forgot to write down some of the things you ate in the last 24 hour period 2) You couldn’t tell me how many servings you had of each of the items on your list 3) You were probably wrong about the calories (as in, you under-estimated) 4) You were probably wrong about the fat and carbs (as in, you under-estimated) Now imagine that I asked you to write everything down for the ENTIRE week from memory. How do you think you would do? My guess is probably not very well. The point is, weight maintenance, weight loss, and even healthy living comes down to some very important numbers: calories, fat, carbs, sugar, and protein (yes, there are other items like salt and cholesterol, etc. but for the sake of argument we are going to focus on those big 4). You want to lose weight? Well, you have to eat 3500 less calories in any given week to lose that pound. And unless you are some sort of Rainman, the chances that you can properly keep track in your head are pretty low. Which brings me to food journaling. If you are reading this blog, then you have access to the internet. The internet is good for more things than email and Facebook and Twitter and catching up on what celebrities are doing. It can HELP you keep track of what you eat. There are any number of free tools where you can document what you eat, and get the corresponding nutritional information about what you ate. And these tools will track your progress and your exercise and a whole heck of a lot of information. Remember this: weight loss is 20% exercise, 80% nutrition. 80%!!!!! That means that no matter how much you exercise, if you are not keeping a tight grip on your eating habits, you are never going to get to where you want to go. And I know we all love to think that we know how much we eat and we have an idea of how many calories we eat in a day, but every study out there shows that we always underestimate. ALL OF US. If I didn’t track, I know I would do it all the time. Almost every fitness professional I know maintains a food journal. Food journaling keeps you accountable because there is no guess work. Every time you open your mouth, you enter it into the food journal. And if you have to write it down, the chances of you doing something totally off of the reservation is pretty low. It stinks when I have to put: Chocolate Chip Cookie – 350 calories, 12g of fat into my food journal. But I write it all down. Every. Last. Morsel. I’m not fooling anyone by not writing it down, and it can’t be a surprise when I get to the end of a week and realize that I gained a pound because I can go back and look at what I did wrong. Keeping a food journal can also tell you when you do things right. Like the week where you lose 2 pounds? It isn’t a surprise. You exercised more (which you wrote down), you ate less (which you wrote down, and it was probably 7000 calories less as a matter of fact). Now you know what you did when you had a good week, down to the last blueberry you ate. So you can take those facts and repeat them again and again to keep on getting the results you want. Lastly, besides from calories, food journals tell you when you are getting more than your daily recommended allowance of fat, carbs, and sugar. Just because you keep your calories in check doesn’t mean you are all done. You want to make sure you are not getting all of your calories from fat, or getting too many calories from sugar (which you’ll store as fat if you can’t use them all up). If you are at risk for diabetes, then tracking what you eat will help you learn about where you are going overboard on sugar. Or say you have high cholesterol / high fat, well tracking your food will allow you to see where you go wrong with foods that are high in fat so you can eliminate them from your diet, or at least cut back on them. Look, I am not going to tell you that keeping a food journal is fun. Nor am I going to tell you that I do it perfectly every day, 365 days a year. But I try. And it helps keep me from going off the rails. If you are wondering why you are not losing weight, take a 30 day food journal challenge. Write everything down for a month, and try to stay within your guidelines. I am positive that you will notice a weight change immediately.

The labour market is not a charity auction February 2, 2011 in business, Economics, industrial relations, labour market, New Growth Path, regulation, South African government, the state, Unemployment Capitalism, at its most basic and unbridled, is a system that says: okay, the king is dead and therefore no longer owns all this stuff; take what you can … if you can hold onto it, it’s yours. Oh yeah, and you can pay the people who don’t manage to hang onto any stuff to work yours … because if they don’t they will starve. On your marks, get set … go! The system is extraordinarily productive, driven as it is by those gargantuan twin-thrust engines: human greed and human fear (you can keep what you can take/failure means death). One of the great political achievements of the last 300 years has been the refining, softening and regulating of this system so that it maximises the good it can produce for as many as possible. But note this: it can’t produce the same amount of good for everybody – because its fundamental driver is that it allows the hungriest, cleverest, most creative and most intelligent to keep what they can take. That’s why those people build the enterprise. So they can keep what they can get out of it. That’s the creative heart of the system. (One of the many flaws of capitalism is it also allows those who have become powerful for reasons other than those listed in the last sentence to “keep what they can take”. Thus both Apartheid apparatchiks and New Elite cronies are (still) living high on the hog for reasons that have nothing to do with the unleashing of their creative spirit and more to do with their ability to cheat and steal. But that is another story.) The point I wanted to make, is that in its most basic and unregulated form capitalism will allow the owner of the factory or mine to extract the last drop of blood from the worker – and the last drop of blood from his children, his old mum and his maiden aunt. Without regulation the only thing that will stop the capitalist working the worker to death is the need to have him come to work tomorrow and for his children to come to work in ten years time. The history of capitalism has demonstrated this unfortunate truth about humans time and time again. Thus we have labour market regulations: minimum wages, basic working conditions, rights to dignity, rights to organise and strike. These are amongst our greatest achievements – and they are all there on the law books of the new South Africa. But there is a line over which we must not cross. When the law, in effect, demands that the capitalist share equally the profits of the enterprise with the workers, the enterprise is over. If local regulation means the capitalist can’t make sufficient profit here he (or she) will go elsewhere or will spend his or her time doing something else. That’s it; end of factory, end of jobs and end of story. "Not only are the proposals contained in these draft bills a staggering contradiction of the government’s economic and social objectives with the potential to destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs, but they are also poorly drafted and difficult to interpret." Michael Spicer, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa Michael Spicer, as CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, is the perfect person to listen to if you want to get an average signal of what South African capitalists are feeling. His comment in today’s Business Day about the conflict between the flood of proposed changes to labour and employment equity laws and government’s job creation agenda is well worth a read. Catch it here. It seems to me we are carelessly testing for the “tipping point”, the point beyond which the capitalists mechanise their plants or leave. Umm, yes, so far so Marxism 101. Capitalism exploits workers, this is not a fair thing. What I’d really like to see is some analysis comparing a) what “decent work” would cost, across the economy; and b) what the cost of maintaining management is, everything above a rate of say, R 1 million per year Hypothesis: b > a nicborain ¿Qué no? I rather thought is was Capitalism 303 … the “thesis”, if it could be called such a thing, is the system’s unfairness is what makes it work – in both the good and the bad way that it does … but without the unfairness it’s just a charity auction where nobody comes. But if we look at the hypothesis: If we take the number of people who find work through labour brokers (900 000) combined with expanded definition of the number of unemployed at between 5 and 6.5 million … and the unreported millions who are scraping a living doing piece work on the side of the road … (i.e. all the people for whom “decent work” does not exist) then the question, surely, we must ask is: is there a trade off between creating “decent jobs” and any jobs? I am firmly with Gwede Mantashe on this one. Does the hypothesis suggest that the actual trade off is between what managers earn and the creation of 7 million new “decent jobs?” and, I assume the maintenance of the 7 million that exist already? How could such a trade off be affected? In what way (as in your point ‘a’) could we estimate what “decent work” would cost, across the economy”? In what way could we limit what management earns and apply the “saving” to “decent work” “across the economy”? Reply February 3, 2011 at 8:14 am Harald came back on my facebook site and said: “My point was that your Capitalism303 is a lesson in an approach devoid of any social contract. It blames COSATU and presents it as a labour aristocracy. Aristocrats earning R3000 / month … I agree that there’s a debate about ‘decent job…s’ and ‘any jobs’. But if it is framed in this one-sided way, and blaming only the relatively poor), I disagree. The notion of the hypothesis was therefore to present – in rather pseudo-scientific and -mathematical way – a conceptual framing. Start a conversation about a social contract in which ALL (incl University profs) who are employed make a concession. And I’m simply interested in the empirical question, whether the money that is needed to make all jobs decent is the big cost issue, or whether excessive over-consumption costs more.” Hey Harald, thanks for that – got me thinking. I think I do tend to dump on Cosatu – I get irritated that they present themselves as the voice of the poor and unemployed when their interests are obviously and overtly in contradiction to the… interests of these groups. At the same time they have been brilliant (again, directly following their ‘class interests”) on corruption and state functionality and, (following their ideology), on HIV/AIDS, Zimbabwe, Sushi eaten off women’s bodies, energy … you name it. I always try to correct for my overcorrection (if you like) by acknowledging that Cosatu does what it has to do to represent the interest of its members and it does it well, effectively and honourably (unlike almost any other major political group in this country) … it is just that those “interests” are necessarily sectional … nothing wrong with that, just don’t take them seriously on labour legislation – it locks the poor and unemployed out of the market and this is what Costu MUST do. I have no doubt that you are correct that a major social compact is the only possible way of assembling the resources necessary to create “decent jobs” and also, frankly, to migrate to global energy platform away from oil, to preserve biodiversity, to redress poverty and hunger, to produce AND distribute enough food/water/energy/housing/healthcare/education and any other major challenges that face us (and our environment) as a species. I do tend to be overly pessimistic about our ability to do this … I have definitely become something of a misanthrope (although I suspect that is just to protect my sensitive and shmaarmy sentimentality… but that’s another story). Thus I tend to look to the energy provided by “markets” – the forms of social organisation that arise around the imperative to produce, exchange and accumulate – for solutions. We have to build those outcomes into the price of everything that is exchanged … to do that we need a strong and effective global “state” and, yes, a basic agreement between all groups that these are the desirable, crucial objectives and an agreement to share the costs of the endevour… in other words the social compact to which you refer. Keep well and love to your family. (and make sure you have put this on my blog! Thanks for doing that with your first comment – I really appreciate it.

