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+I'm sorry I'm not coming up with my whole list-but I'll come back to it once my migraine ends and I again have access to all the files in my brain.
+I always go to the library computer catalog, look up the place I'm traveling to, then fiction, then juvenile fiction. That's probably obvious, but there's so much out there!
+I'm so excited for you. Make sure she's part of the planning.
+The book London for Families taught me to have each family member make a top ten list of things they want to see/do. Everyone gets their #1, the rest is negotiated. Have her journal and draw along the way and be aware that her best memories might be the little detour you took or person she meets (children don't need a common language, they all speak "kid"), not one of the big sights.
+Children don't get in free to every museum and monument in Paris, although they do to a lot of the national/city museums. You could avoid the places they do not, for the most part, to save money. They don't get in free to some private enterprises, like the Eiffel Tower, for example, and they don't at some museums where kids might naturally go, nor a few others, like the Marine Museum (which surprised me, as I think it is national, but I really enjoyed it)--except for very young kids, like under age 5.
+The Paris Plage is not a beach, it's just sand brought in for people to suntan. It's like a sandbox for kids IMO. It is no real beach. I'd forget the whole beach idea on this trip, it doesn't make sense with the other things to do, and seems a real waste of time and money to go to London/Paris to go to the beach.
+Natlove - Please won't you be so kind as to give us the link to the apartment you have selected at 300euros? Is that for a week?
+If you were only going to spend 3 nights in Paris over a weekend I was going to suggest the Hotel Ibis Esplanade La Defense because they reduce the double rooms en-suite right down to 49euros. It's only 8-10 min metro ride to the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees.
+We always stay there to take advatage of the offer.
+Natlove - me again. When you say you guys love the beach.............you do mean one with real beach sand don't you? If so, forget Brighton. The "shore" is just made up of pebbles. Ghastly to walk on, worse to lie or sit on. The only good thing about a pebbled beach is that is makes a lovely sound near the water's edge just where the waves ripple in and out!
+Brighton on a good day - that is one with bright sunshine and only a slight breeze is MAGNIFICENT for strolling the Promenade and poking around in the little lanes. Even the Victorian seudo Taj Mahal(Brighton Pavillion) looks nice.
+lol..thanks guys for all your help.
+SusanSDG its ok we have time. So when your migraine goes away send whatever you can.
+Tod- doesn't necessarily have to be send. My daughter loves to swim doesn't matter. If there is a pool near by she will be ok. I already told her we might not go to the beach or pool. She swims all summer so she will be ok.
+The flats I found are on homliday.co.uk. Someone send me the link and I signed up. You can email the owners directly. I contacted two people that quoted me 300euros.
+Apres_Londee.. the one you gave I really liked but I think they were booked the week I want to go. I emailed the owner.
+Thanks again everyone for all your help. I will definitely keep in touch.
+That's great! Glad to hear it's all coming together.
+If you have been dating an airline local sluts and you said" not take that drink cuz you have to fly under eight hours" and he says" nah it's more than that, " you know something is haywire. You point to a clock that indicates that it's below eight hours and he comes back with" it's still a very long time, it won't matter" You'd know what he is doing or what he is not doing that has any ramifications to it along with that, because of a date, he is not certain about the time involved with the preparation of the days and nights. ' Not all that keen. It's truly better to make it a point in order to prevent pain, to only consider people in- signature dates with a much better grip on what is going on around them.
+Ladies tend to inform their spouses to do something or quit something and if their partners do it, these women eliminate Summerfield sluts local thousandcoaks in them because they do not possess their own conclusions. Men want to be accommodating, but it infuriates them if this is removed from them rather than being valued.
+Just look around you if you need proof of this and observe yourself what a phenomenon online dating has become. Chances are you know someone who fulfilled with their boyfriend, boyfriend or husband or wife online. Look at TV commercials for the big name internet websites.
+But there is also the story that is fascinating with a fantastic teaching principle included in it, of the dater chap. He dutifully picked up one Rosalinda Subterfuge, a lady to take her into a dinner at a restaurant that was spectacular. The woman casually announced suddenly to Flip Ferdie, " my daughter is coming to dinner too. " Taken by surprise, being a beginner in how to handle a manipulation, aside from not being very local ammature sluts Summerfield Maryland at thinking Flip Ferdie naturally dropped into the change of plans foisted upon him. He went together with the gambit.
+It is in this respect that we describe another meeting filled with hope, setup between two people out on a date. The Summerfield at the scene was single again, and is talking up loudly besides and vociferously and noisily gorging mouthfuls while slapping his hands on the restaurant table.
+So when constructing your list of perfect UM characteristics, consider your answer and powerlessness. Match everything you are searching for using the most likely age range. Young men require training. Patience is required by old guys. It is your responsibility to choose what you are prepared to provide in return and what he is worth.
+Some pedophiles can be until six hours a day online. Many" search" for the victim, adding countless children to their friends on online dating web site networking websites and they are Summerfield haitain hookers on this set until they find a child prepared to interact with them. Some pedophiles can begin talking to children about sex.
+This amount of effort must be preserved throughout the interaction. If she starts distant and acting like a model that wants guys to kiss her toes off, then you pull the amount of work that you put in the date. Seem less interested in her, seem distracted, cut off her while she change the topic and is speaking as if what she is saying is boring.
+If you decide to make a statement with your facial hair( anything besides stubble- - I'm talking any sort of moustache or any type of fully articulated or sculpted hair on your lips, chin, or upper lip) it needs to be fully grown rather thana'wishingbeard' and suit you rather than cause you to look like( a) a local sluts, ( b) a Halloween costume gone wrong, ( c) Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Ifyou're uncertain, ask the men they'll tell the truth to you and should you shave it off.
+Taunting her to enjoy you Now, you have opened the point of communication between you and the woman you are interested in, it is time to make her. As you can't meet her in person( at least not yet) , you have to challenge her to enjoy you through your e- mails.
+See what they do not inform you about polyamory, is the fact that it is a buffet for bottom feeders. In movies, popular culture, and pornography, polyamory is portrayed far more glamorously. Polyamory is a fantasy. Worse than that, it is religious degeneracy. It's an attitude towards human intimacy and sexuality that's atomizing, reductionist, shallow, and ultimately unsatisfying. Places pleasure and sensuality at the forefront of human intimacy, when honestly, Summerfield MD feels great because if it weren't, nobody could participate in it. The item of human sexuality( pregnancy, stretch marks, college tuition) is quite expensive, and so evolution made it pleasing sufficient to incentivize the action. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that it shouldn't be a valued part of the lifetime, or sex is insignificant or amateur sluts local Summerfield. What I am saying is that it cannot control your life. If sex is your reason for breathing, you will not discover long- term fulfillment. Especially once Father Time begins placing your system. The demand for sex declines over time, and you don't wish to end up in your thirties( or even forties) with nothing else to offer individuals. And you surely do not need to find yourself trolling bars and clubs prostitutes vilniuje kainos Summerfield for casual sex. That might be depressing.
+Sure, Facebook is a networking by which people connect and catch up in their friends and family. Nonetheless, even find true love and it's also used to capture dates. The picking up hookers videos Summerfield world of dating has shifted from the way of doing a cold strategy, to sitting before the computer and looking for women online, and seeing a women in the street.
+" Body Type" was next. I dreaded that you. If I'd thought like I used to be able to, I would diet and lose half pounds in a month or two, I would have waited to register with this site. If they levy a fine on associates that lie on their 14, I wonder? I thought. I looked at the choices of body types to see which you can test: " Slender. " Maybe- - if you look at my ankles.
+It's a fantastic idea to commit time talking with a man on the phone before meeting with him. By spending a few minutes chatting with him prior to their 21, nancy might have heard a lot about this man. This is the way you are able to stay away from dates with guys of the time.
+Grown- up online dating services are readily available for those that are searching for intimate experiences, and also make it possible for individuals to fulfill others with similar rate of interests and also needs. Whether you are seeking a buddy, fan, sex partner, intimate encounter, one- night stand, team activities or simply a person to fuck buddy emoji with, grown- up on- line dating is the place to meet all sorts of people from across the world.
+You have to feel it with a mind. You need to understand and pay find local sluts pics Summerfield in a non- sexual way, but to the feeling you are FEELING on all parts of the body, especially the muscles of thegenitalia' contraction.
+If the man beside you is an ex or an over- protective buddy, no one wants to wonder. Don't post a photo of you. As you might think this is a way of telling viewers that you are great with kids and need some of your personal, it's confusing. It makes a moment of panic where people believe, " Oh, he's got a child? Skip. " This profile is about you, not about your friends, rather than about your friends' kids.
+Plus, you might have discovered this- as we get older, multi- tasking is a whole lot tougher to do. You'll probably find you did not hear a word if you texting while he's get sex dating site Summerfield MD he said. If you enjoy a man on a first date, you can gently touch his hands or his arm when making a point or if flirting. A guy sees this type of physical contact as a indication of encouragement and it shows him thatyou're interested.
+Feelings- The most important of the goals of everythingyou're looking for in an ideal mate. That is described by you. This is how you want to feel( and how you don't want to feel) when you envision yourself with your ideal mate.It is an exercise known as a" consciousness raiser" : why not tell me what outcomes you see out of this relationship, and assign percentages to the likelihood with which the results might come true.
+The easiest way to do this is to include the teachings of BJ Fogg and his" Tiny Habits" notion. What you want to do is to dedicate to a habit Summerfield Maryland free gay online dating as you build on it and take baby steps. An important aspect of his instruction is to" anchor" the new addiction to something you do on a daily basis.
+You online sex dating tips find some guys like to inquire really on if you own Facebook or Snapchat, I have a tendency to say I would prefer to chat on the app for some time longer, they are ok with that or they aren't. Then I proceed, if they're not.
+The woman may not understand where to put her palms. Summerfield MD vidio chat with local sluts free her hands whileyou're kissing, if she is just standing there and crazy local sluts Summerfield Maryland them. This reveals Summerfield MD and dominance. The Summerfield MD will love you.
+We could be conflicted with what the media tells us exactly what we should strive to be and exactly what we need, what we ought to look like. But in reality, the press is compensated by advertisers that are pushing their own schedule, therefore to put cash in their pockets. All the while taking you down a bunny trail chasing a carrot simply to find. . . You do not like carrots! By obtaining your own answers Instead of being in a Summerfield Maryland fuck buddy limeira where others dictate to you that you are, you may actually empower yourself.
+Partners become anxious about whether they Summerfield Maryland legit fuck buddy be liked by the parents of their wordpress online dating theme Summerfield MD, and research demonstrates that the relationship can be affected by this. Summerfield MD could be predictive of commitment and relationship satisfaction. Your respective social networks Both Summerfield MD local latina teen sluts tumblr to exert influence and will frequently weigh in when you get serious. However ifyou're both adults then ultimately, it is up to what you matters most. Here are some signs that it may be time to fulfill the local sluts discord Summerfield.
+Dating due to instability will lead to the person's heartbreakyou're dating. As soon as they get a call and recognize that they're being used for reliability, they will leave you more shaky than you were prior to going into the relationship. For dating because you relied upon these as the source of income, they will feed your ego or bad intentions. You're left unprepared regarding the many facets of fact and life.
+Someone who can talk around questions that are direct. But if they do, that, in itself, is still a Summerfield Maryland casual sex is harmful.
+By being elastic and easy to please After all is said and done, you should play your part. You have to learn to be adaptable to disorderly situations that come with courtships. You have to be a girl who sweats the little details in a relationship. Men understand a long- term spouse is made by an woman when compared with a one.
+And when this outcome isn't Summerfield MD blonde fuck buddy lauren to cut it for you, because you really want kids( or more kids) , like you reallllllyyyyy want themyou still don't require a lifetime partner. You may always get a semen donor. A real one.
+The US consumer is back, defying the odds and me. Last night we had October retail sales and results were good. From Calculated Risk:.
+This follows the less dire reading in consumer confidence late last week:
+So, is this sustainable? In one sense yes, in another no. First the good news. This demand appears to have caught producers off guard, or, they have been managing inventories rather well. The September wholesale inventory number last week was low and the inventory sales ratio is also subdued:
+This suggests that the unexpectedly strong (relatively) demand, will have to be met with an upswing in production rather than existing stocks. In turn, we could see extra jobs created that will add to the Christmas hiring season that has already matched pervious years. Also from Calculated Risk:
+I can see this mini-cycle continuing to make a small dent in unemployment (as well as support Chinese exports through year end). It is, not, however, a resilient bounce. And here is why. Check out these personal finance charts from the US Department of Commerce:
+Personal income growth is running at about 3%, below inflation. Note as well that personal savings have begun to fall. Outside of cars and student loans, consumer credit has fallen in the last three months so I conclude that the current round of consumption is funded largely from a savings rundown, following the big spike post GFC. We’ve been here before, of course, and such cycles can run for longer than anyone expects so we can’t discount that possibility.
+But there are a range of headwinds. Yesterday I discussed the likely fallout from the developing European recession and the hit to the US’s $380 billion or so in exports to the Continent. But there are other problems ahead too. From Nomura via Alphaville, following are the scheduled fiscal drags for 2012/13:
+Discretionary spending caps resulting from the debt ceiling agreement, troop drawdowns, and small expiring tax provisions at the end of 2011: $69bn, or 0.5 per cent of GDP.
+Expiration of payroll tax holiday at the end of 2011: $112bn, or 0.73 per cent of GDP.
+Expiration of extended unemployment benefits: $56bn, or 0.37 per cent of GDP.
+Expiration of Bush tax cuts at the end of 2012: $238bn, or 1.5 per cent of GDP.
+That’s a total drag of about 1.6 per cent of GDP for 2012 and 1.5 per cent for 2013.
+Nobody has a clue about how much of this will either get negotiated away or get locked into some new debate about fiscal responsibility. But the projected cuts continue to stand as an imminent austerity package. Reuters carries an interesting debate between Paul Krugman and Larry Summers on the likely outcome. Summers thinks the Washington will get over itself. Krugman does not.
+In balancing these internal and external risks, the San Francisco Fed has produced a new evaluation of the likelihood of the US succumbing to recession next year. And here it is:.
+I’ve highlighted the key paragraph. As my above analysis shows, I doubt the US economy can withstand another shock of any magnitude.
+I expect you’re right, and they’ll print.
+Yes, they are running down their savings to deal with commodity price rises. A typical Thanksgiving meal is 13% more expensive than last year. Retail grocery prices are up 6.3% on last year.
+fighting obesity atleast 🙂
+Goldman says:
+Large gains in sales for electronics and “non-store” retailers (online shopping) suggest that the introduction of Apple’s latest iPhone likely accounted for much of the upside surprise to core retail sales.
+An iPhone-led recovery?
+The ceridian index has also shown signs of life last month, so there is some confirmation from other sources, although it is well off the 2008 highs.
+What intrigues me is that the graph shows retail sales and gasoline sales are now above pre GFC levels, and the trend line is steeper than pre gfc, so the direction seems to be clear.
+The great thing the US has going for it is the growth in the tech sector, and the return of manufacturing from Asia. Sadly, we have neither in Australia.
+the US economy is improving and this is a far more important development than the sideshow that is eu soverign debt. for the first time in 3 years the US economy is standing on its own 2 feet with QE2 finishing in June and NO double dip.
+a genuine US economic recovery (and this is what this looks like) will drive corporate earnings and solid shre market returns for the next few years.
+Well its important, and its good news, but the ongoing Eurozone crisis is hardly a sideshow. Do you really expect people to take your comments seriously when you say things like that?
+it is a sideshow lorax. just look at the sharemarket to see what it cares about most. some sovereign debt issues in europe that will have next to ZERO impact on corporate earnings or economic recovery in the worlds largest most important economy? the XJO has hit 3 month highs and is now 500 points higher than its august low, while the eu sideshow has gone from bad to worse so you tell me whats important then?
+i dont really care if people dont take me seriously. you wouldnt take half the people in this comments section seriously anyway. No one took me seriously in september either when i said we were on the verge of a substantial bear market rally
+Nobody? I thought a number of people here predicted this bear rally.
+who?
+Prince.
+Spoken like a true equities guy. The real action is in credit markets.
+H&H why would you pay attention to credit markets when you are buying stocks with zero or very little debt? this isnt 2008 when everyone is highly geared so the impact of whats going on in credit markets is negbligable. especially eu credit markets.
+XJO just went through 4300 and i dont think its coming back this time.
+XJO just went through 4300 and i dont think its coming back this time.
+Less than an hour after you typed this the XJO was back at 4279.
+Just sayin’
+IMO if Italy or Spain see their bond yields blow out above 8% over the next few weeks, then the XJO will be closer to 4000 than 4500.
+“Less than an hour after you typed this the XJO was back at 4279”
+Hmmmmm, seems to be the case, thanks for reminder. lots of short selling at 4300 by the looks of things. have seen it all month as the shorts reckon 4300 resitance is a good place to load up. i reckon they are mad.
+XJO is 4256 now
+Is it really standing on its own two feet? There is still massive stimulus in place.
+The mass of share buy-backs in the USA is also a veey positive devlopment for the bourse atm.
+On a different note, it shows, contrary to opinions around here, that negative RAT rates lead to a decrease in savings and more consumption. The immunity of the savings rate to lower interest rates is a purely short term phenomenon.
+Peter How long can the US go on bleeding their savers and older generation of everything in order to maintain the consumption.
+The whole problem of trying to restore consumption to pre GFC levels, at any cost to the society, is to try to restore the unsustainable.
+None of my opinions here alter the question as to whether the US Share Market may be a good place to store some money for the next year or so.
+However GB to suggest the US is standing on its own two feet while it has 9% unemployment, still runs massive CAD’s, and has to borrow from the rest of the world, is a stretch.
+However GB to suggest the US is standing on its own two feet while it has 9% unemployment, still runs massive CAD’s, and has to borrow from the rest of the world, is a stretch.
+It is the inability to grow at normal interest rates that is the problem, IMO. Seriously, how far do you think Bernanke would have to raise the cash rate before the next crisis happens?
+Yep Sherlock….Less than 0.1% 🙂 Any notion whatsoever that interest rates may rise, even 30 years out, will unravel the whole wooly jumper!
+unemployemnt is a lagging indicator and will start to fall.
+anyway its one step at a time. you guys want the whole world to be fixed “right now” and thats not how it works.
+ending QE was always the first step to normalising conditions. its happened and you havent even realised it. better luck next time.
+Flawse – yes low interest rates do encourage spending and discourage savings by lowering rewards. It also costs the elderley who need the interest on their money to meet living costs.
+I can’t deny any of that.
+I’m not trying to be an apologist for the US – but they will do what they think is best for the majority, and the elderley have less political pull.
+Over here, we can but watch.
+Peter it WAS a question not taking a shot. All these things can go on much longer than I think they can….at least that is my experience of life. I keep thinking ‘This stupidity has got to stop’ but it DOESN’T!!
+So I was really wondering if you had a suggestion on time frame. I reckon it is too hard a question anyway.
++1
+GB what we think about the share market and what we do to try to make a quid is very different to what we think OUGHT happen to build a long-term sustainable economy.
+It’s one of the great mis-apprehensions of the US…a strong share market equals a strong US….baloney.
+At zero interest rates everything in the world is worth infinity.
+“At zero interest rates everything in the world is worth infinity.”
+Yah, they can print as much money as they want for free. And they’re buying up a lot of Australia while they can buy it for free.
+I have next to no idea what the stock market is likely to do. It appears to me that most trading is based on mimicry – that is, when possible buyers can see others buying, they also buy. And the converse applies.
+When expectations about the future undergo significant revision, willingness to buy changes. So it is always useful to try to work out what is likely to happen in the future. But in a sense this is not helpful in a day to day sense in the market, where it is much more relevant to be able to observe and make deductions about what is actually happening in the present, in real-time trading.
+GB is obviously good at this and has a lot of self-confidence – both necessary attributes in a good trader.
+But this is absolutely not the same thing as forecasting the economy…(imo)….
+It is funny how the MSM pundits and certain bullhawks latch on to both the “US is recovering” and “We are decoupling from US/Euro” meme.
+.
+If the US is recovering, why is it good news for Austraila, when our economy has supposedly decoupled from the US?
+Who can forget that memorable Pascoe line: “One more time for the dummies. We are not part of the US economy.”
+Yeah, it’s a classic. “We are not part of the US economy” and “we are not part of the EU economy” and let’s just ignore the importance of those economies to the Chinese economy that we definitely are part of.
+Because the MSM has an answer for everything!
+They would twist a Nuclear Warhead going off in Canberra as a good thing for the country……come to think of it.
+think of the construction boom and jobs lol..
+In fairness “we are decoupling” is not the same as “we have decoupled”. The influence of the US is nowhere near what it used to be, but it still has some influence. US demand for China’s consumer products gives the Chinese money to pay for our iron ore.
+Not to mention that the EU is China’s biggest export market. But apparently we’re in no way affected by what goes on in Europe.
+But in the context where MSM uses the “decoupling” meme, they go on to imply this process is complete by saying we worry too much about US/Euro going belly up when our saviour is China.
+OK
+When banks run the show long enough everything gets turned upside down.
+seems to me that they are simply spending savings. And why not? As mentioned above, with a cost of living inreasing at up to 13% it makes little sense to save at the low rates the average consumer could get.
+savings are an unnecessary liability to a bank when they can source money straight from the pockets of the taxpayer whenever they put their hands out.
+The elephant in this room, is that the USA is 2 different economies. One of them has no urban growth restraints, never had a housing bubble or unaffordable housing, and consequently has always had very substantial “discretionary income”.
+See the graph on page 5 HERE:
+Now that the US Federal Reserve has slashed interest rates, THAT part of the USA is ROCKING – LOW property prices AND low interest rates. Pay off your 1st home in 7 years. I am not kidding, this is an “average” reality in many US cities today.
+Meanwhile, the inflated property prices that were the CAUSE of the problem, in California, are STILL too high for recovery to occur in that State, even if they have dropped 30%, after having inflated 100%. While the Federal Reserve is vainly trying to resuscitate that market, the non-Greenie cities will be raking in the “share of business” nationally and probably globally as well.
+An OECD Report from early 2010 SAID:
+“…
+were skyrocketing in Spain and Ireland, but declining in Germany. Devising an appropriate monetary
+policy response to asset price developments under these conditions is not easy….”
+(Understatement…!!!)
+The same section of the OECD Report also said:
+“….……”
+I wonder when the Aus Federal Reserve will “get it”?
+Phil, I was thinking this, on the one hand dropping interest rates is the right thing to do for the exchange rate and exports and on the potentially further impedes our housing market from becoming more productive in real terms. I was going to say planning policy needs to be more integrated with fiscal. But you almost need one RBA rate for private sector housing and another for the rest of debt. Much like devaluing the euro is bad for france but good for germany, there are issues with both systems that are now blatantly apparent.
+Can we not give the RBA a leg up by removing the market distorting tax rorts?
+Well no, you need to change your institutes to modern, empirical evidence.
+With fiat currencies, credit drives money, not the other way around.
+However we have a mone(tar)y institute (The RBA) in charge, with the credit body (APRA) just an operational regulator.
+APRA has to be in charge, and empowered with the same degree of independance the RBA has. It can call bubbles and act on them.
+Thus if CPI is a loose cannon, it can trigger a cash rate response. If it detects an asset bubble, it maintains the current cash rate, but applies levies to lending.
+If the bubble is in property, it applies a levy specifically on investment loans.
+This would disaggregate the cost of credit, as opposed to the blunt tool the RBA has.
+A cash rate of around 3%, a small levy on general loans, of around 100bp, and a further 300bp on residential property, with much of the 300bp being put back into deposits.
+Incentivise savings, minimal costs to business borrowings, and shutout property speculation.
+I don’t subscribe to ‘crowding out’ with government spending, but f*ck me.. all they have is around $80 billion in roll overs for the rest of the stimulus, compared to RE of around $1 trillion.
+A 2:25 ratio, property is crowding everyone else out, not government.
+The recent expansion of consumer spending in the US is essentially not durable. Consumption spending is running at a faster pace than income growth and (the very modest) household savings are falling. In the past, consumption has been able to expand because credit has expanded. But clearly, post-bubble, this is not occurring in this cycle.
+So this suggests domestic demand in the US economy has actually been growing at a faster rate at the moment than is consistent with its internal dynamic potential.
+This is reflected in flat-to-falling input prices and in static inventories, both of which indicate that demand is broadly not vibrant.
+The traditional catalysts for post-recession expansions in production, employment and incomes have been housing and auto sales (in the consumer economy), public sector expansion, and business investment. In this cycle, housing is still contracting, auto sales are expanding, but not strongly, the public sector is contracting, business investment is growing slowly. The export sector has been performing well.
+But looking at this econo-scape, it is not easy to see where domestic demand expansion is going to come from. This is reflected in the labour market data, which depict an economy achieving gradual, nominal expansion, while real underlying per capita employment, incomes and demand are ebbing.
+Have the unemployed suddenly found a wad of cash?
+I can’t see where this is coming from. Even though as GB said it shouhld be reflected in better unemployment figures, the levels in January were a pre-PFC highs with massive unemployment.
+It must be that those who have jobs are sick of frugality and decided to spend again and more rapidly than in 2007 because employment cannot be the driver. I can’t see this being sustainable, wittling down savings to get a new TV?
+*the (retail spending) levels in January were a pre-PFC highs
+Expansion of the black market economy?
+If the US can’stand on its own two feet’ as GB alleges, why is there so much talk of QE3?
+Blame Europe
+Wage share in the U.S is now 50%.
+They aren’t paid enough to do the heavy lifting.
+Hullo, everyone! I hope you’ve had an enjoyable weekend! As you may have noticed from the title, I’m actually posting TWO parts today. This is happening for two reasons. First, yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the publication of Paralyzed Dreams!!!!! If you haven’t bought it yet, you should definitely go check it out and leave a review on Amazon or on Goodreads! The second reason is that Part 30 has a terrible cliffhanger… So my apologies. 😉 If you missed the part posted on Friday, you can see it here, and if you’re new, start at the beginning! 🙂
+—-29—-
+My fingers fly over the keyboard as I search for Keller Stone. There are a few options, but now that I know that Keller is a girl, I’m able to find the right one. And I’m astonished to find that she lives right here in town.
+Perfect.
+I’m about to hurry downstairs to get Denver when I realize he’s not here. No. I don’t want to let anyone else in on this, so how am I going to get there? I check the address. It looks like it’s within walking distance, but I need to check. I pull up a map and enter the address. Good, it’s pretty close, just past where I think the Lava Java café is. Perfect. Now I just have to get out of the house without getting stopped. I grab my shoes and wrack my brain for a good excuse.
+“Where are you going?” Maddie asks, watching me in her perceptive way.
+I pause. Again, Maddie can be my perfect excuse. “Would you like to do some shopping?” I ask.
+She glances towards the door, towards Brooklyn. I don’t think I need anymore clothes.”
+I grin. “Not that kind of shopping. I was thinking more like books or something. Whatever you want to look at.”
+Maddie’s face lights up. “Sure, that would be nice.”
+“Cool. Then go ahead and get ready to go. I’ve got a place we can walk to.” I grab my wallet. I can probably delay my investigation a little for a trip to the bookstore. And it’s a much better reason than just “going for a walk.”
+After Maddie’s ready, I motion toward the door. “Let’s go, then.”
+“We aren’t going to wait for Brooklyn?” Maddie asks.
+I shake my head. “She’ll be in the shower for ages. And if she comes, you’ll probably end up with more clothes.”
+Maddie smiles and follows me downstairs. Mom greets us as we pass through the living room. She’s doing something on the TV, probably setting one of her shows to record. “Going somewhere?”
+“Just a little shopping,” I tell her.
+“Without Brooklyn?” Mom asks, surprised.
+I nod. “We’re not getting clothes, and she’s in the shower, anyway.”
+“Well, be careful,” Mom says. “Make sure your phone’s on.”
+I smile. “Got it. Don’t worry, Mom, we’ll be fine.” We’ll be fine while we’re shopping, but I’m a lot more worried about the meeting with Keller. What am I expecting to learn, anyway? She’s just a friend of Genesis. What would she know that could be helpful?
+I shrug off my doubt and wave goodbye to Mom as Maddie and I leave. I don’t know what I’m doing, but it’s all I have to go on right now, and I can’t let all my hard work go to waste, right?
+—-30—-
+Maddie and I have a lot of fun in my favorite bookstore. I point out some of my favorite books from when I was younger to Maddie, ad she gets a couple of them. I pick up a few for myself, too. After we pay, we go out and start walking towards Keller’s house.
+“Where are we going?” Maddie asks.
+I search for a non-dangerous answer. “I thought we’d stop at Lava Java,” I say, pointing at the building ahead. I’d never been there before Jen showed us – in fact, I’d never noticed it before.
+“Sure,” Maddie agrees. We pick up the pace a little as we near the shop. I reach for the door handle, frowning at how dark the shop is. But when I tug on the handle, the door doesn’t budge.
+“It’s closed!” I exclaim. I step back and notice there’s no sign. “That’s weird…” That’s something I will definitely be asking Jen about.
+“I guess we won’t do that, then,” Maddie remarks. She looks curiously at the shop, then around the street.
+I nod. “Guess not.” I pause, trying to find the best way to put this. “We can go visit someone I know while we’re in the area. I think she might like to meet you.” Probably a dead lie. But I can hope, can’t I?
+Maddie looks up at me. “What are we really going to do, Albany?”
+Caught. Maddie’s really perceptive for a little girl and an amnesia victim. Or maybe it’s because she’s a little girl and an amnesia victim. I sigh. “I’m trying to find the person who hurt Brooklyn.”
+Maddie frowns. “But isn’t that what Jen is doing? Can’t you just let her find the person?”
+I sigh again. “I could, I guess. But I don’t want to sit around doing nothing! I want to help.”
+“You are helping,” Maddie says thoughtfully. “But anyway, I guess if you’ve gotten this far, you might as well keep going.”
+I reach down and squeeze her little hand. She’s so young to be caught up in all of this. I’m so young to be caught up in all of this! “Thanks, Maddie. Let’s go.”
+We head off down the street, our pace slowing as we get nearer to Keller’s house. What are we doing? Everything in me screams Run! Finally, we come to a stop in front of the house. It’s small, fairly nice, but plain. The most eye-catching feature is the motorcycle parked out front. Why does that scare me even more?
+We walk up to the front door together, and Maddie grabs my hand. Somehow that gives me extra strength, and I reach up and push the doorbell.
+There’s some shuffling noises inside, and the door is opened by a woman, who is clearly an older version of the Keller in the picture, right down to the bright red hair.
+She starts when she sees me, surprised. “Well. You’re not Genesis.” Then here eyes flash down to Maddie and double in size. “Lila!” she cries before bending down and enveloping Maddie in a hug.
+Hehe, I KNEW that you’d have a reason why you’d do two parts! 😛
+Congrats on Paralyzed Dreams! I need to get it!
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+🙂 But of course!
+Thank you! I’m super happy. 🙂
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*wonders if Maddie will remember Keller because of her amnesia*
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*grins* 😉
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Oh my gosh! Ok, ok, lemme guess, is Keller Maddy’s or Lila’s or whatever’s big sister?!? I REALLY hope Maddy will remember, maybe the sight of Keller will trigger something? Please?
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*just grins mischievously*
+Part 29: Okay, that wasn’t as bad as I thought…
+Part 30: WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME.
+LikeLiked by 2 people
+Ohmygosh!!! Part 30 is the cliffhanger, not 29!!!!!
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Oh yes. 😉 Sorry if you were relieved at first… XD
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+AWWWWW YEAAAAHHHH!!!!!!
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*big grin*
+O_O
+How…. why…. *mutters*
+Okay, I might just die of suspense within the next week.
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+XD
+NO. Don’t you DARE. 😛 Then you won’t find out how and why… XD
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*pulls myself back from the brink of a suspenseful death* Fine. You’re going to need that food stash, though…
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+XD I know, I’ve got it handy.
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Good thing. 😛
+*wonders if Maddie will get her memory back*
+*wonders if Keller’s a good guy*
+*wonders when I should start battering down your door*
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*grins*
+*grins*
+*winces and hides*
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+XD *decides I’ll probably not. Plenty of other people will do that* 😛
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*grins*
+Although they might think better of it when they realize that if they do anything to me, I might not be able to finish the story. Because it might be at 180 pages, but it’s not finished yet. 😉
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Yeah, that was my thought process. XD
+180 pages already? Daaaang…. How many parts do you think it’ll be total?
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+I’m not sure… I’m thinking it’ll end up around 200 pages… so probably about 90-ish parts?
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*whistle* Woo, that’s a lot. Think you’ll put it in print format afterwards? I’d buy it.
+And read it to my siblings once a week so I can feel your cliffhanger power. 😛
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Oh, definitely, if I can. I really want to have my own copy, and to be able to put it on my shelf…
+XD Oh yes!!! ❤
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Yeah, it’s so much more satisfying to have an actual print copy to hold. 🙂
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Definitely. 🙂
+Ha! I knew Keller would be somehow connected to Maddie! ;D
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+*grins* You knew right!
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Okay, that cliffhanger wasn’t quite as bad as I thought it would be. . . 😉
+But I can’t wait to find out how this is all connected!!!
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+Well, good! 😀 I’m glad to hear that. 🙂
+AHHHH!! CLIFFHANGER!!! XD (It’s not as horrid as I was thinking it would be though… I was terrified you were going to kill someone off or something & make me wait a week. :P)
+I’m ready for the next chapter!! ❤
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+XD I’m so terrible, aren’t I??? Don’t worry, if I did something like that, I’d try to post and early part. 😉
+LikeLiked by 1 person
+'One small step for Man . . .'
+This is how Flight International reported the Moon landing in our 24 July 1969 issue, with original graphics and spacecraft cutaways.
+Man stood for the first time on another planet last Monday morning, July 21. An estimated 600 million people, the largest-ever live audience to watch any human endeavour, saw on television the bulky figure of the Apollo 11 commander, Neil Armstrong, climb backwards down the aluminium ladder, place his right foot in the spacecraft landing pad, and gingerly step down to the surface of the Moon. Science fiction became fact; the dream of centuries was realised..
+Adding further drama to this great adventure was the news from Jodrell Bank, at 1925 BST, that the enigmatic Luna 15 had changed its orbit, and was now within ten miles of the surface. Were the Russians planning a simultaneous landing? No one knew.
+After a final "clear" from Houston, the LM descent engine was fired (behind the Moon) on the 13th orbit at 2011 BST on Sunday in the de-orbit burn, to reduce the velocity of the spacecraft so as to put it on a collision-course with the Moon. The command module appeared from behind the Moon, at 2047 BST.
+Collins' comment was: "Everything's going just swimmingly." Two minutes later the LM appeared, the imperturbable Armstrong reading out a string of computer data.
+During this stage the LM was in a ballistic trajectory, following very closely the computed flight-path, which was virtually identical to that of Apollo 10. As a result of the data returned by this flight, a new mathematical model of the Moon and its perturbing mascons had been prepared by Boeing for Apollo 11.
+During the descent some trouble was experienced with voice transmissions from Eagle, owing to an oscillatory condition with the steerable communication antenna, and this emphasised the outstanding quality of voice reproduction otherwise characteristic of this flight.
+At 2101 BST: "Eagle from Columbia. You're go for PDI" (the CM was relaying the power-descent initiation signal from Houston to the LM); 5min later Eagle had arrived at the "high gate," 50,000ft above the Moon and 260 n.m. from the predicted touchdown point.
+With the continued slight pitchdown of the LM, this was the first occasion on which Armstrong and Aldrin were able to see the surface since beginning the de-orbit manoeuvre. The descent engine was fired again to provide the braking thrust.
+The most critical part of the flight was now approaching. At about 39,500ft the all-important landing radar was switched in to update the altitude data in the LM guidance computer.
+During this time each astronaut was paying particular attention to three instruments: the spacecraft flight director, the fuel gauges, and the indicator displaying range and altitude and their corresponding rates. The clipped comments continued steadily. "You're go to continue powered descent" (Houston, 2110 BST). "Good radar returns, altitude 33,000ft. This is better than the simulator" (Eagle, 2112 BST).
+Lunar module landing phase - see diagram below
+"Things look real good, you're go for landing." "Fourteen hundred feet, still looking very good" (Houston). Armstrong had now taken over manual control in order to traverse a footballpitch-sized shallow crater filled with a large number of boulders and rocks.
+The stream of comments from Eagle became even more clearly audible. "Seven hundred feet, 21 down, 33° . . . 540ft . . . 15 down, 30°. . . . Looks good. Down a half . . . six forward. . . ." "Sixty-second light on . . . down two and- a-half . . . four forward, four forward. . . . We're picking up some dust."
+At 2118 BST came the matter-of-fact words: "Contact lights. OK, engine stop. Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed." Nearly as historic as Caesar's "Veni, vidi, vici" and certainly more widely reported. It was followed by the Houston reply, "We copy you down, Eagle. We've got a bunch of guys about to turn blue." Indeed, Houston could now release its collective bated breath.
+And so did man land on the Moon, at 21hr 17min 42sec BST on Sunday, July 20, 1969.
+Eagle had landed at Site 2 in the Sea of Tranquillity, four miles downrange of the predicted touchdown point (part of this deviation due to mascon-induced errors) and 37sec later than predicted. The ground here was flat, the spacecraft tilt being well within allowable limits at 4.5°. A thin cloud of dust rising to about 70ft, raised by the descent engine, did not obscure visibility.
+But if the LM had stopped, work hadn't. A 3min window existed during which take-off and rendezvous with Columbia was possible. But Eagle was still go, and Houston gave the clear to stay on the Moon for the next 2hr (by which time Columbia would again be in the correct position for a rendezvous). The first job was to go through the simulated countdown.
+For the past day or so there had been a suggestion, emanating from Armstrong, that the EVA (extra-vehicular activity) be brought forward, so dispensing with the four hours' sleep which had been scheduled. This was finally agreed by NASA, and in particular by Dr Berry.
+The crew had slept very well, and were superbly fit. Armstrong's contention was that they could hardly be expected to sleep with a whole new world outside waiting to be explored. Also, pulling back the EVA some 4hr would bring it back to late evening - peak TV viewing time - in America.
+The decision to advance EVA was made around midnight. At first scheduled for 0232 BST on Monday morning, it was later put back to 0300 BST owing to the crew's difficulties in donning their suits. The go-ahead to depressurise the LM in preparation for the walk was given by Mission Control at about 0258 BST.
+The LM was depressurised, a final check of the LM and the spacesuits was made, gloves were put on. "Buzz" Aldrin was reading back his check list. The atmosphere at Houston was suddenly informal - it was "Neil - Houston, would you confirm..."
+Armstrong went on to his PLSS (portable life-support system) at 0329 BST. The minutes ticked interminably by without any sign of movement, and then, at 0353 BST, Armstrong reported that he was on the porch of the LM. Two minutes later the large TV screen at Houston flashed out.
+There was the vague shadowy figure of the Apollo 11 commander, seen initially upside down. The picture was quickly righted. Armstrong came down the ladder very slowly, pausing at the lowest rung to test his ability to climb back up again. Then: "I'm at the foot of the ladder now.
+The LM footprints are only indented about 1in-2in in very fine ground." The next instant, at 0356 BST, and 109hr 42min from launch, he stepped on to the Moon. His comment, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," must surely enter the history books.
+His next observations concerned the nature of the lunar surface. "The surface is fine and powdery. It adheres like powdered charcoal to the soles of my boots . . . there seems to be no difficulty in moving about, as we suspected . . . it is perhaps even easier moving around in one-sixth g than it was in the simulator . . . the descent engine didn't leave a crater of any size . . I can see some evidence of rays [on the surface] emanating from the descent engine."
+TV picture-taking was initiated by Armstrong, as he climbed down the ladder, pulling a lanyard which opened the MESA (modular-equipment storage assembly) bay in the descent stage and revealed the Westinghouse camera rigidly mounted to record the moment.).
+Armstrong then assisted Aldrin out of the LM, the latter stepping on to the surface at 0415 BST to the accompaniment of comments such as: "Beautiful, beautiful . . . magnificent desolation." Three minutes later Armstrong was jumping up and down - sure enough, in slow motion.
+He commented that balance and recovery from upset were normal (despite the destabilising effect of the heavy back-pack). The commemorative plaque, mounted on the ladder, was unveiled at 0425 BST, after which the TV camera was carried about 80ft from the LM and set up on a tripod so that the spacecraft and most of the EVA activities could be viewed continuously.
+Aldrin erected the American flag with its automatic unfurling device; cynics might have wondered if this traditional act of nationalism was really necessary. Congress had already decided not to send the United Nations flag. Then Collins, aboard Columbia, came up over the horizon to remind everybody that this was a three-man show. After some experimental kangaroo hopping, Armstrong declared that this mode of progression was inefficient.