Reverse the Signs of Aging With a Facelift The visible signs of aging on the face and neck come in many forms. The most obvious sign of aging is wrinkles, which commonly occur around the eyes and between the nose and mouth. Other signs of aging on the face and neck include jowl formation, sagging cheeks, loose skin under the jaw, and shifting fatty deposits. While non-surgical procedures are excellent for preventing severe signs of aging and combatting them on a less dramatic level, nothing will give you results as profound as a facelift (also known as a rhytidectomy). Patients can select from a traditional facelift, a limited facelift, and a neck lift. Your surgeon will describe the differences between each procedure in depth, and help you select the one that will best deliver the results you want. No matter which procedure you select, each one involves the removal of excess skin for a tighter, younger, fresher appearance. Traditional Facelift A traditional facelift involves an incision at the hairline. The incision can run up above the temples and down around the earlobe. This gives the surgeon access to the underlying tissues, including muscles, which he can then tighten. The surgeon may also reposition the fat in the face at this point. Once the tissues are lifted, the surgeon repositions the skin, removing any sags. Excess skin will be removed. Secondary incisions may be made at the chin, or around the eyelids. Limited Facelift A limited facelift involves a smaller incision around the temples or the ear, or around the eyelid. The smaller incision leads to a short recovery time and a less dramatic change in your appearance. A neck lift involves improving the look of jowls, a double chin, or saggy skin around the neck and chin area. This procedure requires an incision at the base of the earlobe that runs down and back into the lower hairline and scalp. The tissues are lifted and fat redeposited to give the neck and chin a tighter and more youthful look. The placement of the incisions in all three forms of the procedure allow the surgeon to hide any scars in the hairline. The natural contours of the earlobe and scalp will also help to conceal any incision lines left over from the procedure.

Sesame Labeling Update – Senators Support CSPI’s Labeling Efforts June 24, 2015June 26, 2015 ~ hsw ~ 6 Comments I just received the following via CSPI – we met with Senator Murphy and staff from Senator Blumenthal’s office and Senator Markey’s office in May when I was in Washington, D.C.! Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for problematic labels so I will share one of my finds here before pasting the release I received via CSPI. Example of labeling as “tahini” instead of the allergen “sesame” WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action to require labeling of products that contain sesame or sesame seeds. Currently, sesame is not required to be labeled as an allergen on food products, yet sesame allergies are growing in prevalence. The senators heard directly about the dangers and challenges individuals with sesame allergies face from not having accurate information about what is in their food. The senators wrote a letter to FDA Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff requesting that the agency require that sesame – one of the most common allergens in the United States – be listed specifically by name on ingredient lists and that sesame be included in inspections for cross-contact. “Given the severity and growing prevalence of sesame allergies, we respectfully ask the FDA to move expeditiously under its current authority to require sesame labeling and inspection of sesame cross-contact to help protect the health and safety of our constituents,” wrote the senators. “Without required uniform labeling of the presence of sesame, consumers with this serious allergy have no way of protecting themselves or their family members from its potentially life-threatening consequences. As Congress recognized when it passed FALCPA, accurate and comprehensive allergen labeling is essential.” “Currently, the inclusion of sesame as a major allergen in processed food is not explicitly regulated by FALCPA, making it difficult for those with sesame allergy to determine which products may contain this allergen,”said James R. Baker, Jr., MD, CEO of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), an organization representing the 15 million Americans with food allergies. “With a significant documented increase in the prevalence of sesame allergy, which can be life-threatening, we are pleased to see Senator Murphy bring attention to the need and means for improving labeling to help families managing food allergies keep themselves and their loved ones safe.” The Center for Science in the Public Interest Chief Regulatory Affairs Attorney Laura MacCleery said, “Several hundred thousand Americans are allergic to sesame, and their allergy is no less serious and no less life-threatening than that of those allergic to peanuts, shellfish, or other common allergens. The Food and Drug Administration could easily protect these consumers by including sesame among the so-called Big 8 food allergens for purposes of labeling and education. We’re grateful to Senator Murphy, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Markey, and others who similarly wish the FDA would follow the lead of Canada, the European Union, Australia, and other nations that require labeling of sesame and sesame-based ingredients.” The Honorable Stephen Ostroff 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Dear Commissioner Ostroff: We write to urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action to require sesame seeds and sesame products to be labeled and regulated in a manner similar to the rules that apply to the eight current labeled major allergens. Sesame is now one of the most prevalent, and most dangerous, food allergies in the United States. When Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) in 2004 to require the labeling and regulation of allergens then considered the “Big 8” (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy), it was thought that these categories covered around 90% of all allergies in the United States. However, if FALCPA were enacted today, sesame would be included on this list. Allergists consider sesame to be an emerging allergy concern, affecting an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people in the United States. Robert Wood, the director of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, notes that sesame allergies “have probably increased more than any other type of food allergy over the past 10 to 20 years” and are “now clearly one of the six or seven most common food allergies in the U.S.” In addition to its mounting prevalence, sesame poses a particular danger due to the severity of the allergy: for some, sesame exposure can trigger potentially-fatal anaphylaxis. A recent Citizen Petition—FDA-2014-P-2035, filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and a number of prominent allergists and concerned parents—outlines the need for action in this area. We support the petition’s request that the FDA require sesame to be listed specifically by name on ingredient lists of foods and be made part of inspections for cross-contact, to better protect our many constituents who suffer from such allergies. FDA has the authority to regulate sesame in the same manner as other major allergens under FALCPA. Under 21 U.S.C. § 343(x), the Secretary may promulgate regulations requiring disclosure of allergens other than the allergens listed in the original statute, and has already done so in the case of the coloring carmine/cochineal. This provision also gives the FDA the authority to determine the manner and extent of such disclosure. As Congress recognized when it passed FALCPA, accurate and comprehensive allergen labeling is essential to enable allergy sufferers to avoid specific ingredients and potentially fatal reactions. This need is especially critical for sesame, which is often listed under unfamiliar names, like “tahini” and “gingelly,” and is sometimes not identified at all as a component of “spices” or “natural flavors.” Without required uniform labeling of the presence of sesame, consumers with sesame allergies, and the families of children with this serious allergy, have no way of knowing whether sesame is present in the foods they are eating, and cannot protect themselves or their family members from its potentially life-threatening consequences. FALCPA was enacted to improve allergen labeling so that consumers can identify the presence of an ingredient they must avoid. Given the severity and growing prevalence of sesame allergies, we respectfully ask the FDA to move expeditiously under its current authority to require sesame labeling and inspection of sesame cross-contact to help protect the health and safety of our constituents. 1) require sesame-based ingredients to be listed by name (“sesame”) in the ingredient lists of all foods and; 2) add sesame to FDA’s list of allergens in Sec. 555.250 of its Compliance Policy Guides Manual, “Statement of Policy for Labeling and Preventing Cross-contact of Common Food Allergens” to address both labeling and cross contact issues related to food manufacturing practices. November 18, 2014 Citizen Petition, pg. 2. Note that this is different than amending 2004’s FALCPA to add sesame, that would be amending a law while this requests a rule-making approach. In March of this year, Laura MacCleery, Chief Regulatory Affairs Attorney for CSPI reached out and inquired about my availability to attend a proposed meeting with the FDA near Washington, D.C. I didn’t know any particulars but I discussed the expense of the plane ticket with my husband, knew I could find a friend’s (comfy) couch on which to crash, and just needed the date to put everything in motion (and secure my mother in law to watch the kids). By the time I did buy the ticket to D.C., I was able to fly for an approximately $11 fee each way, plus the $99 annual fee for the credit card that afforded me the bonus points I needed to fly. That helped a great deal when it came to justifying a trip that put me in Washington for about only 28 hours. Unlike other advocacy opportunities I’ve had in the food allergy arena when I wanted to make my voice heard regarding an issue, I wanted to make listening my priority (instead of speaking) on this trip. Coming from a standpoint of believing disclosure of allergens is not remotely partisan, I wanted to know why there might be resistance to the idea of labeling for the presence of sesame in food products. I’m not sure I have an answer at this point but I know where and with whom to start looking (I’m hoping to update on those efforts soon). I also now understand the long process we may be in for. I landed in Washington at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12th, and navigated the Metro to CSPI’s office to meet my friend (and possessor of the above-referenced comfortable couch) Jessica Almy, who is the Senior Nutrition Policy Counsel at CSPI though we met a while before that role as a result of her website Vegbooks.org (where I’m a contributing reviewer). She introduced me to Laura and we went over the itinerary for the next day. We’d all have folders with information about everyone in our group as well as the individuals we’d be meeting. I’d brought a teal scarf for Laura as a gift – she knew it was Food Allergy Awareness Week so it was neat that the upcoming “Lobby Day” fell during that time. Meeting Folder and Teal Ribbon I got to have a lovely dinner with Jessica, her family, my friend Jennifer from college and Chris from high school that evening on the rooftop of a pizza place in Adams Morgan. I should have been tired but there is something electrifying about the capitol even after a day of travel. There’s a line in Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” that comes to mind: ‘My idea of good company…is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.’ ‘You are mistaken,’ said he gently, ‘that is not good company, that is the best.’ And so, I had an evening with the best of company, not to mention yummy pizza! My view by the Metro station on my way to meet my sister in law The next morning I had made plans to meet my sister in law – we had never met in person before so I was thrilled to be able to coordinate breakfast on short notice. My brother introduced us over the phone right before he deployed last year (he won’t be back stateside until late 2015). She was incredibly sweet and our breakfast together breezed by at a place near the Senate office buildings where my first meeting had been set. She even gave me a ride to the Hart Building which was great because we got to visit a little longer that way. Once inside the Hart Building, I navigated the marble halls to find the office of Senator Murphy of Connecticut. Laura was waiting along with Rachel Clark, the legal fellow for regulatory affairs at CSPI, and two other parents of a child with sesame among his allergies, Rob and Christine (Rob asked me to just use their first names in my post, I’m happy to oblige though it feels very informal). Brian Heller, who operates a change dot org petition started 9 months ago seeking sesame labeling and which was cited in CSPI’s Citizen Petition to the FDA, had e-mailed to indicate he’d skip the morning meetings (and lunch) but link up with us at the 3 p.m. FDA meeting later in the day. Laura handed me a small red cloth bag, remarking “one good turn deserves another,” and inside was a turquoise ring she’d handmade. I know it may seem off topic to mention these details but each time I try to write this post without the personal aspects it just doesn’t match the way my brain processes experiences. I think understanding people as both professionals and as people has always been a crucial part of advocacy to me. I love that so many aspects of ourselves can co-exist in a given person. We can be mothers and crafters and lawyers all rolled into one. Her personal connection to food allergy is that her husband has an allergy to shellfish – I think if we include just one degree of separation with the 1 in 13 affected by food allergy, we’d have a very big portion of the population included, indeed. Me (right) with Laura MacCleery (left) at the Hart Senate Office Building At any rate, we met with Senator Murphy in his office and told him our stories. My story focused on label reading and touched upon when E was diagnosed, but Rob and Christine’s story of their son got to the heart of the issue. Encouraged by a pediatrician to expose their approximately 8 month old son to other flavors when he wasn’t interested in solid foods, they’d touched the tiniest bit of hummus (which contains tahini, derived from sesame) to his lips when he began vomiting, breaking out into hives, and swelling. He thankfully survived the experience but their lives were forever changed. Senator Murphy was gracious and attentive, but also compassionate especially since his own family had been touched by food allergy in the past. (He did ask about the support of other food allergy groups which has spurred me since to contact AAFA’s Kids With Food Allergies and FARE to see where they stand regarding sesame labeling. Responses are still pending and I’ll update when I hear back with something official.) I managed to tweet after each meeting at the Hart building though the day became so much more fast paced afterwards that I didn’t get much documented online. — Homa S. Woodrum (@woodrumlaw) May 13, 2015 Next we were able to meet with staff at Massachusetts Senator Markey’s office – it felt strange to tell our stories again but each time we’d find more of a rhythm. Christine had to run an errand so Rob and I took turns sharing our history with sesame allergy and food allergies in general. The response we got was inquisitive and receptive. I was really enjoying getting to see all the offices and take in the questions that people were offering. I had a printed picture of my kids with me at Laura’s suggestion – it was from a recent comic book convention we’d attended so they were in costume as Gandalf and Galadriel from Lord of the Rings. I so closely guard their identities online that it felt strange to be showing off their picture but I think they would have liked that they were there with me in that way. Plus, my mother in law is pretty great at making costumes! Just met with Senator Markey’s staff! #foodallergy #sesame #labeling On to another Senate office! — Homa S. Woodrum (@woodrumlaw) May 13, 2015 Our final meeting “on the hill” (see, I’m using the lingo!) was with staff from (CT) Senator Blumenthal’s office. I had to snap a picture of the Lego display in the waiting area! Lego Building For this round of storytelling I took out the expired Auvi-Q set I carry in my purse (I always carry the most recently expired auto-injector set we have just in case it is of use) and offered information about needing not one, but two doses and how that related to emergency service response times. I wanted to convey the seriousness of exposure and how lack of disclosure puts us all at risk. Rob also was sure to share the fact that even restaurants trying to do the right thing for food allergic patrons would often have to correct themselves when they learned that bread items could contain sesame even if the familiar seeds were not seen on their exteriors. Met with Senator Blumenthal’s staff about #sesame #labeling – everyone is so receptive! FDA at 3pm EST! #foodallergy We then left the Hart building – we even walked past Senator Bernie Sanders (a presidential hopeful) as we headed to lunch which was really neat. At lunch we were joined by CSPI Co-Founder and Executive Director Michael Jacobson, PhD. and Jane Welna, the Development Director at CSPI. The conversation was great, especially since Michael Jacobson was at the forefront of CSPI’s efforts to get cochineal (aka carmine) labeled by the FDA 10 years after CSPI’s citizen petition was filed in 1998. It is a red dye that can cause allergic reactions, aside from the fact that it is derived from an insect. It, like sesame, was hiding on labels. Carmine would previously be labeled as “color added” or “artificial colors,” which makes sense since people aren’t keen on bugs in their food. I’d hate for sesame labeling to take 10 years but I do recognize that time shouldn’t be a barrier to trying to seek change. Laura talked about the Citizen Petition from November and stated our purpose in being present was to find out what the FDA thought of it and to learn if there was anything we could do to assist in processing it. We were informed that there were other petitions ahead in line and that responses were of late in excess of 40 pages (some even 70(!) pages) – the implication being a response takes time to get to and time to draft even when its time has come. We pressed on. I knew from the packet we’d been given that Carol D’Lima, FDA Compliance Officer, had a background that included work researching undeclared food allergens and their impacts. From the discussion it sounded like she had already began researching data from which to prepare the FDA’s response so it is encouraging that she understands the interplay between labeling and hidden allergens. There were two points of confusion that I made note of during the over one hour meeting. One was the distinction between the change dot org petition administered by Brian and the Citizen Petition filed by CSPI. A few times the FDA representatives looked confused when a piece of information was referenced regarding the change dot org petition because that same request or information was not a component of the Citizen Petition before them for review. The other issue was that it seemed as though the FDA wanted to find out if they needed certain forms of data to support adding sesame to labeling – the law doesn’t seem to mandate it but they referenced needing information for a preamble a few times. The resolution ended up being that they would verify what data may be needed, if any, before efforts are made to mobilize and provide the information. They seemed concerned about putting anyone through the trouble of marshaling resources before they’d verified what they may (or may not) need. So no call to action at this particular instant, though they kept circling back to the concept of showing the harm that not labeling for sesame would be causing. Some other takeaways from my notes… Though many arguments for labeling sesame begin with pointing up north (Canada) and across the point (the UK) for the proposition that it would not be burdensome for many manufacturers to comply if the FDA mandated sesame labeling stateside, the suggestion was met with the remark that the FDA has to look at US data/needs. Which I understand, though I don’t think it negates the extent to which worldwide impacts are instructive, especially since one of the things implicated by increasing US sesame allergies is exposure to ethnic foods featuring the seed and its derivatives. There’s also immigration and international travel to consider to a much lesser extent. Finally, I got the feeling that the pending response to the Citizen Petition wasn’t what it promised with the term “response.” What I mean is that I had envisioned that the FDA was preparing to dispute or agree with points in CSPI’s filing when instead they were trying to anticipate push-back depending on whatever position they take and address that commentary in advance. I get into that trap when I draft legal briefs, I anticipate the response to my words and try to head off those arguments while also making my own. It is a tough spot to be in but I can see how wanting to get something right would benefit an underlying cause even if it front loads a lot of the waiting time. And let’s hope we’re not talking about 10 years like labeling carmine, especially with “Dear Colleague” letters hopefully coming from the legislative branch voicing support for sesame labeling. By the end of the meeting, as we were being walked to the exit to return our security badges/stickers, our hosts had warmed up considerably and thanked us for our time. My first thought as we walked out was that as encouraging as the Capitol Hill meetings had been, receiving resistance on the issue with the FDA made taking the effort to have the meeting all the more important. Better to know now what concerns there are and how to counteract them (even if their basis seems more related to industry than to being legally enabled to make the regulation). My mother often told us that the reason she worked to teach her fellow nurses was because she wouldn’t always be around and she wanted to help the next generation of nurses so they’d be effective caregivers for her children even as adults. I feel the same way about access to affordable epinephrine, stock epinephrine, labeling, and disability rights for those with food allergies. And to be honest, much like hand washing is beneficial for the health of all students, not just those with food allergies, disclosure on labels benefits so many. Even those who may react to foods for the first time and have no way to even begin to inquire whether something like sesame is the culprit because it simply isn’t on the label. When someone leaves an allergist’s office with a food allergy diagnosis, they are given a prescription for (often costly) epinephrine but they’re also given a prescription that is harder to fill – allergen avoidance. In that sense it is fitting that regulation of both foods and drugs come under one organization’s control, because they are entwined. I’ve referenced this quote before, but it continues to be apt: ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.’ – Hippocrates Avoiding certain foods is a minute to minute prescription when you live with food allergies and knowing where sesame may lurk is a medicine whose time has come. As we head into Food Allergy Awareness Week in the United States on the tail end of both Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurse Appreciation Week, it makes me think of how much it has meant to me that the other people in my children’s lives like nurses and teachers understand the preciousness of their charges. Teachers stay up late preparing lesson plans, grade papers on weekends, and support students in extracurricular activities when they probably could use a break instead. School nurses manage medications, histories, and have to know students well enough to tell the difference between the flu and just having a bad day. My mother is a nurse. My sister in law and mother in law are teachers. I may never have walked in their shoes but I can say to them that I understand the challenges caring brings. I am able to tell clients that I understand the feelings of frustration that accompany the discovery of false friends, of soured deals, and broken promises. Knowing how nervous I am watching my child eat a new food, or what its like to tell her she can’t have some amazing looking treat just like her peers, my first reaction is one of support when another parent confides in me about their own trials. Maybe they’re worried their child isn’t as tall as the other kids, or that their ADHD gets them into trouble, or any of the other worries we have for those we love. Sometimes the tables turn and someone understands where I’m coming from and I’m reminded of how important compassion is. On Sunday I got out on the bike again after a much too long hiatus. I couldn’t keep up well enough with the group so I rode a ways back. But I didn’t ride alone, because someone was willing to ride at my pace and keep me company. When I turned around so as to not overdo my mileage, he volunteered to ride back with me. We had a lovely chat and the 180 mile per week rider told me he understood getting into training all over again. I was beaming, though sore, after the ride – how kind he had been! He made me forget how ashamed I was about all the weight I’ve put on and about the way my fitness has diminished to nonexistence. I promised him I’d come out and ride again and again until my goal race in October. On another day, one of our librarians at our favorite local library pulled me aside and asked where I get all my cute dresses. She didn’t know I’d been wearing dresses more and more because not much else fits, she didn’t see the “me” that I see in the mirror and it reminded me that we have to get out of our own heads once in a while and see ourselves as others do (unless they don’t have nice things to say, in that case ignore those people of course – I’m no stranger to cutting off contact with toxic relationships!). Then a friend told me yesterday about a tradition in her home country of Japan for mother’s day – it is not a commercial holiday, but instead red carnations are given to mothers as tokens. White carnations, however, are given to those who have lost their mother so that they might be remembered too. How wonderful to both celebrate and remember at the same time. I think the same should be true for something like Food Allergy Awareness – we can look at how far we’ve come in the food options we have, the awareness, the advocacy…but we also can’t forget the lives lost to anaphylaxis. The long and short of it is that even when you don’t know what to say, just let someone know you hear them and hope things get better. Life is too precious, depression is too invisible, and self care too absent from frantic days. So my hope for all of you is that you feel heard, that you feel understood, and that you can channel the kindness you receive from others back into your community. Just to prove how much I mean all this, here’s the very last picture I took with my camera before it was stolen last week. It’s one of the Teal Aprons my mother in law made to help me thank allergy cookbook authors that have helped us make safe food for E. If it feels like an odd juxtaposition, it is, because life is just like that. Take the good with the bad and keep on swimming. Thank you for sharing!TwitterFacebookPinterestEmailRedditGoogleLike this:Like Loading... Blogging and Defamation in Nevada April 25, 2015 ~ hsw ~ 2 Comments Yesterday I gave a short statement to the Nevada Assembly Judiciary Committee regarding a bill making its way through the legislature, Senate Bill 444. Before I include it here, I wanted to give some background information that I think would be useful to fellow bloggers. Generally, defamation is a term used to include publication of spoken (spoken) or written (libel) words that are false. So, in theory, if you wrote something false about someone on your blog, they might have a cause of action in court against you for defamation. There are specific rules beyond that but as a rule of thumb, as a blogger, you want to be writing things that are truthful (and, given FTC rules, not likely to cause confusion). Easy enough, right? Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation There is a lot of nuance to a successful defamation claim, but I always caution people that just because you’re in the right at the end of the day, it doesn’t mean someone can’t drag you into court. Because of the risk of plaintiffs with deep pockets (able to pay legal fees, etc. even though they may not actually have a chance at winning) filing suits (or threatening them) just to get content they don’t like removed, some states have made laws to protect against them. These laws are called anti-SLAPP laws. In Nevada, there has been a form of an anti-SLAPP law on the books since the late 1990s but in 2013 the law was made stronger. Among other things, a defendant in a defamation suit can file an anti-SLAPP motion within 60 days of being served with a defamation complaint and challenge the plaintiff to show their case is legitimate. This is a pretty neat framework because in Nevada if you wanted to write a review about a restaurant that hadn’t accommodated your allergies safely or perhaps refused service because of allergies, the restaurant would need to think twice before trying to make you remove the review or suing you. If they did sue, you’d be able to have a remedy for having to hire an attorney to help you (if the anti-SLAPP motion was successful). Nevada Senate Bill 444 The bill currently before the Assembly in Nevada would shorten the time a defendant has to bring an anti-SLAPP suit and also limit the types of speech protected. It would also change the penalty framework that has been in place since 2013. I read the following yesterday before the Assembly Judiciary Committee and I think it highlights how the food allergy community is impacted when it comes to being willing to share stories and concerns online. The unique thing these days is that where you might have told a few friends about an experience in the past, now when you share information online it is going to make its way back to the company you’re talking about and they might not be happy. As an example, a blogger who goes by the moniker “Gluten Dude” recently wrote a post about Udi’s Bread (a gluten free bread on which many with celiac disease and food allergies rely). He used photos of bread that people have purchased that have holes in them and wrote about trying to reach out to the company about what people are reporting to him. Like many bloggers, he is using the reach of his readership to magnify a message and get the attention of a large company. This is the kind of grassroots coverage of an issue that bloggers try to offer that contributes positively to the community at large. Looking further at the connection between free speech and online content, we have sites like AllergyEats and apps like YoDish specifically catering to the food allergy community. They encourage honest feedback about dining experiences, so we know there’s an interest in getting good information. And then there are mainstream review sites like Yelp that can make or break a reputation. Remember, through all of this, that there is always a party to a lawsuit more prepared for the road ahead. I recall in a mediation course in law school that this comes up even in the divorce context because one person has already come to terms with a decision even as the other may still be reeling and that changes the balance for negotiation. In Nevada a plaintiff has two years to sue, but the defendant may not even be aware the suit is coming. At any rate, all things to keep in mind when considering whether a potentially unjustified defamation suit is going to have a chilling effect on blogging, reviews, and even comments on facebook. My Prepared Remarks Good morning to the Chair and members of the committee. My name is Homa Woodrum and I’m an attorney in Las Vegas. I’ve lived in Nevada for 15 years in both Las Vegas, and (a point of pride having lived both north and south) in Winnemucca. Though my practice largely focuses on elder law and guardianship, I am also a food allergy blogger and co-founder of the Allergy Law Project – a blog with a focus on disability rights related to individuals with food allergies. I mention this because the intersection of being an attorney and being a part of an online community results in contacts who reach out to me when they receive requests to remove content on personal blogs. These individuals wonder about their rights but may opt to take down information rather than wrangle threatened, just threatened, legal action. Other individuals contact me after anaphylactic reactions wondering what they can and can’t say about their experiences out of a desire to keep others in the specific food allergy community safe. A mother whose son was served real milk instead of soy milk, a college student served his allergen by a barista, a visitor to Las Vegas for a convention served nuts and left to administer his own epinephrine by hotel staff…every single one of these individuals opted not to share their stories because of the commonly held notion that you can’t speak out about companies with big pockets without risking suit. With SB 444 as written, I would have to advise them all that the risks are too high. A plaintiff always has a choice and can do a cost-benefit analysis before initiating suit. NRS 41.670 is, I submit, a necessity in the digital era. As a Nevadan, and attorney, and, though I bristle at the term, a “mommy blogger,” I thank you for your time and urge you to reject SB444. Have you ever decided not to write about something because you didn’t want to face someone else’s reaction? Have you been asked to pull a blog post, or edit it, by someone else? Remember, of course, that what I’ve discussed here is related to work that is original to you – if you’ve used a photo without credit or have copied and pasted someone else’s work, you’re treading into copyright issues (also, just don’t do that sort of thing!). A request to remove content may be related to that content having been stolen but a truthful review of a product or experience may, depending on your state (Washington, for example, has anti-SLAPP laws on the books), have a little more protection than you thought before. Hopefully Nevada can keep its reputation for strong anti-SLAPP protection!