+Ceremony then took its place. At 0449 BST President Nixon, speaking from Washington, exchanged greetings with the two men (who stood stiffly to attention beside Old Glory), addressing them as Neil and Buzz, but apparently forgetting driver Mike upstairs.
+A certain amount of apprehension was beginning to show in the Houston controller's voice. Partly as a result of the long period between donning the portable life-support system and starting EVA, the operation was already running some 30min late.
+The back-packs, which had been operating since 0329 BST, had consumables for 4hr, and it was beginning to be evident that either an extension of EVA or a change of programme would be needed. By 0527 BST one of the main functions of EVA - the deployment of the two main items in the EASEP (early Apollo scientific experiments package) was under way.
+These experiments, comprising a laser reflector and a passive seismometer, were carried by Aldrin from their storage bay in the LM out on to the surface to be set up there. Significantly, there was still no mention of fatigue or difficulty in moving around.
+By 0537 BST the laser reflector was deployed, but considerable levelling difficulties with the seismometer ate into the precious EVA time and Houston was becoming decidedly edgy. Finally Mission Control said it would like to extend the excursion by 15min. Did the crew mind? Evidently the crew didn't.
+Although the contingency sample had been collected and some 20lb of bulk sample secured (it was not clear whether this was 20lb by Earth or Moon weight), the documented samples were still to be obtained. Signals from the laser had already been recorded in California. The laser reflector was also checked out from Earth.
+Lunar ascent phase- see diagram below
+At 0547 BST Aldrin collected a coretube sample at a depth of about 6in. "It almost looks wet," was his comment. Time was rapidly running out. "Neil, after you've got the core tubes and solar wind [experiment], anything you can throw in the box will be acceptable" came the plaintive cry from Houston.
+The dignified academic selection of rocks degenerated into a scramble. At 0558 BST Aldrin was mounting the ladder, after 2hr 30min operation of his life-support system. At 0600 BST camera magazines and sample boxes were being loaded aboard Eagle by means of the pulley system. By 0612 Armstrong was back in Eagle, and the hatch was closed.
+The first operation was to pressurise the spacecraft, after which the astronauts went through the tiring process of removing their thermal-meteoroid garments.
+A checkout of the spacecraft was followed by a meal, after which Armstrong and Aldrin settled down for a rest. Accommodation in the LM is severely limited; Armstrong slung a hammock over the base of the ascent-stage engine, while Aldrin curled up on the floor.
+After a 7hr doze the two men began preparations for countdown. Luna 15 continued to provide interest; Jodrell Bank reported that the signals from the Russian spacecraft had ceased at 1655 BST. It was surmised that the craft had crashed or landed on the Moon at 300 m.p.h., in the region of the Sea of Crises some 400 miles from the Apollo 11 landing site.
+The countdown continued. At 1845 BST Houston came on with a reassuring: "Everything looks good." The two astronauts were now too busy to admire the view as the last minutes of the first manned landing mission to the Moon ticked by.
+The 3,500lb ascent engine ignited. Eagle lifted from its launch pad -the silent descent stage. "Beautiful," was Houston's comment. Two minutes later the spacecraft was at 9,000ft and heart-rates (which had peaked at 94 for Armstrong and 120 for Aldrin) began to subside. The flight-path was good. "Eagle - Houston: You're right down the track," from Mission Control.
+At 1901 BST the engine was shut down, with Eagle at a height of 60,666ft (in a 9.1 n.m. by 47.2 n.m. orbit), travelling at 5,537ft/sec and some 166 n.m. from Site 2. Some 5,000lb of fuel had been burned to put Eagle back in Moon orbit.
+As we went to press, just after injection of the LM into orbit, both this spacecraft and the command module (which was coming round the Moon on its 25th revolution) were reported to be in good condition, and the docking was successfully accomplished. The concluding stages of the flight will be reported in Flight next week.
+This article was written by Michael Wilson
+See a gallery of images from the Apollo programme on AirSpace including the men, the equipment and the Moon
+Flightglobal’s 40th anniversary of the Moon landing including biographies of the astronauts, an analysis of the vehicles and computers used and an interactive timeline
+The book's cover. "Spitzenprodukte" is Lemmey's pen name
+Chubz: The Demonization of My Working Arse is Huw Lemmey's story of a young man, Andy "Chubz" Wilson, who spends a long, hot summer unemployed in London fucking around the city via Grindr. He meets a young, left-wing journalist, Owen, whose earnestness is matched only by his sex drive. In the background, a poppers-addicted Nigel Farage rises to power as Prime Minister, and police crawl the sweating city streets as they begin to erupt in sex and violence.
+It's political pornography. Not in some mortifying Michael Gove in the Whip's Office way, and not because it tries to make its sex right-on and joyless (the sex is filthy, uninhibited and completely uninterested in any agenda except pleasure). It's political because of the people it involves, the class and taste lines it crosses and, especially, because of the way Chubz's getting off is placed in direct, violent conflict with other uses of the city. All these things—class struggle, the cult of Farage, and our obsessive relation to technology—are hung around the characters' desire to cram as much sex into their days as possible.
+As suggested by the reference in the title, the "Owen" of the book is of course based on real-life journalist Owen Jones, author of Chavs, The Demonization of the Working Class. The real Owen would probably raise an eyebrow at what his fictional counterpart gets up to:
+"He's in a spunk-fuelled stupor, a high that pumps more and more opiatic pleasure into his balls, and he's grinning and his dick is pumping out spunk, not precum but thick white globules, a rhythmic pump pump pump … His face is beyond serene, though. We look at each other in this breathless ecstasy – he seems so peaceful knowing this is it, this is the end of his brief time here, willing himself towards death in the warmth of my rectum, sweating semen from every pore."
+But Lemmey isn't just interested in the grotesque outer limits of fantasy for the hell of it. He has suggested that he cares less about the actual Owen Jones than in how his public image is received, and in what has to be excluded from a public persona to be counted as "credible." In that sense—fantasizing about what a public figure keeps private—Chubz has its roots in internet fanfiction, a genre dominated by young women writing graphic fantasies about their favorite celebrities. Chubz is more ironized and self-aware than this, and in a sense has to be: there's only so much mileage in a sex fantasy before you start thinking about the way sex connects to the world around you. It's smut, but it's not just smut. One of the ways to understand the politics of scandalous literature is to go back to France in the years before the Revolution. Paris was a city that thrived on smutty stories, and political careers were made or broken by the circulation of gossip, innuendo, and scandal. Simply by standing on a street corner in Paris, you would hear some filthy rumor or burning "secret." Real news and libels, or collections of anecdotes, circulated in little haphazard gazettes printed in presses on the French borders—free from the elaborate categories of censorship applied to printed books by the French authorities.
+Robert Darnton, the preeminent historian of this literary underground, has uncovered the networks through which these best-sellers circulated. Sometimes the banned works were those of dangerous political philosophers and radicals, but more often outright pornographic works, or raging anti-establishment tracts—and they all circulated in the same catalogues. It's a useful corrective to the idea that the literature that proliferated before the Revolution was all (or even largely) chin-stroking philosophy about the rights of man.
+Owen Jones, upon whom the fictional Owen is based. Photo by Adam Barnett
+By far the most interesting were the books that purported to be the "secret lives" or "authentic memories" of this-or-that member of the aristocracy, often one of the king's mistresses. These books traced (in great and salacious detail) the degeneracies of the regime, either through their sexual disorder, or little stories that foregrounded something corrupt in their character. One of these books of libels began with Marie Antoinette masturbating, then describes her various orgies, and goes on to describe the king as impotent, limp, and useless.
+The French police at the time took these libelles seriously, both because they were injurious to public opinion of the monarchy and because they could have serious effects on public order. Darnton mentions one 1752 rumor that said police were stealing working-class children so a royal prince could bathe in their blood, actually causing a riot. Slander, rumor, and gossip of this kind were literal weapons, with aristocrats even hiring libellistes to bolster their reputation and destroy others. It's hard to reconstruct how much of a role these libels played in creating the crisis of legitimacy before the revolution—though some of their authors were among the revolutionary leadership—but they undoubtedly spread the image of a monarchy in decay, where the body of the king, the source of law, was rotted from the inside out.
+It's in this tradition of secret lives that we have to read Chubz's fictional Farage: nursing a secret loathing of his supporters, driven to illness by endless pints of ale, possessed by a secret longing for European food and sophistication—a delicate sfogliatella and glass of light Italian rosé—that he has to hide to maintain his public image, and addicted to poppers at the behest of a continental dominatrix called Gutrot Essenem.
+Nigel Farage. Photo by James Turner
+The Farage character is of course fictional, but the point of the fiction is to bring out the contradictions that must mark the inner life of someone like a Farage, who must pretend every day he's just one of the people, despite his stockbroker background and fine tastes. It takes a commonplace of political life—that political leaders must pretend to be cartoon versions of themselves—and explores what twisted desires might lie behind the façade. Reading it makes it impossible to look at Farage's swollen grin without thinking he's just huffed half a bottle of poppers.
+But not all of the book is about the secret life of Nigel Farage: much of it is about Chubz's pursuit of sexual pleasure, his negotiation of the city, and his use of Grindr. Chubz is a pleasure seeker, uninterested in respectability, politics, or romance. As Owen takes him on an excruciating date in an All Bar One temple of blandness, all the typical codes of mainstream gay life, the desire for respectable profession, relationship, and career break against Chubz's insistence that he just wants "spit and skin and dick." But even that's not quite true. In the middle of sex later, Chubz thinks to himself, "I wish this were mediated." "I wish this were data."
+Desire and regulation are never far away from each other, and when they come into conflict it's often over who gets to be in public and use public space. Grindr promises Chubz and its many devotees not only an on-demand menu of sexual options, but a way of reordering the city, uncovering sexual opportunity around every corner. It's an ordering of the city that is only open to its participants, and a way of reclaiming control over a city only otherwise configured for transportation between home and grinding, miserable work. Chubz's worry is about whether, unaware, digital augmentation has become an inextricable part of how he thinks about sex. But Grindr is largely a privatization of the kind of cruising that used to happen in certain public toilets and desolate night-time urban spaces. The vague conception of gay history most young men grow up with is that being gay was "illegal" until somewhere in the middle of the 20th century, and then there's been a gradual swing in tolerance until the present day. If we think of our predecessors at all, it is at the mercy of violent police and a hostile society, haunting rundown establishments in the hope of a furtive fuck.
+Matt Houlbrook, in his history Queer London, challenges this notion: though subject to police raids, early 20th Century London had a wide range of queer institutions, from Turkish Baths to private clubs, and a huge number of public spaces used for sex. For many of the men Houlbrook describes, the queer and the urban are inextricably linked—the book begins with a letter from a married man who had "only been queer since [he] came to London"—and often possessed of a defiant pride and very little sense of shame. The same man, in the middle of a police raid, drew himself up, introduced himself to the presiding Inspector as "The Countess" and demanded that he take one of the young cops on the raid home with him.
+Houlbrook uncovers a world that extends far beyond contemporary notions of the homosexual, to encompass the highly-flamboyant West End queen, the generally respectable middle-class homosexual, and the otherwise "normal" working-class man. It's surprising how widely tolerated out-and-out flamboyancy was, but the real surprise is in the highly-fluid, highly-conflicted sexuality of "normal" men, who were otherwise straight. Though freer to openly enjoy sex than middle-class homosexuals, a "normal" guy who had just enjoyed some gay sex clearly felt the need to scorn, extort or violently separate himself from the "brown-hatter" he had just fucked. There is nothing so brutal and uncaring as desire satisfied. The 1957 report issued by the Wolfenden Committee—which had as its remit two "problems" of urban life, female prostitution and male homosexuality, and took evidence from distinguished middle class homosexuals—marked the beginning of toleration for homosexual men, and the gradual decline of the old queer world. But the rise of easily available, anonymous apps like Grindr have meant easy access to a digital cruising ground where cross-class liaisons, and interactions with men who consider themselves "straight," are far likelier than for those in highly "gay" environments like late 20th century Soho. How else, these days, would a feral NEET like Chubz meet an established middle-class journalist like Owen?
+Illustration by Michael Oswell and Huw Lemmey
+Lemmey is too canny to give us a simple tale about Grindr as a tool of liberation, though it must have been tempting, given the endless parade of pop drips lining up to condemn anything but the most dishwater-dull sexuality—for instance Sam Smith saying hookup apps have "ruined romance." His visual work with graphic designer Michael Oswell shows clearly how technology that claims to free us can just loop back around into narrow repression.
+Though Chubz is without a doubt the smartest character in the book, his pursuit of pleasure and violent catharsis as the annihilation of existing society isn't a conventional hero's tale. The book is far more interested in the way sexual pleasure is always almost a liberation from alienation and political oppression, and the way looking for sex forms and changes our sense of self: "I identify as red neon in wet asphalt and I use the pronouns now/nearby/online," says Chubz.
+If you watch the news after reading Chubz, it's hard not to wonder about the secret desires that lurk behind the eyes of David Cameron or Ed Miliband. Hard not to see sex—and power, which always follows hotly on its heels—lurking in every interaction. It provides an easy way of asking: how might those in power be lying to us? What might they be concealing? Even if Chubz's anal apocalypse isn't your cup of tea—they're good questions to ask.
+Chubz: The Demonization of My Working Arse is available from Montez Press
+Follow James Butler on Twitter.
+Daniel Wild
+Daniel Wild
+Daniel is a serial entrepreneur and a well-known digital investor. During the last 15 years, he has invested in over 120 startups through Tiburon Unternehmensaufbau GmbH. Amongst his most well-known seed and early stage investments are XING (openBC), Posterjack, Trivago, Shirtinator, Invoco and MovingImage24. In 1999, he founded getmobile AG which he led as CEO and grew to over EUR 100m in revenue p.a. until 2007. In 2005, the company went public as getmobile Europe plc through a reverse IPO at the AIM segment of the London stock exchange. After two years of seed investing with Tiburon Partners AG, he returned to getmobile Europe plc as a CEO. The company was renamed into Ecommerce Alliance AG (ECA), an operative public holding company investing in digital companies to increase their value in close cooperation with their management and the ECA-service companies. Mountain Partners AG acquired a strategic stake in ECA in 2017 and appointed Daniel as CEO of MP.
+Daniel S. Wenzel
+Daniel S. Wenzel
+>>IMAGE.
+Jan Nyholm
+Jan Nyholm
+Jan Nyholm is a recognized senior executive in the financial services industry. He spent the first 16 years of his career at leading and mainly American firms, building their European businesses. His roles have included Executive Director of Fidelity Investments Europe, Managing Director at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), Member of the European Executive Committee at Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) and Executive Board positions at Credit Suisse during its turn-around from 2001-2004. Since 2004, Jan Nyholm has been an entrepreneur and, among others, a partner in a Swiss Bank as well as an advisor to large European financial services firms. Jan became a partner in Mountain Partners AG in 2013. Jan Nyholm is Honorary Consul of the Republic of Guatemala in Switzerland. He holds a BA in Economics from Copenhagen Business School and an MBA from Columbia University in New York.
+Alexander Köhler
+Alexander Köhler
+Alexander Köhler has 10+ years of experience in the Finance and Accounting Sector. He joined Mountain Partners AG in 2008 being responsible for Finance, and takes on various board memberships in group companies of MP. During his education as a tax expert and the subsequent study of Business Administration, Alexander advised numerous companies in the area of Accounting and Controlling and gained a wide range of know-how over the years. He holds a degree as a taxation specialist, a degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s degree in Corporate Finance from FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.
+Company Building Europe
+Company Building Europe
+Philipp Hartmann
+Philipp Hartmann
+Philipp Hartmann is a successful serial entrepreneur and investor from Berlin, Germany, and Founding Partner of Rheingau Founders.
+Philipp got his start in the digital industry at Jamba! AG in 2004 and studied at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel (Germany), Sydney and Buenos Aires.
+He founded his first startup, sportme, a social community for athletes, with Dr. Tobias Johann and Kai Hansen in 2007, before going on to create Rheingau Founders together. Philipp has since been actively involved in founding and developing more than 20 startups.
+At Rheingau Founders, Philipp provides portfolio companies with operational guidance with his extensive knowledge and experience in HR, cooperations and strategic partnerships. He is also a regular speaker at conferences and network events around the globe, and lectures at various universities in Germany (e.g. European Business School, HHL) and mentors at accelerator programs in Berlin (e.g. Techstars, Microsoft Ventures Accelerator, Startupbootcamp).
+Florian Fischer
+Florian Fischer
+Florian Fischer joined Mountain Partners in 2017 and is responsible for Portfolio Management. As a member of the investment team, he is also involved in investment management and the internationalization of the group’s activities. Previously, he gained practical experience in Strategy & Operations Consulting at PwC (Switzerland), Real Estate Brokerage at Sotheby’s International Realty (South of France) and as an entrepreneur & founder of several startups in the digital area (Germany). During his studies, he has worked already for Mountain Partners as a Business Analyst in 2012/2013. Florian holds a Double Bachelor’s Degree in International Management from ESB Business School (Germany) and NEOMA Business School (France).
+Company Building Southeast Asia
+Company Building Southeast Asia
+Marco Stutz
+Marco Stutz
+Marco Stutz joined MP in 2009 as the executive assistant to the management board. Today, Marco is responsible for the international investment activities of the group, including the management of joint ventures, for example in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Prior to MP, Marco worked for GlaxoSmithKline and with Daimler Beijing (China). Marco holds a degree in industrial engineering with focus on international management and strategic controlling.
+Carlo Herold
+Carlo Herold
+Carlo Herold represents MP’s office in Thailand. He is co-founder of Heroleads, a performance marketing and sales platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers. He is a startup mentor at True Incubator in Thailand and consults the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce regarding digitization and startups. Previously, Carlo founded Polar Labs, a mobile app publisher focusing on lifestyle & utility apps, and sold part of the portfolio in 2016. Before devoting his work full-time to Entrepreneurship, Carlo was a Research Analyst for the Foreign trade and inward investment agency of the Federal Republic of Germany (GTAI) in Malaysia. He graduated from ESCEM School of Business and Management in France and London Metropolitan Business School with a dual masters degree International Business Management & Strategy.
+Hassan Alsagoff
+Hassan Alsagoff
+Hassan Alsagoff aims to motivate Malaysia’s boldest entrepreneurs to bring great tech products to a global market. After spending his formative years being mentored as a strategist in advertising multinationals, he started a digital communications agency with a close friend. This success allowed him to begin investing in startups which led to the birth of Qeerad, a startup investment firm that after 2 years was acquired by Mountain Partners AG.
+Jon Santillan
+Jon Santillan
+Jon Santillan is a serial entrepreneur who has founded Searchfuse Marketing Management, a leading provider of digital marketing services with offices based in Dubai and Manila. Passionate about product development and growth hacking approach with digital marketing, Jon and his company developed several high-end technologies – Searchfuse SEO platform (searchfuse.com), afterschool.ae, Getlaundry and audience.to. While at Searchfuse, he worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for Etihad Airways, where he led several significant digital marketing programs throughout the Group, delivering high sales revenue from SEO, year-on-year. Earlier in his career, he was in charge of all SEO campaigns and digital marketing strategy projects at the Abu Dhabi Media, the official media organization of the Abu Dhabi government.
+Company Building Latin America
+Company Building Latin America
+Héctor Sepúlveda
+Héctor Sepúlveda.
+Felipe Henríquez
+Felipe Henríquez
+Felipe Henriquez is an entrepreneur and angel investor with two successful exits. He is co-founder of Nazca Ventures. He also was co-founder of Clandescuento.cl, that was acquired by Groupon in June 2010. In Groupon Latin America, Felipe undertook various roles, including regional CFO. Felipe co-founded his first company Coffee Origins in 2004, which was sold in 2009 to Bestway Group. Felipe holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Diego Portales and is an alumni from Singularity University. He is also a participant and a mentor in the “Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Latin America – ECLA” program by Columbia University.
+Marc Penkala
+Marc Penkala.
+Eduardo Amadeo
+Eduardo Amadeo
+Eduardo Amadeo is a business consultant with over 10 years of experience specializing in high-potential companies. Before co-founding Nazca Ventures, he was Director of Public and International Affairs at FUNDES and led the creation of “Buenos Aires Emprende”, the City of Buenos Aires’ first entrepreneurship program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and a Masters in Business Administration and Competitiveness of Universidad de San Andrés.
+Patricia Saenz
+Patricia Saenz
+Patricia Seanz is an entrepreneur with more than 10 years of experience in creating and developing of new businesses, strategist in business and finance with diploma at the City University in London and an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid (Ie Business School). Patricia has created and consolidated companies in different industries for both goods and services, and has also supported the entrance of international companies to the Colombian market. Besides enterprising, Patricia is member of the Board of Directors of different Colombian companies such as NutrinfanVl Foundation, Óptica Alemana, Angelcom, Premium Foods and Wfactura.
+Company Building Middle East & Africa
+Company Building Middle East & Africa
+Pawel Iwanow
+Pawel Iwanow
+Pawel Iwanow heads MP’s operations in the Middle East and is in close relationships with the Company’s local investors. He is also involved in rolling out the successful Heroleads business model in other global hubs and supports the establishment of further MP hubs in the Middle East & Africa region. Pawel Iwanow holds a business degree from the European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel (EBS).
+Business Angel Club – ANGELGATE
+Business Angel Club – ANGELGATE
+Jeanette Marschner
+Jeanette Marschner
+Jenny is the CEO of ANGELGATE and has been responsible for the successful strategic set-up and new market positioning as club for UHNWIs. Since mid-2013, when she took over today’s ANGELGATE, she managed to built-up a sustainable platform. Jenny started her VC carrier in 2002 at Continua AG by initiating global matching events, bringing together start-ups and investors. With the European Venture Market (EVM), she created the base of her professional network of investors and corporate clients spanning all industries. From 2012-2013, Jenny joined Rausch Partners as Director Investments, focusing on Private Equity and PIPE transactions.
+Finance
+Finance
+Elena Scheller
+Elena Scheller
+Elena Scheller joined Mountain Partners AG in 2014 as the executive assistant to the management board. After her further education as a Compliance Officer in 2017, Elena took over the role as a Compliance Officer for Mountain Partners. Her responsibilities are documenting, auditing and monitoring of compliance requirements (AMLA, CISA and FATCA) for Mountain Partners and its subsidiaries. Elena holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration with focus on Finance and Accounting from Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany.
+Management Support
+Management Support
+Christine Schmitz-Riol
+Philip Behrends
+Philip Behrends
+Philip Behrends joined Mountain Partners as a Business Development Intern in 2013. Today, he is the assistant to the founder and chairman of the executive management, Dr. Cornelius Boersch. As such, Philip takes care of communication, organization and project management for Dr. Boersch. In addition, he handles legal tasks, such as contract drafting and document preparation, for Mountain Partners. Philip holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK.
+Sep 28th 2010 By Good In Bed
+Do You Need to Tell a Guy You're Sleeping With That You Have HPV?
+Your Sex Question: Do you need to tell a guy you're sleeping with that you have HPV?
+What Anna from Good in Bed had to say:
+First things first: HPV stands for human papillomavirus, which is the virus family that causes warts (anywhere on your body -- your hand, your foot and, yes, your genitals); it also can cause cervical cancer. You know when you go to the gynecologist and get a pap smear? "Pap" as in "papillomavirus." They're checking for abnormal cells that may indicate you have pre-cancerous or cancerous cells on your cervix.
+The only way to know that you have HPV is if you have genital warts, or you have an abnormal pap smear. There are many different strains of HPV, and only certain ones cause genital warts; other ones cause cervical cancer. Men and women can both get HPV; both can have genital warts. Genital warts are obnoxious, but pretty much harmless -- and treatable (you can have them frozen off by your doctor).
+They are transmitted from skin-to-skin contact and they're outside of your body, so if you've got warts and you're getting laid, you're risking transmitting the wart-causing virus to your partner. We gals are the only ones who can get cervical cancer (obviously), so telling your partner is really your call. Here's the thing with HPV: Pretty much everyone has it. 80 percent of sexually active folks will have HPV at some point in their life. Most folks have, have had, or will have it, and women who go to the GYN every year (you're doing that, right? Right?) are much more likely to know their HPV status.
+If you're going to feel like a flake if you know that you have or have had HPV and you don't tell your partner, then by all means, disclose away. But chances are that the guy you're getting down with has some strain of it, too. And if you tell him and he acts shocked or appalled or disgusted, make sure to let him know that he's probably got it too, and get outta there.
+Moral of this story: Disclosing (or not) is your choice. Get regular pap smears, talk to your doc about getting the Gardasil vaccine if you haven't already, and don't sweat telling your status to every dude you sleep with.
+Or read: "HPV Cost Me My Fertility"
+Anna is
+>>IMAGE
+Tuesday 28 September
+By pops
+Are you kidding me? As a guy I'm letting you know that you better tell me!
+Reply
+Tuesday 28 September
+By WFT
+Are you seriously suggesting that it's totally legit for someone to knowingly risk infecting her partner (and by extension, all of /his/ future partners) by withholding this information? Particularly in light of the fact that infection with this disease (as you yourself point out) can cause cervical cancer and infertility in women? Are you some kind of sociopath?
+Reply
+Tuesday 28 September
+By Alicia
+While it may be mostly harmless, HPV is still an STI and genital warts are still warts. If you can prevent spreading that to your partner you should. Also, gotta agree with WFT (WTF?) that you're endangering their other partners, if you do pass on a strain that causes cervical cancer. Or even if they're carrying it. I firmly believe that men should have to be tested for HPV annually, too so they don't pass on possibly deadly strains to their partners. Granted, I also believe that boys should get the Gardisil vaccine and that STD testing should be part of one's yearly physical.
+Reply
+Tuesday 28 September
+By Anna Potter
+You suggest that men be tested annually for HPV. This would be freakin' GREAT... if such a test existed. Unfortunately, there isn't a test for HPV, which (as Kimy mentioned) is part of the reason why pretty much everyone has it. This is why it's so important for women to get annual pap smears.
+Tuesday 28 September
+By Kimy
+Last I heard, there was no HPV test developed for men, hence the ridiculous transmission rates.
+Reply
+Tuesday 28 September
+By christie caplinger
+Um, actually, the term "Pap" smear is short for Papanicolau (the guy who came up with it). although, good mnemonic, I guess.
+Reply
+Thursday 30 September
+By Anna Potter
+You're right that the "pap" is short for "Papanicolaou stain", after the guy who developed the pap smear, George Papanikolaou. Thanks for correcting that! I always explain that it sounds like papillomavirus and that's a good way to remember why we need to get them!
+Tuesday 28 September
+By Adriane
+I completely agree with the points made by previous readers. It is irresponsible to send such a lax message about disclosure of an STI. If more people talked about it, there would be less stigma and more people protecting themselves, their partners and future partners. Granted, there are many complicated issues surrounding HPV (e.g. there is not yet a test for men, condoms do not offer protection of the skin surrounding the genitals, etc.). However, these are not reasons to keep partners out of the loop.
+Further, HPV has been implicated in penile and anal cancers, so both men and women have an increased risk of cancer when infected with certain HPV strains.
+Reply
+Tuesday 28 September
+By Anna Potter
+You're right that cancers associated with HPV can affect men as well. However, women are at much higher risk of developing cancer associated with HPV than are men. Each year in the US, as a result of HPV infection, about 12,000 women get cervical cancer, whereas only about 1,000 men get penile cancer, and 2,700 women and 1,700 men get anal cancer. (Source: CDC)
+Wednesday 29 September
+By deadgrlsprstr
+ummm yes you definitely should tell ANYONE that you sleep with if you have an STI. I caught HPV from the man who eventually became my husband and it completely devastated my life for YEARS! He was someone I knew everything about, I knew he was clean, always used condoms with girls he wasn't in a relationship with and always got tested and had the girl get tested before he stopped using them with a new girlfriend(whoops condoms don't actually block the infection of HPV, they just reduce the risk), I knew he was tested regularly. OOPS There is no test to detect HPV in men...thanks a lot medical community! The kicker came when I was having a discussion with my mother in law about it and was told that his ex girlfriend knew she had it and she herself had known b/c she was in the room when the bitch got the phone call but had assumed that the girl had told him so never mentioned it to him. So yeah the girlfriend knew about it, decided to keep it to herself and my life was the one that was turned upside down, and I'm still living with the consequences of her decision to not own up to the fact that she was unfaithful and caught a disease.
+Reply
+Wednesday 29 September
+By Kate
+Isn't the "Pap" in "Pap smear" short for Papanikolaou, the name of the dr. who developed the test, rather than "pap" as in "papilloma"?
+Reply
+Wednesday 29 September
+By Doranna
+Seriously?? This "writer"/moron is getting a masters in Public Health? I suggest her article be forwarded to the university she is attending. They should withhold her degree until she takes at least three ethics classes....and passes them. What a shockingly irresponsible answer. Is she kidding?
+Hey Lemondrop, do your readers a favor and kick this idiot to the curb. I see a lawsuit in your future when some other moron takes her advice and doesn't tell their partner about HPV, Herpes or AIDS because of this ridiculously wrong so-called "sex advice".
+Reply
+Wednesday 29 September
+By Anna Potter
+Please do take note that this is an article about HPV only, not HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, or any other STI. Of course I HIGHLY suggest disclosing your STI status to any partners--it's actually technically illegal folks who have HIV not to tell their partners their status.
+Wednesday 29 September
+By Anna Potter
+Oops--please excuse the typo: it's actually technically illegal FOR folks who have HIV not to tell their partners their status.
+Wednesday 29 September
+By lking4trbl
+What rotten, immature and irresponsible advice! Of course you should tell your partner if you have a transmittable disease or condition. You should be using condoms anyway but at least have the courtesy to inform your partner of any risks associated with unprotected contact.
+Geesh! Someone get this woman off the internet. People are irresponsible enough on their own without some blogging fool giving them the right to be more so.
+Reply
+Friday 01 October
+By Onna
+Many of the commenters outraged at Anna's suggestion that informing the male partner of one's HPV status is a matter of personal preference probably have not considered the implications of a strict policy of disclosure.
+Let's say you have HPV, for which, like for HSV 1 and 2 (the herpes virus), condoms do not offer full, foolproof protection. Let's say you let every potential sexual partner know about your cooties before you two go knockin' some boots. You further explain that you're never quite sure when you're contagious and that the virus in question could either lie dormant or cause periodic outbreaks. In case of HPV, your immune system is likely to overcome the virus in a few years. In case of HSV 1 and 2, the virus stays in your body forever. OK, now let me know how this disclosure affects your chances of dating and mating.
+Now, even though with proper condom use HIV is highly preventable, I am not suggesting one keep one's HIV status to oneself. This is because HIV is a systemic virus that affects blood and saliva, meaning that unwitting partners could accidentally get infected via non-sexual pathways if they are not warned. And by all means let your potential lover you've got HSV (like 1 out of 3 people in the US). Vigilance about outbreaks, coupled with strict condom use and some hygiene adjustments (like having the guy wash up with soap & hot water right after condom-protected intercourse) do reduce transmittal rates.
+But please understand that when you require full disclosure about HPV and HSV before any sexual encounter, you are essentially suggesting that people with STIs remove themselves from the total dating pool. The chances that a young man will stick around after "the disclosure" are not good at all. Some of the men that do stick around will always have the fear of infection in the back of their minds. That fear can be a real dampener on a guy's sex drive.
+Societal hysteria surrounding what is essentially an occasional skin rash (HSV) or warts (HPV) drives some people with STIs to date only via personals sites geared toward people with STIs.
+So imagine what all this would mean for a nineteen year old woman with HPV or HSV who has decades of mating disappointment to look forward to. Then judge or suggest a better alternative.
+Reply
+Friday 08 October
+By Disagree
+You seem to have your logic backwards. Anyone who does not tell their partner they have an STD is the jerk - not the person who refuses to have sex with them. If I met someone and they told me they had herpes, I would not be a jerk for rejecting them.
+I bet if this was a male writer, you would never tell him to keep his STD positive status a secret because it might blow his chances of getting laid. You would go on and on about how it is his responsibility to protect his partner and to get her full consent. Particularily when this virus is linked to various cancers.
+Friday 08 October
+By Disagree
+A better alternative is to save sex for marriage - everyone may think that sounds crazy but it is the way things worked for millennia. It is only in the last forty years that this trend started where casual sex became normal and saving it for marriage become abnormal. The sad thing is that this generation is paying the price for the great deception - premarital sex has no consequences. It does have consequences and the consequences are more far reaching than just the individual. They are now society's problem.
+The 19 year old girl who has HPV and now must disclose it to all of her future partners is an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of today's sexual immorality. Life isn't fair - get over it.
+Thursday 30 September
+By wb
+The people on here commenting on miss potter negatively aren't correctly informed about this infection. HPV is the most common sti and there is NO way to avoid or prevent the infection other than abstinence or the recent vaccines. I agree if you have the strain that causes gw and have warts are present then you should disclose but if u HAD it and the warts aren't present for 6 months at least then you aren't obligated. The same for the cancer causing strain if you are a woman but men can't find out if they still have or even if they have it at all. Most people have or will get it, some show symptoms some don't but at the end of the day get vaccinated people! If you are against the vaccine, don't start crying when you or your kid gets it! Dr. Hansfield of the CDC says the same thing, look him up
+Reply
+Thursday 30 September
+By nic
+are you kidding me ? so lets just make sure 100% of "sexually active folks" have HPV then ? what horrible and irresponsible advice ! HPV causes cancer in both men and women and also infertility and should be taken seriously. also the vaccine only covers the most common strains of HPV, not all the strains, so you still have to be cautious.
+Reply
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Neisseria meningitides, a bacteria that causes meningococcal disease, are already in use or in the last stages of development, according to a news release from the lancet. From the distri-bution center the drug product is then shipped to a wholesaler.from the tramadol online india tramadol online india wholesaler, the drug product may be shipped to thedistribution center for a pharmacy chain or directly to the phar-macy. Herpes is not infre-quently observed and points to nervous disturbances such as tramadol online india areprominent features in the next phase.these phases are not always order 180 tramadol cod distinct in cases of poisoning, and veryoften some of the symptoms of the second phase may appear beforeany marked disorder of the digestive tract.
+The quantity of emetinethat comes in contact with the parasite must be even smaller thanthat of quinine in cases of malaria, and it is quite devoid of action onthe tissues in which the parasite is embedded. Although focused specifically onthe center for drug evaluation and research and new drugs/drug products, similar requirements tramadol online india exist for biologics. Ed has seemingly proclaimed himself as "the king of the jungle" going so far as to adopt a sterotypical "kingly" accent when he talks, calling the hero a "servant". — the salicylates have some antiseptic action, which ismuch smaller, however, in the case of the neutral salts than in the acid,in which order tramadol 100mg online prescription the specific action of the salicylate radicle is reinforced by theacid ion. A woman does not want her partner to need an implant, injection or external vacuum device to achieve an erection. Buteven the direct application of adrenaline to a lesion of the lung orbrain has little effect in stopping the bleeding, the vessels in theseorgans not being constricted by adrenaline to the same extent as thoseof other organs.stomach and intestine. Pylori. In the dog itis found to be partially oxidized to oxyantipyrine which is excreted in theurine in combination with glycuronic and sulphuric acids. Alternatively, a drug may bewithdrawn from the market because it has been shown to have unacceptableside effects. The solid must first dissolve, and thedrug in solution must then pass through the gastrointestinal(gi) membrane. Nephrotoxicity metabolism of enflurane and sevofluranemay generate compounds that are potentially nephrotoxic. Distributors since tramadol online india june of this year into 2 different mlm's. Access to production areas is only allowed by authorised personnel.documentationdocumentation is an essential part of the quality assurance system. tramadol online india that this preventsits accumulating in sufficient quantity to affect the tissues. This isconsistent with the top-level management review componentof the quality systems approach currently emphasized by fdaduring inspections. Merino, therap. For example, the term ind (investigationalnew drug) application is used for a clinical trial authorisation in tramadol online india the usa,whereas the term clinical trial application (cta) is used for the sameprocess in the eu. The critical period during which these buy 50 mg tramadol online effects can be induced in male rats has been defined tobe days 16-17 of gestation. tramadol online india towards the aque-ous phase (internal or external), while the lipophilic can i get tramadol online parts are directed to eachother (as in the structure of cell membranes). A principal investigator is appointed when several parts of a studyare conducted in different test facilities. Acetylsalicylic acid has beenused instead of the antipyretic group of late years. Nitroglycerinacts more rapidly than the last two, and its effects continue almost as long as those ofsodium nitrite. When sexual stimulation causes local release of no,inhibition of pde5 by sildenafil causes increasedlevels of cgmp in the corpus cavernosum,resulting in smooth muscle relaxation and inflow of blood to the corpus cavernosum. As aresult, the agency is tramadol online india responsiblefor the scientific evaluation of applicationsfor european marketing authorisations for both human and veterinarymedicines (centralised procedure) and also publishes scientific guidelines onquality, safety tramadol online india and efficacy testing requirements on its website. Advise patients to stop taking cipro xr if they experience an adverse reaction and to call their healthcare provider for advice on completing the full course of tramadol online india treatment with another antibacterial drug. Compare the effects of stimulationof the vagus in the first part of fig. Racemization appears to depend on the func-tional group bound to the asymmetric carbon atom, with aro-matic groups tending to accelerate the process.photochemical reactionsphotolytic degradation can be an important limiting factor inthe stability of pharmaceuticals. In the tramadol online india course of a tramadol online india few hours. Other antimicrobials, as quinolones, areuseful therapeutically, but they are normally considered for second linetreatments.there are few brazilian studies, and none in southern brazil tramadol online legal (stateof rio grande do sul), that have demonstrated rates of resistance toantibiotics, and not knowing this information has complicated thetherapeutic success. Chloroform is by no means tramadol online india unpleasant and can be used from the beginning, but with ether it is positively barbarous to begin anaesthesiawith this substance as it is so unpleasant and takes so long toproduce imconsciousness imless pushed dangerously fast. For ex-ample canadian regulations require tramadol buy europe that every distributor andimporter shall monitor, by means of a continuing program, thestability of the drug in the package tramadol online india in which it is sold.7the eu-ropean union gmps states “after marketing, the stability of themedicinal product should be monitored according to a continu-ous tramadol online india appropriate program that will permit the detection of anystability issue (e., changes in levels of impurities or dissolu-tion profile) associated with the formulation in the marketedpackage.”8these regulations, which apply to both human andveterinary drugs, tramadol online india are updated periodically in light of currentknowledge and technology.compendiathe usp also contains extensive stability and expiration dat-ing information. Effects of bupropion sustained-release on sexual functioning and nocturnal erections in healthy men. There are lots of regulations as no preparation online apothecary check with the fda. Parenteral order tramadol online legally and ophthalmic products mustbe produced in a controlled environment that is designed toensure their sterility. In cevadilla,in addition to veratrine, there are found cevadiuine, tramadol online india sabadine, sabadinine,and sabatrine. Ifthe dose is still smaller, there may be only a stiffness of the neck,general muscular twitching, and convulsions which are only produced by external stimulation. Qt prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) order tramadol 50mg online american express fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (e., severe dizziness, fainting) order tramadol online cheap that require tramadol online india immediate medical attention. Small quantities of atropine have no further actionon the heart than the paralysis of the inhibitory nerve ends. This stimulant action may become so greatas to cause actual inflammation of order cheap tramadol online cod the kidneys or to increasenephritis if already present.the pupils are somewhat dilated tramadol online india during the stages of primarydecrease of sensibility and of excitement. In the first place, the right heartmay be dilated owing to the frequent strain put on it by coughing,and squills remedies this condition by its usual cardiac action.
+These days, prospective customers aren't flipping through the yellow pages of telephone books or wandering down Main Street to window-shop. They're seeking out businesses just like every other modern person: they're using search engines.
+Of course, no matter what you search for, Google and all search engines will produce potentially hundreds of pages that contain the string of words you've entered. To marketing professionals, these search terms are known as "keywords."
+The more expertly you are able to integrate both short and long-tail keywords into the content on a website, the higher the search engine matrix will rank you.
+Wondering which are the best keywords to use? It's simple: using the best keyword research tool websites is often free, easy, and valuable to maximizing the reach of your work. There are many different tools for keyword research, and everyone has their favorites.
+1. SEMRush
+You get what you pay for, which is important to remember if you want a free keyword research tool. SEMRush has a plan for freelancers that costs $99.95 a month. It can be worth it if you focus your marketing work on analyzing your competitors’ keywords and improving the search engine rankings of your clients.