I just reviewed John Bayley’s Good Companions this morning, but I like this anthology so much I can’t resist quoting from it again. Here’s Bayley on Emily Dickinson: “A wonderful poet at her best; but, unlike Blake, Emily Dickinson seldom keeps going to the end of what is always a short poem. Philip Larkin observed that her poems sometimes seemed to make a virtue out of collapsing, as if the weight of inspiration could no longer be borne. That is certainly not true of either of these poems [‘Tell All the Truth But Tell It Slant’ and ‘Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers,’ both included in Good Companions].” John Bayley, the former Oxford professor and author of Elegy for Iris (Picador, 1999) , in Good Companions: A Personal Anthology (Little, Brown/Abacus, 2002). . My favorite poet since junior high, Dickinson is ironic but not elusive. Deliberate but not obvious. Her poetry’s “collapsing” is an interesting analysis. The term may be too destructive. She does, however, almost always “tell it slant” since therein lies “success.”

Answers to a variety of questions that can help you increase your team, department and organization performance. Themes: Communication, Strategy, Leadership, Change management and talent management. Methdology Methodology: How to give feedback that matter? Anne-Cécile Graber How could you improve feedback sessions? We all received and gave feedback but it can be puzzling as it may end up into a blaming or a congratulation session. As a manager you want to give constructive feedback in order to improve your team effectiveness. You may also be reluctant to give feedback because it is personal and can create discomfort. As an employee you may be looking for a way to get the feedback you need when your manager is not taking the lead. Finding an approach that represents you and does not feel useless is sometimes complex . On one side, there is the feedback giver who wants the feedback to encourage the person to deliver a specific outcome or a new behavior. On the other side, there is the feedback receiver who may feel attacked because the comments may mean that he is not "good enough" or the feedback do not support him to improve his work. Feedback sessions can be an highly emotional moment when both participants come with some kind of angst. Giving and receiving feedback is hard when we focus on the "potential negative reactions". One key to success is to always focus on facts that can be observed from both sides. Let's concentrate on how to give "negative" feedback in this article. You should always give positive and negative feedback in order to balance the discussion. I cannot believe this person is doing it all wrong! A good feedback to see a change is a Fact feedback. Can you remember a time when someone told you something sounding like "You are stupid! You should not have done that!" and your immediate reaction was "fight / flight or freeze". This did not help change anything. You should focus on facts and explain why the result of action "A" was not what you expected. For example, one employee may deliver bad oral presentations. You will not start saying that the person is a bad speaker. In stead you will mention facts like: I realized that you'r saying to many "hum", you do not look at the people.... Then you will give the person a detailed description of what you expect from them in the future. Help them to focus on those areas of improvement. Do not give feedback, give feed-forwards. Feedback are focused on a past that you cannot change. Focusing on the future actions that the person should take is empowering. It is your role as a feedback giver to frame the desired behavior the person should show. You have some homework to do before the feed-forward meeting. Observe and take notes about the feedback receiver's actions and list what you really expect from them. Be clear about what you expect from the person! Steps to prepare for a feed-forward session This method should be used to prepare for each individual session. The Feedback preparation starts way before the meeting itself. For each person, you should keep the following list up to date. Observe behavior: A leader that I know writes his observation on post-it and keep them all in a personal folder. He opens it few weeks before the meeting in order to clarify what the employee will need during the feed-forward session. List positive behavior you observed. Use examples to back up your list. List new behavior that the person should start showing up. Use examples to back up your list. List undesired behavior that the person should stop. Use facts and example to back up your list. Yes, there is a lot of repetition but please back up every observed / desired behavior with an example. Prepare for the meeting: Are you sure that your suggestions as backed up with facts? Avoid being judgmental because it will not help the person grow. We grow when we believe we can learn more not when we think we are going to fail. Prioritize the list of behavior and create a list of things you want to discuss with the employee. Everything you observed may not need to be discussed. Make sure you are talking about specific facts and please, not alternative facts ;) Do not make it personal. Do not attack the person. Lead the meeting using facts to support your argumentation Explain that the aim of the meeting is to help the person develop itself and become better at what they do Describe the positive behavior that you appreciate. Describe the new behavior that will help improve his / her work and give examples of how the person could implement it in the daily business. Describe the behavior that you think the person should not have anymore and explain why. After the meeting: FOLLOW UP! As a feedback receiver there is nothing less discouraging than not hearing from our manager after taking the decision to work on yourself. Plan follow up meetings with the person on a weekly or monthly rhythm. It is important that you follow up on the new behavior that the person should show and remind kindly that some behavior are not acceptable.

−{{stub}}+The term '''''jurisdiction''''' refers to a given ecclesiastical entity and its [[parish]]es. Traditionally and canonically, all the parishes in a given region are governed by one [[bishop]]. ''Jurisdiction'' is used particularly in those areas where this traditional order has been upset and multiple ecclesiastical entities claim parishes in overlapping territories. Thus, it is a term of distinction which exists mainly because of an uncanonical situation, but has also come to refer generally to self-governing churches whose territories do not suffer from canonical disorder. −The term '''Jurisdiction''' is term that has come into use in the Orthodox Christian [[church]] to describe an organizational disfunction of the traditional territorial organization of the church in which all [[parish]]es within a territory are led by one bishop. The traditional organization had its origins in the time of the Roman Empire+ −As the 19th century passed into the 20th emigration of people from traditionally Orthodox areas increased, bringing mixes of Orthodox christians of different ethnic and nationalistic leanings into traditionally non-Orthodox areas. While attempts were made to form a single new canonical episcopate in these countries, notably in North America, each ethnic group relied on their “home+== History == + +As the 19th century passed into the 20th emigration of people from traditionally Orthodox areas increased, bringing mixes of Orthodox Christians of different ethnic and nationalistic leanings into traditionally non-Orthodox areas, the so-called [[diaspora]]. While attempts were made to form a single new canonical [[episcopate]] in these countries, notably in North America, each ethnic group relied on their home church for support. + +In addition to the increased emigration of people from Orthodox Christian areas at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, the World Wars and Bolshevik aggressions of the 20th century accelerated the dispersions of Orthodox people and further complicated the ethnic identity issues with those driven by political issues. The result has been the proliferation of Orthodox groups in a single country that depend organizationally for their canonical standing on support of their historical old world churches. The term ''jurisdiction'' has become the norm for referring to these various Orthodox groups within the new territories. +*[[List of autocephalous and autonomous churches]] +*[[Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas]] + +[[Category:Jurisdictions|*]] +[[Category:Ecclesiology]] + +[[ro:Jurisdicţie]] The term jurisdiction refers to a given ecclesiastical entity and its parishes. Traditionally and canonically, all the parishes in a given region are governed by one bishop. Jurisdiction is used particularly in those areas where this traditional order has been upset and multiple ecclesiastical entities claim parishes in overlapping territories. Thus, it is a term of distinction which exists mainly because of an uncanonical situation, but has also come to refer generally to self-governing churches whose territories do not suffer from canonical disorder. As the 19th century passed into the 20th emigration of people from traditionally Orthodox areas increased, bringing mixes of Orthodox Christians of different ethnic and nationalistic leanings into traditionally non-Orthodox areas, the so-called diaspora. While attempts were made to form a single new canonical episcopate in these countries, notably in North America, each ethnic group relied on their home church for support. In addition to the increased emigration of people from Orthodox Christian areas at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, the World Wars and Bolshevik aggressions of the 20th century accelerated the dispersions of Orthodox people and further complicated the ethnic identity issues with those driven by political issues. The result has been the proliferation of Orthodox groups in a single country that depend organizationally for their canonical standing on support of their historical old world churches. The term jurisdiction has become the norm for referring to these various Orthodox groups within the new territories.