+This is an easy tool that offers keyword research in a number of ways. Search sites for their keywords, understand the difficulty of each phrase or word, and review real-time rankings in a handy list. Use the Keyword Magic Tool to determine how often certain keywords are searched, and then analyze the keywords for the top picks.
+There are plenty of metrics for tracking success and creating measurable objectives. You’re even able to track your search engine optimization on the go—just download the SEMRush app.
+2. LongTailPro
+Not all keywords are created the same. Using long-tail keywords, which are short phrases that are used in search engines, offers less competition and better conversation rates.
+By including and focusing on exactly what your potential customers want, you're effectively personalizing your copy. LongTailPro is a long-tail keyword research tool specifically designed to increase your web traffic in this way.
+This tool, with costs starting at $25 per month for annual billing, offers keyword suggestions from seed words, analyzes the competition, and helps you understand the value of your SEO ranking. For beginners, it also offers tutorial videos and lessons to help you become a digital marketing pro in no time.
+3. Google Keyword Planner
+Google Keyword Planner isn't fancy, but it allows digital marketers to go straight to the source. It's one of the best free keyword research tools because the data comes directly from Google itself. It's part of the Google Ads platform, and you can access it through the "Advanced Campaigns" tab on the main ads page.
+Within this part of the site, you can do more than just search new keywords for the services and products you plan to advertise. Because it is a part of Google Ads, you can receive bid estimates to better determine your budget and reach.
+It's worth using, if only as a complementary system to more advanced tools.
+<div class="tip">Want to dive deeper into this useful tool from Google? Check out our guide on how to use Google's Keyword planner.</div>
+4. SpyFu
+In digital marketing, you rarely have to reinvent the wheel. It's a more strategic use of time to instead analyze your competition and determine what they're doing right.
+For a competitive keyword research tool, consider SpyFu. With the basic plan, which costs $33 a month if you bill annually, you can receive unlimited search results and data exports on all the competition.
+SpyFu allows you to input a domain and track every place your competitors have been on Google, including every keyword they've purchased through Google Ads, and their organic ranking for the last 13 years. It helps you learn from their mistakes as well: you'll see what worked and what didn't. You'll also see their social media presence, which you can use to craft your own competitive strategy.
+5. Ahrefs Keyword Explorer
+Sign up for the seven-day trial for $7 to explore the benefits of Ahrefs Keyword Explorer, a favorite among seasoned marketers. It's a powerful tool, scanning five billion webpages every day to log more than 150 million keywords in the United States. Ahrefs also works well in an additional 150 counties.
+You're able to see the exact keywords of competing domains in nearly real time, making it easy to analyze content and plan a digital strategy. It also provides both short and long-tail keyword suggestions and many other tools, including backlink and website authority checks.
+6. Serpstat
+For the uninitiated, SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. One goal of digital marketing is to rank high on a SERP based on specific keywords. Part of the challenge of this work is the ever-changing matrix used by Google, Bing, and other engines. That's why a comprehensive SEO tool like Serpstat can be so effective.
+The "lite" plan costs $69 a month, granting you 4,000 queries a day, 10,000 results per report, and help with missing keywords. You're able to analyze up to 500 backlinks a day, audit 150,000 pages of websites, and test keywords for effectiveness within text. With the features of this robust tool, you'll have a bird's eye view of how to improve your site's ranking.
+7. KWFinder
+Keywords can be tricky to integrate seamlessly into content, so a keyword research tool that only offers high-difficulty keywords isn't helpful. KWFinder not only helps you find hidden long-tail keywords used by your competition, but it can also provide an accurate ranking of keyword difficulty through an organized, easy-to-share design.
+KWFinder offers a free 10-day trial, and subscriptions start at $29.90 a month. While the basic plan is somewhat limited, this tool stands out for finding keywords in any target language and having filters that help you effectively refine your keyword suggestions.
+8. Keyword Tool.io
+Keyword Tool.io positions itself as a free alternative to Google Keywords, and that's a win for beginning marketers. This straightforward tool is easy to use and can generate more than 750 long-tail keywords every time you search with a seed word. Its method? Google Autocomplete. That's the same way that most of your potential customers find what they're looking for, too.
+There is a paid option, which for $69 a month will produce double the keyword suggestions. But even the free version offers analysis for all the search engines, including Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and the App Store.
+Plus, you're able to link with social media through keyword analysis for Instagram and Twitter.
+9. Answer the Public
+What is the best keyword research tool? Chances are you may have typed in this exact question when searching for this guide. That's exactly the kind of data Answer the Public provides.
+To use it, simply type in a seed word and watch it produce relevant questions in a sharable format. This free tool is an ideal accompaniment to other keyword tools for helping brainstorm blog ideas. It lets you better understand what's going on in the heads of your target audience, which is exactly what any seasoned digital marketer wants.
+<div class="tip">Not all keyword research tools are available for free. If you have a budget, check out these free SEO tools.</div>
+10. Buzzsumo
+If you're looking to integrate influencer marketing into campaigns, Buzzsumo is a great resource. With plans starting at $79 a month billed annually, it can help facilitate content creation as well as search what your target influencers have already shared.
+By using keywords as your metric rather than, say, the number of likes on their posts, you'll get a better idea of an influencer's reach in your specific niche.
+This keyword research tool also monitors the competition, including brand mentions and updates within your industry, making it simple to stay up-to-date with relevant blogs on important events. You'll know what people are going to search before they even start. The dashboard, filled with KPIs, helps you track results and stay dynamic.
+11. Google Trends
+Finally, if budget is an issue, you can always turn to Google Trends, a free resource from Google that makes it easy to analyze search data.
+Using Google Trends, you can:
+- find out about interest in a particular topic over time
+- identify new trending topics and stories as well as related queries
+- discover where certain topics are most searched
+While Google Trends' search data doesn't get as granular as paid tools—for instance, it doesn't provide a specific number for a topic's search volume—it offers rich insight about popular search queries and emerging topics. And since its data comes from Google itself, Google Trends offers even more up-to-date clues for keyword research.
+The Bottom Line
+Search engine optimization through keywords is a mix of science and art. The science is unraveling the dynamic nature of organic ranking, as Google and the other big search tools change their methodologies.
+The art is getting inside the heads of your target audience to understand what languages they are using to find the products, services, and brands you wish to share.
+Anyone who relies on their own point of view, use of language, or personal habits to determine people’s behavior is missing out on a wide swath of potential customers. This is why tools are so vital to digital marketing. Still, no one tool is going to be accurate every time, and tools that are excellent one year may be useless the next.
+Even for beginners, it's best to utilize more than one tool when creating a content strategy. Don't be afraid to explore the different features and user interface platforms for these different keyword research tools, especially ones that offer an inexpensive trial period or free options. It's likely that you'll find benefits from a few.
+When you have what you need, you can create an individualized toolbox that helps you or your clients get the reach they seek.
+This article was written by Compose.ly writer Suzanne Wentley.
+URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+Owens P.N.,University of Northern British Columbia |
+Blake W.H.,University of Plymouth |
+Giles T.R.,British Columbia Ministry of forests |
+Williams N.D.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+Journal of Soils and Sediments | Year: 2012
+Purpose: Wildfires represent one of the major natural disturbances within forested landscapes and have potential implications for the quality and function of downstream aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to determine if a wildfire in a mountainous, forested watershed in British Columbia, Canada, caused a change in the dominant sediment source in the immediate 1-2 years following the wildfire, and if the sediment sources changed over the medium term (3-7 years) as the landscape recovered. Materials and methods: Source materials (surface soil, subsurface soil and channel bank material) and fluvial (suspended and channel bed) sediment samples were collected over the period 2004 to 2010 from a watershed burnt by a wildfire in 2003, and from an adjacent watershed that was not impacted by the fire. Samples were analysed for the fallout radionuclides (FRNs) caesium-137 (137Cs) and unsupported lead-210 (210Pbun). An unmixing model was used to calculate the relative source contributions of the fluvial sediment samples. Results and discussion: 137Cs and 210Pbun were concentrated in the upper layers of surface soils in both watersheds and were statistically different to concentrations in subsurface and channel bank material. In the burnt watershed, FRN concentrations were greatest in the ash layer. Sediment sources as determined by the unmixing model were 100 % subsurface/channel bank material in the unburnt watershed, while in the burnt watershed 8.5 ± 2.5 % was derived from surface soils. In both watersheds, there were no major changes in the relative contributions from surface soil and from subsurface/channel bank material over the period 2004 to 2010. Thus, while the wildfire did cause a change in sediment sources, it was fairly subtle and did not conform to the effects following wildfire described for other studies in contrasting environments, which typically document a major increase in hillslope contributions relative to channel bank sources. Conclusions: There was a limited response in terms of fine-grained sediment sources (and also sediment fluxes) in the burnt watershed. The reason for this muted response to a severe wildfire is likely to be the lack of precipitation, especially winter precipitation and the associated snowmelt, in the first year following the wildfire. Thus while the landscape was primed for erosion and sediment transport, the lack of a driving force meant that there was a limited immediate post-fire sediment response. © 2012 The Author(s).
+Young M.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd. |
+Hayman-Joyce J.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd. |
+Kim S.H.,Hyundai Engineering
+Proceedings of the Coastal Engineering Conference | Year: 2012" single layer concrete armour units were selected for the primary armour protection. During construction, supply of relatively small quantities of 8-12t rock for use in the toe reinforcement became an issue, and use of CORE-LOC".
+Dehdezi P.K.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering | Year: 2014
+This paper considers the effect of the thermophysical properties of concrete on temperature distributions and stresses developed in concrete pavements. The temperature distributions in concrete pavements, composed of different thermophysical properties, were calculated using a finite-difference model. These temperatures were then fed into a finite-element model as thermal loads in order to calculate tensile stresses in the concrete. It was found that the thermophysical properties of concrete can significantly influence the magnitude of tensile stresses and, subsequently, the thickness of the concrete slab. Concrete with higher thermal conductivity and diffusivity (e.g., incorporating high conductive aggregates and/or metallic fibers) will experience much more uniform temperature and, as a result, a smaller tensile stress will be developed in the concrete. Increasing the thermal conductivity of concrete from 1.2 W=mK (concrete containing limestone aggregates) to 3.6 W=mK (concrete containing quartzite aggregates and 1% metallic fibers) could result in a 25% reduction of the concrete slab thickness. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
+Finnie S.B.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+7th International Conference on Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Pavements and Technological Control, MAIREPAV 2012 | Year: 2012
+Road authorities are currently faced with the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint in response to Climate Change at a time when many also have to cope with reduced capital and maintenance budgets due to the economic climate. When considering alternative maintenance options, those strategies with the lowest capital or whole life cost are not always those with the lowest carbon footprint. This gives the road authorities a dilemma when it comes to selecting the optimum maintenance option to meet their business objectives. Understanding the relative cost and carbon impact of alternative design options is, therefore, critical to managing these competing demands. URS has developed an application (app), branded WLCO2T, which measures the whole life cost and whole life carbon footprint of alternative maintenance strategies for pavement assets over a 60-year analysis period. WLCO2T includes a database of maintenance activities for flexible, composite and rigid pavements that contains cost data and greenhouse gas emissions factors. The User builds a maintenance strategy by allocating maintenance activities to a specific year. WLCO2T then calculates the: capital cost, operational cost, whole life cost, capital carbon footprint, operational carbon footprint and whole life carbon footprint. The outputs of the app provides road authorities with high-level decision making information which is intended to be used at preliminary design stage to select the preferred option or several options for further design development. The app can also be used to determine the optimum year in which to carry out the maintenance.
+Roach I.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal | Year: 2013
+This research examined public understanding of the environmental effects of a proposed energy-from-waste facility from the perspective of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practitioner. Disparities were identified between the public perceptions examined and the results of the EIA, notably on air quality and health effects from chimney emissions; the facility's noise characteristics; traffic volumes and associated air quality, noise and amenity effects; daylight, sunlight and overshadowing effects; and cumulative effects. Lessons for EIA practitioners are drawn that enable better appreciation of specific areas of public concern. Ways in which communications might be improved in future EIAs to aid public understanding are also identified. © 2013 Copyright IAIA.
+Grenfell J.,University of Nottingham |
+Ahmad N.,University of Nottingham |
+Airey G.,University of Nottingham |
+Collop A.,University of Nottingham |
+Elliott R.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+International Journal of Pavement Engineering | Year: 2012
+The saturation ageing tensile stiffness (SATS) procedure is the first laboratory asphalt mixture durability protocol to combine moisture damage and oxidative ageing during the conditioning of asphalt mixtures prior to mechanical testing. However, the application of the SATS procedure has tended to be predominantly targeted at base materials with relatively hard binders and overall high stiffness modulus requirements and is considered potentially too severe for more standard asphalt mixtures. This research study focused on understanding the effect of changes to the SATS conditioning parameters on the relative moisture damage assessment performance of asphalt mixtures, particularly softer binder, high binder content and, finally, low air void content mixtures. Using four different aggregate types, together with hard 10/20 pen and softer 40/60 pen bitumen, the parameters of pressure, temperature and duration were altered, either one at a time or in combination, to arrive at a suitable combination for testing more commonly used 40/60 pen material. The optimum combination of parameters to allow the SATS procedure to be used for a wide range of typically used asphalt mixtures was found to be 0.5MPa pressure, 85°C temperature and 24h duration. The revised SATS durability conditioning protocol was still able to successfully discriminate between poor moisture susceptible aggregate and good material. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
+Glennon D.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd. |
+Brown A.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd.
+Structural Engineer | Year: 2013
+In 2012, URS with lead designer HLN Architects was appointed to develop a new housing block and education building at Her Majesty's Young Of ender Institution (HMYOI) Cookham Wood in Rochester, Kent. The project comprised the construction of a new L-shaped, three-storey housing block to accommodate 179 young people, including the provision of full disabledaccess cells with suitable bathrooms, and a new education building with associated ancillary works. The scope of the project also included new security fencing around exercise yards, access roads and new cross-site services required to supply the additional facilities (Figure 1). Working with HLN Architects, the project was planned so that construction work could be carried out without major impact on the establishment and its normal operating routines, with access available from adjoining roads. The Cookham Wood project was the first of four Ministry of Justice (MoJ) projects in its Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) 'Early Adopter Programme', part of MoJ's strategy for meeting the Government's plan to roll out BIM Level 2 across all public sector projects by 2016. This article describes URS' experience, from high-level thinking about BIM on this pilot scheme, to the realities of delivering full BIM models in a tight (six week) programme.
+Skinner C.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd |
+Shields P.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd |
+Billin H.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd
+42nd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2013, INTER-NOISE 2013: Noise Control for Quality of Life | Year: 2013
+This paper presents a discussion of best practice for undertaking large scale baseline sound surveys, based on the experience of the URS Acoustics and Vibration Team over many projects. A set of processes have been developed to ensure consistency in data collection and processing, and provide robust data on the existing acoustic climate that is fit for purpose for use as baseline for Environmental Statements or to provide information on long- Term variations in sound levels. Approaches include the use of GIS systems to store, manage and visualise measurement locations, standardised measurement procedures with standard forms to ensure that methods are complied with and all necessary data are recorded. For long- Term measurements sites, multiple visits are recommended to allow detailed notes of the soundscape to be taken at different times of day. Geo-referenced photographs should be taken of all monitoring sites and their surroundings. The use of audio recordings to allow for future subjective and/or quantitative analysis of the sound climate is also discussed. Suggested methods are included for the optimum utilisation of the measured data from long- Term and short term monitoring satellite locations, together with the processing of these results. Copyright © (2013) by Austrian Noise Abatement Association (OAL).
+Briggs G.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd. |
+Cooper G.A.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd. |
+Bell D.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd.
+Maintaining the Safety of Our Dams and Reservoirs - Proceedings of the 18th Biennial Conference of the British Dam Society | Year: 2014
+The Woodburn Reservoir system in the hills above Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, comprises seven impounding reservoirs in two cascades. These water supply reservoirs are managed by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) and they supply a wide area of North Belfast and South Antrim. The structures date from 1868 and include designs by both Macassey and Bateman.The most recent Section 10 Inspection Reports recommended investigations into the operation and condition of the reservoir scour pipework and highlighted concerns regarding the access arrangements within the associated towers.This paper outlines the findings of the resulting investigation works and the subsequent refurbishment works at the first two sites with particular reference to the lessons learned in the refurbishment of historic structures and pipework. It will also comment on the programming challenges associated with temporarily removing reservoirs from service and the environmental issues associated with emptying reservoirs to provide safe access for repairs.
+Szymanek E.,Czestochowa University of Technology |
+Blaszczyk T.,Czestochowa University of Technology |
+Hall M.R.,University of Nottingham |
+Dehdezi P.K.,URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd |
+Leszczynski J.S.,Czestochowa University of Technology
+Granular Matter | Year: 2014
+This article demonstrates the solution to the problem of the passage of air through the external wall barrier and the influence of the materials type and its layer arrangement on heat conductivity, in respect of building heat losses. It shows how the temperature changes inside the wall barriers and in a room while the external temperature changes. Also, this article presents the mathematical model based on fractional differential equation describing the analysed phenomenon. © The Author(s) 2014.
+You must be signed in to read the rest of this article.
+Registration on AEGIS Dental Network is free. Sign up today!
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+Esthetic Crown Lengthening: An Alternate Technique for Surgical Communication
+Greggory A. Kinzer, DDS, MSD
+Esthetically driven treatment planning relies heavily on the position of the teeth and the position and architecture of the soft tissue.1-4 Often, an interdisciplinary treatment approach is needed to address the different treatment parameters and provide the most esthetic outcome. Many different treatment options for altering gingival levels have been documented in the literature.5-11 Regardless of the treatment modality selected, the correct diagnosis is paramount to the overall success of the treatment. One of the most frequently used treatment options for altering gingival levels is clinical crown lengthening. Unless the clinician restoring the teeth is also providing the surgical treatment, communication between the restorative dentist and the surgeon is imperative with regard to defining the desired tooth position and corresponding free gingival margin locations. This is ultimately accomplished as part of the treatment planning process by taking into consideration things such as the maxillary incisal edge position, tooth proportion, probing depths, and biologic width. Communicating the specific tooth position and free gingival margin location to the surgeon can be done in several ways. A diagnostic model with the appropriate diagnostic lines that define the location of the desired free gingival margin can be sent to the surgeon for reference. Using the measurements from the reference model and transferring them to the mouth during surgery is an effective form of communication. Another method of transferring the desired gingival alteration is to fabricate and use a surgical overlay guide.12 The surgical overlay guide provides the surgeon with all of the necessary information on tooth position and effectively communicates the intended surgical and restorative outcome to the patient before the surgical procedure. One of the challenges with either of these two techniques is maintaining a high level of esthetics throughout the course of treatment. While the desired tissue levels can be adequately communicated, the patient generally must wait a significant amount of time after the surgery for tissue healing and maturation before initiating provisional restorative therapy. It is during this time that the recession created by the excisional gingivectomy and osseous surgery can lack an esthetically pleasing appearance.
+For patients with a high smile, two treatment options exist for maintaining esthetics throughout the entire treatment. One option is to use one of the aforementioned techniques to transfer information to the surgeon and "phase" the surgery. The first phase is to complete the osseous surgery component, thereby placing the bone in the correct position with regard to the future intended free gingival margin. However, rather than simultaneously moving the gingival tissues, the flap is coronally re-positioned to its original location. Then after the appropriate healing time, a gingivectomy can be completed to re-position the gingival tissue without violating the biologic width. At this same appointment, subsequent to the repositioning of the gingival tissue, the teeth can be prepared and provisionalized.
+The purpose of this article is to discuss an alternate technique for transferring information on the definitive tooth placement and free gingival margin location to the surgeon that ensures that the highest level of esthetics will be maintained throughout the entire course of treatment. The proposed technique involves the restorative dentist repositioning the gingival margins to the desired level via a gingivectomy irrespective of the biologic width.5 Immediately after the gingivectomy, the teeth are prepared to the level of the new gingival margin and provisional restorations are placed. Once the tissue has healed, the next step in the treatment process is bone-level repositioning by the surgeon. At this time a flap is reflected to allow for the re-contouring of the osseous crest using the gingival margins of the provisional restoration as a reference. The required re-positioning of the bone relative to the provisional margin re-creates adequate space for the re-establishment of the biologic width. Upon healing and maturation of the tissues after the ostectomy, the preparations can be modified, final impressions can be taken, and the definitive restorations can be seated.
+One issue that needs to be addressed is the effect of temporarily violating the biologic width. The gingivectomy procedure used in this technique typically will remove the gingival crevice, junctional epithelium, and part or all of the connective tissue attachment. Wound healing begins with epithelial proliferation and the establishment of a junctional epithelium, followed by connective tissue proliferation and the development or repair of a supracrestal fiber attachment. Studies that have examined periodontal wound healing have shown that these events occur within a 2- to 4-week period.13,14 The placement of restorations within this zone of periodontal attachment will impede the formation of dento-gingival fiber formation. This impediment will elicit an inflammatory reaction as the process of wound repair progresses. However, in this situation, violation of the biologic width is temporarily tolerated without undue gingival inflammation as the periodontal complex initially reorganizes. To avoid the development of gingival marginal erythema, it is important to sequence the treatment so that osseous resective periodontal surgery will follow ~2 to 4 weeks after the first restorative phase.
+How long after the resective osseous surgery must one wait before initiating the final restorative procedures? Although periodontal flap wound healing may be complete at 4 to 6 weeks, soft tissue margin stability may not be achieved within this time frame. Studies evaluating gingival margin position after clinical crown lengthening procedures have shown both the development of recession and marginal "rebound."15,16 Factors that have an affect on the gingival margin position and stability are the periodontal biotype, amount of ostectomy, and flap adaptation. Although postsurgical suturing of the mucoperiosteal flap above the osseous crest will allow for a more rapid development of the dentogingival complex, it is prudent to wait longer before final restorations are placed. Generally, a 3-month healing period is allowed after the resective osseous surgery before initiating the final restorative procedures.
+This esthetic crown-lengthening technique affords many benefits. First, it places the control of positioning the gingival margins in the hands of the restorative dentist, while still allowing for any fine-tuning of the tissue levels by the surgeon at a later date. One caveat exists when applying this technique; an ample amount of gingival tissue must initially be present, such that 2 mm to 3 mm of keratinized tissue remains after the gingivectomy. Second, the overall esthetics of the teeth and smile are improved from the very first appointment. The patient does not have unesthetic root exposed at any time during the restorative treatment. Lastly, it is one of the most ideal ways to provide information to the surgeon. Not only has the gingival architecture previously been created, but the reference points for repositioning the osseous crest are present as well.
+CASE STUDY
+A 35-year-old woman was referred for comprehensive evaluation and treatment by her endodontist (Figure 1A and Figure 1B). Her dental history included a reconstruction of the upper arch with full-coverage splinted metal-ceramic restorations. The restorations were completed in Russia and ranged from 5 to 10 years old. Clinical evaluation revealed that all of the maxillary restorations from teeth Nos. 3 through 9 were failing as a result of significant marginal openings with subsequent microleakage and caries. In addition, numerous teeth on the maxillary arch had failing root canals that would require endodontic re-treatment. One of the patient's treatment goals was to improve the overall health and esthetics of her dentition. An examination was completed and the appropriate diagnostic information was gathered, including periodontal and occlusal evaluations. Study models were obtained and mounted with a facebow and centric relation bite records.
+TREATMENT PLANNING
+The treatment planning process was initiated by evaluating the current tooth position of the maxillary incisal and occlusal planes. One of the treatment objectives was to have a level occlusal plane at the completion of treatment. Because of the absence of teeth Nos. 30 and 31 and the severe occlusal wear on teeth Nos. 28 and 29, the current occlusal plane was hanging down on the upper right (Figure 2). To level the maxillary posterior occlusal plane, the right posterior crowns would need to be raised to match the position of the left posterior crowns. Raising the occlusal plane of the right side would have the added benefit of allowing enough interocclusal distance to restore the lower right posterior with two single-tooth implants in the Nos. 30 and 31 sites. Evaluation of the maxillary incisor display with the lips in repose revealed ~1.5 mm of central incisor display (Figure 3). Given what is known from the literature regarding tooth display at rest and the fact that the current flatness of the maxillary incisal edges on teeth Nos. 7 through 9 gave the patient a more "aged" appearance, it was decided that the incisal edges of teeth Nos. 8 and 9 would be lengthened.17
+Once the position of the maxillary occlusal plane had been decided, the next area to be evaluated was the position of the free gingival margins. To evaluate the position of the soft tissues, the teeth were evaluated with regard to tooth proportion and symmetry. In the maxillary anterior, good tooth proportion was present on teeth Nos. 10 and 11; these teeth were used as a guide to help determine the desired gingival margin locations of the remaining anterior teeth. The goal was to achieve the classic "high-low-high" gingival margin symmetry of the canine, lateral, and central incisor. In the posterior, excessive gingival display was present on the upper right during a full smile as a result of a combination of lip asymmetry and the over-eruption of the upper right posterior teeth. The desired free gingival margin location in the posterior was relatively easy to determine given that the desired occlusal plane location had been determined and the corresponding tooth sizes from the upper left were present.
+Once the position of the incisal/occlusal plane and free gingival margin locations were determined, the next question addressed was deciding the type of treatment to be used (Figure 4). The two treatment options that were discussed with the patient were orthodontics or osseous surgery. Given the root length, root taper, and the patient's desires, osseous surgery followed by restorative dentistry was chosen to establish the correct occlusal plane and free gingival margin locations.
+TREATMENT
+Before initiating any clinical treatment, a diagnostic wax-up was prepared. Given that the new free gingival margin location would be created at the time of initial tooth preparation and the placement of provisionals, the anticipated gingival surgery would need to be completed on the models before the diagnostic wax-up. A red pencil was first used to draw the desired free gingival margin locations on teeth Nos. 3 through 9 (Figure 5A ). This was done on two separate models, one to be used as a "go-by" when the excisional gingivectomies were performed clinically and one to be used for the diagnostic wax-up. A cleoid-discoid was used to remove the desired stone up to the red pencil line before completing the wax-up (Figure 5B ). Upon completion, the diagnostic wax-up was duplicated and a provisional "shell" was fabricated (Protemp™ 3 Garant™, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN).18
+Clinically, the first step in the process following local anesthesia was to perform the excisional gingivectomies. Performing the gingivectomies before removing the existing restorations is recommended. This is done so that the restorations can be used as a part of the reference process. Using calipers, the diagnostic model with the red line that had not been waxed was used to transfer the desired location of the new free gingival margins to the mouth. Electrosurgery was used to perform the gingivectomies (Figure 6A ). Once the new free gingival margin location was created, the existing restorations were removed (Figure 6B ). Caries control was performed and the teeth were prepared up to the level of the newly created free gingival margin. Upon completion of the initial preparations the provisional shell was tried-in and relined. Once set, the provisional restoration was removed from the mouth, finished, and polished. The provisional was sectioned into three segments and tried back in the mouth to verify marginal fit, occlusion, and esthetics. After the appropriate changes it was cemented with temporary cement (Fynal®, Dentsply Caulk, Milford, DE) (Figure 7 ). A provisional check performed at 2 weeks (before re-establishing the proper biologic width with osseous surgery) revealed good gingival symmetry and the appearance of a healthy periodontal complex (Figure 8 ).
+The patient was seen for osseous surgery ~16 days after the initial placement of the provisionals. To perform the required osseous surgery, a full-thickness flap is reflected while leaving the papillae (Figure 9A Figure 4). The patient's own biologic width was determined by "sounding" and "probing" adjacent teeth that did not have a gingivectomy performed. Using this information, osseous surgery was performed to re-establish the necessary room for the patient's biologic width (Figure 9B ). In the maxillary anterior (teeth Nos. 6 through 9), only facial bone was removed. In the maxillary posterior (teeth Nos. 3 through 5), the papillae were reflected and bone was removed circumferentially to allow for an increase in the preparation height needed for resistance and retention form. In addition to the osseous surgery performed in the maxillary arch, implants were placed in the Nos. 30 and 31 sites as well as crown lengthening on teeth Nos. 28 and 29.
+During the 3 months allowed for implant integration, tissue healing, and maturation, the teeth that required endodontic re-treatment were addressed and subsequent foundation restorations were placed. Because of the lack of an opposing tooth, tooth No. 2 was left unrestored and only received plasty of the occlusal surface. The position of tooth No. 2 was to be maintained with the use of a full-coverage maxillary occlusal splint to be worn at night. The final impressions were taken and full-coverage metal-ceramic crowns were fabricated following the length, contour, and arrangement set forth by the provisional restorations. The definitive restorations were tried in and the fit, occlusion, and esthetics were evaluated and adjusted as necessary. The restorations were cemented with a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RelyX™ Luting Cement, 3M ESPE). The final result reveals a level occlusal plane with beautiful tissue symmetry and tooth proportion (Figure 10A and Figure 10B).
+CONCLUSION
+Predictable esthetic crown lengthening often requires an interdisciplinary treatment approach to address the different treatment parameters and provide the most esthetic outcome. Therefore, communication between the restorative dentist and the surgeon is essential. This article discussed an alternate treatment technique that is indicated for cases requiring crown lengthening in the esthetic zone. The proposed technique not only transfers the information on the definitive tooth position and free gingival margin location to the surgeon, but also affords the highest level of esthetics throughout the course of treatment.
+References1.. Lee EA. Aesthetic Crown Lengthening: Classification, biologic rationale and treatment planning considerations. Pract Proced Aesthet Dent. 2004;16(10):769-778.
+6. Proffit WR. The soft tissue paradigm in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning: a new view for a new century. J Esthet Dent. 2000;12(1): 46-49.
+7. Becker W, Ochsenbein C, Becker B. Crown lengthening: the periodontal-restorative connection. Compend Cont Educ Dent. 1998;19(3):239-254.
+8. Allen EP. Surgical crown lengthening for function and esthetics. Dent Clin North Am.1993;37(2):163-179.
+9. Kay HB. Esthetic considerations in the definitive periodontal prosthetic management of the maxillary anterior segment. Int J Periodont Rest Dent. 1982;2(3):44-59.
+10. Rosenberg ES, Garber DA, Evain CI. Tooth lengthening procedures. Compendium. 1980;1(3):161-173.
+11. Lowe RA. Clinical use of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser for osseous crown lengthening: redefining the standard of care. Pract Proced Aesthet Dent. 2006;18(4): S2-S9.
+12. Spear FM. Construction and use of a surgical guide for anterior periodontal surgery. Contemporary Esthetics and Restorative Practice. 1999;4: 12-24.
+13. Caffesse RG, Ramfjord SP, Nasjleti CE. Reverse bevel periodontal flaps in monkeys. J Periodontol. 1968;39(4): 219-235.
+14. Engler WO, Ramfjord SP, Hiniker JJ. Healing following simple gingivectomy. A tritiated thymidine radioautographic study. I. Epithelialization. J Periodontol. 1966;37(4):298-308.
+15. Brägger U, Lauchenauer D, Lang NP. Surgical lengthening of the clinical crown. J Clin Periodontol. 1992;19(1): 58-63.
+16. Pontoriero R, Carnevale G. Surgical crown lengthening: a 12-month clinical wound healing study. J Periodontol. 2001;72(7):841-848.
+17. Vig R, Brundo G. The kinetics of anterior tooth display. J Prosthet Dent. 1978;39:502-504.
+18. Kinzer GA. The "eggshell" provisional technique. Advanced Esthetics and Interdisciplinary Dentistry. 2007;3(2): 26-31.
+This article was reprinted from Advanced Esthetics and Interdisciplinary Dentistry. 2008;4(1):24-32.
+Rijeka Airport is hoping to benefit from Croatia Airlines' network expansion with the launch of year-long flights to Germany. The head of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county, Zlatko Komadina, says the airport is in talks with the Croatian carrier over a three weekly service to Munich. "We are considering joining forces with Croatia Airlines and for Rijeka to get scheduled year-long flights to Munich, which would operate three times per week. At least that way, Rijeka would be linked with a major European hub throughout the year and passengers would have onward connections to the rest of the world", Mr Komadina said. Rijeka Airport has no scheduled flights during the winter with exception to the recently launched four weekly service to Ancona and Rab, operated by the sea-plane specialist European Coastal Airlines.
+Croatia Airlines introduced seasonal three weekly services from Rijeka to Munich last summer, operated by the Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. Furthermore, it maintains summer flights from the port city to London Heathrow Airport once per week. Rijeka Airport handled 133.564 passengers in 2015, an increase of 31% compared to the year before. Local authorities expect for figures to grow some 10% in 2016. The Croatian government has approved plans to subsidise low yielding domestic routes between March 27, 2016 and March 28, 2020. Among them are the Osijek - Rijeka - Osijek and Rijeka - Split - Dubrovnik - Split - Rijeka service. Croatia's Trade Air will make use of the subsidies and will introduce two weekly flights from both Osijek and Split to Rijeka. The airline will publish its official summer schedule next month.
+Croatia Airlines will boost operations this winter with the arrival of a regional aircraft, which is expected to enter service in the coming months. As a result, along with the Rijeka - Munich route, the carrier plans to resume flights between Dubrovnik and Frankfurt next winter season following a three year hiatus. "Talks are currently being held between all interested parties regarding the resumption of flights between Dubrovnik and Frankfurt. We have reached an agreement in principle for the introduction of nonstop services between the two cities during the 2016/17 winter season. Negotiations regarding other conditions, such as frequencies, are ongoing". the airline said recently. This summer, Croatia Airlines will introduce seasonal flights from Pula to Zurich and Dubrovnik, from Dubrovnik to Tel Aviv and year-long services from Zagreb to Milan, with additional new routes planned from the Croatian capital.
+Good they are not focusing only on Zagreb.
+Absolutely agree with you! This is why I consider Croatia Airlines ¨national carrier¨ unlinke some airline in the region.
+Agree...
+The only national carriers in EX-YU are Croatia Airlines and Montenegro Airlines.
+Croatia routes
+from Pula:
+Zadar, Zagreb, Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Frankfurt, Zürich
+from Rijeka:
+London, Munich
+from Zadar:
+Pula, Zagreb, Frankfurt
+from Split:
+Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, Zagreb, Athens, Belgrade, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Erfurt/Weimar, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, Lyon, Osijek, Paris, Skopje, Vienna, Zürich, Cagliari, Erfurt, Harstad/Narvik, Kristiansund, Luleå, Örnsköldsvik, Östersund, Skellefteå, Sundsvall
+from Brač:
+Zagreb, Graz
+from Dubrovnik:
+Rome, Zagreb, Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Nice, Split, Osijek, Pula, Tel Aviv, Venice, Vienna, Zürich, Cork, Dublin,Harstad/Narvik, Knock, Shannon, Skellefteå
+from Osijek:
+Split, Dubrovnik
+Osijek, Rijeka, Pula and Zadar are as near to Zagreb as Niš is to Belgrade!
+And Wizz Air too. Although they paint Serbian and Macedonian flag on their A320 tails totally wrong!
++1
+OU despite belonging in a EU country and can not receive subsidies every year manages to serve all of Croatia.
+It truly helps all regions of their country and not just the capital.
+I would prefer if JU instead of concentrating everything in Belgrade to use some of these subsidies that it receives in order to develop the north and the south of Serbia as well.
+Huh? Help develop northern Serbia? How so? By operating from the grass runways in Novi Sad and Zrenjanin?
+You have to understand that OU and JU have a different business model and because of that they can't be compared.
+Not only entirely different business models, but Serbia and Croatia are entirely different in geography, economy, population distribution, wealth, etc.
+True, true... and that could be excuse for Adriatic airports but what about Osijek:
+PSO routes subvent from Republic of Croatia:
+- ZAG (Trade air)
+- PUY (Trade air)
+- RJK (Trade air)
+- SPU (Croatia and Trade air)
+- DBV (Croatia and Trade air)
+all together 12 flights, 10 out of this all year
+Subvent by Croatian tourist board and local government:
+- STN (Ryanair)
+Ok and most of those make sense because from Osijek to to Pula, Split, Dubrovnik takes 5,6,7 hours by car.
+Serbia doesn't need domestic airline traffic because surface transport fills the need better given Serbia's geography and wealth.
+The only real question is Niś, which I think would best be served by an LCC based there. The current scheme or €3 per departing pax is more than fair. Instead of giving money for subsidies, any money should be used to invest in the infrastructure of INI. Hopefully a third Wizz route from Niš will be launched this summer.
+Domestic traffic would be okay only if we had something like Subotica airport, so that we have Nis-Subotica flights. We are more like Hungary type of the country. Our two most cities are at 80km proximity.
+two most important cities *
+Osijek-Zagreb 268 km by brand new highway (less than 2 hours).
+Still 6 times per week all year PSO route.
+Yeah but isn't OSI-ZAG there so as to allow connections onto OU's network?
+Of course, like INI-BEG should be, financed by PSO. Especially that Serbian subventions for air traffic is 22.000.000,00+ EUR.
+I think neither OSI nor INI should base their business model on relying on government subsidies. Both airports should do all they can to make sure both Ryanair and Wizz Air expand there.
+Look at the numbers at INI since W6 started flying there. That's the kind of business they need. Do you think that if JU launched INI-VIE/ZRH that fares would be below €180? Doubt it, especially for ZRH. On top of rather high fares the number of passengers would have been much more modest than what it is today.
+Of course they should not base their business model on that, but Country should have this as obligation. Part of those 22 millions should go to other part of Serbia not just to Belgrade as other part of Serbia participate in budget too.
+But we all remember how things ended up the last time money was given to airlines to operate out of INI. Lowering fees and charges and then attracting Wizz Air was the best thing that happened to the airport. They should keep on doing this and I am sure W6 will keep on adding more flights and destinations.
+That is why Republic of Serbia should not give 22 millions for company but should make precise contract like:
+- INI-BEG flights with ATR 72 at least 2 flights per day
+- BNX-BEG flights with ATR 72 at least 12 flights per week
+- minimum of two routes with at least ATR 72 from BNX to VIE, MUC, FRA, SVO, ZRH and CDG at least 10 flights per week for combination of 2 routes or 12 flights per week for combination of 3 routes where one route must be at least 6 flights per week.
+- the same deal from Morava airport with at least one route with 5 flights per week with ATR 72
+Samo gde ce da navata tolike putnike iz BNX?
+Svakog dana ima sigurno oko 30 autobusa koji saobracaju izmedju Beograda i Banja Luke. Trziste je tu, samo je potrebno malo marketinga da se otmu autobusima.
+Mali Marko L.
++1000
+Purger - i understand that English is not your native tongue, so let me please help help you out ... the word "subvent" does not exist. The word you are looking for is "subsidy", or "subsidise" or "subsidies"...
+Hope it puts you and others who post comments here, on the right road ....
+This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
+Dear Anonymous 6:30
+Please open a dictionary BEFORE making such statements.
+Here you go:
+Coment signed as Purger at 6:45 is not mine!
+subvent
+Also found in: Thesaurus, Wikipedia.
+sub·vent (səb-vĕnt′)
+tr.v. sub·vent·ed, sub·vent·ing, sub·vents
+To provide or support with a subvention.
+Judging by his English it's the same creep who used my nick to troll around. So admin, can you please delete the comment he wrote once again below about FR having big plans for Chania. Thanks and sorry for this.
+Ovo je upravu bilo mnogo lepse da se svi potpisu rasprave bi bile normalnije a ne ovako svako uzimam tudji nadimak i mlati.
+INN-Ns
+Thanks admin!
+I think that Rijeka can mantain at least 2 weekly flights to Belgrade, filled with only p2p pax. Furthermore Munich flights should be done as SPU-RJK-MUC-RJK-SPU because there is a strong demand on that domestic route and this combination during the winter promises excellent loads on both sectors. Other markets can be covered with LCC.
+1. To travel from SPU to MUC with 1stop is not very smart idea. It will never work. And why on earth would someone do so if even now on summer season we have more than 7 flights per week on SPU-MUC route.
+2. Croatian government already decide to give PSO for Rijeka-Split route to Tradea air which will fly that route all year twice per week.
+What I said works in winter schedule. If Split maintains 4 weekly flights during the winter schedule, it could maintain 7 if 3 would land at Rijeka. Regarding Rijeka-Split, I don't understand why they put 19-seater on the route which deserves at least Dash. We all have listened to stories about packed Brasilia last year.
+Because PSO obligation was:
+1. At least 19-seater
+2. At least 2 frequencies per week all year.
+I do agree that more frequencies with smaller plane should be goal of Republic of Croatia PSO. Trade air is just going on PSO obligation with smaller cost possible.
+Why to make 1stop to MUC which is so short flight. Also there is option for 3-4 flights per day from SPU to MUC via ZAG what is much better than 3 per week via RJK. Let me remind you that in case of SPU-RJK-MUC passengers have to move out of plane to make passport control so it is the same as to go via ZAG (to change the plane).
+In my opinion this is what small airline route should look like! Well done OU!
+JOŠ JEDAN UDARAC NA EASYJET, WIZZ I EUROWINGS
+Ryanair je otvorio bazu u Hamburgu gdje je bazirao 2 aviona i otvorio 7 linija sa čak 53 tjedna leta. Na 3 linije je direktna kompeticija easyJetu, sa još tri Eurowingsu, a sa linijom za SOF je udario na Wizzair. Hamburg je i jedna od glavnih baza Eurowingsa, tako da ovaj rat postaju sve interesantniji.
+today they announced SOF-ATH daily from October.
+OT
+I just read an article on Aegean's current performance and future plans, here are some points:
+- In October 2015 new aircraft were ordered, the plan is to reach 60 aircraft and to carry 16 million passengers.
+- Goal is to serve 145 destinations, they plan on expanding in another 6 to 7 countries.
+- They plan on competing more fiercely with AF-KL and BA. They are currently the second carrier to London with a 30% share, BA is at 34%.
+- Three weekly flights to IKA are not practical for business travellers, goal is to increase this route to 5 weekly as soon as possible.
+- Aggressive media advertising policy, with discount offers of every type, positively promotes the company's product. Actually, for about a decade now, Aegean has been running phenomenal commercials.
+- In 2016 they expect their turnover to reach 1 billion Euros, profit to be at around €70 million. Their stock value has remain high despite the situation in Greece.
+- Since moving exclusively to LHR, the airline recorded improved numbers. In 2015 the airline carrier 1.2 million passengers on this route with an average LF of 81%.
+- A3 holds a 52% marketshare on domestic flying, Ryanair is at 47%.
+All in all, it's pretty impressive what they are doing down in Athens.
+Here's one. I think this was their most famous one from a few years ago (I think it was 2010).
+It was to promote their newly launched flights to London. At the end of the commercial it writes:
+'Now, thanks to Aegean, there will be even more Greeks in London. From 15 May, 2 daily flights, operated only by the A321.
+Kad se vec prica o A321 mislim da on hvali ASL i da bi trebali da ga nabave za otvaranje novih trzista.
+INN-NS
+Он би и имао смисла лети али не и ван сезоне када је и А320 превелики за већину дестинација. За отварање нових тржишта имају А319.
+Aegean is an airline that is doing great and exceeds all expectations despite all the problems that Greek economy has for years.
+All ex-yu airlines should look at their business model and decisions over the years. Those guys are truly great professionals.
+Imaju ali za IKA , ZRH, CDG , SVO preko cele godine i leti cartere mislim da bi bilo odlicno da nabave A321 posto mogli bi na linijama da spsuste cene .
+INN-NS
+Nemjee You have wrong number about Greek domestic market. Don't know where you have read A3 has 53%...
+Last anonymous, it was mentioned in the article along with the rest of the numbers. I suppose that they got them from the relevant authorities.
+INN-NS, I wouldn't put SVO on the list given that it was seriously downgraded this winter. Same goes goes for CDG which got the A319 this winter season. Until they start increasing their frequencies (both in summer and winter), they won't need anything bigger than an A320.
+Nemjee I think those percentages refer only to the domestic routes that both airlines flew during 2015.
+FR and A3 are both flying from ATH to SKG, CHQ, RHO and this year will start flying to Santorini and Mykonos too.
+In all the other destinations A has pretty much the exclusivity.
+Dimitris from Athens
+Dimitri,
+Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the 53% refers to the entire Greek market because most of the destinations that are exclusively served by Aegean (Olympic) are on a Q400. Furthermore, a great number of these are subsidized by the government so I do wonder if the loads are that great. If I remember correctly the early morning departures out of Athens to the islands are mostly there to carry the newspaper and so on. At least that was the case with Olympic back in the day- they had a bank that departed at around 05.30 in the morning.
+As far as Ryanair goes, they are operating routes where they can make money and where there is enough demand to fill a high density B738. I mean, there is a reason why Aegean/Olympic flies to places like Astypalai and Kalymnos but not Ryanair, Volotea or Ellinair.
+Xairetismata!
+SKP?
+Stats refering to Aegean Vs Ryanair traffic that circulated a month ago were solely on head2head routes from ATH.
+As Im in good mood, here are the nrs:
+1. ATH-SKG
+pax: 1.500.000 / average load: 84,2
+A3: 51,9% share, FR: 47,5%
+EL: 0,6% (recently terminated)
+2. ATH-JTR
+pax: 695.000 / average load: 82,7
+A3: 78% share, FR: 19,1%
+EL: 1,5% , V7: 1,4 (EL,V7 seasonal)
+3. ATH-CHQ
+pax: 623.000 / average load: 84,4
+A3: 51,7% share, FR: 48,3%
+4. ATH-RHO
+pax: 530.000 / average load: 79,8
+A3: 77,5% share, FR: 22,5%
+ATH-JMK
+pax: 283.000 / average load: 74,8
+A3: 98,3% share, EL: 1,7%
+Thanks for providing us with the numbers, they are definitely interesting.
+However, what's more interesting are the increases we will see this summer.
+FR from ATH
+Santorini (JTR) 2 -> 3 daily
+Thessaloniki (SKG) 6 -> 7 daily
+Rhodes (RHO) 1 -> 2 daily
+Corfu (CFU) 2 weekly
+Mykonos (JMK) 5 weekly
+Mykonos will get a lot of love this summer with both Ryanair and Volotea launching flights from Athens. Same goes for Corfu as both Ellinair and Ryanair will be launching flights.
+WOW!! SKG ATH is something like ZAG DBV! We also need Ryan Air here!
+Well, FR is playing safe for now as they focus mostly on summer best sellers. A3 stills has the upper hand with multiple daily flights from ATH to most greek markets and they respond accordingly where necessary. Dont forget that A3 has a competitive advantage via their hub in ATH where they offer very good prices in connecting passengers with full protection.
+For now FR seems mostly to enlarge the pie, due to low prices travellers appear that wouldn't normally fly at all. But in a year or two things will get tougher, A3 needs scale to respond to FR aggressiveness. The Irish currently are "trolling" ATH-SKG with ridiculous prices, A3 is obliged to follow and the losers so far are buses, trains, road constructors via tolls.
+True but at the same time Aegean has Olympic and its Q400 which makes it much easier to fly to the smaller Greek islands, both in terms of demand and airport infrastructure.
+However, with its fifth aircraft in Athens, Ryanair will become a rather serious player and I am sure that eventually they will have to expand into riskier markets. I mean, they are still new at ATH and it kind of make sense that they will concentrate first on the bigger, more lucrative markets.
+One thing that worries me is ATH as it's becoming clear that they need to expand. This summer it used look like a jungle during the rush-hour times, especially the non-Schengen zone.
+With FR launching BRU-LCA, I am still hoping that they will enter the LCA-ATH market.
+One player that has managed to do rather well in Greece is Volotea. Would be fun if they eventually open a base in Athens. :D
+Impessive! I think ATH might have 20+ million pax this year.
++1 they did have over 1 million passengers in January!
+Fresh news from todays FR presentation of ATH 2016 winter schedule (MOL was there ;))
+- 6 a/c in ATH (now 5)
+- new routes daily to OTP, SOF, JMK, 4w BLQ, 3w MLA, 2w DUB
+- CIA & RHO increase to 3 daily
+- 19 routes totally
+- 3,4 million pax (25% increase)
+Overall,
+- FR holds 16% of traffic in Greece, 2nd to A3 and followed by EZY
+- New base in CFU
+- 6,5 million passengers
+Interesting, thanks for sharing it with us.
+I remember during their previous presentation of S16 there was no mention of a sixth aircraft in Athens. Seems like they are upping their game.
+There is going to be a real war in the Balkans now.
+FR could easily start ATH-BEG and ATH-SKP
+I think that Ryanair with only 5 aircraft based in Greece last year covering both domestic an international routes in unlikely to had 47% of the domestic market when it only flies to 3-4 airports.
+A3 announced 5.5 million domestic passengers for the year, FR can not have served 5 million plus domestic plus the international passengers with only 5 aircraft.
+And even in these airports with the exception of CHQ Aegean has higher frequencies AND is using A320s exclusively for the ATH to SKG, RHO routes.
+That is correct. I will to find figures but FR already mentioned today they have 16% of the market, most probably combined domestic & international and of course including seasonal routes except ATH.
+ALso, don't forget that FR still does not touch HER. When they go there, then u know that war has begun.
+FR has 16% of the ATH market. For 2015 that meant 16% of 18 million plus passengers which works to about 2.88 million. With 25% capacity increase for 2016 plus the non ATH originating International routes they will reach the 3,4 million total pacs for the year.
+As someone already wrote they are expanding the market instead of "steeling" passengers from A3.
+At 9.99€ and 12.99€ tickets they are competing with buses, boats and trains.
+FR already flies to Chania so they are kind of present already in Crete.
+CHQ is not HER for those who know. A3 handled 1,5 millon pax in HER, 1/3 of these were from HER base.
+Yes but for FR Chania is an alternative to Heraklion. Same as they think Beauvais is same like Paris.
+HER serves 3x more pax and there's a reason for this. CHQ is perfect for FR indeed but geographical as well road infrustructure reasons make HER more attractive. This is quite obvious from numbers and airlines that serve HER although aware of super tough conditions as HER is saturated, by far worst airport of its kind in Europe, while CHQ have still room.
+Actually, airport infrastructure in Greece is quite bad. Besides Athens, most airports are like giant warehouses, even Thessaloniki is overcrowded and it generally feels claustrophobic. But you are right, Heraklion is absolutely filthy and disgusting. The only great thing about is the scenery if you are landing from the West.
+Well, profits of the public airports system were offered as a collateral to loans that filthy politicians agreed on.
+Hopefully -good case scenario- Fraport will invest asap. SKG should get a new terminal, rest need serious upgrades. New HER airport is anotheer story, if we are lucky we can get a bidder for it by end of 2016 but in best case scenario its gonna be 2019 before it opens...
+I was in HER only once, on a LCA-HER-RHO flight and from what I can remember is that there isn't much space around the airport. I wonder where they would expand? Wouldn't they have to tear down the current building and replace it with a new one? Wasn't there some space to the west of the current terminal?
+I flew 5 times in total from HER during summer, never left on time; it was horrible, airport packed with ontime and delayed flights, usual delay was 1.5 to 2 hrs but I once had 5.
+Airport cant be expanded, its a military installation and surrounded by rocks, sea and blocks of flats. Thats why a new airport is on the way.
+So they are building a whole new airport? Not just a terminal?
+Yep. Just google kasteli airport...
+Evharistw!
+What kind of idiot commends using someone else's name?
++1000
+Bravo Hrvatska!
+Sorry for OT, but I just heard that JET's A330 will come to BEG in a few days, and it will stay there like day or two.
+DELTA / CSA Czech Airlines Adds New Codeshare Routes from Feb 2016
+DELTA this week further expands codeshare coverage in Europe, operated by CSA Czech Airlines. From 15FEB16, DL code appears on following routes. Note certain routes will begin operation in summer 2016 season.
+DELTA operated by CSA Czech Airlines
+Prague – Bratislava
+Prague – Copenhagen
+Prague – Skopje
+Prague – Zagreb
+Source:
+Tako ce i Air Serbia da napravi codeshare sa Amerikancima.
+The Prague – Skopje and Prague – Zagreb DL codeshares are a direct threat to ASL's flights to JFK.
+OS, TK and AZ too.
+Delta already codeshares on Aitalia's FCO-SKP
+OS and TK have size, multiple destinations in the US and Star Alliance on their side.
+JU has none of the above.
+So AZ is already creating a problem for JU in SKP? Not to mention that they have their own flights. AZ should cancel the codeshare with DL for JU, they are same family.
+Anonymous February 16, 2016 at 2:28 PM
+What you say is logical and it is what should have happened but AZ probably cares more about covering better the USA to Italy market than being a good partner of the Etihad alliance.
+It's all about competition. Even if AZ is under the Etihad group, they still have to look for themselves. Who knows what will happen in the next few years? Which airlines will still be in this group? Etihad can get more of a return on their investment than with Air Serbia. Only the strongest players will remain with Etihad in the future. The ones which don't give them a high rate of return, even with a small profit, will be set loose. Pure business.
+OT: Ryanair's 12th destination from SOF will be ATH! That's a hit for A3 and FB! No fares and schedule yet, just appeared on the destination's menu.
+Aegean will be also increasing ATH-SOF from 10 to 12 weekly starting from 25.03.2016.
+I think FB is the weakest link here but they seem to have done an ok job fighting the lowcost invasion.
+SOF and ATH passengers are the big winners here.
+Great increase in traffic between these two cities.
+Could we see FR in BEG from ATH?
+Don't think that the market is that big.
+I could see FR being interested in starting BEG if Sofia turns out to be successful. FR operates now in Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, Athens, Zadar, and so on. Zagreb and Belgrade must be on their list and realistically we will see FR there before we see EK lol.
+FR can not fly ATH-BEG but they can fly ATH-ZAG. I think balkans expansion is not far away, firstly FR will keep bringinging new metal so availability will be high and secondly this should stop a bit Wizz Air...
+Wut? Of course they can fly ATH-BEG, what are you going on about? FR is an EU based airline and Serbia has an Open Skies agreement with them so... they sure as Hell can.
+If FR entered the BEG-ATH market I think JU would be the most hurt by it.
+@ Nemjee,
+Bulgaira Air will be totally scre...
+Greetings from Sofia :)
+Anon. from Sofia,
+But you know what's interesting, Bulgaria Air seems to be doing fine on the LCA-SOF route. They even did well when Cyprus Airways was around and when they had three to four weekly flights. Today they seem to be fighting quite well against Wizz Air. I know that during summer they even send their A319/A320 down there.
+Do you know how they are performing as far as their finances go?
+Hi Nemjee,
+So far there are no official results for 2015, but in December the CEO said that the LF is over 80%. To be honest despite that I don't like the company they are giving a lot of times much better prices than Wizz. For example you can have a round trip with them to Heathrow for 100-120 euro. I don't know how they will compete Ryan on Athens, Madrid and Barcelona routes. Forsure they will have problems. According to the CEO they will get 3 a321's this year in order to have lower cost per seat.
+Thanks for that. Why don't you like them? What kind of service do they have? Do they function like a lowcost or are they a legacy?
+I don't see how getting some A321s will make it easier to compete against the LCCs. Sure, in theory their CASM will drop but you still have to fill all those seats.
+@ Nemjee
+They operate as legacy carrier forsure. But a lot of times they have delays, etc. To be honest their service isn't that bad. Because they are owned by one of the big banks, you can have co-branded credit card which gives you a numerous of advantages, even more than the frequent flyer program. Their big problem is that they are very inert and have no desire to develop. Quite often try to interfere with BH Air in order not to became their competitors. Their managment is from the old school which always leaves some bitter taste in the end.
+I see. Actually, Aegean and Piraeus Bank have the same deal in Cyprus (maybe Greece too). I think each Euro spent equals to one mile.
+It would be nice if they manage to pull through but with both Ryanair and Wizz Air aggressively fighting for each passenger at SOF, it will become increasingly difficult for them to survive. I mean, look at Athens, the market is not THAT big and they will compete against Ryanair's daily flight and Aegean's 12 weekly flights!
+@ Nemjee,
+even they are allowing on nomerous routes to have up to x2 23kg bags as checked luggage. This is a privilage also to the co-branded credit card holders and to the frequent fleyer program.
+@ Nemjee,
+yes, it would be very hard, but believe me the market is really big. There are over 300 000 bulgarians working in Greece. A lot of them used to use busses, but with Ryan's entry a lot of them will prefer to user a plane rather than a bus. The bus tickets are with similar prices to ryan's...
+I see but the real question is how many of these 300.000 are in Athens and how many are on the islands and around Thessaloniki?
+Imagine if there was a way for Ryanair to operate Thessaloniki-Bansko flights. They could fly tripe daily flights throughout the winter. :D
+Bulgarians are everywhere, in the mainland, in the islands, in mountains, in valleys... Where there are jobs you now find Bulgarians. Never knew exact figure but 300K may double during summer...
+@ Nemjee
+totally right! If they had the chance they would do it. Actually unil 1 year ago there were plans for an airport near Bansko which thanks God didn't materialize due to Tsvetan Vasilev's problems with the justice... BTW he had plans to start his own airlines. So, back to the greek market. Yes, a lot of the Bulgarians are in Solun and on the islands, but most of them are around Athens (due to the higher salaries and standard over there). 2016 will be a very interesting year indeed for the aviation in Bulgaria and the Balkans.
+Yes, with all the announcements and developments it will be indeed! Who knows what else Ryanair will announce both in Greece and in Sofia. One route that is missing and that I am sure will come soon is Athens-Tirana.
+@ Nemjee,
+I believe so - probably Tirana will be topping their list due to the enormous amount of albanians in Greece. From Sofia I expect Stockholm, Nurnber, Varna & Glasgow or Edinburgh. Regarding Athens don't forget that until 1 year ago also Air Malta was flying the route MLT-ATH-SOF-ATH-MLT.
+Actually, there is something that will be interesting to see and that's what Ryanair does about Turkey. No doubt that it's a large market from both Greece and Bulgaria but the question is how long will they wait before entering it.
+However, this might prove to be a bit tricky because, at least as far as Greece goes, they wouldn't be creating a new group of passengers, they would be fighting for the already existing ones. Their primary competitors would be Pegasus and Aegean. My guess is that they won't enter Turkey until they have consolidated their position throughout the Balkans.
+The real question is what comes next. Will Ryanair rush into Albania before anyone else does? Will they enter Yugoslavia? How aggressive will they be in both Romania and Bulgaria and how will Wizz Air respond to all this.
+Nadam se da FR nece skoro doci u ex yu sa nekim vecim planovima.
+INN-NS
+@ Nemjee,
+Wizz so far are quite. No real response. Turkey indeed is a very interesting market. If they will go there for sure this will be a quaker market.
+All eyes should be on Wizz Air now to see how they respond. Do keep us informed if they announce something in Sofia!
+@ Nemjee,
+Wizz are adding Kutaisi from Sofia
+"Hellenic and EX-YU Aviation News" comments are very good today.
+I like when we get some wider Balkan avio news perspective thrown into the mix.
+Anon 6:36
++1
+The Apology by Plato I do not know, men of Athens, how my accusers affected you; as for me, I was almost carried away in spite of myself, so persuasively did they speak. And yet, hardly anything of what they said is true. Of the many lies they told, one in particular surprised me, namely that you should be careful not to be deceived by an accomplished speaker like me. That they were not ashamed to be immediately proved wrong by the facts, when I show myself not to be an accomplished speaker at all, that I thought was most shameless on their part—unless indeed they call an accomplished speaker the man who speaks the truth. If they Socrates, Roman mural 1st century mean that, I would agree that I am an orator, but not after their manner, for indeed, as I say, practically nothing they said was true. From me you will hear the whole truth, though not, by Zeus, gentlemen, expressed in embroidered and stylized phrases like theirs, but things spoken at random and expressed in the first words that come to mind, for I put my trust in the justice of what I say, and let none of you expect anything else. It would not be fitting at my age, as it might be for a young man, to toy with words when I appear before you. One thing I do ask and beg of you, gentlemen: if you hear me making my defence in the same kind of language as I am accustomed to use in the market place by the bankers' tables, where many of you have heard me, and elsewhere, do not be surprised or create a disturbance on that account. The position is this: this is my first appearance in a lawcourt, at the age of seventy; I am therefore simply a stranger to the manner of speaking here. Just as if I were really a stranger, you would certainly excuse me if I spoke in that dialect and manner in which I had been brought up, so too my. It is right for me, gentlemen, to defend myself first against the first lying accusations made against me and my first accusers, and then against the later accusations and the later accusers.. Those who spread that rumour, gentlemen, are my dangerous accusers, for their hearers believe that those who study these things do not even believe in the gods. Moreover, these accusers are numerous, and have been at it a long time; also, they spoke to you at an age when you would most readily believe them, some of you being children and adolescents, and they won their case by default, as there was no defence. 17 b c d 18 b c Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—2 What is most absurd in all this is that one cannot even know or mention their names unless one of them is a writer of comedies. Those who maliciously and slanderously persuaded you—who also, when persuaded themselves then persuaded others—all those are most difficult to deal with: one cannot bring one of them into court or refute him; one must simply fight with shadows, as it were, in making one's defence, and cross-examine when no one answers. I want you to realize too that my accusers are of two kinds: those who have accused me recently, and the old ones I mention; and to think that I must first defend myself against the latter, for you have also heard their accusations first, and to a much greater extent than the more recent. Very well then. I must surely defend myself and attempt to uproot from your minds in so short a time the slander that has resided there so long. I wish this may happen, if it is in any way better for you and me, and that my defence may be successful, but I think this is very difficult and I am fully aware of how difficult it is. Even so, let the matter proceed as the god may wish, but I must obey the law and make my defence. Let us then take up the case from its beginning.: Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing in that he busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he makes the worse into the stronger argument, and he teaches these same things to others. You have seen this yourselves in the comedy of Aristophanes, a Socrates swinging about there, saying he was walking on air and talking a lot of other nonsense about things of which I know nothing at all. I do not speak in contempt of such knowledge, if someone is wise in these things—lest Meletus bring more cases against me—but, gentlemen, I have no part in it, and on this point I call upon the majority of you as witnesses. I think it right that. And if you have heard from anyone that I undertake to teach people and charge a fee for it, that is not true either. Yet I think it a fine thing to be able to teach people as Gorgias of Leontini does, and Prodicus of Ceos, and Hippias of Elis.1 Each of these men can go to any city and persuade the young, who can keep company with anyone of their own fellowcitizens they want without paying, to leave the company of these, to join with themselves, pay them a fee, and be grateful to them besides. Indeed, I learned that there is another wise man from Paros who is visiting us, for I met a man who has spent more money on Sophists than everybody else put together, Callias, the son of Hipponicus. So I asked him—he has two sons—"Callias," I said, "if your sons were colts or calves, we could find and engage a supervisor for them who would make them excel in their proper qualities, some horse breeder or farmer. Now since they are men, whom do you have in mind to supervise them? Who is an expert in this kind of excellence, the human and social kind? I think you must have given thought to this since you have sons. Is there such a person," I asked, "or is there not?" "Certainly there is," he said. "Who is he?" I asked, "What is his name, where is he from? and what is his fee?" "His name, Socrates, is Evenus, he comes from Paras, and his fee is five minas." I thought Evenus a happy man, if he really possesses this art, and teaches for so moderate a fee. Certainly I would pride and preen myself if I had this knowledge, but I do not have it, gentlemen. One of you might perhaps interrupt me and say: "But Socrates, what is your occupation? From where have these slanders come? For surely if you did not busy yourself with something out of the common, all these rumours and talk would not have arisen unless you did something other than 1. These were all well-known Sophists d e 19 b c d e 20 b c Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—3 most people. Tell us what it is, that we may not speak inadvisedly about you." Anyone who says that seems to be right, and I will try to show you what has caused this reputation and slander. Listen then. Perhaps some of you will think I am jesting, but be sure that all that I shall say is true. What has caused my reputation is none other than a certain kind of wisdom. What kind of wisdom? Human wisdom, perhaps. It may be that I really possess this, while those whom I mentioned just now are wise with a wisdom more than human; else I cannot explain it, for I certainly do not possess it, and whoever says I do is lying and speaks to slander me. Do not create a disturbance, gentlemen, even if you think I am boasting, for the story I shall tell does not originate with me, but I will refer you to a trustworthy source.—as I say, gentlemen, do not create a disturbance—he asked if any man was wiser than I, and the Pythian replied that no one was wiser. Chairephon is dead, but his brother will testify to you about this. Consider that I tell you this because I would inform you about the origin of the slander. When I heard of this reply I asked myself: "Whatever does the god mean? What is his riddle?—there is no need for me to tell you his name, he was one of our public men,. d e 21 b c d e 22 b c Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—4. As a result of this investigation, gentlemen. What is probable, gentlemen,.". Furthermore, the young men who follow me around of their own free will, those who have most leisure, the sons of the very rich, take pleasure in hearing people questioned; they themselves often imitate me and try to question others. I think they find an abundance of men who believe they have some knowledge but know little or nothing. The result is that those whom they question are angry, not with themselves but with;" they would not want to tell the truth, I'm sure, that they have been proved to lay claim to knowledge when they know nothing., so that, as I started out by saying, I should be surprised if I could rid you of so much slander in so short a time. That, gentlemen of the jury, is the truth for you. I have hidden or disguised nothing. I know well enough that this very conduct makes me unpopular, and this is proof that what I say is true, that such is the slander against me, and that such are its causes. If you look into this either now or later, this is what you will find. Let this suffice as a defence against the charges of my earlier accusers. After this I shall try to defend myself against Meletus, that good and patriotic man, as he says he is, and my later accusers. As these are a different lot of accusers, let us again take up their sworn deposition. It goes something like this: Socrates is guilty of corrupting the young and of not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other new spiritual things. Such is their charge. Let us examine it point by point. He says that I am guilty of corrupting the young, but I say that Meletus is guilty of dealing frivolously with serious matters, of irresponsibly bringing people into court, and of professing to be seriously concerned with things about none of which he has ever cared, and I shall try to prove d e 23 b c d e 24 b c Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—5 that this is so. Come here and tell me, Meletus. Surely you consider it of the greatest importance that our young men be as good as possible? —Indeed I do. Come then, tell the jury who improves them. You obviously know, in view of your concern. You say you have discovered the one who corrupts them, namely me, and you bring me here and accuse me to the jury. Come, inform the jury and tell them who it is. You see, Meletus, that you are silent and know not what to say. Does this not seem shameful to you and a sufficient proof of what I say, that you have not been concerned with any of this? Tell me, my good sir, who improves our young men? —The laws. That is not what I am asking, but what person who has knowledge of the laws to begin with?—These jurymen, Socrates. How do you mean, Meletus? Are these able to educate the young and improve them?—Certainly. All of them, or some but not others?—All of them. Very good, by Hera. You mention a great abundance of benefactors. But what about the audience? Do they improve the young or not?—They do, too. What about the members of Council?—The Councillors, also. But, Meletus, what about the assembly? Do members of the assembly corrupt the young, or do they all improve them?—They improve them. All the Athenians, it seems, make the young into fine good men, except me, and I alone corrupt them. Is that what you mean?—That is most definitely what I mean. You condemn me to a great? Of course it is, whether you and Anytus say so or not. It would be a very. And by Zeus, Meletus, tell us also whether it is better for a man to live among good or wicked fellow-citizens. Answer, my good man, for I am not asking a difficult question. Do not the wicked do some harm to those who are ever closest to them, whereas good people benefit them?—Certainly. And does the man exist who would rather be harmed than benefited by his associates? Answer, my good sir, for the law orders you to answer. Is there any man who wants to be harmed? —Of course not. Come now, do you accuse me here of corrupting the young and making them worse deliberately or unwillingly?—Deliberately.; for clearly, if I learn better, I shall cease to do what I am doing unwillingly. You, however, have avoided my company and were unwilling to instruct me, but you bring me here, where the law requires one to bring those who are in need of punishment, not of instruction. d e 25 b c d e 26 Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—6 And so, gentlemen of the jury, what I said is clearly true: Meletus has never been at all concerned with these matters. Nonetheless tell us, Meletus, how you say that I corrupt the young; or is it obvious from your deposition that it is by teaching them not to believe in the gods in whom the city believes but in other new spiritual things? Is this not what you say I teach and so corrupt them? —That is most certainly what I do say. Then by those very gods about whom we are talking, Meletus, make this clearer to me and to the jury: I cannot be sure whether you mean they are others. Or whether you mean that I do not believe in gods at all, and that this is what I teach to others. —This is what I mean, that you do not believe in gods at all. You are a strange fellow, Meletus. Why do you say this? Do I not believe, as other men do, that the sun and the moon are gods?—No, by Zeus, jurymen, for he says that the sun is stone, and the moon earth. My dear Meletus, do you think you are prosecuting Anaxagoras? Are you so contemptuous of the jury. You cannot be believed, Meletus, even, I think, by yourself. The man appears to me, gentlemen of the jury, highly insolent and uncontrolled. He seems to have made. Remember, gentlemen, what I asked you when I began, not to create a disturbance if I proceed in my usual manner. Does any man, Meletus, believe in human activities who does not believe in humans? Make him answer, and not again and again create a disturbance. Does any man who does not believe in horses believe in horsemen's activities? Or in flute-playing activities but not in flute-players? No, my good sir, no man could. If you are not willing to answer, I will tell you and the jury. Answer the next question, however. Does any man believe in spiritual activities who does not believe in spirits?—No one. Thank you for answering, if reluctantly, when the jury made you. Now you say that I believe in spiritual things and teach about them, whether new or old, but at any rate spiritual things according to what you say, and to this you have sworn in your deposition. But if I believe in spiritual things I must quite inevitably believe in spirits. Is that not so? It is indeed. I shall assume that you agree, as you do not answer. Do we not believe spirits to be either gods or the children of gods? Yes or no?—Of course. Then since I do believe in spirits, as you admit, if spirits are gods, this is what I mean when I say you speak in riddles and in jest, as? That would be just as absurd as to believe the young of horses and asses, namely mules, to exist, but not to believe in the existence of horses and asses. You must have made this deposition, Meletus, either to test us or because you were at a loss b c d e 27 b c d e Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—7 to find any true wrongdoing of which to accuse me. There is no way in which you could persuade anyone of even small intelligence that it is possible for one and the same man to believe in spiritual but not also in divine things, and then again for that same man to believe neither in spirits nor in gods nor in heroes. I do not think, gentlemen of the jury, that it requires a prolonged defence to prove that I am not guilty of the charges in Meletus' deposition, but this is sufficient. On the other hand, you know that what I said earlier is true, that I am very unpopular with many people. This will be my undoing, if I am undone, not Meletus or Anytus but the slanders and envy of many people. This has destroyed many other good men and will, I think, continue to do so. There is no danger that it will stop at me. Someone might say: 'Are you not ashamed, Socrates, to have followed the kind of occupation that has led to your being now in danger of death?" However, I should be right to reply to him:  a bad man." According to your view, all the heroes who died at Troy were inferior people, especially the son of Thetis2 who was so contemptuous of danger compared with disgrace. When he was eager to kill Hector, his goddess mother warned him, as I believe, in some such words as these: "My child, if you avenge the death of your comrade, Patroclus, and you kill Hector, you will die yourself, for your death is to follow immediately after Hector's." Hearing this, he despised death and danger and was much more afraid to live a coward who did not avenge his friends. "Let me die at once," he said, "when once I have given the wrongdoer his deserts, rather than remain here, a laughing-stock by the curved ships, a burden upon the earth." Do you think he gave thought to death and. It would have been a dreadful way to behave, gentlemen of the jury, dreadful thing, and then I might truly have justly been brought here for not believing that there are gods, disobeying the oracle, fearing death, and thinking I was wise when I was not.. practise the teachings of Socrates and all be thoroughly corrupted; if you said to me in this regard: "Socrates, we do not believe 2. i.e., Achilles 28 b c d e 29 b c Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—8 Anytus now; we acquit you, but only on condition that you spend no more time on this investigation and do not practise philosophy, and if you are caught doing so you will die;" if, as I say, you were to acquit me on those terms, I would say to you: "Gentlemen of the jury, I am grateful and I am your friend, but I will obey the god rather than you, and as long as I draw breath and am able, I shall not cease to practise philosophy, to exhort you and in my usual way to point out to anyone." Now if by saying this I corrupt the young, this advice must be harmful, but if anyone says that I give different advice, he is talking nonsense. On this point I would say to you, gentlemen of the jury: "Whether you believe Anytus or not, whether you acquit me or not, do so on the understanding that this is my course of action, even if I am to face death many times.". Be sure that if you kill the sort of man I say I am, you will not harm me more than yourselves. Neither Meletus nor Anytus can harm me in any way; he could not harm me, for I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse; certainly he might kill me, or perhaps banish or disfranchise me, which he and maybe others think to be great harm, but I do not think so. I think he is doing himself much greater harm doing what he is doing now, attempting to have a man executed unjustly. Indeed, gentlemen of the jury, I am far from making it defence now on my own behalf, as might be thought, but on yours, to prevent you from wrongdoing by mistreating the god's gift to you by condemning me; for if you kill me you will not easily find another like me. I was attached to this city by the god—though it seems a ridiculous thing to say—as upon a great and noble horse which was somewhat sluggish because of its size and needed to be stirred up by a kind of gadfly. It is to fulfill some such function that I believe the god has placed me in the city. I never cease to rouse each and everyone of you, to persuade and reproach you all day long and everywhere I find myself in your company. Another such man will not easily come to be among you, gentlemen, and if you believe me you will spare me. You might easily be annoyed with me as people are when they are aroused from a doze, and strike out at me; if convinced by Anytus you could easily kill me, and then you could sleep on for the rest of your days, unless the god, in his care for you, sent you someone else. That I am the kind of person to be a gift of the god to the city you might realize from the fact that it does not seem like human nature for me to have neglected all my own affairs and to have tolerated this neglect now for so many years while I was always concerned with you, approaching each one of you like a father or an elder brother to persuade you to care for virtue (aret). Now if I profited from this by charging a fee for my advice, there would be some sense to it, but you can see for yourselves that, for all their shameless accusations, my accusers have not been able in their d e 30 b c d e 31 b Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—9 impudence to bring forward a witness to say that I have ever received a fee or ever asked for one. I, on the other hand, have a convincing witness that I speak the truth, my poverty., gentlemen of the jury,. I shall give you great proofs of this, not words but what you esteem, deeds. Listen to what happened to me, that you may know that I will not yield to any man contrary to what is right, for fear of death, even if I should die at once for not yielding. The things I shall tell you are commonplace and smack of the lawcourts, but they are true. I have never held any other office in the city, but I served as a member of the Council, and our tribe Antiochis was presiding at the time when you wanted to try as a body the ten generals who had failed to pick up the survivors of the naval battle.3 This was illegal, as you all recognized later. I was the only member of the presiding committee to oppose your doing something contrary to the laws, and I voted against it.. This happened when the city was still a democracy. When the oligarchy was established, the Thirty4 summoned me to the Hall, along with four others, and ordered us to bring Leon from Salamis, that he might be executed. They gave many such orders to many people, in order to implicate as many as possible in their guilt. Then I showed again, not in words but in action, that, if it were not rather vulgar to say so, death is something I couldn't care less about, but that my whole concern is not to do anything unjust or impious. That government, powerful as it was, did not frighten me into any wrongdoing. When we left the Hall, the other four went to Salamis and brought in Leon, but I went home. I might have been put to death for this, had not the government fallen shortly afterwards. There are many who will witness to these events. Do you think I would have survived all these years if I were engaged in public affairs and, acting as a good man must, came to the help of justice and considered this the most important thing? Far from it, gentlemen of the jury, nor would any other man. Throughout my life, in any public activity I may have engaged in, I am the same man as I am in private life. I have never come to an agreement with anyone to act unjustly, neither with anyone else nor with anyone of those who they slanderously say are my pupils. I have never been anyone's teacher. c d e 32 b c d e 33 b 3. This was the battle of Arginusae (south of Lesbos) in 406 BC., the last Athenian victory of the war. A violent storm prevented the Athenians from rescuing the survivors. For this they were tried in Athens and sentenced to death by the assembly. 4. This was the harsh oligarchy that was set up after the final defeat of Athens in 404 BC. and that ruled Athens for some nine months in 404-3 before the democracy was restored. Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—10 listen to what I say. And I cannot justly be held responsible for the good or bad conduct of these people,. And this is not unpleasant. To do this has, as I say, been enjoined upon me by the god, by means of oracles and dreams, and in every other way that a divine manifestation has ever ordered a man to do anything. This is true, gentlemen, and can easily be established. If I corrupt some young men and have corrupted others, then surely some of them who have grown older and realized that I gave them bad advice when they were young should now themselves come up here to accuse me and avenge themselves. If they were unwilling to do so themselves, then some of their kindred, their fathers or brothers or other relations should recall it now if their family had been harmed by me. I see many of these present here, first Crito, my contemporary and fellow demesman, the father of Critoboulos here; next Lysanias of Sphettus, the father of Aeschines here; also Antiphon the Cephisian, the father of Epigenes; and others whose brothers spent their time in this way; Nicostratus, the son of Theozotides, brother of Theodotus, and Theodotus has died so he could not influence him; Paralios here, son of Demodocus, whose brother was Theages; there is Adeimanttls, son of Ariston, brother of Plato here; Acantidorus, brother of Apollodorus here. I could mention many others, some one of whom surely Meletus should have brought in as witness in his own speech. If he forgot to do so, then let him do it now; I will yield time if he has anything of the kind to say. You will find quite the contrary, gentlemen. These men are all ready to come to the help of the corruptor, the man who has harmed their kindred, as Meletus and Anytus say. Now those who were corrupted might well have reason to help me, but the uncorrupted, their kindred who are older men, have no reason to help me except the right and proper one, that they know that Meletus is lying and that I am telling the truth. Very well, gentlemen of the jury. This, and maybe other similar things, is what I have to say in my defence. Perhaps one of you might be angry as he recalls that when he himself stood trial on a less dangerous charge, he begged and pleaded and implored the jury with many tears, that he brought his children and many of his friends and family into court to arouse as much pity as he could, but that I do none of these things, even though I may seem to be running the ultimate risk. Thinking of this, he might feel resentful toward me and, angry about this, cast his vote in anger. If there is such a one among you—I do not deem there is, but if there is—I think it would be right to say in reply: My good sir, I too have a household and, in Homer's phrase, I am not born "from oak or rock" but from men, so that I have a family, indeed three sons, gentlemen of the jury, of whom one is an adolescent while two are children. Nevertheless, I will not beg you to acquit me by bringing them here. Why do I do none of these things? Not through arrogance, gentlemen, nor through lack of respect for you. Whether I am brave in the face of death is another matter, but with regard to my reputation and yours and that of the whole city, it does not seem right to me to do these things, especially at my age and with my reputation. For it is generally believed, whether it be true or false, that in certain respects Socrates is superior to the majority of men. Now if those of you who are considered superior, be it in wisdom or courage or whatever other virtue makes them so, are seen behaving like that, it would be a disgrace. Yet I have often seen them do this sort of thing when standing trial, men who are thought to be somebody, doing amazing things as if they thought it a terrible thing to die, and as if they were to be immortal if you did not execute them. I think these men bring shame upon the city so that a stranger, too, would assume that those who are outstanding in virtue among the Athenians, whom they themselves select from themselves to c d e 34 b c d e 35 Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—11 fill offices of state and receive other honours, are in no way better than women. You should not act like that, gentlemen of the jury, those of you who have any reputation at all, and if we do, you should not allow it. You should make it very clear that you will more readily convict a man who performs these pitiful dramatics in court and so makes the city a laughingstock, than a man who keeps quiet. Quite apart from the question of reputation, gentlemen, I do not think it right to supplicate the jury and to be acquitted because of this but to teach and persuade them. It is not the purpose of a juryman's office to give justice as a favour to whoever seems good to him, but to judge according to law, and this he has sworn to do. We should not accustom you to perjure yourselves, nor should you make a habit of it. This is irreverent conduct for either of us. Do not deem it right for me, gentlemen of the jury, that I should act towards you in a way that I do not consider to be good or just or pious, especially, by Zeus, as I am being prosecuted by Meletus here for impiety; clearly, if I convinced you by my supplication to do violence to your oath of office, I would be teaching you not to believe that there are gods, and my defence would convict me of hot believing in them. This is far from being the case, gentlemen, for I do believe in them as none of my accusers do. I leave it to you and the god to judge me in the way that will be best for me and for you. [The jury now gives its verdict of guilty, and Meletus asks for the penalty of death.] There are many other reasons for my not being angry with you for convicting me, gentlemen of the jury, and what happened was not unexpected. I am much more surprised at the number of votes cast on each side, for I did not think the decision would be by so few votes but by a great many. As it is, a switch of only thirty votes would have acquitted me. I think myself that I have been cleared on Meletus' charges, and not only this, but it is clear to all that, if Anytus and Lycon had not joined him in accusing me, he would have been fined a thousand drachmas for not receiving a fifth of the votes. He assesses the penalty at death. So be it. What counter-assessment should I propose to you, gentlemen of the jury? Clearly it should be a penalty I deserve, and what do I deserve to suffer or to pay because I have deliberately not led a quiet life but have neglected what occupies most people: wealth, household affairs, the position of general or public orator or the other offices, the political clubs and factions that exist in the city? I thought myself too honest to survive if I occupied myself with those things. I did not follow that path that would have made me of no use either to you or to myself, but I went to each of you privately and conferred upon him what I say is the greatest benefit, by trying to persuade him not to care for any of his belongings before caring that he himself should be as good and as wise as possible, not to care for the city's possessions more than for the city itself, and to care for other things in the same way. What do I deserve for being such a man? Some good, gentlemen of the jury, if I must truly make an assessment according to my deserts, and something suitable. What is suitable for a poor benefactor who needs leisure to exhort you? Nothing is more suitable, gentlemen, than for such a man to be fed in the Prytaneum,5 much more suitable for him than for anyone of you who has won a victory at Olympia with a pair or a team of horses. The Olympian victor makes you think yourself happy; I make you be happy. Besides, he does not need food, but I do. So if I must make a just assessment of what I deserve, I assess it at this: free meals in the Prytaneum. When I say this you may think, as when I spoke of appeals to pity and entreaties, that I speak arrogantly, but that is not the case, gentlemen of the jury; rather it is like this: I am convinced that I never willingly wrong anyone, but I am not convincing you of this, for we have talked together 5. The Prytaneum was the magistrates’ hall or town hall of Athens. Free meals at the Prytaneum was the reward given to the victorious Olympic athletes. b c d e 36 b c d e 37 Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—12 but a short time. If it were the law with us, as it is elsewhere, that a trial for life should not last one but many days, you would be convinced, but now it is not easy to dispel great slanders in a short time. Since I am convinced that I wrong no one, I am not likely to wrong myself, to say that I deserve some evil and to make some such assessment against myself. What should I fear? That I should suffer the penalty Meletus has assessed against me, of which I say I do not know whether it is good or bad? Am I then to choose in preference to this something that I know very well to be an evil and assess the penalty at that? Imprisonment? Why should I live in prison, always subjected to the ruling magistrates the Eleven? A fine, and imprisonment until I pay it? That would be the same thing for me, as I have no money. Exile? for perhaps you might accept that assessment. I should have to be inordinately fond of life, gentlemen of the jury, to be so unreasonable as to suppose that other men will easily tolerate my company and conversation when you, my fellow citizens, have been unable to endure them, but found them a burden and resented them so that you are now seeking to get rid of them. Far from it, gentlemen. It would be a fine life at my age to be driven out of one city after another, for I know very well that wherever I go the young men will listen to my talk as they do here. If I drive them away, they will themselves persuade their elders to drive me out; if I do not drive them away, their fathers and relations will drive me out on their behalf., if I say that it is the greatest good for a man to discuss virtue every day and those other things about which you hear me conversing and testing myself and others, for the unexamined life is not worth living for man, you will believe me even less. What I say is true, gentlemen, but it is not easy to convince you. At the same time, I am not accustomed to think that I deserve any penalty. If I had money. I would assess the penalty at the amount I could pay, for that would not hurt me, but I have none, unless you are willing to set the penalty at the amount I can pay, and perhaps I could pay you one mina of silver. So that is my assessment. Plato here, gentlemen of the jury, and Crito and Critobulus and Apollodorus bid me put the penalty at thirty minae, and they will stand surety for the money. Well then, that is my assessment, and they will be sufficient guarantee of payment. [The jury now votes again and sentences Socrates to death.]. If you had waited but a little while, this would have happened of its own accord. You see my age, that I am already advanced in years and close to death. I am saying this not to all of you but to those who condemned me to death, and to these same jurors I say: defence. I would much rather die after this kind of defence than live after making the other kind. Neither I nor any other man should, on trial or in war, contrive to avoid death at any cost. Indeed it is often obvious in battle that one could escape death by throwing away one's weapons and by turning to supplicate one's pursuers, and there are many ways to avoid death in every kind of danger if one will venture to do or say b c d e 38 b c d e 39 Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—13 anything to avoid it. It is not difficult to avoid death, gentlemen of the jury, it is much more difficult to avoid wickedness, for it runs faster than death. Slow and elderly as I am, I have been caught by the slower pursuer, whereas my accusers, being clever and sharp, have been caught by the quicker, wickedness. I leave you now, condemned to death by you, but they are condemned by truth to wickedness and injustice. So I maintain my assessment, and they maintain theirs. This perhaps had to happen, and I think it is as it should be. Now I want to prophesy to those who convicted me, for I am at the point when men prophesy most, when they are about to die. I say gentlemen, to those who voted to kill me, that vengeance will come upon you immediately after my death, a vengeance much harder to bear than that which you took in killing me. You did this in the belief that you would avoid giving an account of your life, but I maintain that quite the opposite will happen to you. There will be more people to test you, whom I now held back, but you did not notice it. They will be more difficult to deal with as they will be younger and you will resent them more. You are wrong if you believe that by killing people you will prevent anyone from reproaching you for not living in the right way. To escape such tests is neither possible nor good, but it is best and easiest not to discredit others but to prepare oneself to be as good as possible. With this prophecy to you who convicted me, I part from you. I should be glad to discuss what has happened with those who voted for my acquittal during the time that the officers of the court are busy and I do not yet have to depart to my death. So, gentlemen, stay with me awhile, for nothing prevents us from talking to each other while it is allowed. To you, as being my friends, I want to show the meaning of what has occurred. A surprising thing has happened to me, judges—you I would rightly call judges.. Yet in other talks was right. Let us reflect in this way, too,. If, on the other hand, death is a change from here to another place, and what we are told is true and all who have died are there, what greater blessing could there be, gentlemen of the jury? If anyone arriving in Hades will have escaped from those who call themselves judges here, and will find those true judges who are said to sit in judgement there, Minos and Radamanthus and Aeacus and Triptolemus and the other demi-gods who have been upright in their own life, would that be a poor kind of change? Again, what would one of you give to keep company with Orpheus and Musaeus,Hesiod and Homer? I am willing to die many times if that is true. It would be a wonderful way for me to spend my time whenever I met Palamedes and Ajax, the son of Telamon, and any other of the men of old who died through an unjust conviction, to compare my experience with theirs. I think it would be pleasant. Most b c d e 40 b c d e 41 Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—14 important, I could spend my time testing and examining people there, as I do here, as to who among them is wise, and who thinks he is, but is not. What would one not give, gentlemen of the jury, for the opportunity to examine the man who led the great expedition against Troy, or Odysseus, or Sisyphus, and innumerable other men and women one could mention. It would be an extraordinary happiness to talk with them, to keep company with them and examine them. In any case, they would certainly not put one to death for doing so. They are happier there than we are here in other respects, and for the rest of time they are deathless, if indeed what we are told is true.. This much I ask from them: when my sons grow up, avenge yourselves by, causing them the. Now the hour to part has come. I go to die, you go to live. Which of us goes to the better lot is known to no one, except the god. Plato. Apology, trans. G.M.A. Grube. Pp. 112.130 in Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy: from Thales to Aristotle, 2nd ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2000. b c d e 42 Introduction to Western Philosophy The Apology—15 K EY T ERMS [email protected] rhtorik rhetoric *4"8g6J46Z dialektik dialectic RLPZ psych soul DgJZ aret virtue gÆDT<gÆ" eirÇneia irony Q UESTIONS 1. In the opening of the Apology how does Socrates contrast his form of speech with that of his accusers? 2. What is the Socratic method? How does irony function in the Socratic method? 3. What are the charges against Socrates? At the opening of his defense how does Socrates distinguish between two sets of accusers? Which accusers does he think will be harder to refute? Why? 4. What is the story Socrates tells the jury of the Athenians concerning what a friend is told by the oracle at Delphi? What was the point of this story? 5. According to Socrates what benefits for the individual and for the state come from the practice of philosophy? What did Socrates mean when he referred to himself as a “gadfly”? 6. Why does Socrates claim that his accusers will be more harmed by his execution than he? 7. Why doesn't Socrates employ emotional appeals to pity in order to save his life? 8. What is the jury's verdict and what do the accusers recommend as a proper penalty? What counterpenalty does Socrates propose for himself? Why does he propose this to be his just penalty? 9. Even though he may very well have avoided death, why does Socrates not choose prison, a fine, exile, or even silence as a counterpenalty? Why does Socrates say that “the unexamined life is not worth living?” What did he mean by this? Was he correct? Why or why not?