Typikon The Typikon (τυπικόν/typikon, pl. τυπικα/typika, lit. following the order; Slavonic: ѹставъ/ustav) is the book of directives and rubrics that establishes in the Orthodox Christian Church the order of divine services for each day of the year. It assumes the existence of liturgical books that contain the fixed and variable parts of these services. In monastery usage, the typikon of the monastery includes both the rule of life of the community and the rule of prayer. 1 Origin of the Typikon of St. Savas and the Studite Typikon 2 The Typikon of the Great Church 3 Divergence of Slavic and Byzantine Practice 5 External links that Discuss the Typikon 6 External links with Rubrics based on the Typikon 7 External links with Translations of the Typikon Origin of the Typikon of St. Savas and the Studite Typikon The liturgical books presently used by the Orthodox Church have originated either in monasteries or have been greatly influenced by monastic practices. The services of the daily cycle of worship used today in the Orthodox East reflect monastic usages and traditions, especially those of the two monastic centers that produced and developed them, the Holy Lavra of St. Savas of Jerusalem and the Monastery of Studion in Constantinople. The liturgical tradition originating with The Typikon of St. Savas produced by the Lavra in its initial stages was influenced by the customs and practices of the monastic communities in the Near East, Egypt, Palestine, and Asia Minor. Under St. Theodore the Studion Monastery in Constantinople became the center of monastic revival and reform in the imperial city. During the times of the iconoclastic controversy the Palestinian monastic typikon came to the Constantinople monasteries. In the Studion Monastery a synthesis occurred as elements of the Cathedral Office of Constantinople were added to the Palestinian typikon. In time this Studite synthesis was further modified by Palestinian monks to produce a revised Typikon of St. Savas that remained in general use until the nineteenth century. The Typikon of the Great Church The difficulty of using a monastic typikon at the parish level came to a head as the nineteenth century began, and abbreviations and omissions of the services became widespread. Thus, the Ecumenical Patriarch authorized the revision of the typikon for parish use. This revision became known as Ecclesiastical Typikon according to the Style of the Great Church of Christ, and was published in 1838. This revision was further revised in the Typikon of the Great Church of Christ, published in 1888. Divergence of Slavic and Byzantine Practice To meet the needs of the Slavic world translations for a Slavic typikon originated as soon as missions to the Slavic world began. With the revisions originating in the Mediterranean world coupled with the Mongol invasions the Slavic typikon lost its conformity to the that standard in the Byzantine world. This was recognized by the Church of Russia in the seventeenth century. It was this revision effort of the Slavic typikon that resulted in the Raskolnik (Old Believers) controversies under Czar Alexis and Patriarch Nikon of Moscow. The primary differences between the liturgical practice of the Byzantine and Slavic worlds stem from their origins in the Savaite and Studite typika, respectively, along with subsequent revisions. Rubrics for Hierarchical Services (Instructions for Clergy and Altar Servers) Liturgical Instructions for Non-Hierarchical Services (for Clergy and Altar Servers) A Manual of Divine Services, by Archpriest D. Sokolof External links with Translations of the Typikon An English Translation of the Slavic Typikon (an ongoing project) A Draft Translation of the Biolakes Typikon The Biolakes Typikon in Greek Abbridged Typikon

Finds at Macedonian site of Pella reveal a prehistoric burial ground Prehistoric cemetery yields evidence of an Early Bronze Age Exciting new finds at the archaeological site of Pella have opened a new chapter in Macedonian history. Beneath the ruins of the ancient capital of the Macedonian kingdom is a large prehistoric burial ground that has yielded the first evidence of organized life in Pella during the third millennium BC. It was while they were engaged in conservation, repairs and other work to highlight the site that the excavation team from Aristotle University came across more than 100 Early Bronze Age burials in large jars, accompanied by marble works of art from the Cyclades, local ceramics and metalware. The finds are so recent that experts at the Demokritos Center have not yet completed the analysis of bones that will yield precise dates. However, the initial evidence supplements what is already known about Pella in the Early Bronze Age (2100-2000 BC), when it was the most important city in Bottiaea, long before it was made capital of the Macedonian realm. What became known as “the greatest of Macedonian cities” was apparently built on top of the prehistoric graveyard when Archelaus moved his capital there from Aiges, excavation director Professor Ioannis Akamatis told Kathimerini.

If you troll thru this blog you can see plethora of articles on the usefulness of pepper spray and other self-defense products and techniques. Will having any of these self-defense products really make you safer? The short answer is: It depends! It depends on your mindset at the time of the incident It depends on your ability to effectively use Pepper Spray or whatever you have correctly. It depend on …well keep reading. First, let me state that Pepper Spray is an effective self-defense product that has been used for decades to not only depend citizens and law enforcement personnel if used correctly in the right situations. And the art of this type of defense dates back centuries. However, there are people who carried or owned pepper spray who have still been crime victims because they were not prepared. There are a number of reason why having it didn’t work..for them. They panicked, and did not focus on self-defense. They didn’t know how to properly use it They could not get to it, in the bottom of their purse or other inaccessible place. It was a surprise attack and they were caught off guard because they were not paying attention. Your attacker was in the minority of the population that are immune to the effects of Pepper Spray for various reasons. Your pepper spray had expired. The assailant is wearing glasses or was prepared The Pepper Spray was defective and you did not know it. While this is not an exhaustive list, it probably represents a majority of reasons why just having pepper spray will not help you. The good news is that many of these issues can be negated with the embracing PepperEyes.com motto…which is Get Ready..Stay Ready. You can also embrace the motto of the Boy Scouts of America : Be Prepared. Any self-defense product, including pepper spray, Tasers, or a gun, requires that you be prepared mentally and physically and have it available to use. Pepper Spray, like most weapons, can be taken away from you and then be used against you, if you are not prepared and able to use it at the correct moment. In the case of just owning pepper, spray think of sexual assaults. It is estimated that 80% to 85% of all sexual assault victims know their attackers and fifty percent of assaults occur inside the victim’s own home. Rapists are not always the stranger in the alley or the weirdo in the parking lot. If a fraction of these victims owned a self-dense product, how prepared are they to use it? Chances are they were not. Think about being on a date. Think about going to a party. Ponder the different people you know who may come to your house often. A deliveryman, a Utility worker, a client. What is your mindset? How prepared are you, if you are put in a position of being harmed. What if you have pepper spray or another self-defense product but can’t get to it and use it? This is why a self-defense mindset and preparation is essential. When a soldier has ran out of bullets and the enemy is coming, there are only two options. Fight or Flight. If you can’t get away, how prepared are you to fight. If you can’t use your pepper spray, you have the same two options. How prepared you to fight. If you read this blog, you can learn how to develop a self-defense mindset. PepperEyes.com Self-Defense Products is dedicated to providing you with the best and most affordable self-defense products, survival and safety products on the market to meet the security needs of you, your family members or your business, by assisting anyone who is unwilling to become a victim of crime. If you want to take personal responsibility for protection, home security, business security, purchase our high quality discount self-defense products. Survival kits and arm yourself with the knowledge about self-defense and security products and information of the best way to stay secure in an ever-increasing violent world. In today’s society, being equipped mentally and physically is no longer an option. Victor Swindell, Owner. A few months ago, my sister-in-law give me some ointment called Capzsasin HP because I was having issues with the muscles in my legs. Honestly, I did make the connection. See the active ingredient in Pepper Spray is Capsaicin. Anyway after applying the cream to my legs, I thought I had washed all of it off of my hands. I was laying down and rubbed by face. Sweet-Jesus. First there was this mild burning sensation, so naturally I rubbed it (again touching my face). Over the seconds the burning sensation hit me, and I was thinking of pepper spray..and then the light went on Capsaicin – Capzsasin. The next several minutes was lots of soap and water to the affected area. All I can say, I’m glad I didn’t get an itch in other places. Now if small amount of cream did that, imagine what full blown pepper spray (or foam or gel) would feel like. If you happen to get pepper spray on your face or in your eyes, you will experience an extreme burning sensation and other effects. You must immediately rinse your eyes with fresh cool water. If the burning persists or gets worse, seek medical attention. Never EVERY rub your eyes! One of the effects of Pepper Foam or Gel is that when people get it on their face, their first instinct is to wipe it off, which happens to run the chemical into their face and of course puts it on their hands as well. If you get pepper spray on your face or hands, wash with a mild soap. Pepper spray can very be easily transferred. Trust me on that one. If you have pepper spray on your hands, do not touch your face. If you have been testing your pepper spray, assume you have some on your hands. Avoid touching your face for at least an hour after washing your hands. Lemon juice can help neutralize the pepper spray on your hands as well. If pepper spray is discharged inside the house or in your car or spilled from a leaky sprayer, you may notice burning eyes, scratchy throat, and runny nose. If this happens, open windows and doors to get fresh air circulating