+Maybe we were no experts on punk around here, but Carsickness certainly seemed to fit whatever vague definition of punk you wanted to apply, mostly because they didn’t sound like Pittsburgh.
+Carsickness was what might have happened if The Clash and The Attractions had met Yes in a phone booth. It was delightfully weird and so far ahead of its time you had to think they were a little, well, crazy.
+It holds up magically on “Carsickness: 1979-1982,” a new CD/vinyl/digital compilation on Get Hip Records that captures one of Pittsburgh’s most seminal bands at its peak. It will be celebrated with Carsickness’ long-awaited reunion (aka Non-Union) Friday at the Non-Punk multimedia exhibit at SPACE Gallery.
+The story begins in 1976 with a 21-year-old Karl Mullen crossing the pond from his native Ireland to Philadelphia and landing in Pittsburgh, via a friend of a friend, a week later.
+“It was a challenging time in Ireland,” he recalls. “Everyone thought there was a civil war looming. A whole generation left. America has always been the safety valve, to some extent, for Irish kids.”
+His roots were acoustic Irish folk with a dash of progressive rock and Captain Beefheart avant-garde. When he went home to visit in the summer of ’77, he saw the Sex Pistols and the Clash bursting out of London.
+Back in Pittsburgh, he was washing dishes at the Original Hot Dog Shop and the Cornucopia and forming The Targets with drummer Dennis Childers and guitarist Mike Sallows. It lasted only a couple gigs before he went on to The Cuts – so named because Kinko’s wouldn’t print it with an “n” – with Bob Price, Dawn Spears and Dick Vitale.
+When The Cuts faded, he was jamming at a Bouquet Street house where Mr. Childers had his drums. On Feb. 13, 1979, they were right up against the stage at The Clash’s first U.S. show at the Agora in Cleveland. Multi-instrumentalist Steve Sciulli was there, too.
+“I took a bus by myself to Cleveland,” he says. “After The Clash show I had enough money to either buy another ticket back to Pittsburgh or head to a bar. The smart money was on heading to the nearest bar. That is where I heard Karl’s Irish accent holding court at the bar. So I bought a round of drinks. After a while they said they had a bit of a drive and needed to leave. To my surprise they were heading to Pittsburgh. So we kind of put together the concept in that van ride back. I was at their house the next day. Bouquet Street. With a synthesizer and bagpipes. To my surprise they were all still sleeping mid afternoon. I think my mom packed a lunch to give to everybody.”
+Add a pair of CMU students in Chris Koenigsberg on bass and Archie “Hans” Werner on farfisa/organ and you had Carsickness, the name stemming from the lines at the pumps that year and a disdain for a certain New York New Wave band.
+“When I listen back to that Carsickness stuff, it wasn’t a punk band, was it?” Mullen says.
+“YOU were the punk,” I tell him.
+Really, it was all of them.
+The Dublin native was at the core with a stabbing, thrashing guitar and raw, scratchy, yippy vocals to rival Rotten and Strummer. The rest surrounded it with their own bits of chaos, spazz-outs and tricky time signatures.
+“Dennis played like some crazed-out Ornette Coleman saxophone on the drums. All those runs all over the place,” Mullen says.
+Some songs were 20-second bursts; some were mini pieces of experimental prog punk; a few fell in between, like the Psychedelic Furs-like “For You.”
+“Karl was very aware of the prog movement as well,” Sciulli says. “We used to listen to Van der Graaf Generator while on tour. I always felt as if it was my duty within the band to keep the prog flag flying as can be heard by my use of mellotron and analog synths. The element of musical surprise was vital to us.”
+“Some people called us the Grateful Dead of Pittsburgh,” Koenigsberg says. “The comparison being that sometimes a three-minute song could turn into an hourlong jam.”
+Most of the first gigs were at house parties, one of which drew a noise complaint that ended with the frontman in police custody.
+“They put me in a paddy wagon and they drove around picking up other people,” he says. “And then they put me in a cell, and the next morning, I was like, ‘Where’s my cup of tea, guys?’ They were like ‘What are you talking about?’ I said, ‘I was arrested a couple times in Ireland and England (which I hadn’t been, I lied) and they gave me a cup of tea?’ They were laughing like, ‘Oh, this is an Irish guy! He thinks he gets a cup a tea!’ “
+If they had bothered to look, they would have found that he didn’t have proper papers to be in this country, which was why he was known in Carsickness as Joe Soap.
+Early on, Carsickness was a mismatch for the main rock clubs in town, so they broke down doors, playing galleries, basements, parks, and then, in March of 1980, Mullen and Reid Paley (later of The Five) approached Johnny Zarra, owner of failing disco club the Electric Banana. He gave them a night, it was packed, and within weeks, the Banana transformed into a punk club, one of the nation’s most notorious.
+If Carsickness had a signature song, it was the spastic “Bill Wilkinson,” with its shout-along chorus of “Whattaya say to the KKK? F— you,” written after seeing the Imperial Wizard on late-night TV.
+“The KKK got a lot of attention back then,” Mullen says. “I remember driving down to street, and you would see Confederate flags and KKK posters.”
+The song was among the highlights of Carsickness’ 1980 debut EP and the 18-song vinyl debut “Shooting Above the Garbage,” followed by 1982’s more polished “Sharpen Up for Duty.” Carsickness songs railed against racism, authority (“Police Dog”), Reagan’s militarism (“Sharpen Up for Duty”) and the drab, conventional life laid out for young people (“Bleeding,” “Faster”).
+They were always experimenting and pushing against the notion of making conventional radio punk.
+“Carsickness played songs that were rhythmically complicated, sonically adventurous and instrumentally distinctive…,” author Michael Chabon writes in the liner notes for the compilation.
+“We drove the engineers mad,” Mullen says. “It was ‘Let’s put the microphones in the bathroom and flush the toilet and add reverb backwards,’ and they were like, ‘What?!’ “
+With time, Carsickness became more of a Pittsburgh institution, playing the Decade and Graffiti, and opening for acts like Tom Verlaine and U2, which they thought were somewhat of a joke. In the wrong setting, Carsickness could clear a room in minutes.
+“I think, famously, in Buffalo, in a more mainstream venue, two or three hundred people left,” the singer says.
+On not becoming America’s answer to The Clash or pushing the burgeoning Pittsburgh scene more into the national spotlight, he has no regrets.
+“I think the way it was was perfect,” Mullen says. “I think our band and other bands in Pittsburgh would have changed if there had been a Malcolm McLaren or somebody there, saying ‘Oh, do this. Let’s be more commercial or dress in a certain way or dye your hair blond or whatever.’ That would have changed the nature of those bands. They would have lost their uniqueness. As it was, everybody went off to lead all kinds of interesting lives and do other interesting creative things.”
+In the ’90s, Carsickness evolved seamlessly into the Celtic-tinged Ploughman’s Lunch and eventually went off into different directions. Mullen, who has the creative manager at Club Cafe, left Pittsburgh in 2004 to work for the World Cafe in Philadelphia. He now teaches art in Massachusetts and plays in the folk duo Long Journey. Childers teaches art at Pittsburgh CAPA and plays in Standing Wave with Sciulli, who spent years playing ambient/New Age music in Life in Balance and is releasing a solo album this week.
+“Archie is sailing the open ocean,” Sciulli says, so he’ll play the keyboard parts himself, and Paul Michael Ferraro, who remastered the album, will fill in on bass for Koenigsberg, who left Pittsburgh in 1991 and is a software developer in Glendale, Calif.
+Until now, Mullen, no fan of punk nostalgia, had been reluctant to do a Carsickness reunion.
+“It was just a couple years of my life,” he says. “It wasn’t the epicenter of my life. I didn’t want the nostalgia thing. It came, it went. It was what it was. It was of the moment. I don’t think it needs to be elevated to some sticker you put on your car like ‘I was there,’ like the school you went to. Some people like that. I don’t like that.”
+But, he says, “Time passed. I don’t know why I had a change of heart.”
+He arrives Thursday and has one day to rehearse the songs and see if he still sings in those keys.
+Scott Mervis: smervis@post-gazette.com; 412-263-2576.
+CARSICKNESS
+Where and When: 8 p.m. Friday at SPACE Gallery, 812 Liberty Ave., Downtown (during the Gallery Crawl) with The Nox Boys (6 p.m.) and The Full Counts (7 p.m.). Free. And 10 p.m. Saturday at Gooski’s in Polish Hill (same lineup). $5; More info on the Non-Punk Pittsburgh Facebook page.
+A new agreement with Jazz Aviation LP will mean enhanced opportunities for students of Okanagan College’s Commercial Aviation diploma program—both during their studies and after graduation.
+Jazz and Okanagan College have signed an agreement that will see OC participate in the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program (APP), which can help graduating pilots land careers with the national airline. The College will.”
+The College’s two-year program, run in concert with Southern Interior Flight Centre (SIFC), recently celebrated a quarter-century of operation.
+More information is available in the media release.
+Two-time Okanagan College graduate Zach Andrews brought home a gold medal in Electronics at the recent National Skills Canada Competition in Moncton, NB.
+The 31-year-old punched his ticket to the Canada-wide competition after winning gold at the provincial challenge in Abbotsford earlier this year. He was joined at Nationals by fellow Okanagan College student Aaron Schmidt, who also earned gold at the provincial competition and finished second in the country in Automotive Service.
+“I was completely taken by surprise when I found out I won,” says Andrews. .”
+Andrews completed the Electrical program and earned his Red Seal designation in 2009 and then returned to the College in 2014, enrolling in the Electronic Engineering Technology program, which he completed in May.
+With two credentials to his name and a gold medal in hand, Andrews is already eyeing his next challenge: he has enrolled in Okanagan College’s Electronic Engineering Technology Bridge to UBC Okanagan Electrical Engineering program.
+Read more in the media release.
+The provincial government has announced $75,000 in one-time funding to help Okanagan College offer a range of new and enhanced events and services to support Aboriginal students during their studies.
+“This initiative fits very well with Okanagan College’s strategic direction about working with and learning from the Indigenous community,” said Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. “It will add significantly to our ability to increase access and success of Aboriginal learners.”
+Okanagan College is among 14 public colleges and universities that will draw from more than $1 million in total support from the province through the project, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure B.C.’s post-secondary institutions provide a welcoming environment for Aboriginal learners.
+The College will use the funding for a range of activities including increasing support from Elders and cultural knowledge keepers on college campuses, implementing workshops to improve skills such as studying and peer-mentorship and increasing outreach to and recruitment of Aboriginal students.
+Nearly 40 students from the Salmon Arm campus were honoured recently for their dedication in the classroom and activities in the community.
+The annual Salmon Arm campus Student Award Ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 15. And for a number of students training toward helping careers, a helping hand from those around them is bringing career goals closer to reach.
+Salmon Arm-born Julia Agassiz will graduate from the 18-month Practical Nursing diploma program in January. A mother of twin five-year-olds, she credits receiving an award as a major motivator as she approaches graduation.
+“As a mother of two young children, any additional support I can bring in for my education is a huge relief and goes a long way,” says Agassiz. .
+Read the full story in the media release.
+A local builder with a connection to Okanagan College that spans more than 50 years has made a gift to inspire the next generation of tradespeople.
+Lambert Schmalz, owner of Lambert & Paul Construction Ltd., has pledged $50,000 toward the Bright Horizons fundraising campaign in support of the new Trades Training Complex at the College’s Kelowna campus.
+.”
+Read more in the media release.
+Donna Lomas, Regional Dean South Okanagan-Similkameen has announced she will retire from Okanagan College at the end of this year.
+Lomas joined the College as a Regional Dean in September 2005, after nearly two decades with College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, B.C. where she served first as an instructor of History/Political Science and later as Dean of Instruction.
+“Over the past decade Donna Lomas has made an immeasurable contribution to advancing Okanagan College’s mission to transform lives and communities,” says Vice President Students Charlotte Kushner. “Under her leadership the Penticton campus has experienced tremendous growth, and numerous new community, industry, and post-secondary sector collaborations have been formed—leading to new programs and opportunities for students in the region.
+“Donna’s hard work and dedication has earned her the respect and gratitude of students and her colleagues throughout the institution.”
+Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton recently bestowed upon Lomas the President’s Award at the College’s 2016 Employee Excellence Awards, in recognition of her many contributions to the College.
+“It has been a real pleasure and a privilege to work with the employees, the students and the broader community,” says Lomas. “To all the staff and instructors please accept my sincere thank-you for all your hard work and for the dedication you have shown our students.”
+Visiting scholars and attendees from throughout the region and across the province participated in a recent event at Okanagan College designed to foster dialogue and celebrate Indigenous ways of learning, knowing, and understanding.
+The Indigenous Concepts of Knowledge Symposium took place in the Centre for Learning at the Kelowna campus on June 15. Dr. Bill Cohen, Professor of Indigenous Studies at Okanagan College, and Project Manager of the College’s Indigenization Task Force moderated the event which included speakers from across B.C., including Dr. Ann Doyle, Head, Xwi7xwa Library, UBC Vancouver; Dr. Melissa Adams, Librarian and Archivist at the Union of BC Indian Chiefs; and Dr. Gregory Younging, Publisher at Theytus Books and Faculty, En'owkin Centre.
+“The interest and attendance was remarkable,” says Cohen. “People from the Okanagan-Syilx, B.C. First Nations, scholars, students, professionals and community members participated. This indicates a real interest in Indigenous knowledge ways as well as access to, and methods of documenting, using, protecting and sharing Indigenous knowledge and research.
+“Indigenous knowledge has much potential to further contribute to and complement more conventional forms of knowledge and research. I believe this respectful convergence and continuing dialogue will be very useful in Indigenous and world educational contexts.”
+Scholarships from Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and friends are helping high school students from Penticton and Summerland step into the classrooms of Okanagan College this fall.
+Eight students received scholarships during a presentation at the Penticton campus on Thursday, June 16, during which they had a chance to meet the people who made the awards possible.
+“Education opens so many doors,” said Rick Thorpe. “Yasmin and I feel incredibly proud to have been able to make a difference in the lives of students over the years.”.”
+Read more in the media release.
+An Okanagan College School of Business professor is one of many employees walking the walk when it comes to inspiring students to find time for community involvement.
+When not teaching management and marketing courses at the College, Stacey Fenwick serves as the Chair of Habitat for Humanity Okanagan and was recently re-elected as a director on the Interior Savings Credit Union board. According to Fenwick, juggling community involvement with her duties as a professor and mother to two teenagers can be a challenge but helps her keep a pulse on business in the Okanagan region.
+“My personal vision is to continue on a path of lifelong learning while contributing positively to sustainable economic growth in our beautiful Okanagan Valley,” says Fenwick, who is also a founding member of the JCI Okanagan chapter in Kelowna, a volunteer presenter for BC Junior Achievement, and chaired the Terry Fox Run in Kelowna for a number of years.
+“I have a deep appreciation of our Okanagan community and have a desire to contribute to it.”
+Fenwick earned a Masters of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of British Columbia in 2011 and specializes in strategic management, service marketing and customer relationship management.
+The go-green efforts of Okanagan College employees propelled the College to first place in the Okanagan in the recent Commuter Challenge which tracks participation by a host of organizations regionally, provincially, and nationally.
+The challenge is a week-long event held during Canadian Environment Week (June 5 - 11, 2016). It is a friendly competition between Canadian cities and workplaces that encourages Canadians to leave their cars at home in favour of walking, cycling, carpooling/ride-sharing, taking transit.
+On the heels of Bike to Work Week, which wrapped up the week prior and also saw strong participation, the Okanagan College Commuter Challenge team racked up some impressive numbers this year:
+More information is available on the Commuter Challenge webpage.
+The fitness facility at the Kelowna campus will close on Thursday, June 30 at 5 p.m. and will re-open on Monday, July 4 at 8 a.m.
+As of Monday July 4, Fitness Facility hours will be as follows:
+Okanagan College will be migrating its Moodle server to a new, more robust cloud-based home this Friday, July 1. Impact to users should be very minimal. All courses and data will be moved to the new server completely intact; there is nothing you need to do to safeguard your work. Your login and password will remain unchanged.
+A brief period of downtime will be required to implement the changes. Please note that Okanagan College Moodle will be unavailable from 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2016 (4 hours).
+Please keep this scheduled outage in mind and plan accordingly if you need access to Moodle resources during the long weekend. Users can check the status of Moodle here. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this transition, please contact Tom Esson.
+In line with the Early Childhood Education department is looking for volunteers to support students as they learn to administer the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. This is a developmental screening tool that indicates typical development as well as any potential developmental concerns.
+The department is looking for 18 parents (employees or students) who parent children between the ages of two months and five-and-a-half years of age and would be willing to meet with ECE students to complete the questionnaire. Participants can expect to commit to two meetings with an assigned student, each approximately 15 minutes in length. On Oct. 3 at 12:30 p.m. the students will administer the questionnaire and on Oct. 7 at 12:30 p.m. they will provide feedback based on responses.
+If you would like to participate, please contact Heather Ross or Pam Wetterstrand for more information.
+This newsletter provided by Human Resources provides information on how to assist with and spot health and wellness changes in elderly parents. Click here to register for the upcoming Metabolism webinar on Wednesday, June 29. The webinar will shed light on some techniques to help tune-up metabolism and keep it running efficiently.
+The College Pension Plan informs us that according to the recent actuarial valuation, the College Pension Plan funding ratio is 103.6 per cent. This means the money projected to be available for future pensions (actuarial assets) exceeds the projected costs of paying for those pensions (actuarial liabilities). Contribution rates for members and employers will not change. Click here for more details.
+The cafeteria at the Kelowna campus is now closed for the summer and will re-open in September. The following food services are available June - August:
+Facilities and Business Services (FABS) is undergoing a clean-up of the security code database as we are running out of user codes. In order to do this, unused and/or duplicate profiles need to be deleted.
+FABS will do the utmost to contact individuals before making any deletions. Should you experience issues while using your code, please contact Security to resolve the problem immediately. To have your code reestablished, please email Security Access. We do not expect there to be any issues as a result of this process.
+July 4 – The OC Foundation and Trades and Apprenticeship department are hosting a coffee break and photo op in front of the new Trades building at the Kelowna campus at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 4. All students and employees are welcome. Coffee, goodies, and OC t-shirts will be provided.
+July 6 – Summer is underway. The OC Social Committee invites you to a BBQ in the courtyard. Enjoy burgers and refreshments while socializing with your colleagues. BBQ starts at 4 p.m. sharp, Wed. July 6. Limited tickets available for $10. Purchase yours from any Social Committee member: Stacey Broderick (Facilities), Lynda Dreaper (HR), Heather Grassick (Trades), Angie March (Regional Dean’s Office), Tanya Tarlit (Co-op) or Carlyn Young (Reg Office). during Fall season 2016.
+August 22 and 23 –.
+News of Zach Andrew's golden win at the National Skills Canada Competition was published online by Castanet.
+Okanagan College culinary students were among the young chefs from throughout the valley that participated in the Earth, Wine, and Fire Gala. The chefs received support from Urban Fare, as told in the pages of Okanagan Saturday, The Kelowna Capital News, and Okanagan Life Magazine.
+An announcement about provincial funding that will help Okanagan College offer essential skills programming to students with disabilities was picked up by KelownaNow.
+News of targeted one-time funding for Aboriginal students from the province was trumpeted by The Vernon Morning Star on June 24.
+Audio Engineering and Music Production alumnus Ben Klick will be part of the Westside Daze Canada Day festivities; a fact picked up on and shared by the editors of Westside Weekly.
+A letter from a local resident disappointed by the decision to scrap plans for an amphitheatre on lands adjacent to the Vernon campus ran in the June 19 edition of The Vernon Morning Star.
+Another Okanagan College alumnus making headlines recently was world-renowned curler Kelly Scott who was inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame this month, as reported by The Daily Courier on June 15.
+Okanagan College Regional Dean for the Central Okanagan Heather Schneider was featured in a story by The Capital News about the upcoming International Children’s Games taking place in Taiwan next month. Schneider is president of the ICG Kelowna Legacy Committee.
+The College’s economic impact – more than $500 million annually – was mentioned alongside that of UBC Okanagan’s ($1.5 billion) in a recent Capital News piece profiling UBCO Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Buszard.
+The Daily Courier helped to spread the word that the force will awaken at Okanagan College on Tuesday, June 28. A free screening of the newest Star Wars film will take place in the OC parking lot off KLO Road, as part of the Open Road Cinema Tour. 12, 2016.
+Back to Top | Okanagan College Homepage
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+How Important Are Verticals for Videographers Shooting Property Video?
+June 19th, 2017
+Over the past year, I’ve had a couple of discussions with videographers that have an extensive background in video production about the importance of verticals in property video.
+To my surprise, both of these videographers claimed that interior verticals in a video are not important and nothing can be done to keep them vertical.
+Perhaps I’m over-obsessive about verticals but when I see a property video shot with the camera slanted downward so the walls slant back, I get all worked up. Sure, keeping verticals vertical is much harder when shooting video and there are some camera moves where it just can’t be done. In the example video above there are only two such instances where the verticals are not dead on vertical.
+I’ve decided to consult Hamish Beeston (who did the example property video above) who is a past PFRE videographer of the year and juror for the monthly PFRE video contest to get his opinion on this subject because in Hamish’s video the times when the verticals aren’t vertical are few and far between. I asked Hamish, “What do you do to keep your verticals vertical” and “Do you ever touch up verticals in post-processing”?
+Hamish replied as follows:
+Unlike the stills verticals debate which is pretty much un-challenged, I guess that in video it’s still up for debate as real estate video as a discipline which is much less established. And, as you note, in regular TV production, camera people have been shooting interiors for years with little concern regarding the verticals.
+That’s fine in a standalone TV show but, and I think this may be the key thing, when you are promoting a property with both stills and video, and the stills follow the straight verticals norm, then you can argue that the accompanying video should too. In my work, my goal is to make all the marketing visuals have a unified look.
+The main place I try to keep my verticals correct is in camera and the primary thing is to make sure the tripod is absolutely flat. In my tripod there is a bubble in a circle which you center whenever you set up. This will mean that not only is the static shot level but also any tilts or pans are level through out their movement.
+Yes, I correct verticals in Adobe Premier Pro. I typically use a combination of rotation, distortion and corner pin effects filters.
+As Hamish says, this subject is still up for debate so I’d like to hear other opinions on this subject.
+17 Responses to “How Important Are Verticals for Videographers Shooting Property Video?”
+Ken Brown June 19th, 2017 at 8:16 pm #
+If you look at professionally produced TV and Film the verticals are vertical unless the director/cinematographer is going for an effect such as POV of an actor. I clear mark of an amateur production is off-kilter camera views and bobbing up and down (and zooming in and out). Jibs and camera dollies are built to maintain a level camera when moving up and down.
+Ethan Tweedie June 19th, 2017 at 8:47 pm #
+Great discussion,
+I have given this some thought as a primary still photographer who has done some architectural video. It looks so unprofessional to me to see a property video where there is disregard for verticals and horizontals square. I often sub out property videos and if the videographer disregards these basic principles I will pass them by.
+As a still photographer I spend a lot of time getting all images squared during the shoot or in post and this same focus on detail is important to me whether still or in video.
+My two cents!
+Ethan
+Matt June 19th, 2017 at 10:43 pm #
+While I definitely think it’s important to keep verticals square in general, I think there are many instances where breaking the rule is totally acceptable, and necessary, to achieve a particular move. Looking up to see an interesting ceiling feature, looking down over a balcony, etc.
+I would only break the rule with a specific purpose in mind. If you are just shooting a wide shot of a room, there is no reason not to be leveled.
+Sergio June 20th, 2017 at 1:33 am #
+I would say that it is a mistake to compare the videos we make with movies or TV. Our world is marketing and TV is “art”. The rules are different. We should keep the verticals straight as much as possible whenever possible.
+I do not agree with Ken saying that professional filmmakers always hold the verticals unless they are recording an actor’s POV. That is simply incorrect. You just have to watch a few movies. In movies or TV they play with many more sensations than we have to play and that involves using many more resources and breaking many more rules to convey those feelings.
+I like Matt’s last sentence. I would complete it by adding the following. The less focal length, the more vertical the lines should be. If you are with a long focal length recording a detail, I do not think anyone will care.
+Excuse my bad English. I am from Spain.
+Lee Miller June 20th, 2017 at 1:46 am #
+Hello, my name is Lee and I am a Vertical Rule Breaker.
+Yes I know one should try to keep verticals straight, but only in still photography.
+In videos you can’t really shoot with tilt shifts. Well, you CAN do it technically, but it is cumbersome, and virtually no one does it. If you look on Google to see what films were shot in tilt shift, you won’t find much. People don’t shoot that way. If you go to NAB show in Las Vegas, and look at all the new film/video lenses, the word “verticals” is never found.
+But it is possible to keep verticals straight if you don’t mind losing cool video moves. Since video is about motion and movement, it will restrict your options.
+I have worked for 25 years in video production as a video producer, director, and editor. In all the years, not one client, not one producer, not one director, has ever mentioned the word “verticals.”
+With that in mind, here are the kinds of moves one can make when creating motion pictures.
+1 Tilt. Moving the camera up and down. One of the most common moves that always causes shifting verticals. No way around it. But who wants to shoot a video without ever tilting?
+2. Panning. Camera on tripod. Operator just swings the camera from left to right. This creates ever-changing verticals. No way around it. The Pan is one of these most basic, commonly used moves there is because it is easy and looks great.
+3. Zoom: Lens zooms in and out with camera stationary. Vertical will stay essentially vertical, but only if zoom straight in and out.
+4. Pedestal. Often called out as “Ped Up” or “Ped down.” This is moving the camera up and down on a pedestal without changing its direction at all. This will keep verticals vertical, assuming they were to begin with.
+5. Dolly. This is moving the camera left and right along a track. Keeps verticals vertical, IF they were to begin with. Shooting with a super wide angle lens on a video or film camera? It’s gonna distort the vertical when dollying.
+6. Truck. This is like zooming the lens, but instead of zooming the lens you are physically moving the camera forward and back, Keeps the vertical if they were to begin with.
+7 Handheld. Forget about. Verticals can be forgotten here! Yet, handheld is one of the most common moves in contemporary video. Everyday on prime time TV, they do handheld because it looks cool, it’s real, and it’s exciting. It’s POV, which is why it works so well. Now shooting handheld is one of the toughest things to do right, but when it works, it works.
+8. Steadicam. Gimbal shots. Forget about it. Keeping a vertical while operating a Stedicam or gimbal is like trying to walk a straight line after doing a fifth of vodka. Ever watch Homeland? The majority of shots are Steadicam.
+9, Cranes. These are for hoisting the camera up on a jib. Verticals will go crazy when tilting. But not too many people want a crane shot without tilting.
+So out of 9 shot types, just a few can work at all for keeping verticals. So if one wants to make a video with beautiful verticals, one will have to restrict oneself to the most basic moves. Out of 9 potential moves, you can just use a few.
+Probably the most successful Real Estate show on the air is Million Dollar Listing New York,. They have said “NO” to straight verticals. They don’t care. They make no attempt to shoot anything vertical. They don’t fix them in post either. Their shooting crews and their editorial staff are top notch. No straight verticals on this show.
+My conclusion is that verticals are important for still photography, but unimportant for moving pictures. I feel one should go with a creative shot, go with interesting motion, and go for an exciting cut. And if the verticals are not so vertical, then I’ll be straight with you, shoot it anyway.
+Sergio June 20th, 2017 at 2:03 am #
+All that freedom Lee mentions about video also exists in photography. We could also make a list of all the types of photography we could do. But every field has its rules.
+And that in RE photography we keep straight vertical lines does not mean that we are depriving ourselves of a lot of creative visions.
+He sets as an example a TV show. But I think that example doesn’t work here. We don’t make shows, we don’t work to entertain a non-professional audience that doesn’t know very well why there are things that work and why there are things that don’t.
+We work for more or less professional clients and the goal is to sell, not entertain. And I think there are certain rules that we should all strive to maintain.
+Fred Light June 20th, 2017 at 5:05 am #
+Always. Drives ME crazy otherwise. Plus, as opposed to a TV show where the characters are the main focus, in real estate video, the HOUSE is the main focus. I see videos where people shoot low to the ground and tilt up and it feels like I’m in a funhouse – it’s way too distorted.
+Personal preference really I guess.
+Kelvin Hammond June 20th, 2017 at 6:20 am #
+It’s easy to do, and it’s extremely distracting when that attention to detail is omitted. Shoot it level in the first place, and then it’s easy to fix what little bit is left in post.
+trevor ward June 20th, 2017 at 6:42 am #
+I counted more than just a few shots (not including the aerials) where the verticals were NOT vertical.
+This house is not a typical house. With high ceilings, it’s entirely possible to create many attractive wide shots of a space and keep the lens level (and the verticals vertical). In a more typical house, with 8 foot ceilings, maintaining verticals would mean never attempting a tilt move and always keeping the camera directly in the vertical center of the room at 4 feet high.
+Because the image is a moving image and a single framing stays on screen no more than a couple of seconds, a viewer will subconsciously ignore a changing perspective and slightly off verticals. Even YOU didn’t notice it in your sample video above.
+Tony Thompson June 20th, 2017 at 7:08 am #
+Question – Could you shoot in 4K, use the corner pin effect in Premier (straighten vertical), and output as 1080p to make up for crop from corner pin?
+Sergio June 20th, 2017 at 7:55 am #
+Yes Tony, we could say it works as a “fake tilt-shift” shot in photography. One thing is how you shoot and another thing is how you export the final file. And you can crop however you want in Premiere Pro. 1920×1080, 1280×720, 1234×123… whatever you want. Like Photoshop or Lightroom.
+larry June 20th, 2017 at 9:55 am #
+Here’s an interesting fact that someone just pointed out: if you shoot an interior video for HDTV you are told that “verticals MUST be perfectly vertical”.
+Hamish Beeston June 20th, 2017 at 1:30 pm #
+Good discussion all and I agree with most of what’s been said.
+To pick up on a couple of things:
+– When I bang on about verticals, it’s only in those shots where there are meant to be verticals – as per the regular ‘rules’ of RE photography. Matt and Sergio put it well that verticals tend to matter in wide shots but not so much when you’re zoomed in – as well as the many instances when breaking the ‘rule’ is fine – tilts, looking over balconies, up at features on the ceiling etc.
+– Re your list Lee, I would argue that you can keep the verticals right in a panning shot, if your tripod is levelled correctly. And I certainly try to when shooting with a gimbal, which is not as tricky as you might think – at least not with my Ronin, which naturally tries to sit horizontal anyway. Interesting too what you say Lee about never hearing the word ‘verticals’ in 25 years of video work. I had 15 years in broadcast television and was the same. It was only when I started photographing RE that I heard about the concept, first in my photo work and then it seemed natural to apply it to my video. Now it’s second nature and truth be told I find myself looking for those verticals in pretty much all of my video work now. Is this better in itself? No, absolutely not of course, for all the reasons you mention above. I just happen to like the more geometric / precise look I guess. And I mentioned above, for RE, I like the video and stills to have a similar look.
+– Tony, re using Corner Pin in PP, in my experience, you don’t need to down res from 4K to HD in order to make up for the loss of image / zoom. At least not if you are just tweaking out a couple of corners a little to make things just right. I do find though that using Corner Pin on an image that’s been heavily colour-corrected (eg if you are shooting in Slog3 or similar) can make the whites a bit patchy / pixellated. The way round this is to colour correct the shot, export it as a highish res file (I tend to use .mp4 format at c35 Mbps), reimport that and then do the Corner Pinning. It’s a bit of a faff but ensures you get no picture break-up. Corner Pinning can also make the image slightly soft, so I’ll normally add 50% sharpening at this point too.
+As an aside, I’m also a fiend about straightening pictures hanging on the wall – even in other people’s houses – which probably is all connected!!
+lee miller June 20th, 2017 at 2:02 pm #
+I can see Hamish’s point. When I started with real estate work, that is when I first heard the word verticals. So maybe the issue of verticals is reserved for some areas of imaging but not others.
+While I can totally see why still work requires the straight verticals, I can not see it for video. I like the way video moves and I think interesting movement trumps verticals almost every time. I guess I am in the minority here 🙂
+Here is a show on HGTV about Barak Obama’s house in Hawaii. Lots of great shots in the show, but not a straight vertical to be found. Here are some screen grabs I took from the show.
+Grant Johnston June 20th, 2017 at 2:47 pm #
+Being a video guy I tend to agree with Lee here. Thats an interesting topic that I’ve only ever seen or heard about when you talk with real estate stills photographers who shoot video as well!
+Don’t get me wrong I’m all for making properties not look distorted when shooting them and doing my best to make them look good. However for example if I’m shooting a wide of a room I will always tend to have the camera pointed slightly down to achieve a pleasing composition to the shot which can sometimes be at the cost of verticals distortion. I will always err on the side of framing for composition first and verticals distortion second.
+If wide angle distortion was as easy to fix in video as it is with stills then yes perhaps my framing of verticals would be different. I would even go so far as to challenge a stills photographer that says they are framing for non-vertical distortion first and shot composition second!
+I’ve also seen examples of stills photographers who have obviously shot on super wide lenses and then corrected the verticals which end up with an image that just looks weird and unnatural, sort of like an Escher art work!
+I also believe people can get too hung up on this for if you are shooting commercially (ie. a paid job for a client or repeat business) we shoot it to the best of our ability but at the end of the day its a satisfied client that is the ultimate judge of your work not how straight your verticals are!
+I’m sure common sense prevails with all of the readers here and we wouldn’t purposely shoot wides with fish eye lenses (unless thats the effect you were after) and like anything its great to have a knowledge of the ‘ideals’ when shooting but also knowing when you can break these rules if practicality or demands require it.
+Thats my 10 cents worth.
+Allan MacKenzie June 21st, 2017 at 2:43 pm #
+With my very limited knowledge and experience on the video subject, there are simple effect tools to straighten verticals. CORNER PIN EFFECT is one that springs to mind! You also can rotate and scale the image too – I have a very old tutorial here > but still relevant. Maybe it can help someone? that’s my 2 cents worth!
+Charlie Dresen June 22nd, 2017 at 5:41 am #
+Great video Allan. I’ve never tried that one. Seems Premiere is endless.
+Before leaving for what would be a new home, the teacher stopped me, it seems he wanted to talk something important to me.
+“Listen, Rein, I want you to fulfill a mission or a favor, call it what you want, my daughter will also go with you, she has been in rehabilitation all her life and until a few months ago she has walked again, you will be her bodyguard and you will let nothing happen to her, promise me! She can be very rude because she has been locked up almost all her life and her attitude towards others is not very good, but I still want you to take care of her”.
+"But why do you insist that I go to that place", I said in a reproachful tone.
+"It is the ideal place for her to socialize, since she has never done it before, besides, you are the only person who is capable of doing this, if something happens to her, you will be the one who pays for it, you heard!".
+"Understood, it is not so much", after answering, he shouted.
+“Emma! Come here, I'll introduce you to someone! ”
+As we were on the plateau of a mountain, in the background there was a small cabin and from there the girl came out, she came to us and the teacher introduced her.
+"She is my daughter Emma Aron, Emma, he is Rein Hasenton and he will be your new bodyguard."
+"Nice to meet you", I told her and extended my arm to shake her hand, but she was looking in another direction and nonchalantly squeezed her saying "Yes, of course," after letting go, she wiped her palm with her clothes, rather conceited.
+"Listen two of you, the Reisen Academy will open its doors in a week, it is the largest in the continent and is located in our allied empire Endobeus, every year students with extremely high levels are presented, I want you to take that exam".
+The teacher was with his arms crossed waiting for the reproach of one of us and took a cigar from his pocket, when he lit it and started smoking, I said.
+"I have heard of that place, they say that thousands of students are presented every year and that only ten percent are able to enter".
+"Yes, certainly the chances are low, but even so in the process they can become strong and try next year."
+"What a stupidness, I do not know how strong the enclenque I have for 'bodyguards', but for me to enter that academy is like taking a candy from a child", Emma replied to her father to finally turn and walk where she had come.
+After a week of traveling by land, we reach the Endobeus empire, the largest and most powerful on the continent.
+More than two centuries ago a world war occurred in which nuclear weapons were used, the devastation of that war was colossal, most countries were annihilated, a small part of Europe and Asia survived that apocalypse, the war zones were they became uninhabitable by the radiation of the bombs and because of that the people who managed to leave their countries moved to that small habitable point.
+Technology based on electrical energy disappeared and humanity returned to the middle ages.
+The time was advancing and the radiation giving way, the habitable territory became bigger and with it its population.
+Suddenly a few decades ago, man developed very advanced technologies, the bombs used in the war were too crude, so they created energy-based weapons where the range of damage was thousands of times lower.
+Today it is common to fight with weapons of energy, energy of any kind, and controlling it has become a study in the use of war.
+With the system of countries shattered, small towns were created and then cities, to finally form empires, and one of them we were heading.
+"We have finally arrived", she exclaimed in disgust.
+As the teacher had said, I had to act as a bodyguard for that girl, of course I opposed the idea, but he was clear on that, she Emma Aron, was too hostile to me due to the fact that I had to be with her.
+It had been a long journey since we crossed several empires along the way to get there, the academy of the Endobeus Empire, Reisen, the largest and most prestigious in the continent, opened its doors every year to the world, were thousands of students who presented themselves and about two hundred and forty of them entered.
+When we arrived at the academy, there were too many people, although the place was immense, it could not accommodate so many people, so, some advertisements were placed around the academy.
+"Hey, whatever your name is, look what the ad says," she said, very angry at all the hustle and bustle.
+It didn't bother me that she spoke to me with contempt, I already knew that she had that attitude with everyone, so, why bother to recriminate her?.
+When I saw the announcement, it reported that, having so many people wanting to take the admission exams, the deadline to take the test would be divided into several days, we had to download a mobile application and sign up for it to give us the day that we would introduce ourselves.
+As the announcement said, we signed up and waited two days until I finally got the notification to present the exam, Emma still didn't get it, it was a relief at least not to have to stay with her during the exam.
+Once I reached a large section of the academy, there were many applicants gathered, nobody knew each other since the place was silent, after about twenty minutes of waiting, a teacher showed up and began to explain what the test would consist of.
+“I’m Professor Chiara Drosu, pay close attention because I’m not going to repeat it again, in this academy, the admission exam has changed constantly every year because many applicants came and tried to cheat or sometimes they presented it so much that they ended up passing, the fact is that the exam has to be partial for everyone, without anyone having an advantage over the other, this year the test has been divided into three stages, the first will be a written exam where it will test your knowledge about energy, fields and mathematics, in the second stage their energy management and accommodation will be evaluated, in the third stage that is the most important of the three, their combat skills will be evaluated either using energy or without it, they will fight one against one against a randomly chosen opponent. Now, if you at all stages get a relatively low rating, there will be judges who will see you in the fighting and if you have talent to fight, then you can enter by jury order, but be careful, only five people with this modality can pass. The fighting has already been calculated and each one will fight three times. In ten minutes the written test will begin. Enter this room and take your seat assigned to you in the application”.
+She pointed us to the room and we all entered, in the application I was assigned seat number seventy-four, I got there and took a seat.
+When the advisor arrived in the classroom, he gave us the instructions.
+“The written exam has fifty questions about energy use, control methods, mathematics, fields and effects on bodies. When I give them the exam sheets, they will turn them upside down and they won't see them until everyone has received the exam, therefore, I will give the order to start, they have an hour to solve it, they will be given another sheet to make calculations if it is necessary, no extra time will be given. When the time runs out, everyone flips the sheet again, their exam and request are canceled if they copy another person or if they continue to take the exam after the time runs out. Some questions are open and others with multiple answers, in any case they have to answer and justify it, does anyone have any questions?".
+After he finished speaking, a couple of subjects spoke.
+"What happens if someone finishes early?".
+"Which what we will have to write on the exam?".
+“If someone finishes ahead of time, they have to wait in their place for everyone to finish, and when they are given the exam, in the bag they will see a pencil and other instruments to carry out the exam. Any other questions?”, exclaimed the advisor.
+"...".
+"Then we will begin to deliver the bags with the exams, by the way, that bag keep it in your pocket because when they finish, they will have to put the exam back in it".
+One by one the exams began to be distributed by the advisor, there were two other people who were at the side of the classroom watching that no one turned the sheet early, once the advisor finished handing out, he looked at his watch and said.
+"Everyone can flip the exam, from now you guys have one hour to finish it. Start now!".
+Once he finished speaking, he began to run time on the cronometer of his watch.
+I opened the bag, took out the instruments, flipped the exam and began to read it, seeing the first questions I realized that it would be difficult, I was not good handling those concepts and some were very complex to understand, some questions I didn't answer and others simply I randomized, but that wouldn't work either because the advisor said he had to justify the answers.
+I was not good at handling these concepts since I was never taught, my training was more practical than theoretical, although I was taught the basics concepts, few of them appeared on the exam.
+After the hour I realized that I had only answered a few questions and also did not know if they were well justified, if before coming I knew there would be written exam, I would have studied at least a little, anyway I had lost that exam, I just depended of the other two stages.
+“Time is up! Everyone, turn the leafs, I will pass through the stalls picking up the bags with their exams”, said the advisor when he heard his stopwatch whistle.
+That exam would give me few points to enter, I was confident that I would will be well in the other two stages because they were dedicated to the physical issue.
+When the advisor picked up all the bags with the exams he exclaimed.
+"Everyone get out that door, your next advisor will be out for the second stage of the exam".
+It was a different door from the one we had entered, it was at the front of the classroom, which led us deeper into the academy.
+The rest of the stages were going to be done in all over the place.
+When I crossed the door I was surprised that the place was bigger even than it seemed on the outside, there was a woman who called us raising her arm, she was the teacher who gave us the introduction, Chiara Drosu.
+“Come here guys, come and get together quickly! I will explain the second stage”.
+Once we had all crossed the door, we went around a large, completely dry and arid field that was outdoors, in the part where the adviser was, there were some large machines that were at least one meter high.
+When judging by their appearance, they looked like heavy machines, some hoses came out of the back and were connected to some rocks that varied in size, I looked at the stones and noticed that they were of a strange material, some were bluish green and others of color Orange red that were the biggest rocks. Their sizes ranged from about thirty centimeters to a meter in diameter, I immediately assumed what we would do in this test, we would have to move those strange rocks with our energy, although here we were all newbies to manipulate it, the most obvious is that this machine would help us channel it for greater focus.
+“In this second stage, everyone will concentrate the energy to try to move these rocks, with that we will calculate your control capacity, for that there are these machines, however, if there is someone who can move these rocks and do not need the machines, you will have a higher rating, these are not normal rocks, their material and consistency will help us measure their energy flow through them and give a much more accurate rating, it not only will be able to move the rocks, also measure their fluidity, we have three machines, so they will pass three by three, please line up and let's start”.
+A large line formed behind the machines, I was almost at the end, so I had to wait a long time.
+From a distance I could see that the majority used the machine, but a few moved the stones without using them, I do not say that it was much, but they were very advanced, surely they were those of those that are above average.
+When my turn finally arrived, I approached the machine and a module detached itself from it, the consultant from there took out a control that opened in two, in that control, I had the mold of one hand printed.
+"Will you use the machine to move the rock?".
+She asked me holding control in the air.
+"I don't think I can do it without the machine," I told him.
+"This machine will measure the flow of energy, when you put the module in your hand, concentrate the greatest amount of energy in it and the stones will move according to the intensity."
+I extended my hand and she placed it on the mold to later close it, the hand was trapped as in a sandwich, inside it felt very hot because the other applicants had used it too much, the module was very heavy, I had to grab my right hand with the left to support the weight.
+When I began to concentrate my energy, I watched the stones and only one of them moved slightly, it was the smallest of all.
+"Concentrate more energy, you will have to put all your effort to at least move the medium-sized ones".
+I tried to concentrate the energy as much as I could, but I only managed to move the smallest stone, after a minute of holding control, I felt too much fatigue, had drained a lot of energy and felt weak.
+"We're going to leave it there, I don't want you to pass out or die for trying such a simple exercise", she said in an annoyed tone.
+Some applicants who were close laughed, it seems they saw a demonstration too ridiculous.
+"It's one of the lowest grades I've seen, really, I don't know why such weak guys come to present these tests, I guess they think this place is like the academy of their town, kid, you waste your time".
+She was right, the number of people who showed up were thousands and the chances of passing are slim, but I had other options, the first stages were not my forte, although I already had more than half of the lost test, just I had the fighting stage, after reflecting on what she said, I replied.
+"That's right, but the flow of energy is not everything, but rather, how you use it on the battlefield, which ultimately counts".
+"It seems you say it as if you had experience".
+She said staring at me waiting for me to confirm her words.
+I tilted my head from side to side and said, "It's general training, if I didn't know, I wouldn't be here trying to beat the elite of the elite."
+She removed her smile and with a serious face answered me.
+"I'll be watching you boy".
+After that, she informed us all that we would take a break and in an hour the fighting would come.
+Of course, that machine had drained a lot of our energy, so it was logical a break to regain strength, I was not sure how the other fighters would fight, but I had to prepare for any possible scenario, it was rumored that some lost their lives and others ended up crippled for life.
+An hour had passed until they called us, we went to a part of the academy that by its appearance, was a great stage with a large platform in the center, the main gymnasium of the academy, was immense and surrounding it were the stands, although not We were many, as we sat we occupied a small space there, the advisor went up to the platform and began to explain the third stage.
+“So, the third stage will begin, calculating their number, everyone will fight three times with different randomly chosen opponents, they can use any type of tool to fight from swords, knives, knuckles, whips and of course also with energy, except firearms that are obsolete. We will provide these weapons before starting the fight, and they are only allowed to use these, some of these weapons are advanced, I will give you guys a demonstration of one of them”.
+Two people climbed a huge box, I understood that there were the weapons with which we would fight, once the box was above, the adviser opened it and took out the handle of a sword, then he explained.
+“This weapon is not like the others, when they channel their energy in the hand with which they hold the handle, the rest of the weapon will appear, depending on the energy and nature that its owner possesses, it can take different shape, color and edge. We have more than swords, however, everything works the same, the disadvantage is that those who do not dominate their energy well or are very novice to do so, will not be able to use these weapons, they can use ordinary steel weapons, but they can be broken by another one that use energy very easily”.
+The advisor took the handle of a sword and after he concentrated his energy, the sword took shape and shine, had the perfect shape of a sword with a color similar to that of steel.
+"Anyway, they should know that using this weapon has other disadvantages, if they do not measure their energy well, they can be faint in the middle of the fight, the sword uses all the energy of his carrier to manifest itself, if this is the first time that you guys use this weapon, will run that risk, if your opponent concentrates more energy in his weapon, the one with less energy will break, when this happens suddenly, if your user is not accustomed, the carrier can fall unconscious in the act, so everyone must be careful and not take too much risk ... Well, although it depends on each person, they are all different cases. ”
+The adviser deactivated the handle and put it back in the box, did the same with the other weapons and then talked to us about the rules.
+"As you guys are aspiring, you do not know how the fighting takes place inside the academy," one of his assistants took out a necklace that had a heart-shaped and grayish color, placed it around his neck, as it was a bit far from the platform, I did not distinguish its size well, but I would say that it was not very large, it hardly hindered his neck.
+"Before each fight, everyone must wear this necklace", he said, pointing to the assistant.
+“Once they put on the necklace, it will take all the energy and distribute it throughout their body, this will monitor their physical condition and we will ensure that they do not suffer from any cardiac disability. During the fight, the only rule will be not to kill his opponent, if they do they are disqualified and if they were students they would be expelled, to win they can either throw him off the platform, make him give up or break his collar, if the collar it breaks, all the energy in your body will dissipate and you will be unconscious, it's a very vital part, it's almost like your second heart, that's why we train you guys to protect it”.
+The necklace was placed at chest level, close to the heart, it was worn inside the clothes so that the enemy could not visualize it, as for the platform, I would say it was about two hundred percent sixty meters perimeter and the stands about a hundred meters high, it was a fairly large place.
+"On the top board the names will appear, when this call you, they step forward and go up to the platform", said the advisor as they lowered the platform box, people also began to arrive, but they were on the sides far from we, wearing the academy uniform, they should be second year onwards who came to see the applicants, although there were not many, you could tell when they were arriving.
+The exams have been done for two days and the platform was remarkably used, it had scratches and burns all over the ground, many clashes have been taking place with intensity.
+When the third stage finally began, they called the first two, approached the advisor who had the box next to him, after a minute examining the handles, both selected their weapons, then placed their necklace and the advisor said with microphone on hand:
+"One last thing, once the necklace is put on, they cannot take it off or they will be disqualified!".
+With those last words, the two applicants climbed into the ring and drew their weapons, both had ordinary steel swords, they would not use energy.
+"Start!" The advisor shouted and the fight began.
+With fencing movements, both began to fight, in the nearby bleachers, where the old students were, I heard boos and as they came more and more, they got closer to us, at some point I could hear someone saying, "That fight its so boring", "The newbies of this year seems mostly weak", "If they do not know how to use energy to fight, they are wasting time taking the exams", I realized that the level of the academy was high.
+“The first fight is over!”, said the advisor while I saw one of them lying on the floor, I could not see the broken necklace anywhere, maybe I was too far away to see it, he could not move and they lift him in a stretcher.
+“Next fight! The chosen ones take a step forward and go up!”, little by little they continued the fights, but most of them used ordinary weapons and others did not use, until finally a fight arrived where a subject used an energy weapon.
+“Start!”, the advisor shouted and they began to fight, from what I could see, it was a sword-shaped energy weapon, it was the first fight that involved a weapon of those, “oh, look, finally, something of emotion”, said one student.
+The other opponent had an ordinary steel weapon, when they both clashed swords, the steel sword broke in two and with that it went through the other subject's necklace", the combat is over, the winner is...!".
+The fights in those that used energy ended quickly, I realized that if I fought against someone like that, it would not help me to fight with an ordinary weapon, it would be over, but the strangest thing was that some participants gave up before they even started fighting, I didn't know why It was, but they did it premeditated.
+Many fights went on, finally, the board showed my name, I stepped forward and headed to where the advisor was.
+"Choose your weapon of preference, no problem if it breaks, choose the one that suits you", there were steel weapons and many gun handles that could not be distinguished what weapon it was.
+"What weapon is this?", asked my opponent.
+"That is the handle of a whip", replied the adviser, "There are many handles, which of all is a sword that uses energy?", hearing that, I knew that the fight was not going to be easy, besides, no weapon that was there would serve me, ordinary weapons would only break, while those of energy could not use them, my ability did not allow me to use them, if I used them, I could end up unconscious, I knew that after doing the test of second stage.
+“What weapon are you going to choose? You, the one in the tracksuit, can choose the ones you want”, the advisor told me when he saw that I was thinking too long and had not chosen anything.
+"I will go without weapons" I replied, and he reacted by opening my eyes as if saying "Let's see what it does", my opponent looked at me shrewdly as if wanting to verify if I was someone very strong, although I did not stand out much, the only thing was the fact I had bandaged my arms, but it didn't show since my tracksuit covered up to the wrist.
+Once I went up to the platform, I looked around, the students who were watching the fights were muttering, "Do you really fight without weapons?", "Hahaha are you crazy, right?", "Must be someone strong", the right was that I had at disadvantage, but I had a trick under my sleeve
+"You're underestimating me too much or I'm doing it", my opponent must have thought it was too easy.
+"I can't use weapons like yours", I replied.
+"If so, then you will be an easy prey, but I'm not going to trust you", he replied confused, apparently, it was someone who had already taken the exam before.
+The test has always had that stage of the fighting, the only thing that changed, were the first stages.
+They put us the necklace on and I held it for a look, it wasn't heavy and I didn't feel any trouble putting it on, it wouldn't get in the way much in the fight, I put it inside the tracksuit so it wouldn't be easy to reach and he did the same.
+"Start!", the advisor shouted and the fight began.
+The fight started and my rival activated his weapon that was a sword that worked with his energy, there were many options for this fight, he could dodge his attacks until he ran out, but I know that with the sword, if you are very skilled, you can give many uses to energy in a combat, the problem was that, he did not know what kind of attacks he could make.
+Immediately the fight began, my rival pounced on me, trying to cut me with his sword, I was fast due to training and took a step back to dodge it, once crouched down, I put my hands on the ground and tried to kick the handle of the sword that my opponent held with both hands to try to make him release it, he saw my kick coming and placed the handle at an opposite angle and printed all his strength, my kick was returned because he printed more strength, I was exposed on the ground and my opponent kicked me, I used my arms to cushion the blow, however, it made me go back a few meters.
+"You are good at melee fights, it shows that you have trained".
+"Energy, I don't have enough of it... but it can be used in many ways", I said, looking at him seriously.
+“Hahahaha, what nonsense you say, if you don't know how to use this simple energy handle, you don't know how to use anything, you idiot!”, he laughed out loud, it was logical, my level had been very low, there were also other ways of fighting having less energy, the case was to use it efficiently.
+My opponent pounced back at me, when he failed, I noticed that his attack was not to break my necklace, but to hurt me, he wanted to make me suffer before winning, with my first neutralized movement, I knew I could not do the same again, he would read my movement and it would be the end, so I backed away as he approached.
+Suddenly he stopped, stared at me and laughed for a moment, I knew immediately that he would make a ranged attack, waved his sword at me and let out a great wave of energy, looked like a bullet, although it was not as fast as this, Thanks to the fact that I had gone back a few meters, I could avoid his attack by jumping as much as I could, I avoided the direct impact, even so, his shot hit my calf by making a superficial cut.
+The cut felt very painful, but it could have been worse, when I fell, I noticed that the ground had a fissure all the way where his attack passed, when I looked up to see my opponent, I noticed he was panting, that attack must had cost him a lot of energy, I knew it was time for my counterattack.
+I went straight to him with the intention of surprising him, if he was tired, it would be slower, when I reached a meter away, he sent his sword to stick it in my leg where I knew he couldn't kill me, then, I took a step back and the tip of his sword touched my skin, with my right hand, I accumulated energy to impact at the right moment when I hit it, my hand began to take on a dark tone.
+"What the heck is that?!", shouted my surprised opponent, in less than two seconds, my hand was sliding towards his chest where the necklace was, but before that, my opponent raised his sword to cover and crashed against my hand that was open to distribute all the impact on his collar, a bang was heard and, due to the crash, there was a small flash, I felt how my necklace throbbed by the great surrounding energy, my energy did not resist and when I started to feel that my hand was cut, I pulled away immediately.
+I felt a picket, a red stripe divided my hand.
+"Damned you! What was that? ”Asked my opponent panting with signs of fatigue, of course, I was the same.
+“As I said before, the efficient use of energy is also an imposing weapon, I gathered a lot of energy in my hand and released it just at the moment of impact. It's something I had trained a lot,”, I explained, that had been my trump card, but the one that failed was part of my plan.
+"It takes a lot of training to achieve that and it is stupid to spend time on such a simple attack", replied my opponent.
+It was certainly a very simple attack, but it was something that I specialized in, I did not respond to his complaint, I just stood still a few moments to think about the next movement, then without waiting, he envied against me, we were certainly far away, but as that he was approaching I didn't move, when he was about to hit me, he noticed that my hand was getting dark again and he smiled.
+“Do you think that mediocre attack will work again !?”, we crossed glances and he was confident, immediately, I raised my hand to repeat the same movement and, seeing that, my opponent took his sword to cover his necklace because my hand was going there, he knew until that moment that my energy was inferior to his, but that was what I expected, just before the impact, I increased all my energy to the maximum, when both sides collided, my hand broke his sword and pierced his defense until I hit his chest and that way his necklace was shattered, the pieces came out from under his clothes.
+"How you could...", my opponent collapsed, suddenly, the students in the stands were silenced, I did not want that technique to be known, but in the end I had to use it and make that strategy, I observed the hand that had hit, I was tempering, I used a lot of energy in that movement, I wasn't getting tired at all, however, it make me take a deep breath.
+"The winner is Rein Hasenton!", the advisor shouted and some applause came from the students they were watching, after that, I went to my place.
+The result of that fight was small wounds in my left calf and right hand, which because of the situation, I could not cure him, the fights continued.
+Once the first round of fights ended they gave us a half-hour break.
+I got up from the seat and to stretch and move my muscles for the next meeting, I decided to walk around the platform to tour the entire gym, while I was walking, someone approached me, he was a student of the academy.
+"What a good fight you have done, your technique is something peculiar".
+"Sure", I replied without giving much importance, but he wanted to have a conversation with me.
+"You know, I tried to take the admissions exam three times and I've been in academy for a year now, this is the first time I've seen a technique like that."
+That guy had been watching the admission exams for too long, I took advantage of that to clarify my doubts.
+“Why do some people retire before fighting the first fight? I do not get it".
+He was thoughtful, maybe I surprised him because it was my first exam and he had won the match without using weapons.
+“So it's your first time, huh. Well, you see, those who retired are applicants who have been trying for years”.
+"That doesn't answer my question".
+“Yes, yes, that's what I'm going to, they know that if they lose the first fight and save that energy to fight later, they will most likely win the last two fights, for example, you've spent a lot of energy on the first fight, if you fight with someone who saved your energy, you would probably lose, and the same goes for the third fight. That is why it is very rare to see someone who wins all three matches”.
+It was a very smart move, however, it was based on chance, if you were lucky, someone who spent most of their energy in the first match could come out, as in my case, the problem was that I could go out against someone who also saved his energy, at least, I had already secured the first fight.
+"And what did you do?", I asked boldly.
+"I? I did the same thing as them, I lost the first fight giving up and saved those energies, in the end, I ended up winning the last two fights, it is a strategy that is used very often by those who repeat the exams".
+Everything made sense, that's why they were losing on purpose, although there were not many who did it, but if I have to fight against one of them and even worse if they know how to use energy, then I would have nothing to do, all I expected, It was fighting someone in the second round who didn't know how to use energy.
+We keep walking and we sit near the other students, "Excuse me, I didn't show up, my name is Halley Yermak and for what the advisor said, you're Rein Hasenton, right?", he asked me smiling, "That's right", I replied.
+The second round had already begun and we talked while watching the fighting. I was curious to know more about the academy.
+"Are you second year?".
+"Yes, how do you know?".
+"You said you had been in the academy for a year".
+"Yes, right, I forgot, there are also a few who fail year."
+"Fail year? I did not know that in this prestigious place that happened."
+"It occurs in rare cases".
+"What about the academy, are there very strong subjects?"
+"There certainly are, these fights are children's games compared to what they can do."
+"You say it as if you had lived, have you fought any of them?".
+"Well, there is no point in explaining this to you now, since you have not been admitted, but I will tell you, here you have at least one fight per week and that adds points for your ranking in the academy, I have fought against them, but I have also observed their fights that take place on the different platforms where they are usually challenged, the fights are so intense that they have destroyed the platform several times”.
+Then he replied almost mockingly, "But they do not compare with the Emperor, he is unattainable, after all, he is the founder of the academy".
+On the continent, those empires whose leaders were most powerful were the ones that covered the most territory. This academy is located in the Endobeus Empire, which is the largest in the continent.
+"I understand, and he comes to the academy often?".
+I already knew beforehand that the emperor was the one who created the academy, so, as founder, maybe he came from time to time.
+"He only comes to give the welcome and closing speech".
+The emperor was my goal, however, I needed a lot to climb that mountain.
+"Will he also give the speech this year?", I said to confirm.
+"Yes, it is supposed," he replied looking up and then said.
+"Look, isn't that your name on the board?".
+I looked up and it was true, a few seconds ago they had called me, I went down the stairs and climbed into the ring, my rival was already there.
+When I glanced at him, he had an ordinary steel sword in his hand, apparently, this time I will not waste energy.
+Again I told the adviser that I would not use weapons and the fighting began.
+"Start!".
+I didn't have much energy because of the first fight, and my opponent seems to be one of those who gave up in the first fight, but he didn't know how to use energy, it was going to be very easy for me.
+I could break his necklace using my technique as I did with the other subject, but I wanted to save it as much as I could, I opted to throw it off the platform, I took the initiative and went straight to him, my opponent with his sword, pointed straight at me necklace, although he knew that he could not kill me, his sword would only cut superficially, when he threw his sword against me, I stepped to his left and took his wrist with my left hand, with my right, I applied a blow in that area and released his sword, as soon as the weapon fell, I kicked it away and he ran after it, I used all my speed and reached it before he took it, I stretched my right leg and with my foot, I hit its fulcrum and made it fall, as soon as I did, I grabbed his ankles with both hands and threw him off the platform.
+"The winner is Rein Hasenton!".
+I was lucky to have an easy opponent, but making a general balance, the first two stages were practically losses, I could not do more than try to win the three fights to have a chance to pass, one more match left and the third stage will be over.
+I took a seat and the second year subject was still there, when I sat down, he said, "Good combat, although it was a little easy".
+"I've been in training almost all my life, and most of those who come here are just amateurs".
+"You are close to achieving it, that you envy me, you can be one of the few that can win all three fights, even overcome what I did in two years", that guy had become very friendly with me.
+"It may be, but better not to talk ahead of time, I haven't won the third fight yet".
+"Yeah, that's true".
+The second round was over, the fighting lasted a few seconds, the one who could use energy won in a matter of an instant against someone who used ordinary weapons, of course, except for my case, but I was a specialist in what I did.
+They gave us another half hour of rest, I got up from the seat and walked around the gym to warm up a bit, seeing the stands, there were students who didn't look away from me, when I turned around, I took my place again and waited for the rest got ended.
+"The third and final round will begin immediately", said the adviser andd the board already had the first two names.
+"Start!".
+While watching the fights, Halley followed the conversation.
+"You know, one of my teammates carefully analyzed your first fight".
+"And? What did he say? ”, I was very curious.
+“That first blow you made with your right hand, which hit your opponent's sword, was premeditated, you knew that with that force I would not be able to break his sword, your intention was to make him trust, if you had hit him with all your strength since at first, you would break his sword, but then he could dodge the blow, you just did it to make sure that the second blow will hit him full and take him by surprise”.
+His analysis was completely amazing, he was definitely among the elite of the elite, although it was a simple strategy, he read it as if he had executed it himself.
+"Yes, that's right, your friend has a good eye".
+After a while, my name finally came out and I went to the front.
+Frankly I was very exhausted, but when I watched my opponent, I noticed that he was putting a lot of effort to stand up, when I realized that, I tried not to show signs of tiredness to persuade him to give up, we both looked at each other, that was when he said with his head bowed, "I give up, I don't have the strength to continue", I couldn't believe it, he really had given up.
+With that I got the feat of winning all three rounds, with a little luck, but I had succeeded.
+When I returned to my seat, Halley congratulated me, for some reason, he felt empathy for me.
+"Congratulations, you got it, to tell you the truth, I have seen very few who manage to do that, win all three fights although with luck, but not everyone has it", I looked towards a place where there were suspicious subjects and I asked.
+“By the way, who are those up there? I can barely see his silhouette, there are three people”, I said, pointing with my finger, it was in the last steps where they were sitting.
+"Ah, those? They are the jury, they are there to watch the fighting".
+"I understand, I hadn't noticed them before".
+"True, they watch through cameras installed above the gym, but sometimes they go out to see the match in person".
+That is why I had not noticed them before, they had arrived recently, I do not know if my sight deceived me, but they were watching in my direction, I decided to ignore it.
+Finally, the third round of the fighting was over, many applicants could not finish, either because they were unconscious or injured, like the subject I defeated in the first round, there were little less than we originally started.
+"The results will come out in the application once all the applicants have finished the test, the score will be evaluated in one hundred points and those who enter will be the ones with the best average, any questions?", said the advisor who was in the middle of the platform.
+"When will the exams end?", someone in the crowd asked.
+“As you are many people, we calculate that in a week or two, depending on the number of applicants attending, although they are registered, some do not show up, so the time varies a lot, I cannot give an exact day, but everyone must reviewing the application constantly after a week”, replied the advisor.
+"Any other question?".
+"...".
+"Well, everyone can go home, we're done for today, go out the back door", he said, pointing his hand behind us.
+I said goodbye to Halley thinking that I may never see him again and left for the inn where I was staying.
+When I arrived, Emma was reading a book in the living room, I completely ignored her, there is no point talking to someone who doesn't want to see you, when I was about to enter the room, I heard a soft voice.
+"Well, how were the exams?", I was surprised that she had spoken to me, but anyone would like to know the exam that will take in a few days, even if it was completely different in his topics.
+"It was an exam that was divided into three stages, the first two of knowledge and use of energy and the last of one-on-one fighting", I explained briefly. I didn't want to stay with her for a long time.
+"Ah", she said, without taking his eyes off his book, seeing that she said no more, I went into my room and went to bed to rest, I was very exhausted and while I lay in bed, I meditated a little, if I lost the first fight, it would be the end of entering the academy, so I put all my effort into winning and, as a result, my body ached and the wounds I had in my hand and leg.
+Days and weeks passed while we waited for the results, I don't know what day Emma presented the exam, but I wasn't interested either, I wasn't watching her all the time, I was her bodyguard, but we hadn't passed the exam yet, I would just have problems within the academy.
+The teacher I currently have is the father of that girl, I did not think she was someone strong, she spent all her life in rehabilitation, had not yet seen what she could do, but imagined it was little.
+Concurred the days where she and I hardly talked, she had to think: "Why did my father leave me with this guy?". If she was really strong, her annoyance to me was because I looked inferior to her and being her bodyguard offended her a lot, it wasn't that I could do something, since I was forced to do it.
+When the day of the results arrived, my phone rang and I received the notification of the results that were in the application, I opened it and eagerly looked for my name among those admitted, since the notification indicated that I was accepted, I assumed that I was one of the last to enter, but when I searched the whole list, I did not find my name, but the surprise I took was that Emma had passed among the top ten.
+Wow, she is really is strong, I see that her father trained her and being In a wheelchair it did not affect her much, but the most important thing here, was that my name did not appear anywhere, although I had been admitted and, surely, she also looked for me and not finding me, worsened his expectations towards me. In short, I had to go to the academy and ask in person.
+Having no other choice, I left for the academy to ask and, before leaving the inn, Emma told me with a cold smile, “Tsk, how weak you are, and to think that my father left me a bodyguard so mediocre that he was not admitted , it's a shame”, I looked into her eyes and seemed to be happy for the news, to tell you the truth, I already expected her to say something like that, I replied holding my phone in the air in her direction.
+“The notification says that I am admitted, I will go to the academy to see what the problem is”, and I left the place without saying more.
+When I arrived at the entrance, I noticed that they had put some huge lists on the walls and I began to search among those lists for my name, there were not many people since everyone received notification through the application, but here it also happens that it did not appear my name, a little stunned by the situation, I went to the gate where the guard was and asked him.
+"I need to enter the academy".
+"What do you need to do?".
+"I want to talk to a teacher or advisor".
+"But what do you need to know? It's something about those admitted, right?".
+"How do you know?".
+"Several people have already come to ask the same thing".
+"If you know, tell me, why doesn't my name appear on the admitted list even though I was notified?".
+"You must appear in a different one, on the left wall is the other list".
+"I'll go see".
+That list was very small, so I had not noticed before, which entitled "List of admitted by order of the jury", was a small list of five people and in the last position was my name, of course, my score would never have me reached to pass, winning the three fights was what it meant that I was admitted, it is not the best way to enter, but I did it.
+My name did not appear on the official list, which was strange to me, I returned to where the guard was and I asked him why.
+“Although you have entered, you are not yet on the list of new students, but you have been officially admitted".
+"If I have been admitted, I should be on that list with everyone else".
+“That information is told on the day that you go to the opening ceremony, since every year they do it the same, but if you want to know now, I will tell you, the five who passed by jury order still do not have a class assigned, as there are six classes for five people, they will play several bouts on the first day of school, the winners go to the upper classes while the losers go down”.
+"Which classes?".
+"Classes are in alphabetical order A, B, C, D, E and F".
+"But we are five people for six classes."
+"None of you enter class A, you do not have the requirement to do so, that class is reserved for the best of each year."
+I had already understood, even though we had passed by order of the jury, they gave us an order and I was the last one, so I have to fight twice because we are an odd number of people, after those fights, it is decided who goes to each class, and that directly implies that being in an upper class has advantages over others, I did not know which, but if all classes were equal, there would be no need to fight each other to reach the highest.
+With all clear, I returned to the inn, when I arrived, a sharp voice stopped me.
+"And good? What happened? It would be surprising that a useless man like you did it”, and without waiting a single second I answered.
+"I was admitted by order of the jury on a different list."
+"Oh, they took pity on you".
+As I said at the beginning, she is quite conceited, after she knowing that I was able to enter, her annoyance was evident, but I cannot blame her, if her boyguard is weaker than her, anyone would bother, anyway, her attitude towards me was very hostile and in the academy it was going to be worse, but it didn't matter, after all, it was an order from the teacher and it didn't matter what she or I said.
+Thank you for reading!
+Abstract
+Traumatic.
+Introduction
+Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common, major cause of disability and death that occurs secondarily to accidents, competitive sports and even war. A primary lesion forms at the point of impact, but there are also secondary injuries of TBI, including secondary brain injury and peripheral organ injuries1, 2, which are key factors influencing the clinical prognosis3. Previous studies have primarily focused on secondary brain injuries caused by rapidly elevated brain glutamate-induced excitotoxicity4, 5. However, acute lung injury (ALI) induced by brain injury, which is also known as traumatic brain injury-induced acute lung injury (TBI-ALI) or neurogenic pulmonary oedema (NPE), is another salient cause of patient death6, 7. Although it has been reported that the incidence of TBI-ALI might reach 50% or more8, this disease has not received sufficient attention in clinical practice because it is relatively unpredictable, has a lack of specific, aetiological diagnostic markers and has similar clinical manifestations to severe pulmonary infection. Thus the diagnosis of TBI-ALI is mainly dependent on exclusion, and it is often overlooked or misdiagnosed9, 10. In contrast to TBI-ALI, multiple peripheral trauma (MPT), which refers to multiple peripheral organ damage or tissue trauma that results from a variety of causes without central nervous system injury, and multiple peripheral trauma-induced acute lung injury (MPT-ALI) are easily induced by MPT-associated haemorrhagic shock, fat embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), or other causes11, 12.
+Two classical theories, blast theory and permeability defect theory, have been proposed and are widely accepted as explanations of the pathogenesis of TBI-ALI13. However, our recent studies have shown that in addition to brain glutamate levels, blood glutamate levels increase dramatically after TBI, especially in patients with TBI-ALI14. Additionally, a previous report found that increased blood glutamate levels might cause peripheral organ damage15, but it remained unclear whether these increased levels were related to the occurrence of TBI-ALI.
+Therefore, based on our preliminary findings, the aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between high concentrations of blood glutamate and TBI-ALI and to explore the possible role and the predictive power of blood glutamate in the development of TBI-ALI. We accomplished these goals by collecting more cases of TBI and MPT than in previous studies while taking into account that TBI patients often present with peripheral injury. Thus, MPT/MPT-ALI patients served as a trauma control group to eliminate the interference of peripheral injury in TBI/TBI-ALI patients, thus allowing for further clarification of the role of blood glutamate in this particular type of ALI.
+Results
+Patient characteristics
+The patients ranged in age from 19 to 87 years, with an average age of 47 years. The cohort was predominantly male (79.3%) and was more likely to have been involved in traffic accidents (59.8%). In total, 78.3% (n = 72) of the patients underwent a surgical procedure. A total of 37 patients were also diagnosed with ALI, including 21 who were diagnosed with TBI-ALI and 16 who were diagnosed with MPT-ALI. The median hospital stay was 24 or 28 days for the patients with TBI or MPT, respectively, and 5 patients died more than 7 days after admission (Table 1). The detailed patient information is listed in Tables S1–S3; the details of the patients who presented with ALI are listed separately in Table 2. A single sample was obtained from 50 healthy volunteers (age range, 43–67 years; average age, 50 years; 68% men).
+Blood glutamate concentration was obviously elevated in patients with TBI or MPT
+As shown in Fig. 1a and b, the mean blood glutamate concentration in patients with either TBI or MPT was significantly higher than in the controls (p = 0.008 and 0.004, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the two patient groups (p > 0.05) (Fig. 1b). Moreover, we observed time-dependent changes in the blood glutamate concentrations in these two groups. The glutamate concentrations were significantly higher in the patients with TBI than in the controls at 1, 3, and 7 days after admission, and no significant difference was observed among these three time points (Figure S1). However, elevated blood glutamate concentrations were only observed on days 1 and 3 in the patients with MPT, and these levels quickly returned to baseline within 7 days (Figure S1).
+Distribution of patients at each concentration interval (every 25 μM) (a) and the mean blood glutamate concentrations (b) in the control, MPT and TBI groups. The time-dependent changes in blood glutamate concentration in patients with different severities of TBI (c) or MPT (d) are shown. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 compared to the control group; # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, and ### p < 0.001 compared between the two groups; NS, not significant. Data are expressed as the means ± SE. Significance was determined by ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer post hoc tests or nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. MPT, multiple peripheral trauma; TBI, traumatic brain injury.
+Considering that different severities of TBI might result in various elevations of the blood glutamate concentration, we further analysed the relationship between disease severity and glutamate concentration. In the TBI patients, the blood glutamate concentrations significantly increased in those patients with severe injuries within 7 days and were consistently higher than the concentrations in patients with moderate or mild injuries. There was no significant difference between the latter two groups (Figs 1c and S1). However, elevated blood glutamate levels were only observed on the 1st and 3rd day in the patients with MPT (Fig. 1d), although higher blood glutamate concentrations were observed in patients with more severe injuries (Figure S1).