in the room. It may take a few hours for the air to completely clear. Filed under: College Safety Information,Pepper Spray Information,Self Defense Infomation,Self Defense Products,Self-Defense for women — peppereyes @ 9:43 AM Tags: How to buy Pepper Spray, Pepper Spray Facts, Pepper Spray for Women, Pepper Spray Restrictions, pepper spray use Pepper spray can be a fantastic self-defense tool to have, whether you love to jog protection while walking on campus or to a parking garage at work. Pepper spray is a legal non-lethal way to keep yourself safe! However, before you run out to the Quickie-Mart or go online to PepperSprayWorld.com and buy their ultra super strong pepper spray there are a few things you need to consider. Many of these are addressed in our FREE E-Book.Things you need to know about Pepper Spray What’s Kind of Pepper Spray Legal In Your State? In one of the previous post, we discussed various pepper spray laws. First, know that, Pepper spray is legal in all 50 states but some states/cities have restrictions on strength and sizes. It is important you know what is legal where you live before making your purchase. For example, in New York residents can only buy pepper spray from licensed Firearms Dealers or licensed Pharmacists in the state, you cannot buy them online and have the pepper spray shipped to you. Most states don’t have that restrictions and you can buy pepper spray online and have it shipped to you. Wisconsin restricts residents can only use pepper sprays with only pepper included (no tear gas, no UV dye and no mixed sprays allowed). Residents can only use a 10% solution or less and can only have cans that contain between 15-16 grams (or 2oz or smaller). There are additional pepper spray requirements. What Size Pepper Spray Is Best For You? Now that you know what kind of Pepper Spray you can purchase where you live. Now consider what size, type and style. The size of the pepper spray determines how much of the chemical can be dispensed and for how long. For example, the ½ size has less than the 3 oz, size. Smaller pepper spray canisters like key chain Pepper spray models or pen models are great for those who want to have it readily available. This is idea for joggers or college students or those who want to protect themselves while on the go. Those who buy medium sized sprays (2 oz.) can often keep their canister in their bag or on a in a holster on their belt. Most people who buy 4 ounce are larger and meant for wearing with a belt holster. What Dangers Are You Trying to Protect Yourself From? There are several types of pepper spray, depending on what you are protecting yourself from. If protecting yourself from a human assailant, most pepper spray that isn’t designed for use against animals. If protecting yourself from an animal, dog or bear, be sure to get the corresponding pepper spray. Different sprays are created for different purposes, so think about what you need protection from before making a purchase. Do You Know How To Safely Use Pepper Spray? Having legal pepper spray that is easy for you to use is one thing. Actually knowing how to effectively use your pepper spray is another. Educate yourself (There is a section in our free e-book on how to spray) on the effects of pepper spray, how to test it, how to use it and what to do if you are accidentally exposed to the spray. Most important PRACTICE pulling it our and using it… seconds count! If you have, more questions…check our Free E-Book. Things you need to know about Pepper Spray. PepperEyes.com Self-Defense Products simply exists to provide you a large selection of quality self-defense and life safety solutions such as pepper sprays, stun guns and other high quality self defense products, and survival kit products for home owners, business, schools. college students, and government agencies, or anyone who is seeking to defend themselves or property against potential criminal and natural threats. by Victor Swindell Filed under: Self Defense Infomation,Self Defense Products,Self-Defense for women — peppereyes @ 12:49 PM Tags: defend against dog attack, dog repellent, dog self defense, stop dog attack 1,000 Americans per day are treated in emergency rooms as a result of dog bites, you don’t have to be one of them. Sometimes when I’m out walking my dog Frisky, we occasionally encounter another dog, so far most of these dogs have just been hyper and friendly. However, I have a co-worker who walks her dog only to have been charged at and almost attacked by a neighbor’s dog. Depending where you live the breed of dogs that people have can vary. They range between pit bull to poodle, from beagles to boxers, from pugs to bull dogs. But you have to ask ‘Do I really need to worry about dog bites?’ It depends, depending on the turnover in your subdivision or what dogs are in nearby subdivision you can suddenly be facing a dog you’ve never seen before. Dog attacks can be a real problem, especially if you are a runner and enjoy going out for a jog early in the morning or late at night. My dog is very friendly but there is something about runners and people on bikes that make her bark at them. There have been lots of people who have complained about being forced to give up jogging or changing where they run because they encountered too many stray dogs. As a dog owners I care about my dog, as do many other dog owners. Often I think about what I will do in case of an attack. Many dog owners are the same way. I often see them walk with walking sticks, or golf clubs. You want to make sure you can protect yourself and your dog. We also want to not bring harm to anyone else pet. This is one of the reasons we recommend Pepper Spray. Now, while I care for my dog, there have been times where she has wondered off. Being a Beagle I have to keep my eye on her when we are outside because she will go where her nose takes her. However there are many dog owners that are irresponsible and do not follow leash laws. There are also many places where such laws do not exist and stray dogs are abundantly found. In addition there are several dogs that just get out. Once when I was walking Frisky, a Boxer broke thru the fence and charged at us. He just wanted to play. I could tell be cause he wasn’t barking, or growling, and his tail was wagging. It really could have gone the other way. Q:Does pepper spray work on dogs? The answer to that question is yes pepper spray can be an effective means to disable any dog that’s hasn’t been trained to resist OC Pepper Spray like Police dogs. Dogs have a highly sensitive olfactory system, if you can get a full spray into an attacking dog’s face, you can make it retreat. It takes hours to get over the effect of pepper spray for dogs and this will give you plenty of time to get home to safety. What should I do when a dog starts chasing me? First look at the dog. Is it growling? Is the fur on its back standing up? Is its tail wagging? I know there are people are terrified of any dog and would use pepper spray on any dog. However, pepper spray should be used as a final defense solution. Most dogs will not pursue you if you slow down (runners). Others can be scared away if you show you are not afraid of them and react with a loud and authoritarian voice or by showing authority. However, attack dogs will not respond to such tactics and by showing aggression or throwing things at them will only enrage them. Pit Bulls in particular can be very vicious and if you are chased by one or for that matter any violent dog, your best bet is to climb to a high rise location such as a tree or car. Immediately call the police as the dog might endanger someone else. If you can’t do any of these things then liberally use your pepper spray, and make sure that the wind is blowing away from you, because you don’t want to accidentally get any pepper spray in your face. What to use if you don’t want to use Pepper Spray. Generally a loud noise is also a great deterrent for an attacking dog. You can use the following products to protect yourself from stray dogs: Sonic Animal Chaser: This product has proven itself to be very useful at times. It produces a high 25 KHz frequency sound that the human ear cannot detect, yet it is able to deter vicious dogs without harming them. This animal chaser has an effective range up to 20 feet (6M) with a prime operating range of 5 to 6 feet. To make sure you are pointing the chaser at the right place a laser sight is built-in. The sonic animal chaser is the safe, effective, humane way to repel dogs, cats, squirrels and other garden pest. Sound based dog repellents may not work on trained attack dogs though. They are given special training to ignore any distracting noises. The most important thing is to report animal attacks to vicious animals to the police if a trained dog attacks you or someone you know. By reporting careless dog owners and helping stray dogs get captured, you will make your streets and your parks safer for everyone. Filed under: Pepper Spray Information,Self Defense Infomation,Self Defense Products,Self-Defense for women — peppereyes @ 2:42 PM Tags: Pepper Spray for Women, Pepper Spray Information, Pepper Spray Restrictions, pepper spray use When you go to buy a can of mace what are your really asking for? There may be some confusion in what ‘mace’ you are referring to. Mace has two connotations and the products are not the same. Both products were both used in warfare, law enforcement activities and as civilian self-defense products. Both ‘mace’ products can temporarily incapacitate their targets. Also depending on where you live are restricted substances. So what is the difference? One is a chemical compound and one is a brand name. Once the chemical Mace also under the mace brand was used as a primary self-defense product, however today all of the Mace’s brand products are now are either straight OC Pepper Spray and /or OC /Tear gas combinations or OC Pepper foam. MACE (the actual chemical compound) has not been in use for over 15 years. Chemical “mace” was first developed in the 60’s with an active ingredient called phenacyl chloride (CN). The Mace chemical compound is an irritant that is very similar to tear gas. However, Mace unlike pepper spray will NOT cause inflammation of the capillaries causing temporary blindness, nausea, make breathing difficult as well as create a very strong burning or stinging sensation. Today Mace (www.mace.com) is a trademark brand name like Nike, Streetwise, Fox Fire, Smith and Wesson, or Hersey’s and can encompass many types of products, including oleoresin capsicum (OC) pepper spray and/or orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS) tear gas. In addition, just case you want win a trivia question “Mace” is also a common cooking spice derived from nutmeg. It’s considered a flavor mix between cinnamon and pepper or a more extreme version of nutmeg. It is not related to the hot peppers or chemicals found in CS tear gas of OC pepper spray. We threw this in just in case you like obscure trivia.