+Elevated blood glutamate concentrations were closely related to the occurrence of TBI-ALI but not MPT-ALI
+To analyse the relationship between blood glutamate concentration and ALI, we further divided the two patient groups into two subgroups according to whether the patient had ALI complications. In both situations, blood glutamate levels were always significantly higher in patients with TBI-ALI than in patients with TBI but without ALI (p < 0.001); however, in the MPT group, there was no significant difference in blood glutamate levels between patients with or without ALI (Fig. 2a). For all patients, blood glutamate concentrations were categorised according to the interquartile range (IQR), and the incidence of TBI-ALI in the high-level group was much higher than that in the medium- and low-level groups (p = 0.001); however, this trend was not observed in patients with MPT-ALI (Fig. 2b). Additionally, regression analysis showed that blood glutamate concentration upon admission was a risk factor for TBI-ALI (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.229; 95% CI, 1.082–2.634; p = 0.005) but not for MPT-ALI (adjusted OR, 0.996; 95% CI, 0.965–1.028; p = 0.802) (Table 3). Based on these results, we further hypothesised that blood glutamate concentrations might be closely related to the occurrence of TBI-ALI, but not MPT-ALI.
+(a) Comparison of glutamate concentrations between subgroups (with or without ALI) of patients with TBI or MPT. Data are expressed as the means ± SE. (b) Incidence of ALI according to different blood glutamate levels in patients with TBI or MPT. *p < 0.05 and ***p < 0.001 for comparisons between the two groups using two-tailed Student’s t-tests or nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests; NS, not significant. MPT, multiple peripheral trauma; TBI, traumatic brain injury.
+Blood glutamate levels were closely associated with the inflammatory response in TBI-ALI
+In the TBI group, all blood inflammatory markers (procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and counts of white blood cells (WBCs) and neutrophils (NEUs)) were present at higher levels in the patients with ALI than in those without ALI (p < 0.05); however, no such difference was observed in the MPT group. Surprisingly, the patients with MPT-ALI had lower CRP levels than the patients without ALI (Table 4). Notably, these results were consistent with the blood glutamate concentrations (Fig. 2a). Concurrently, we found an obvious correlation between blood glutamate levels and inflammatory markers in patients with TBI-ALI (r = 0.593, 0.670, 0.659, 0.596 for PCT, CRP, WBCs and NEUs, respectively; p = 0.000) (Figure S2). We also noted that, although the intensity of inflammatory responses was similar between groups (Table 4), the patients with TBI-ALI had significantly higher blood glutamate concentrations than the patients with MPT-ALI (p = 0.018 for 1st day; p < 0.001 for the mean value) (Fig. 2a). These results further suggested that the blood glutamate concentration is closely related to TBI-ALI and might be associated with the inflammatory response in this condition.
+The initial blood glutamate concentration was a better predictor of TBI-ALI than the Glasgow Coma Scale score
+Because the occurrence of TBI-ALI is typically concealed but progresses rapidly (Table 2), we tested whether the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and the blood glutamate concentration could be used as predictors of patients with TBI within 24 hours of hospital admission. Although the differences in the incidence of TBI-ALI in patients with severe, moderate and mild brain injuries were significant (p = 0.002), regression analysis showed that the GCS score was not a risk factor for TBI-ALI (adjusted OR, 1.197; 95% CI, 0.981–1.459; p = 0.076) (Table 3). Furthermore, a correlation analysis showed no obvious correlation between the initial blood glutamate levels and the GCS score (r = 0.224, p = 0.154) (Fig. 3a), and the median GCS score was not higher in patients with ALI than in patients without ALI (p = 0.062) (Fig. 3b).
+(a) There was no significant correlation between blood glutamate levels on admission and GCS score in patients with TBI (r = 0.224, p = 0.154). (b) No significant difference in GCS score was observed between patients with or without TBI-ALI (p = 0.062) using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. (c). The AUC-ROCs showed that the predictive value of glutamate levels (AUC = 0.792; 95% CI, 0.710–0.873) was better than that of GCS score (AUC = 0.652; 95% CI, 0.565–0.739) (p = 0.022) (d). ROC curve showing the logistic regression model for the combination of glutamate levels and GCS score (AUC = 0.829; 95% CI, 0.706–0.953), which was better than GCS score (p = 0.039) but not glutamate concentration (p = 0.243). ALI, acute lung injury; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; Glu, glutamate; TBI, traumatic brain injury.
+Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cut-off value for the blood glutamate level at admission as an indicator for a diagnosis of TBI-ALI was 99.89 μM, which yielded an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) of 0.792 (95% CI, 0.710–0.873). For the GCS score, the AUC-ROC was 0.652 (95% CI, 0.565–0.739) (Fig. 3c). The likelihood ratio test showed a significant increase in the predictive value of the glutamate concentration compared with that of the GCS score (p = 0.022). A logistic regression resulted in a combined glutamate and GCS score model with an AUC-ROC of 0.829 (95% CI, 0.706–0.953). The predictive power of the combined model was better than the GCS score (p = 0.039), but not the blood glutamate level alone (p = 0.243) (Fig. 3d).
+Discussion
+Despite biological variations, blood glutamate concentrations are relatively stable under physiological conditions16, 17. However, in the present study, we found that the blood glutamate concentrations of patients with TBI or MPT were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers and were related to injury severity in both patient groups, although the mechanisms involved may be different. In the patients with TBI, the elevated glutamate concentrations persisted for 7 days, whereas the patients with MPT showed a peak in blood glutamate levels on day 1 that quickly declined to baseline within 7 days. Although the mean glutamate levels were similar between the two patient groups, a subgroup analysis showed that the patients with TBI-ALI had much higher blood glutamate levels than the patients with MPT-ALI, and both subgroups had similar inflammatory response levels. Though the source of blood glutamate remains unclear, previous research found that blood cells, especially neutrophils18 and platelets19, and peripheral tissues20 might be the primary source of blood glutamate. However, considering that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is effectively “opened twice” after brain injury21, the much higher concentrations of intracranial glutamate may contribute substantially to the prolonged increase in blood glutamate concentrations in patients with TBI22. By contrast, in patients with MPT, when the inflammatory response is attenuated and the tissue recovers from injury, the level of glutamate released into the blood might rapidly decrease.
+TBI-ALI is the major complication following TBI, but its specific pathogenesis remains unclear10, 23. Our previous animal experiments revealed that the pathology of TBI-ALI may be related to blood glutamate levels14. In the present study, we observed that blood glutamate levels do not correlate with MPT-ALI but are closely related to the occurrence of TBI-ALI, which further confirmed our findings. These results also suggest that ALI alone is not a primary factor for elevated blood glutamate levels. In contrast, in our recent animal studies, blood glutamate did not play an important role in the development of MPT-ALI even if the glutamate levels have reached or exceeded those measured in TBI-ALI (data not shown).
+The inflammatory response is the main pathological change during the development of ALI24, and previous studies have also found that glutamate signalling plays an important role in lung inflammation25,26,27. In this study, we found a close connection between the levels of blood glutamate and the inflammatory response in patients with TBI-ALI. However, we could not determine whether the elevations in blood glutamate levels were induced by or caused an inflammatory response or even whether there was a reciprocal causal relationship. Our previous research has shown that localised increases in glutamate levels could convert the anti-inflammatory response of adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR) to a pro-inflammatory response in the brain28. Thus, the polymerisation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and A2AR, which is activated by a high concentration of blood glutamate, is likely to further strengthen this pro-inflammatory effect14. This mechanism might offer a possible explanation for this finding. Recent studies have also highlighted the important role of neuroimmunologic modulation in ALI29, though the specific mechanism by which blood glutamate contributes to the occurrence and development of TBI-ALI remains unknown and requires further investigation.
+It is common in clinical practice to use scores (such as the GCS score) as indicators or references for assessing patient prognoses. However, in this study, the GCS score was less accurate than the blood glutamate level in predicting TBI-ALI. Because the clinical manifestation of TBI-ALI lacks specificity and is often obscured by the primary disease, there is an urgent need for an objective and easily quantifiable parameter to predict the disease; therefore, blood glutamate levels make sense for use in clinical practice. Additionally, several studies have confirmed that lowering blood glutamate levels by haemofiltration30 or peritoneal dialysis31 exerts a protective effect on the brain. Based on the evidence revealed in this study, we believe that in the future, blood glutamate levels might be a good therapeutic target not only for brain injury but also for complicated lung injury in clinical practice.
+Strengths and limitations
+To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to provide clinical evidence that elevated blood glutamate concentrations are correlated with the incidence of TBI-ALI. We also preliminarily discussed the possible mechanism underlying this relationship and suggested that the blood glutamate concentration could be used to identify and treat at-risk patients. However, because this study was observational in nature rather than a randomised control study, we could not identify the causal relationships between blood glutamate levels, inflammation and TBI-ALI. It is notable, however, that our previous research14 and recent animal studies (data not shown) have strongly suggested the triggering role of blood glutamate in TBI-ALI. Therefore, in future studies, it will be necessary to assess these relationships by examining how changes in blood glutamate levels in patients affect the development of ALI and by observing subsequent changes. Another limitation is shown in Table S3: specifically, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher in the patients with MPT. As both of these proteins function as primary blood glutamate-scavenging enzymes, it is unknown whether this elevation was specific; a larger cohort of MPT patients may be needed for this determination. Finally, the relatively small sample size in this study precluded a more refined subgroup classification; therefore, even though the multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out on some major confounding factors (Table 3), there were many other hidden factors involved in this analysis. Thus, our current results must be carefully interpreted, and further studies with a larger sample size study and longer-term outcomes are needed to confirm our findings.
+Conclusions
+Blood glutamate concentrations dramatically increased following TBI and were closely related to the inflammatory response in TBI-ALI. Moreover, blood glutamate was found to be a good predictor of TBI-ALI and is a potential target for intervention during this condition.
+Methods
+Patients and controls
+From August 2015 to June 2016, 92 hospitalised patients, including 50 diagnosed with TBI and 42 diagnosed with MPT, were recruited from the Neurosurgery and ICU Departments of Daping Hospital after admission. Clinical diagnosis of TBI and indicators for acute head injury were assessed according to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria, while MPT was defined as an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score greater than or equal to 3 in one or more body regions other than the head32; all diagnoses were confirmed by computed tomography (CT) or X-ray, and Marshall scores were also recorded33. The present study assessed only patients who were older than 16 years. Patients with any significant extracranial injury (AIS > 1), a blast-induced or penetrating head injury, or pre-existing chronic brain diseases (e.g., epilepsy or chronic subdural haematoma) were excluded from the TBI group. Other exclusion criteria for both groups included direct chest trauma or pulmonary contusion, pre-existing major diseases of the lung (e.g., pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), liver (e.g., liver dysfunction), heart (e.g., coronary heart disease) or blood system (e.g., haemolytic anaemia)34, 35. Additionally, fifty healthy volunteers were selected as normal controls. After admission, the protocols used for treatment of the patients with TBI were based on international guidelines established by the Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF)36. The patients with MPT were managed using routine surgical or medical treatments. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Research Institute of Surgery and Daping Hospital. All participants (or legal guardians) in this study provided written informed consent. All analyses and data handling were performed under the guidelines of the NIH and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Trial registration: (registered on 19 July, 2015). Unique identifier: ChiCTR-RPC-15006770.
+Injury severity classification
+Either the initial GCS score or the Abbreviated Injury Scale-Injury Severity Score (AIS-ISS) was obtained and recorded as appropriate by experienced staff at the time of patient arrival with or without resuscitation after injury. For the patients with TBI, the GCS scores for severe, moderate, and mild cases were 3–7, 8–12, and 13–15 points, respectively37, 38. Under the AIS-ISS, the patients with MPT were classified as mild (<16), moderate (16–25) or severe (>25)39, 40.
+Diagnosis of complicated ALI
+In this study, two types of ALI, TBI-ALI and MPT-ALI, were discussed. Patients meeting The Berlin Definition for ALI/ARDS were characterised by the following: rapidly progressing dyspnoea, cyanosis and other symptoms of respiratory failure, with varying decreases in PaO2 and increases in PaCO2 after admission; an oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) < 300 with pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) < 18 mmHg; chest radiography (CT or X-ray) showing localised or diffused oedema or inflammatory changes; and with or without significantly increased blood inflammatory markers24, 41. To exclude interference from concurrent lung infection, we excluded those patients with confirmed pathogenic microbial infections42.
+Clinical and laboratory assays
+Venous blood samples (5 mL) were collected in heparinised tubes from the hospitalised patients and controls at the time of admission (examination) and at 6:00 am on the 3rd and 7th days after admission. Inflammatory markers (including PCT, CRP, and routine blood markers), indicators of hepatic function (e.g., AST, ALT and albumin) and indicators of renal function (e.g., creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)) were tested at the clinical laboratory, and the blood glutamate levels were analysed with our previously reported method43 at the Molecular Biology Center of our hospital by technicians blinded to the patient groups.
+Statistical analysis
+Data are expressed as the means ± standard errors (SE) in histograms and as the means (SE), medians (IQR) and n (%) in tables. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to analyse categorical variables, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey-Kramer’s post hoc tests, two-tailed t-tests or nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyse continuous variables. Spearman’s correlation test and uni-/multivariate regression models were used to analyse the relationships between two groups; the results were reported as either the r value or the unadjusted/adjusted ORs with 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. The AUC-ROCs were calculated to predict the occurrence of TBI-ALI44. A two-tailed value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed using Sigma plot software (version 12.5, Systat Software Inc, San Jose, CA) by a statistician blinded to the study.
+Data availability statement
+All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its Supplementary files).
+Ethics declarations
+Competing Interests
+The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
+Additional information
+Publisher's note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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+Acknowledgements
+We gratefully acknowledge the assistance and cooperation of the physicians, nurses and patients included in this study. We also thank the technicians and statisticians for their help and guidance. This study was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (311710.
+Gateway_0<<
+Gateway to Success
+This is MBA 505, the Gateway Experience—the first on-campus course in the program—and it is a trial by_1<<
+Building Balanced Bulldogs
+BU | BeWell is a campus-wide, collective effort to enhance the student experience outside the classroom.
+Building Balanced Bulldogs
+PUBLISHED ON Dec 13 2018
+Butler University's commitment to environmental sustainability was rewarded when Irvington House, the new residence hall that opened this year, was awarded LEED Gold status for its conservation elements integrated into the design and construction of the facility.
+This is Butler's sixth LEED project on campus and its fifth certified gold. Other LEED-certified projects are: the addition to the Pharmacy Building (gold); the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts (gold), the Hinkle Fieldhouse Administrative wing (gold), the Athletic Annex (silver), and the Fairview House residence hall (gold).
+Irvington House was built in partnership with American Campus Communities, which also built Fairview House.
+“I greatly appreciate our partnership with American Campus Communities in helping create another wonderful, sustainable building on campus," said Doug Morris, Associate Vice President of Facilities. "It is critical for us to continue developing sustainable buildings and spaces across campus that not only minimize the use of natural resources, but also provide healthy spaces for our students, faculty and staff to live, work and play.”
+Irvington House was recognized for:
+-Maximized open space. More than 60,000 square feet was designated as vegetated open space while over 32,000 square feet was designated as pedestrian-oriented sidewalks and other paving.
+-Alternative transportation. The building occupants have access to two different public bus routes, reducing greenhouses gas emissions and the building’s footprint.
+-Reduced water use. Low-flush, low-flow fixtures decrease potable water usage by more than 46 percent, resulting in 3.5 million gallons of water saved per year.
+-Responsible material choices. Recycling collection bins have been provided in multiple locations throughout the facility so that plastic, glass, metals, paper, and corrugated cardboard can easily be recycled by residents and visitors. More than 85 percent of the construction and demolition debris generated was diverted from landfills, more than 20 percent of the total value of construction materials used consisted of recycled content, and over 45 percent of the total value of construction materials used consisted of products that were manufactured and harvested within 500 miles of Indianapolis.
+-Reduced energy consumption. Efficient lighting design and use of LED fixtures result in over 50 percent savings in total lighting energy usage when compared to a baseline building. In addition, heating, ventilating, and cooling systems were selected to maximize energy savings where life-cycle cost effective.
+-Improved indoor environmental quality. The building was designed so that over 90 percent of all regularly occupied areas within the building has views access to the exterior. Throughout the building, a high level of lighting and thermal system control is available to individual occupants or groups in multi-occupant spaces, which promotes occupant productivity, comfort, and well-being.
+-Reduced heat island effect. A white roof was selected to avoid artificially elevating ambient temperatures, and specific hardscapes were chosen to be light in color so that they minimize their heat-island impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats.
+LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. Gold is the second-highest rating, behind platinum.
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+Butler Year in Review: The News of 2018
+Throughout Butler’s 163-year history we have boldly made decisions and pursued priorities that have put us ahead of our time and set us apart from our peers. 2018 was no exception. From the largest incoming class size in our history to a Number One ranking by U.S. News and World Report, from significant undergrad research to innovative academic programs, Butler students, faculty, staff, and community have been recognized for their outstanding academic efforts and their pursuit of excellence. As the year draws to a close, we’ve compiled the top 10 Butler stories by local and national media.
+Insurance 101: Butler Undergrads Write Coverage for Dogs and Pianos | The New York Times | February 9, 2108
+The New York Times reports on Butler undergrads who operate an insurance company giving them real-world experience and the University coverage for important assets around campus.
+Who’s at the Door? College Officials Delivering your Acceptance in Person (Sometimes with a Dog) | The Wall Street Journal | February 11, 2018
+The Wall Street Journal shares how Butler Blue III and the University are leading the pack in innovative ways to attract students.
+Butler University Unleashes Building Spree, Beautification | Indianapolis Business Journal | July 13, 2018
+The IBJ outlines Butler’s ambitious campus transformation, including two new residence halls, the soon-to-debut Lacy School of Business building, and lots of new trees and bike lanes.
+Athletes Can Easily Trick Popular Concussion Test, Study Finds | The Washington Post | July 31, 2018
+The Washington Post reported on a Butler research study co-authored by Amy Peak, Director of Undergraduate Health Sciences, on how athletes dupe one of the nation’s most common concussion screening tests.
+Why You Should Ignore Your Friends’ Fantasy Football Advice | The Wall Street Journal | August 20, 2018
+The Wall Street Journal explored Assistant Professor of Creative Media and Entertainment Media Ryan Roger’s research on the benefits of the collective brain in decision making.
+Planetary Party: Catch Multiple Planets Lined Up with the Moon as Summer Wanes | The Washington Post | August 22, 2018
+Physics and Astronomy Professor, and Director of Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, Brian Murphy shared his astronomical expertise with The Washington Post as multiple planets aligned for outstanding nighttime viewing late this summer.
+Butler Named “Best of the Midwest” as Indiana Schools Feature Prominently in Annual Rankings | Indy Star | September 10, 2018
+For the first time ever, Butler University was named #1 Regional University in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report.
+Georgia Voting Begins Amid Accusations of Voter Suppression | The New York Times | October 19, 2018
+As the 2018 midterm elections heated up, Political Science assistant professor Greg Shufeldt spoke to The New York Times about electoral integrity and its impact on voting in Georgia.
+Doyel: Butler’s Bulldog Mascot Gives Admission News to Kid Who Beat Cancer | Indy Star | October 22, 2018
+Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel followed along as Butler Blue III surprised Tatum Parker with news of her admission to Butler University.
+America’s Election Grid Remains a Patchwork of Vulnerabilities | The New York Times | November 17, 2018
+Post-election, Political Science assistant professor Greg Shufeldt spoke to The New York Times about his recent study on how distrust in voting laws and processes can limit turnout.
+Butler Year in Review: The News of 2018
+As the year draws to a close, we’ve compiled the top 10 Butler stories by local and national media.
+But._11<<
+Butler Year in Review: The People of 2018
+From a patient’s bedside to the sideline at Hinkle, here are some of our most notable stories of 2018._12<<
+Giving Thanks: Student Reflections
+As we celebrate the holiday, six students tell us all the reasons they have to be thankful.
+Martha Hoover, Patachou founder and owner, to Deliver Winter Commencement Address
+PUBLISHED ON Nov 12 2018
+INDIANAPOLIS—Martha Hoover, founder and owner of Patachou Inc., a James Beard Award semifinalist (three times), and one of the 20 Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink (according to Food & Wine), will be the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and will serve as the keynote speaker at Butler University’s Winter Commencement.
+Winter Commencement will take place on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 10:00 AM in Clowes Memorial Hall. About 135 students are expected to receive their diplomas.
+“In choosing honorary degree recipients and speakers, Butler selects individuals whose lives reflect our University’s core values and whose message can positively impact our students,” President James Danko said. “Martha Hoover embodies not only the entrepreneurial spirit we encourage in our students, but the responsible leadership and civic engagement that makes a meaningful difference in our world.”
+Hoover has worked to build restaurants that double as vehicles for social change. She has established financial literacy courses for her employees, as well as the Patachou Emergency Relief Fund. In 2012, she established The Patachou Foundation, which has served more than 100,000 healthy meals to at-risk and food-insecure children in the Indianapolis community to date.
+Hoover founded Patachou Inc. in 1989 and opened her first restaurant, Café Patachou, in March 1989. Today, the company has six restaurant brands in 14 locations across Indianapolis.
+Hoover was a founding board member of Impact 100 of Greater Indianapolis and has served on the boards of the Indiana AIDS Network, Dance Kaleidoscope, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana.
+Before becoming an entrepreneur, Hoover was an attorney in the Marion County Prosecutor’s sex crimes division. She is a graduate of both IU Bloomington and the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law at IUPUI.
+Butler’s selection of commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients is a result of a nomination process, and subsequent committee review and vetting process.
+Media contact:
+Rachel Stern
+Director of Strategic Communications
+rstern@butler.edu
+914-815-5656
+Martha Hoover, Patachou founder and owner, to Deliver Winter Commencement Address
+Indianapolis entrepreneur to receive Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
+The Untold Story of the #ButlerBound Program
+How a Bulldog changed the “I got in!” moment for Butler students.
+_19<<
+Commedia Dell'Arte is Like the Pork
+Visiting International Theatre Artist Marco Luly directs Butler Theatre's The Servant of Two Masters.
+How to ride a bike in the rain: 8 tips for beginners
+Sooner or later, everyone will face this problem. To ride your bike in the rain and stay dry, and if you’re lucky, also clean, read Bike tipsMe..
+And your beautiful appearance will also quickly get dirty with a fountain of water, constantly pouring you from under the wheels of the bike.
+Let’s pay special attention to group trips. On a rainy day like this, you should not appear without wings. this is one of the unspoken rules of cyclists. Dirty splashes escaping from under the wheels can reach a rider moving from behind up to 10 meters away. He won’t be delighted for sure.
+Correct cycling gear
+There are cyclists who like rain or snow. they don’t care about anything: too much.
+- sand is the easiest way to “kill” them.
+Have to ride your bike in the rain. be prepared for the fact that you will soon have to spend money on new brake pads.
+Chain lubrication
+The best option is to apply a thicker chain lubricant. Better to have a dirty than a rusty chain. Because the first chain can always be cleaned (find out how to do it right here). But with rusty there is almost nothing to do.
+Rusty chain is every cyclist’s nightmare
+Shine
+You should always be visible on the road. Heavy rain and blinding headlights of cars in the “oncoming” are a factor preventing this. How to deal with this? A beautiful and bright bicycle uniform will not help. The best option is a powerful bike light.
+Second bike
+Don’t want to turn your expensive sports road bike into junk? Then get a second bike. for riding in tough weather.
+Would you like to receive our articles on social networks? Subscribe to our channels in. Telegram and !
+How to learn to ride a bike for adults and children?
+Before learning to ride a bike, it is recommended to be patient. Some people feel comfortable driving a two-wheel drive from day one, but not everyone is so lucky. The main thing is not to overwork, the muscles should not be in constant tension, it is important to rest after each ride. In case of a fall, the knees and elbows must be protected with special pads, and the head. with a helmet.
+Methodology for teaching children
+For children under three years old, there are special models of bicycles without pedals. This modification allows you to quickly learn how to keep balance and train your legs. If a child rides a tricycle, then at the age of 4. 7 years, you should start learning to ride a two-wheeled analogue. For convenience, you can remove the pedals and fully lower the seat. So with the help of adults, the child will learn how to maintain balance and use the brakes.
+To learn how to ride a bike was easier for a child, every day the training time should be increased. On the first day, it should be 30 minutes, on the second. 40, etc.
+- During the learning process, the child must be under constant supervision, you must not be allowed to hunch over and breathe through the mouth.
+- Workouts should not start after eating, it is important that at least two hours pass.
+- If the child sweats during the ride, you need to wear a dry T-shirt, and in sunny weather, the head should be covered.
+- It is not recommended to neglect the speed limits and the norms of the distance traveled on the bike. At the age of 12-13 a child can drive no more than 15 km per day at a speed of 10 km / h, at the age of 14-15. 15 km and 20 km / h, respectively.
+Adult learning method
+In an adult, the muscles are formed, so it is easier to learn how to maintain balance. However, fear of falling gets in the way, adult movements are constrained and learning is difficult. Before starting a workout, you need to lower the seat to a minimum and learn to keep balance using the same method as children learn. The bike is placed on a flat surface and maneuvers are practiced with the help of friends. After some success, you can try to slide down a small slide, if the turns are mastered, then the pedals and the seat are installed in place.
+To make it easier to learn to ride a bike, the video will help explain some of the details of the workout. In the early stages, you should remember the following rules:
+- in turns, you cannot continue to pedal, since the turning radius becomes larger with increasing speed, this can provoke panic and fall;
+- the handlebar must always be turned in the direction of the inclination of the bike when entering a turn.
+In order to learn how to ride a bicycle for a teenager in a short time, it is recommended not to overextend the muscles, but to increase the training time gradually. Every day you need to drive no more than 1 km, after a week the distance can be increased. After the first successes, for the further development of skills, it is enough to cover a distance of 10 km in 30 minutes. The distance can be increased over time. When studying, keep in mind the following:
+- movement should be free, without tension in the muscles;
+- you need to look directly at 5. 10 meters;
+- knees and feet are always parallel to the frame;
+- the rotation of medals is carried out without jerks;
+- braking is always confident, but smooth.
+Learning to skate without hands
+Finally, the movements have been worked out and I want to move on. Those who love to improve can learn to ride without hands. For these purposes, you should choose an unpopulated area with an even surface. Before you can learn to ride a bike without hands, you need to master riding with one hand. Constant practice will help to achieve the result, and when everything works out, then you can try to let go of both hands. Remember that the stability of the bike depends on the speed: the higher the speed, the easier it is to balance.
+How to ride a bike properly. How to learn to ride a bike
+In childhood, not everyone was cut through the surrounding yards on bicycles. Many, having become respectable adults, have not learned to ride a bike. No problem! It is enough to devote an hour or two a day to training, and already on the third day you can confidently ride. Particularly fortunate newbies are cycling from day one. In short, the science of learning to ride a bike is not as difficult as it sounds. The main thing is to overcome psychological complexes and fears. The rest is a matter of skill.
+Simple exercises to start (to its deserted alleys) or out of the city to fairly flat paths. Workouts should start with simple exercises:
+- First you need to learn how to ride a bike. all you need to do is walk to one side of it with your right hand on the handlebars. It is necessary to work out how the bicycle reacts to the turns of the arms, to the tilt of the body. After a while, you need to repeat the same with the left hand.
+- The next day, you can try riding a bicycle like a scooter. To do this, we stand, for example, to the left of the bike, put our right foot on the pedal, hold the handlebars with our hands and press against the frame. It remains to push off with your left foot and ride, keeping your balance. You don’t need to try to go fast. it is easier to hold the bike at high speed, but you can also fall faster. But with slow control, you can learn to feel the bike better. It is also necessary to work out the turns, at which it is important to control the tilt of the body.
+- On the third day, you can start by repeating the scooter ride. And then get on the bike for real. It is better to start by starting from the curb. Since the bike will immediately start to move, you will only have to work out the acquired skills. by tilting the body to maintain balance and slightly pedaling for speed.
+It’s great if someone from your friends or family can help you learn how to ride a bike. over, in this case, you need not so much real physical help (although sometimes you may need to hold the bike), as psychological support.
+Cornering and braking
+Learning to balance is not all. It is also important to work out:
+- smooth ride without wobbling. this is useful when driving a bike on the road;
+- cornering along a given trajectory. when turning, the steering wheel must be directed in the same direction as the bike is traveling;
+- riding from small towns and entering them, because small ups and downs are found both in the city and on rough terrain. It is important not to let go of the pedals at this time;
+- braking with two wheels is much more effective than with the rear wheel alone, that is, in an emergency you can stop much faster.
+All these exercises can only be worked out in one way. through practice. Naturally, the more you ride and train, the more confident you feel on the bike.
+Important tips for those learning to ride a bike
+Before getting on the bike, you need to clearly remember a few important points:
+- The main control of the bike is carried out by tilting the bodies. That is, you do not need to turn the steering wheel much at all, especially it is fraught with falls when cornering.
+- You cannot look at the steering wheel, front wheel or at the asphalt immediately in front of it. your gaze should be directed 5-10 meters ahead.
+- Knees and feet should be parallel to the bike frame.
+- You do not need to take your legs off the pedals, they should be twisted smoothly, avoiding jerks.
+- You don’t have to grip the handlebars. it’s best to hold it loosely and confidently.
+- Cycling stability will be higher at higher speeds. But you need to work out and ride at low speeds.
+- Brake is best done smoothly but confidently.
+Sometimes it’s scary to start. But once you take the first steps, cycling becomes addictive. Train and try. everything will work out!
+A short video review of cycling lessons: The basics of cycling techniques for beginners
+Knowing how to ride a bike and doing it right are two different things. Often, beginners are not aware of this, becoming covered with bumps, abrasions and bruises for many years. Imagine their surprise when it turns out that the technique of cycling has long been studied and described by their predecessors and colleagues.
+Rider position and frame dimensions
+When choosing a frame, it is important to select a steering wheel in shape and position. For professional road riding, choose a handlebar curved like a ram’s horns. Preference for sports in width. Hands should be comfortable. The wrong choice can provoke tunnel syndrome and quick fatigue.
+Saddle adjustment
+The rule of thumb when setting up a saddle is comfort. In the sport version, the saddle must be adjusted so that the leg can be fully extended. This is done so that all muscles take part in pedaling.
+For walking, a saddle height that provides incomplete extension is suitable. This way the rider will feel less tired and feel more comfortable at any riding speed. He can easily get off the bike if needed. Ideal for choppers, walkers and other models that require close proximity to the road.
+To choose the size of the frame and the height of the saddle, use the “heel rule”: with a comfortable position on the saddle, the rider should rest, without bending or stretching the leg, with the heel against the pedal.
+Correct bike setup
+A significant part of the bike’s parameters require regular checks. It is recommended to measure the pressure in the wheels before riding the bike. It is worth changing the pressure, depending on the parameters of the track and the distance, even if the cyclist always uses the same tires.
+When driving on smooth asphalt, the wheels are usually inflated to near maximum, without swelling to avoid rapid wheel wear. If driving over rough terrain, it is better to use medium pump.
+In this case, the deflection of the wheels should be visible and depict a “snail”.
+Adjusting your shock absorbers regularly is another important rule. Descending from the mountains requires tight tuning of the shock absorbing components so as not to roll over. But it is better to drive the bike on the asphalt with locked shock absorbers to avoid energy waste.
+Correct pedaling technique
+The effect of riding and the recommended techniques depend on how much pressure and cadence you have to pedal. The term “cadence” refers to the frequency of their rotation. The basics of pedaling follow a few rules:
+- Cadence stability. a guarantee of pleasant sensations and long riding.
+- You can actually catch the perfect cadence in about ten trips.
+- It is not recommended to reduce the speed (for example, if the inclination has changed), as well as accelerate on descents.
+- Correct pedaling is pedaling. Some beginners choose to “stomp”, but this is the wrong choice, since the load should be uniform in all positions, and not just on a comfortable quarter circle.
+- If the cyclist experiences any discomfort, it is recommended to slow down or stop to avoid damaging muscles, joints or tendons.
+There is a mechanism called “clipless pedals”. It allows you to provide mechanical fixation of the cyclist’s feet on the pedals, thanks to the special design and shoes.
+Full contact allows the muscles to be used as much as possible, but the movement of the feet is blocked, so the first rides with this equipment are dangerous, especially if the cyclist chooses public roads as a training field.
+Basic cycling serviceability of their bike.
+Case location
+Let’s start by choosing and setting up a bike. The size and combination of parts determines how the body, arms and legs of the bicycle are located. Landing is the base of how a person drives. If sitting is uncomfortable, no amount of skills and training will help, but real health problems will arise. knees, back and arms. convenient for the hands when resting on them. otherwise the muscles of the arms and shoulders will quickly get tired and there may even be a tunnel syndrome, which many people sitting at the computer suffer from.
+Saddle height
+Everyone sets up the saddle as comfortable, but there are two main ways to get on the bike. The first, sporty, looks like “standard and higher”. the leg should be straightened and all muscles should be involved in pedaling. The second is for walking, when the leg is not fully extended, and you can easily get off the bike. This fit allows you to feel comfortable at any speed and in any conditions, usually typical of choppers and walking models in which the rider is close to the road.
+Defining a “standard” is not difficult. This is usually done using the heel rule. Sitting comfortably on the seat, the cyclist should rest on the pedal with his heel, do not stretch or bend the leg. identical a ride, you should always check the performance of all bicycle components. brakes and switches.
+Correct pedaling
+The basis of proper road driving is pedaling. The main parameter when driving is cadence. this is the cadence. Depending on it and on the load, the effect of riding and the recommended techniques change. changing incline. including accelerating downhill. Fortunately, most modern bicycles are equipped with speeds;
+- The pedals must be rotated, not trampled. That is, the load should be in all positions, not just on the “comfortable” quarter of the circle;
+- For any discomfort in the body, it is better to slow down or stop altogether.
+Contact pedals
+The point of particular danger is the first trips with the contact pedals, especially on public roads. The clip-on pedals maximize the use of muscle forces, but also block the movement of the feet. Therefore, contact pedals are a topic for a separate discussion., everyone has to fall, and it is worth being able to. at least group up and wear a helmet;
+- Move very carefully around the city. you need to follow the road, as the cyclist becomes a full-fledged participant in the road traffic, and must follow the rules of driving on public roads., riding style, and skills to overcome obstacles and even the ability to fall. In the sum of these three factors, proper riding is born, which brings great pleasure from riding a bike.
+How to ride a bike properly
+The first step is to adjust the position of the saddle. We set the height so that in the lowest position of the pedal the leg is straightened, but not completely, the knee should not be fully extended. Be careful not to push the seatpost too far out of the frame. there is a special height limit mark on it.
+Tire pressure
+Many people still pump up their bicycle tires “by touch”. squeezed with their fingers, if it does not bend much, then it is normal. In vain! This pressure in the tire is clearly not enough. Take a closer look. on the sidewall of the tire you will probably find the numbers of the required pressure, for example, “40-65 psi / 2.8-4.5 bar”. Yes, yes, a bicycle tire is inflated to a pressure much higher than a car tire, do not be surprised. Connect a car compressor with a pressure gauge and try to inflate the tires to the specified pressure. be amazed at how much easier it becomes to pedal! If you often ride on the ground, then you can pump up to the lower limit, for better shock absorption, if on smooth asphalt, then to the upper limit, to reduce rolling resistance, this will save your strength. Consider your weight as well: the larger the rider, the higher the pressure.
+Speaking of the tires themselves. As a rule, budget bikes are equipped with the same budget tires. They do not hold very well on the ground, and they do not roll well on the asphalt. If you want to increase your average or maximum riding speed, the first step is to change your tires to more suitable for the type of surface. Choose trusted brands. Maxxis, Schwalbe, Kenda, or Continental or Michelin known to any motorist. This is not an essential purchase, but you can plan for yourself such a gift for some achievement. for example, 30 kilometers traveled at a time, or the first 500 km on the odometer of a bicycle computer.
+Shifting gears
+A bicycle is not a car with a manual transmission; many people manage to ride it without changing gears at all. Despite the fact that there are already more than 20 of them, many prefer not to use them once again, and “break” uphill on the same stars as from the mountain. In vain! I highly recommend clicking them more often. Firstly, the sprockets on the rear wheel wear out more evenly, which means they will have to be changed later. Secondly, by properly adjusting the load, you are less tired. Most importantly, the health of your knees depends on your cadence (called cadence). Doctors say that it is less harmful for the joints to pedal faster, but with less stress, than to “break”, already standing up on the pedals from effort. The optimal cadence is 80-100 rpm, but from habit it is difficult to maintain such a frequency, so it is better to adhere to a simple rule. choose such a gear so that you can pedal at the desired speed with little effort. And discard the myth that muscles will only swing under load, with “power” riding. the health of the knee joints is more important!
+How to change gears correctly?
+We do this only in motion, and at the very moment of switching the pedals need to be turned, but without effort. With a little practice, this will be almost instantaneous and your bike will thank you. the rear derailleur and chain will last much longer. If the gears shift with difficulty, the inclusion is indistinct, or every other time. this means that the switch cable is stretched or the settings are out of order, adjust the mechanism yourself or in the workshop, it is not difficult.
+Another rule concerns the choice of combinations of front and rear sprockets. Avoid positions where the chain runs “obliquely”, for example, when the small chainring at the front and small at the rear, or, conversely, the large chainring at the front and rear. The small chainring is only used for difficult terrain (uphill or on sand, for example), the large chainring is used for high-speed driving in a straight line or downhill. Turn them on in advance, before going up (down). Under normal conditions, the front center sprocket is engaged, and all reverse gears can be used with it, except for the extreme ones. Failure to comply with these combinations will lead to a quick stretching of the chain (it works with a skew) or the chain jumping off the sprocket, in which case it can jam.
+How to forget how to ride a bike. How to forget how to ride a bike?
+If you start looking for information on this subject, you will find many statements that if a person learned to swim, walk or ride a bike, they will never forget how to do it.
+Most of us learned to ride a bike as a child. But as we get older, we gradually stop skating and remove our two-pedal friend to gather dust in some far corner. And many years later, trying to get behind the wheel of a bicycle again, it turns out that we control it as confidently as before.
+As it turns out, our memories are stored in different areas of our brain. For example, long-term memory is divided into two types: declarative and procedural. Declarative memory is divided into: episodic. memories of the first kiss or the first day at school; and semantic. factual knowledge (for example, how to know the capital of France or how much is two plus two)
+However, skills such as playing an instrument or riding a bicycle are reserved specifically for procedural memory.
+However, scientists still don’t know why the contents of procedural memory are not as easily forgotten as declarative ones. According to one hypothesis, in regions where movement patterns are “fixed”, fewer new nerve cells may form in adults. Without this neurogenesis or continuous remodeling. the likelihood of these memories being erased. is minimal.
+However, we do know that simple activities that we learn, even in the distant past, usually persist for the rest of our lives, such as cycling.
+But then Destin Sandlin says: “I am the only one in the world who has forgotten how to ride a bike!”
+Thanks to his perseverance and curiosity, Destin managed to learn how to ride the “wrong” bike. Later, he offered to do this to his six-year-old son, who already knew how to ride an ordinary children’s bike. What is important. the son retrained much faster than his father.
+As Sandlin himself says, he felt the only person on the planet who, as a result of the experiment with the “wrong” bike, forgot how to ride a regular bike. So, he argues, you can forget how to ride a bike!
+These conclusions about the characteristics of the human brain, made on the basis of a scientific experiment, have probably been known for a long time to scientists specializing in brain activity; but they should be “pulled” out of the video and voiced to clearly define the results of the experiment:
+1 Knowing a process does not always mean understanding it. The algorithm associated with cycling is not as simple as it seems. Your brain stores and remembers such parts of it: pushing force on the pedals, body tilt, steering wheel holding, gyroscopic wheel precession. If you change at least one part of this algorithm, it breaks the whole.
+2 Children’s brains are more neuroplastic than adults and are easier to retrain.
+I think that the experiment with a bicycle gives us an amazing hint: in order to get rid of a bad habit, you need to “break” your brain, or rather, to reconfigure it to a different, but useful, algorithm.
+And I will also remind you about why the bike does not fall and which direction the bike will go if you pull the rope.
+101: How To Ride A Bicycle (Better)
+It doesn’t matter if you are a child or an adult; the basics are the same. If you’ve read these words, I’m sure I won’t have to explain to you why you need to ride a bike, because you already know that it is one of the best things in life! It’s never too late to start cycling.