Europe readies for solar storm risks April 3, 2013 by Mariette Le Roux This January 23, 2012 image provided by NASA shows a solar flare erupting on the Sun's northeastern hemisphere. The image was captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Europe has launched its first space weather coordination centre to raise the alarm for possible satellite-sizzling solar storms that also threaten astronauts in orbit, plane passengers and electricity grids on Earth. Europe launched its first space weather coordination centre Wednesday to raise the alarm for possible satellite-sizzling solar storms that also threaten astronauts in orbit, plane passengers and electricity grids on Earth. Though impossible to predict, a worst-case scenario mega-storm can happen at any time, leaving the world without Internet, telephones, television, electricity and air and rail transport for days on end. Limited precautions can be taken, but early warning is key, say experts at the European Space Agency (ESA) which runs the centre from Brussels. "A pilot can always land a plane... because they have alternatives (to satellites) for navigation, but if they get the disturbance without warning, at the wrong time, that can be dangerous," Juha-Pekka Luntama, head of ESA's space weather division told AFP at the launch. Even a slight satellite glitch can put navigation out by 100 metres (yards)—enough to miss a runway. Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere protect the planet from radiation released during solar flares and geomagnetic storms—some of the most severe forms of space weather. Smaller eruptions usually have little noticeable effect—perhaps slight problems with car navigation systems or mobile phones. But a major solar storm on the scale of an event in 1859 that crippled global telegraph systems could have severe impacts today. A "coronal mass ejection"—which sends electromagnetic radiation flying towards Earth at a speed of some 2,500 kilometres (1,500 miles) per second and plays havoc with long transmission lines— caused surges on telegraph lines so strong in 1859 that offices caught fire and operators received electric shocks. Such super storms happen "only very occasionally, perhaps once or twice a century," according to ESA's human spaceflight director Thomas Reiter. Luntama added that the most severe storms statistically happen around the solar maximum—a period of greatest activity in the 11-year solar cycle—where we are now. "In some ways you can say that the next two years is the time period that a solar event is more likely," he said. An 1859-like storm today could claim about 50 to 100 satellites—10 percent of the total in orbit, at a cost of billions of euros, according to ESA. But probably the biggest threat to Earth lies in electric power grid surges. "In the worst case, what could happen is that the transformers in the power grid are damaged and in that case, replacement of the transformers can take weeks or months," said Luntama. Even if only a small part of the grid is damaged, overloading in neighbouring systems can lead to more blackouts that spread domino-like, such as the nine-hour power blackout in Quebec in Canada in 1989. Astronauts orbiting Earth on the International Space Station (ISS), closer to the source of the radiation, could be at high risk of a severe solar storm, as could plane crews and passengers flying over the polar regions. Precautions would include turning off satellites to lessen the risk, reducing the load on power grids, astronauts taking cover in well-shielded part of the ISS, and planes being diverted or even grounded if communications become unreliable. Once witnessed by space weather watchers, the fallout from a solar storm takes between 17 and 48 hours to reach Earth, depending on its severity. The coordination centre, a central point for space weather enquiries, will draw on the expertise of dozens of European universities, research institutions and private companies. A similar service already exists in the United States. For the moment, the ESA service—funded by 14 member states— is free. The centre started operating six months ago and is expected to be fully operational by 2020—part of wider, multi-billion euro ESA system that also tracks objects in space that pose a collision threat. What is space weather? Space weather is caused mainly by storms and eruptions in our volatile Sun sending potentially dangerous radiation towards Earth. It also causes the spectacular "aurora" light displays that have awed so many in the polar regions—a beautiful show of radiation hitting Earth's magnetic field. The Sun randomly and suddenly ejects bursts of its component plasma or magnetic matter in events called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and is subject to equally arbitrary bursts of radiation called solar flares. The life-giving star at the centre of our solar system emits radiation at temperatures of millions of degrees and constantly ejects charged particles and radiation that travels through space on solar wind. Sudden flares or outbursts can cause geomagnetic storms that affect Manmade systems in space and on Earth, though the magnetosphere protects us humans from the worst effects on the ground. CMEs, for example, can trigger magnetic current surges on long terrestrial lines like electric power lines. The magnetic disturbances can also throw out radar and radio signals. Out alone in space, satellites are easy targets. Solar flares boost the level of radiation that reaches Earth and its atmosphere, which expands and becomes more dense for satellites to move through, causing drag that reduces their lifetime. Satellites can also fall victim to sudden magnetic charge changes damaging their electronics. There is a small risk for humans. Some research says aircrew flying frequently at high altitude on long-haul flights may receive a radiation dose equivalent to several chest x-rays from exposure to solar flare radiation. Astronauts, too may be in danger, hence extra-protective shields against radiation bursts that are provided in parts of the orbiting International Space Station. Space weather is monitored by looking at the Sun with satellites and telescopes and measuring changes in the Earth's magnetic field and radio noise. Even the aurora are monitored—changes in their shape can indicate solar storm events. CMEs, for example, can trigger magnetic current surges on long terrestrial lines like electric power lines. Here is a perfect example of where astrophysicist code words are used to explain a well known process here on Earth. Let's ask the simple question; what is a "magnetic current"? Usually, in a wire here on Earth where there is energy flowing, we call that an electric current, a fairly well explained phenomenon. After all, any moving particle in an EM field is by definition an electric current, the idea that we need to call it something other than what it is seems like an exercise in futility, although this is a practice in which astrophysicists are well versed. eachus Can anyone tell me if they have placed capacitors within the national grid (s) to protect from surge?Surely this is the cheapest and most simplest method of providing safety to the network?Or am i missing something? Without electricity, we are finished as a society. Sorry, it is much more complex than that. Adding capacitance or inductance to AC transmission lines changes the power factor. At a power factor of 100%, the transmission line transmits the most power possible. At 0% no power is transmitted. Some load is neutral in its effect on power factor (incandescent lights and electric heat), but most load is electric motors which acts as inductors. So electric companies--and some customers--add capacitors for power factor correction. Too much capacitance, and the power factor starts dropping.The real problem from flares and CMEs are induced currents in transmission lines. These can exceed voltage or current safety limits and result in breakers opening. eachus The first/"great" Northeast power blackout was caused when a breaker at Niagara Falls had a coil burn out. The backup coil kicked in without the breaker opening, but a slight (order of 2 volts) pulse was created. Unfortunately, the load on the power lines from Niagara Falls to NYC exceeded a point where they acted as a magnetic amplifier. The pulse got amplified and when it reached about 5 kV breakers started tripping for local substations, which amplified the pulse further. By the time it reflected back to Niagara Falls, it was strong enough cause all breakers to open--if they could.Something similar happened in Quebec. An induced current from a solar flare caused at least one (overcurrent) breaker to pop. That caused others to pop, and pretty soon the entire province was off line.Anyway the best way to handle these things is to have enough "extra" capacity in the system. The utilities say 15% is minimal, 25% is better, the regulators try to talk them down.