+In this guide, I will outline the basics of teaching kids to ride a bike and adults to get started. Also below I will teach you how best to drive on roads or forest trails, how to brake, change gears, etc.
+So let’s get down to learning about cycling. This manual is 1500 words long, so it will take you 3-5 minutes.
+Find a safe place to launch
+Safe place to start. park or small footpath. I suggest you start rolling on the low grass, it’s a little harder to get started, but if you fall it won’t hurt. A narrow road is also a good spot because there is a chance that you will fall on the grass.
+Wear comfortable clothes.
+Try closed toe shoes such as joggers.
+You should not wear pants that are very wide or loose. as they can also stick to your front derailleur. If you have no other options, always tuck them into your socks.!
+Put on your helmet (ALWAYS!)
+Let’s keep it simple. this is rule number one! Especially when you are just starting to learn to ride a bike. You should always wear a helmet and you should make sure that your child is wearing a helmet, especially while learning.
+The helmet is critical because your head is. this is your condition! Everything is possible with the head, but without the head. nothing! Take care of your head, because I know people who did not wear helmets and cannot walk anymore due to accidents.
+Connected:
+How do you ride your bike?
+Have you ever felt nervous about not doing something for a long time? Do you remember how to do it? Will you look stupid? Along the way, someone will definitely tell you not to worry, because you will definitely remember and continue where you left off. They may even say, “It’s like riding a bike!”
+If you are a child, this may not give you much confidence, as cycling can seem like a monumental task if you have never removed your training wheels, but if you know how to ride a bike, you can understand the meaning of this statement. When you learn to ride a bike, your body won’t forget about it.
+Luckily for kids, learning to ride a bike is much easier when you’re young. If you wait until you are an adult to learn to ride a bike, it will be much more difficult to master the necessary skills.
+Most children can start learning to ride a bike between the ages of three and six, and many children start out by riding a bike with learning wheels. Training wheels protrude from each side of the rear wheel to prevent the bike from falling while riding.
+After all, you need to remove the training wheels and learn to ride on only two wheels. The first and most important step. master one skill that your training wheels have helped all along: balance.
+For some children, mastering balance means having a friend or family member run beside you with one hand on the back of the bike until you have enough momentum to balance yourself on the two moving wheels. However, cycling experts recommend a slightly different an approach.
+With your bike helmet on, which is the most important piece of safety equipment you should always wear when cycling, you should lower the bike seat until you can sit with your feet on the ground. Then find a large, flat, smooth area away from cars and people.
+Start by moving the motorcycle forward, using your legs to propel you. Get used to the feel of the bike and learn to balance on it. Since your feet touch the ground easily, there is no fear of falling. As you learn to balance on the bike, start lifting your legs and coasting over longer distances.
+If you can balance and coast easily over long distances, turn on cornering and steering. Wide, smooth turns may only require side to side weight transfer. Tight and tight turns will require you to steer in addition to transferring weight.
+By the time you are comfortable with cornering and coasting, you will probably know that you are ready to pedal. While coasting, slowly lift your feet to the pedals and begin pedaling forward, gaining speed and momentum. When will you do that, you know what? Do you ride a bike!
+Once you have mastered the basics, you will never forget them. Your body’s muscle memory will turn on and help you find the balance you need to ride, even if you haven’t ridden a bike in years! However, just because you have the basics doesn’t mean that you have completed your studies.
+There are many other basic cycling skills you need to master, including starting, stopping and obeying the road rules, to be a safe cyclist at all times. Good luck with this initiation rite and creating memories of a lifetime.!
+Clean Water Currents | Winter 2018
+Inside this issue
+- Celebrating David Zwick
+- Trump's Budget is Terrible for Our Water and Health. Again.
+- Remembering a Champ
+- The Misadventures of Ryan Zinke
+- Protecting Clean Water in the Farm Bill
+- Fighting Back Against Unlawful Attacks on Clean Water
+- Take Action!
+- Download the PDF
+Celebrating David Zwick
+“The people you have to convince are not the decision-makers, but the citizens. Because once they catch on, once they learn the skills of being an effective advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities, they can really solve problems. That’s when something really powerful begins to happen.”
+— David Zwick
+Clean Water Action Founder David Zwick passed away in February 2018. In 1969, he was a law student at Harvard. He took an assignment from Ralph Nader to lead a team to investigate the state of our nation’s water. When he started he thought he would find that water pollution “was a problem that a few little lifestyle changes could solve.” What he discovered was something else entirely.
+David and his task force of researchers found that industries were allowed to pollute with impunity, dumping cancer causing waste like lead, arsenic, and mercury directly into our water. He found water systems that weren’t able to properly treat the water to make it safe to drink. He found that our water and our health were at risk. After two years David reported on the study in a book he co-wrote with Marcy Benstock. Water Wasteland was front-page news and became the starting gun for Congressional efforts to pass the Clean Water Act.
+David knew that Congress wouldn’t pass the Clean Water Act just because they thought it was a good idea. He recognized that, sometimes, representatives and senators had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing. He couldn’t drag Congress on his own. So he built a movement.
+David believed in people. He believed in organizing. He understood that the only advantage we have over special interest money is strength in numbers. David, along with a few others, founded Clean Water Action in 1972 (then called the Fishermen’s Clean Water Action Project) with a grant from a fishing tackle manufacturer. He and his team continued to work the halls of Congress in support of new pollution laws. They started educating the public and found new ways to engage and activate people, to grow and strengthen the movement for clean water. And it worked. Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. Several parts of the Act, including the landmark Citizen Suit provision which allows Americans to sue polluters who are putting our water at risk, were written by David.
+One of the most important lessons David and his team learned during the campaign to pass the Clean Water Act was that powerful industries have amazing access to lawmakers thanks to deep pockets and the only way to counter that is through education and organizing. David and the team kept working, building power and expertise. In 1976 Clean Water Action opened its first canvass, pioneering a new way to engage Americans, educate them, and get them to advocate for their families and their communities. To this day one-on-one canvassing is the centerpiece of Clean Water Action’s theory of change and the reason we keep on winning for our water.
+“The best way to anticipate the largest underlying problem is to build a citizens’ movement that makes democracy work better. That democracy has to be able to strike the right balance between allowing entrepreneurs and businesses to develop solutions to problems, while curbing these horrible abuses.”
+Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s David built Clean Water Action into a grassroots powerhouse. Under his leadership the organization achieved many important victories ─ helping to pass the Safe Drinking Water Act, strengthening Superfund, and leading a war on waste to name a few. Clean Water expanded, opening offices across the country, winning campaigns to protect the Chesapeake Bay, to safeguard land and water in Maryland and Minnesota, securing a ban on oil drilling in Virginia, helping shutdown trash incinerators in Massachusetts, and so much more.
+“People’s active participation makes a huge difference in how elections turn out. This is a time to ask questions, find the facts, form your own option, talk to others.”
+Understanding that to make lasting change, you also have to elect lawmakers who will join in the fight to protect clean water and public health, David and the Clean Water team turned to electoral politics. They took the lessons learned from the campaigns to pass and defend laws like the Clean Water Act and began electing leaders who would put the public interest first. This pioneering model of campaigning is now recognized as the best way to win and has led to the election of clean water leaders like President Obama, Senators Paul Wellstone and Elizabeth Warren, and countless state and local elected officials.
+David’s influence on our water is hard to overstate — our water is cleaner and safer today because of David. But his impact on our democracy is equally important. He and his team changed how we interact with our government, and the way we get involved in the most important issues of our time. It’s a legacy to shout about from the rooftops and a fight to keep waging.
+“We have seen — from Eastern Europe to Houston — how people power can triumph over entrenched resistance. This is clearly the time to keep on keeping on.”
+— David Zwick, Summer 1990
+Trump’s budget is terrible for our water. Again.
+For the second year in a row, the Trump Administration has proposed a federal budget that would be a disaster for our water. As Congress debates how to fund the government beyond the March 23 deadline, it must prioritize the health of our communities, clean water, and the climate. The Administration’s proposed budget for 2018 largely follows the same playbook that they trotted out last year: slash funding for the environment, eliminate popular and effective programs that keep our water clean, and ignore the health and safety threats posed by the changing climate and corporate pollution.
+Despite last year’s proposal going nowhere in Congress, the Administration has once again proposed eliminating or reducing several important programs and grants at Environmental Protection Agency. Administrator Scott Pruitt says he cares about stopping pollution, but he has once again signed off on eliminating funding for commonsense core activities at EPA and for vital state programs such as monitoring and cleaning up beaches, stopping non-point source pollution like runoff from farms, and voluntary water efficiency. A number of other programs at EPA would see reduced funding, including the Underground Injection Control program, which protects drinking water sources from oil and gas injection wells; public water system grants; surface water and wetlands protection; and oil spill cleanups, among many others. The proposal also eliminates regional programs that clean up and protect major waterbodies like the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, San Francisco Bay and others.
+The Administration claims to care about water, but this budget pays minimal lip service to the goal of improving water infrastructure. While it would continue grant and loan programs that help communities with drinking and wastewater infrastructure, the wholesale gutting of EPA, undermining enforcement of pollution prevention laws, and rolling back of protections completely contradict any benefits of investing in water infrastructure.
+Simply put, the Trump budget would make our water more polluted, and that is unacceptable. Congress must reject this dangerous proposal and refuse to cut funding for the programs and protections we need to survive.
+Remebering a champ
+If you want to make change, you have to get involved. It’s an ethos that infuses Clean Water Action’s work. That is how one of the organization’s founding board members, Peter Lockwood, lived.
+Peter passed away in fall 2017, after a long illness. Clean Water Action lost a member of its family and the public lost a steadfast defender of public health and our communities.
+Peter was a tax lawyer and a champion for clean water. He was Justice Thurgood Marshall’s first law clerk. He was part of the civil rights movement throughout the 60s, and carried on a commitment to that fight his entire life. He helped found Clean Water Action in 1972 and was a guiding light for the organization for more than 40 years. He will be missed, sorely.
+Peter was compassionate, thoughtful, and witty. He was a legend at Clean Water Action board meetings. He could move from the deep details of a financial report to an impassioned defense of the right of Americans to push back against abuses of power that helped perpetuate pollution and harm to the public — and Clean Water’s duty to join the fight — in the blink of an eye. He understood, deeply, our mission and knew what was at stake. Peter knew how to ask the right questions to help focus the attention of our work to protect clean water — both for the big picture, but also the wonky and thorny legislative and regulatory details that we have to wade through.
+Peter’s connection to Clean Water Action and commitment to the organization and the campaigns we worked on seemed bottomless. Even as other board members and staff came and went, Peter stayed on, determined to help Clean Water Action achieve success, weather storms, and make progress on the most pressing issues of the past 45 years. Peter was proud of Clean Water Action’s work and we are humbled by his support over the years. We are eager to carry his passion and commitment forward as we work to defend the landmark and commonsense protections that Peter helped us win.
+Our thoughts are with Peter’s friends and family.
+The has been almost a year since Zinke inexplicably rode a horse to his first day of work as Secretary of the Interior — and it was a great year for the oil and gas , President exempted Florida — but no other state — from the plan. Florida Governor Rick Scott is an ally of President Trump, and Trump’s vaunted “Winter White House,” Mar-a-Lago sits on the the Florida coast.
+Zinke is also gutting a bipartisan plan to save the endangered sage grouse, because he would rather.
+Conservation Programs in Farm Bill Support Clean Water
+Unchecked agricultural pollution continues to be a leading cause of tainted water quality throughout the United States. Pollution from agricultural producers is difficult to manage because much of it is non-point — meaning that diffuse pollution sources like fertilizers run off of fields and end up in nearby streams and rivers. In particular, nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen in fertilizers can have a detrimental impact on water resources downstream. Excessive nutrients can result in harmful algal outbreaks (also called blooms), some of which contain toxic bacteria that can make humans and pets sick when they swim or come into contact with algal contaminated lakes, rivers, or bays. Toxic algal outbreaks can also contaminate drinking water supplies, resulting in higher treatment costs for utilities in charge of delivering safe drinking water to their customers.
+Congress is currently debating the 2018 Farm Bill, which offers Clean Water Action and allies opportunities to advocate for strengthening and increasing funding for conservation programs that offer incentives for farmers and producers to voluntarily reduce nutrient runoff from their fields. Many of these conservation programs have multiple benefits: they provide habitat for wildlife, reduce soil erosion, and restore topsoil, while also protecting water quality in streams and rivers. It is critical for farmers who want to be good stewards of their land to have access to these conservation programs. In addition to increasing the funding for conservation programs in the Farm Bill, it is vital that these programs be monitored and reported on so they can be evaluated to ensure they are in fact contributing to improved water quality conditions downstream.
+Congress could vote on a final Farm Bill package as early as the end of March 2018. Clean Water Action and many conservation and environmental allies have already endorsed two pieces of bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Farm Bill. The first, the Healthy Fields and Farm Economies Act of 2018 (H.R. 4751), would provide necessary tools and funding to measure and evaluate the environmental outcomes of farm conservation programs to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and efficiently. The second bill, the American Prairies Conservation Act (S. 1913/H.R. 3939) would reduce misguided taxpayer-funded incentives to convert critical grasslands to croplands. Prairie grasslands provide vital ecosystem services, including providing wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, erosion control, and water filtration, and should be protected from being plowed over.
+You can learn more about the coalition’s priorities for tackling nutrient pollution and the 2018 Farm Bill here:
+Fighting Back Against Unlawful Attacks on Clean Water
+Clean Water Action and several other conservation groups represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, filed a lawsuit in early February to challenge the Trump administration’s unlawful suspension of the 2015 Clean Water Rule. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt has led a multi-year campaign to eliminate the Clean Water Rule, beginning when he was Attorney General of Oklahoma. Now Pruitt is helping deliver on a Trump campaign promise to big polluters, like industrial agriculture and fossil fuel producers, to allow them to pollute and destroy small streams and wetlands.
+The 2015 Clean Water Rule clarified that Clean Water Act pollution prevention programs must include protecting small streams and wetlands because these resources impact the water quality of downstream rivers, including those used for drinking water. The 2015 rule was developed through years of extensive public outreach and scientific analysis; the Obama administration reviewed over a million public comments submitted during this process, the majority of which urged for the protection of small streams and wetlands. Unfortunately the EPA under Scott Pruitt has just suspended the commonsense 2015 rule and intends to propose a much weaker policy later this year to permanently strip pollution protections for these vital water resources.
+Clean Water Action and conservation allies believe EPA violated federal law by not providing the public adequate opportunity to comment on its decision to suspend the Clean Water Rule. The Trump administration has also failed to offer any compelling scientific evidence or economic analysis to indicate that eliminating Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands is in the public interest. A change in administration did not change the laws of gravity or of common sense — water flows downhill and is all connected — a small stream that is polluted will carry that pollution to rivers that people depend on for drinking, swimming, and fishing.
+The Trump administration continues to put polluters over people. They refused to take public comment on the protections provided by the Clean Water Rule and continue to ignore the loud opposition to weakening clean water safeguards. Federal law gives the American public the right to be involved in changes to environmental regulations, yet the EPA under Administrator Pruitt continues to show contempt for public engagement. Clean Water Action will continue to fight any and every attempt by the Trump administration to gut Clean Water Act protections and are confident that this latest scheme to suspend protections will be rejected by the courts.
+Take Action
+Save the Clean Power Plan and Stop Offshore Drilling
+The first year of the Trump Administration has been an all-out assault on our health, water and climate. The administration is currently working to roll back dozens of protections. While Trump’s allegiance lies with his corporate polluter friends in the oil and gas and coal industries, we need to stand up and fight back. There are currently two opportunities to resist Trump’s reckless agenda.
+▶ Tell EPA: Protect Our Health and Economy — Save the Clean Power Plan!
+The Clean Power Plan is the most significant action the US has ever taken to address climate change. But Trump and EPA’s Scott Pruitt want to eliminate it.
+By reducing pollution from power plants, the Clean Power Plan would provide real, tangible benefits for our health. The plan could prevent 90,000 asthma attacks, 300,000 missed work and school days, and 3,600 premature deaths annually by 2030. As the single largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in the US, power plants must be cleaned up to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.
+Take action here to help save the Clean Power Plan!
+▶ Tell DOI: No offshore drilling! Protect our oceans, coasts and climate!
+The Department of the Interior announced plans to allow oil and gas drilling in nearly all US coastal waters, putting more than 100 million offshore acres under imminent threat from Big Oil. Offshore drilling leads to costly oil spills that pollute our beaches, kill wildlife and harm our coastal and marine economies. Offshore drilling risks the livelihoods of our communities that rely on tourism, fishing, recreation and boating.
+This is one more way the administration is selling us out to their biggest donors, putting oil and gas profits over people and the environment.
+The Department of Interior is taking public comment on this reckless plan. They need to hear from you. Take action here today!
+Those Ugly Watermarks Pros and Cons
+You have seen them – we all have, watermarks on photos. People have a love-hate relationship with them and I can seriously state from my perspective I dislike them. Today the subject I am covering is Those Ugly Watermarks Pros and Cons.
+This is a long read but you SHOULD read it! If you are short on time – read from The Meat & Potatoes of Why I Watermark (YOU SHOULD READ THIS)
+People Should Be Able to Enjoy Your Work
+We work so hard to capture an image that people can enjoy. After framing up the perfect picture, bringing that treasure home and doing a little post processing on it – the image is ready to show the world. You are proud of your work and want to display it for the world to see.
+I Want You to Do Me a Favor
+Go up to the main image “Let’s talk about those ugly watermarks.” I want you to zoom in on the image. See all my names embedded in there? You really have to look for it in some pictures but it is there. It shows VERY well if you print out the photo 🙂 But, you most likely noticed only the text I wanted you to read and my name and web address.
+My Thoughts Have Changed on Watermarks Over My Short Photography Career
+My thoughts on watermarks have changed of the course of my photography career. Yep, still dislike them, no arguments they are ugly! However, I decided for personal reasons to use them, at least a text version watermark and subtle inside watermarks.
+Yep, you read that correctly, using a watermark really boils down to a personal decision.
+IMO, you have to decide if using a watermark is right for you and your market.
+But I’m going to share a few VERY personal things that have happened to me to change my mind.
+The Meat & Potatoes of Why I Watermark (YOU SHOULD READ THIS)
+The avenue you chose to use your photography in might just have an impact on whether or not you watermark your images when you display them for others to see.
+You Get a Little Known
+Here is an issue, the more of you and your work you place out into the world, the more chances people stumble onto your works of art—> you REALLY should watermark if you ever plan on selling a photo. AND, if you don’t want to sell that photo, do you REALLY want someone else to?
+I had an enjoyable laugh when a guy said he downloaded this photo from a Facebook forum. After a few people had a private convo about my reasonable reply to a very heated debate, this guy decided to test my theory and thought process by downloading and printing my image. He said he had never saw someone place their name in so many places as hidden watermarks, I was a genius. Nope, the guy on YouTube is! I just found his info when I was searching for a fix – the link is shared below.
+Here Are Some TRUE Examples of What Happens
+#1 – You sell on a site that your work is open to the public and you have a wealth of photos. #2 – You share a great deal of photos in an open forum on Facebook or on public setting on Instagram. Either case and MANY more, you are open for THIS to happen —-> A jerk screenshots your photo, pulls it over into Photoshop, enlarges it (Even if your submitting at web quality at 300 pixels) and then places the image on another selling platform under their name and sells it.
+Sue Them! Sue Them!
+At this point someone is screaming “Sue them.” Another is saying “Charge them an image fee.” and still others are saying get a lawyer. Guess what peeps, you can’t do ANY of those things. These people live in a countries that doesn’t transfer OUR United States Copyright. They KNOW what they are doing.
+Crappy Work is Out There
+Our crappy work can be out there in the world. The over enlarge pixelated, crappy photos! You can find them included in stock photos, on websites and even a place YOU might be selling on.
+What Can A Person Do?
+If you don’t care. You don’t care. I’m fine with that. I have plenty of stuff out there on this site and additional sites that I let people use, play with and build on. Just as I too, use creative content from additional artists —> everything shouldn’t always be about money.
+If you do care that certain things are not used – know this, only a U.S. website will 100% take down your work and you need to provide plenty of proof. Amazon has been easy to work and even a few image places. If the website is hosted outside the U.S. forget it – notta, nothing much you can do.
+So, Nikki What Have Those Horrible Things Taught You?
+Watermark your stuff if you find any value to your name and your art – period. I would tell anyone that has not had to go through the heartache already to save yourself the feeling of being violated. Your friends will ask you for an image. A company will ask you for an image. People in general understand why there are watermarks there.
+What System Am I Using?
+Photographers this video is how I did my embedded and raised watermark. No reinventing the wheel post, this guy gets the props. While I wanted to believe in the good of people, it ended poorly. So, out of the kindness of my heart I leave you the link. I used his idea and placed in it in at least 3 spots. If someone tries to print they see my name in three different spots in any given photo.
+Cons for Using Watermarks
+1.) The largest complaint for using watermarks are they are distracting. You have spent all the time and energy into putting your best work out there and after placing a watermark on it – it takes away from the image. Suggestion – Try the idea under what system am I using. Change the opacity on the watermarks to fit the photo.
+2.) They are time consuming. It takes extra time to place that watermark on your photo. Not to mention, you now have two separate images to store on your hard drive. The time commitment does stink.
+3.) The customer may not purchase from you because the watermark was a distraction and you don’t play nice with those that want to steal an image for sales and blog posts.—> Nikki has been told she doesn’t play well with others. I play very nicely to those that ask and follow the rules.
+Pros for Using Watermarks
+1.) You build a brand. People start to see that watermark logo as a representation for you, and your style. They see your watermark and immediately think of you. At a quick glance, I know exactly who’s picture is out there just by catching a glimpse of a watermark logo.
+2.) Adding a web address to your photos gives a viewer a place to find you. They can find your home on the web. A place they can do business with you. After all, it doesn’t matter if you are a professional or a hobbyist. The one common denominator that all photographers will agree on is that you want people to see your work. Not just one photo. All of your work! One photo does not define your whole photography presence.
+3.) The Internet is public. It is a great tool for getting your work out there and getting you noticed. It also can hinder you. For an explanation of how it can hinder you need to read on.
+The Deciding Factors For Me, and Why I Will Watermark Photos.
+Do you use a Facebook page that is public? A photography forum page you post on? A fan page for your photography? Google+, etc ? Instagram? Maybe, your own personal website?
+More than likely you are not aware that your images are being downloaded and added to a much larger universe. The World Wide Web. Every few minutes, bots are going out and copying and adding photos to a picture search engine. You can delete them but they will be there forever. All search engines do this. Nothing you can do to stop it – except not post a picture publicly.
+Once your photo is grabbed, there is nothing you can do to take it back. It has became part of the World Wide Web.
+Certainly not important if you don’t care where your images end up or what your images might advertise or represent. If you do, and you want some credit for your work or say in where your images are used, then it might be best to watermark your photos.
+5 years ago we did a survey at three local area schools, and 85% of the students and 55% of the teachers thought that anything on Google Images was free to use anywhere they see fit.
+Say, what?
+Do I have your attention yet?
+There are rules in what you can and can’t do, even if cited for educational use. It is important that the rules are read.
+I Want to Welcome Them To My Front Door
+For me, I want to be in control of where my images end up. When someone comes across one of my images in Google Images or as part of the vast World Wide Web, I’d like to welcome them to the front door of my website to view more of my work.
+A picture you took on a random stop on vacation, could just end up being used to represent a large brand if they “know” where to find you and ask.
+I Want to Attract Who I Want to Attract
+If your images do carry a watermark, it is certain that people do not care to use them in “their” online collections. They will not print them out. That is exactly what you want them to do, shy away from using them. That is not the customer that you want to attract. At least I do not.
+The person you do want to attract is the person interested enough to view the rest of your photography. The customer that will embrace your watermark and look at it for the purpose you created it to be, a part of your brand. A brand they want to see more of.
+Your Front Door Opens to Places You Never Dreamed Of
+Watermarking a photo leads a customer to your front door. Who knows? Maybe you might get lucky have a National Park retweet your photo on social media. Benefiting both of you in the advertising department. Perhaps, they may even want to use it in a national campaign. It has been known to happen 🙂 Again, they need to know how to track you down. My watermark does just that.
+There Are Just Things You Do For You
+Now that I told you the pros and cons as I see them. You might understand why I took the watermarking highroad for my selling platforms. I studied those Ugly Watermarks Pros and Cons. Decided to use them as a marketing tool. That was the correct choice for me.
+Though, there is no right. or wrong answer. It is your work and you do what is right for you! No judgements from me either way. It is a personal choice one makes.
+galapagos
+CNH Tours - Cultural and Natural Heritage Tours Galapagos
+Galapagos News)
+Halloween...in Galapagos?
+Wednesday October 31, 2018!
+"The captain helped me to the bottom of the ocean"
+Tuesday October 30, 2018
+I have copy-pasted, below the review provided by Jane Hartman of Maryland (who just turned 60 this year). She completed our Active Galapagos trip last Friday. I received these comments just now and thought I would share them as a "news" item. We survey all of our returning guests on a variety of indicators. For the question "What was your overall impression of your Active Galapagos trip?", 92% give us a 5 out of 5, 7% give us a 4 out of 5, and 1% give us a 3 out of 5.
+Here are Jane's comments:
+"Experiencing the Galapagos by way of the Samba was outstanding. Everything was done to maximize time experiencing the wildlife at its best. At nearly all sights, we were the only tour group there, arriving when the wildlife was at its most active and before other groups arrived.
+The small size of the boat along with the Flexibility of the crew, meant we could change course when opportunities presented themselves: such as seeing orcas & dolphins or checking out volcanic activity. Our guide Jimmy, with his great enthusiasm and love for the islands, was fluent in his knowledge and with his explanations.
+We felt pampered and well cared for by the crew of the Samba. There was always a helpful hand ready, even before we asked. Chef Angel served up fantastic meals artfully presented. Captain Jose was a gracious host, interacting with us in so many ways. He came with us on every snorkel trip, and helped me to the bottom of the ocean so I could get a good look at a shark, or an octopus, or a scorpion fish.
+As the title indicated, the tour was ACTIVE. We arrived home exhausted, but completely exhilarated and thoroughly happy we went. The pre-trip planning and arrangements made by CNH Tours was exemplary and made everything run very smoothly. Heather reached out to us many times to see if we had any questions. Materials proved (itinerary, packing list, etc.) were extremely well done. With this excellent preparation we were very well prepared for our trip. We were supplied with contacts for help both before and during the trip. This all resulted in a very stress free trip."
+Falklands war battle fleet commander on our ship
+Wednesday October 24, 2018
+Over the years, we’ve hosted people with all kinds of backgrounds on our charter cruises. One of them came to mind recently and I decided to write a little note about him. This British gentleman was part of a group of 16 friends from around London (UK), one of our very first charters, back in 2001. The tour’s leader was the father of a good friend of ours, who had joined us an earlier “Friends Cruise”.
+We had arranged to meet up with the group after their cruise for a cocktail at our Galapagos residence. While chit-chatting with the group, we learned that one of them, Sandy (an unusual name for a man it seemed to me), had been a submarine captain in the British navy years back. The group joked about how he had been the most comfortable of all passengers in the lower decks of the ship.
+Ten years later, I happened to pick up a book on the history of the British navy (To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World). The book concluded with a chapter on the 1982 Falklands war. I was reading about the critical role the British navy had played, and how the fleet’s battle group commander, Sandy Woodward, had carried out his responsibilities as he commanded the Hermes aircraft carrier group .
+“Sandy?!? Could it be the same?”. I found his email address from our archives and fired a note off to him, asking if indeed he had been the same admiral of the Falklands war fleet. Turns out it had been him. We had a delightful exchange. I asked if he had written about his experiences in the Falklands, and indeed he had. He published “One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander” in 2003. I promptly purchased it and enjoyed it thoroughly.
+Battle Group commander Sandy Woodward, not long before the Falklands war
+I still can’t imagine the irony in having hosted a British war fleet commander on a simple, modest little ship, captained by a local resident. I wonder if he’d inadvertently kept a watch over the activity on the bridge and would have loved hear his remarks on the ship.
+Ship's crew receives near perfect score
+Tuesday October 23, 2018
+We first offered an "Active" trip back in 2003 - chartering a ship twice a year. In 2005, we moved from our original ship to the Samba, booking 4 charters that year. In 2020, we've booked 30 charters with the Samba. This growth is entirely attributable to word of mouth, along with the growing on-line recognition that the Samba is one of the best, if not THE best value for money ship in the Galapagos. We've done no advertising, bought no Google ads... nothing.
+Value for money can be measured in many ways. One of the Samba's several defining characteristics, one that sets it apart from the majority of ships in Galapagos, even the highest end ships, is the extent to which its crew is engaged and pro-actively helpful.
+The cook works wonders in the galley; the captain is in the water, accompanying snorkelers who appreciate a helping hand; the crew is on the constant watch for how they can make things better for guests. The all do this while sharing a bit of fun with the guests, engaging in some convivial laughter.
+The ship's owner recognizes that an engaged crew contributes to a successful operation. One of the ways he gets his crew "on board" is to offer them and their families a cruise of their own, once a year. This gives them a chance to share their life, and the wonders of Galapagos, with their loved ones. In Galapagos very few residents ever get a chance to see what the hoopla is all about. The owner has even organized a trip to the Amazon for his crew and their family, in an effort to help them appreciate the reason why so many foreigners come to their country.
+CNH Tours regularly surveys its returning guests on the quality of their experience. Their overall trip receives very high scores - but no other element of the survey receives quite as high a score as the quality of the Samba's crew (though many come close). Below is the result of the survey of returning guests from March to June this year. 1 out of 122 respondents rated the crew as just "very good", 1 rated them "absolutely terrible" (we have to think that was a typo/mistake on the respondent's part), while all the others rated them as "excellent / couldn't possibly be better".
+We are very proud of the Samba and how it's managed. The numbers, both in terms of people approaching us to join an Active Galapagos trip, and in terms of survey results, speak for themselves.
+A FEW"CUT AND PASTE" COMMENTS FROM OUR GUESTS
+1. We found the crew of the Samba truly exceptional and felt very safe and taken-care-of with each one of them. They were unfailingly friendly and helpful. What we especially appreciated is that there were always several crew members coming along on the snorkeling adventures (even captain Oswaldo at times) to unobtrusively keep an eye on our safety. The entire ship was kept spick and span. I should also mention that the crew was always so quiet, no unnecessary noise ever.
+2. WHAT A PHENOMENAL, ATTENTIVE, KIND, PROFESSIONAL CREW!
+3. Everyone did their jobs so well, and were always there to help or make us more comfortable. The captain really excelled, especially when we were snorkeling by making sure we all got the maximum from the experience.
+4. Great guys all worked well together. They were always laughing and joking with us and really seemed to enjoy their work. Worked well as a team They were all amazing loved our captain.
+5. Crew went out of their way to help in any way possible. They were friendly, knowledgeable. They worked as a team, helping each other and us. They had fun with us.
+Volcano Post Mortem (or just a reprieve?)
+Wednesday October 17, 2018_5<<_6<<.
+123 baby tortoises go missing
+Friday October 5, 2018_7<<.
+Answer: ICONIC nightly show with ties to Galapagos – Question: What is Jeopardy!, Alex?!
+Friday September 28, 2018_8<<_9<<
+!
+This week on the show "Jeopardy!" there was an entire category dedicated to our favourite Ecuadorian archipelago – Galapagos!This week on the show "Jeopardy!" there was an entire category dedicated to our favourite Ecuadorian archipelago – Galapagos!
+#1 for 40 years - Happy World Heritage Birthday!
+Friday September 7, 2018
+Galapagos is marking it's 40th anniversary as a World Heritage site. On the 8th of September 1978, the intergovernmental World Heritage Committee met in Washington D.C. and approved the inscription of the Galapagos Islands onto the World Heritage list. As it was the first dossier to be studied and considered, it was given the prestigious "#1". In contrast, the most recent World Heritage site to be inscribed onto the list (Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains in South Africa, July of this year) was numbered #1,575.
+The World Heritage Convention was designed as an international instrument to encourage countries to take note of their cultural and natural heritage. Countries were further encouraged to invest in conserving their heritage for current and future generations, and to identify and propose, for international recognition, those cultural and natural heritage sites they might consider to be of global significance.
+Sites proposed for recognition would be studied by arm's length technical bodies. These technical bodies would share their recommendations as to the validity of the proposals to the World Heritage Committee, which, in turn, would inscribe these sites onto the World Heritage list if it agreed.
+It is not surprising that Galapagos was the first ever site to be inscribed. Along with perhaps 3 or 4 other places on earth, it sits at the top of the pyramid with regard to places were we can go to observe wildlife so easily and feel completely awed by the spectacle.
+It was no coincidence either that the first meeting of the World Heritage Committee took place in Washington D.C. The USA had taken a leadership role in the creation of the World Heritage Convention, holding a conference on the matter in the actual White House, in 1965. In the following years, it invested a good deal of effort to bring the countries of the world together to develop this international instrument. It wasn't until 1976 that it was formally adopted.
+The result has been successful beyond the expectations of the early proponents. The World Heritage Convention is arguably one of the best news stories coming out of the United Nations, and likely one of the most widely recognized United Nations conventions.
+Happy World Heritage inscription day Galapagos!
+Long-Lost Message in a Bottle - An Historic Find in Galapagos!
+Wednesday August 29, 2018_11<<
+]
+Alleged reason for medical insurance requirement: Venezuela
+Sunday August 19, 2018
+Over the past 12 months, there have been several aborted attempts by the government of Ecuador to impose a mandatory medical insurance requirement for all people visiting Ecuador. There has been a push-back on the part of the national tourism sector. The result has been an on-going on-again/off-again status for the requirement, with the government announcing a date on which visitors will be required to show evidence of insurance on arrival, only to have that date postponed by several months just a few weeks before the requirement was set to kick-in. Readers of the CNH Tours news section will have followed this saga through a few stories published here.
+We've been hearing that the motivation behind this requirement lies with the country's efforts to deal with an increasing number of Venezuelan migrants - most of which are leaving their home country in search of economic opportunities. Over 500,000 are reported to have arrived in Ecuador so far this year alone (that's a whopping 3% of the total Ecuadorian population). The reasoning linking the medical insurance requirement to the Venezuelan migrants proposes that the Ecuadorian government must be dealing with an important rise in demand for medical services from this group - while most arriving Venezuelans are not properly insured, or not insured at all. This leaves the Ecuadorian tax payer footing the bill.
+The Guardian newspaper (out of the UK) does a good job illustrating the plight of the Venezuelans and the impact on Ecuador in its paper today. To see the article, click here.
+Drinking from the Giant Tortoise Pericardium?
+Monday July 30, 2018
+Back in October 2017, Anthony Pearson, a cardiologist from St. Louis took the plunge and booked a trip for himself and his family on an August 2018 Active Galapagos trip on the Samba. It turns out that Anthony is an avid blogger, maintaining a rich blog site called "The Skeptical Cardiologist" (my father, a general practitioner, would certainly enjoy this blog).
+In preparation for his trip, he started a blog on the upcoming adventure. To date, he's posted two articles - one entitled: "We are soon Bound for the Galapagos Islands in search of Darwin, the Giant Tortoise and Dangerous Ideas".
+His second post, just out this week, is entitled: "Drinking from the Giant Tortoise Pericardium".
+Clearly, Anthony has a gift for headlines! To follow his blog, click here.
+Get your iguanas straight! Choose an expert Galapagos travel agent.
+Tuesday July 10, 2018
+My wife Heather Blenkiron has been answering questions as the TripAdvisor "Destination Expert" for Galapagos for many years (she's answered nearly 3,500 questions so far).
+People often turn to the TripAdvisor Galapagos forum for advice, or for recommendations on this or that travel agency. Heather's answer is invariably "no matter what agency you choose, just be sure they are Galapagos specialists, that they know what they are talking about".
+We are working out of our Victoria, British Columbia "office" these days (visiting family) and we were amused by the large bus shelter posters around town advertising a Galapagos trip, sponsored by a travel company that sells trips all over the world. They send a lot of people to Galapagos every year. But the picture on their poster is of an iguana not found in Galapagos. Clearly, this company, one we like to call "the IKEA of travel agencies", cannot be considered a Galapagos expert.
+Below, the bus shelter advertisement showing a mundane, run-of-the-mill, dime-a-dozen green iguana, found from Mexico to Brazil (but NOT in Galapagos)
+And now, below, the magnificent Galapagos Marine Iguana, found ONLY in Galapagos
+MASSIVE ERUPTION on Isabela Island!
+Tuesday June 26, 2018_18<<_19<<
+(Images kindly provided by Naturalist Guides in Galapagos)
+Welcome aboard Kelsey Bradley!
+Wednesday June 20, 2018
+CNH Tours has been very busy - we're getting more and more "word of mouth" inquiries as the number of very happy former guests tell their friends and family about the wonderful service and the unforgettable experiences they've had. So much so that we've been obliged to take on our first full-time senior partner - Kelsey Bradley.
+It wasn't easy to find the ideal person to join our team. We pride ourselves in providing "unmatched personalized service" - and part of that is ensuring that all the people working at CNH Tours have a profound and intimate knowledge of Galapagos. Unlike just about all other international agencies selling trips to the islands, all of CNH Tours front line staff have lived in the islands for several years and continue to maintain very close ties to the people there.
+Kelsey joined us on 18 June after spending 8 years working in Galapagos, first as a volunteer at the San Cristobal hospital and then later for 5 years at the Charles Darwin Research Station (where she had the pleasure of helping the likes of Martha Stewart organize a visit). She spent her time there closely connected to both the CDRS and the local communities, having lived on both Santa Cruz and San Cristobal Islands. Through her most recent role at the CDRS she worked with various members of the tourism industry in the islands to further bridge the gap between tourism and conservation in Galapagos. This helped her develop a good knowledge of the various hotel and ship representatives we work with. This aspect of her work quickly became a passion and now working with CNH Tours she looks forward to continuing these efforts for the conservation of the magical place. Her love for the islands and for Ecuador as a whole is very clear within two seconds of meeting her and she’s keen to share this love with future travellers.
+Kelsey also happens to be from Ottawa, CNH Tours' home base. She will be joining Heather taking your calls and emails to help you organize a trip of a lifetime.
+Kelsey is an amateur photographer - here she is on the Islander off the coast of Floreana Island (top photo) and in one of her favourite spots - Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island (bottom photo). We'll be using some of her pictures on our website and new stories. (Photos here taken by young Ecuadorian photographer Liza Diaz Lalova).
+Fernandina island's volcano erupts today
+Saturday June 16, 2018
+While Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela island had been attracting our attention these past days with its multiple earthquakes (see earlier news item "Is she going to blow?", its sister volcano on neighbouring Fernandina island is the one that erupted today.
+I just heard from Walter Bustos (former park director in Galapagos) that an eruption on the outer northern slopes of Fernandina island's "La Cumbre" volcano happened this morning. Fernandina island is the youngest in the Galapagos archipelago, located on its most westerly edge. It is considered one of the most pristine "large" islands in the world. Much of it is covered in lava fields, but there are many areas covered with vegetation. It is home to flightless cormorants, penguins, the largest colonies of marine iguanas and the Galapagos hawk.
+Plume of the eruption, 6 June 2018 (photo Galapagos National Park Service)
+The last time an eruption occurred was on 4 September 2017. With that kind of frequency, it's easier to understand how these islands are built over tens of thousands of years.
+Infrared photo shows location of the eruption on the northern edge of Fernandina Islana (imagery from Galapagos National Park Service)
+Ironically, we had been keeping an eye on Sierra Negra volcano these past days (Isabela Island). Let's see if it can outdo La Cumbre....
+Fernandina's Punta Espinoza is a visitor site on most ship itineraries. Lucky are those who might get a chance to see this eruption in progress. There is no danger whatsoever to visitors as the eruption is quite distant from visitor sites.
+Is she going to blow?
+Thursday June 14, 2018_24<<_25<<_26<<
+Burgled turtles* coming home
+Thursday June 14, 2018
+Translated from an El Colono (Galapagos newspaper) FaceBook post yesterday.
+* Technically they are tortoises (land based version of turtles, which are water reptiles; e.g. sea turtles) but we took a bit of poetic license to generate a more eye-catching title for this news item...)
+THE 26 TORTOISES THAT WERE ILLEGALLY TAKEN OUT OF THE ISLANDS RETURN TONIGHT
+A group of 26 Galapagos tortoises is repatriated from Peru to Ecuador (Galapagos) after being retained by the National Forestry and Wildlife Service of the neighboring country on April 17, 2017, product of the alleged international trafficking of species.
+These tortoises are part of the group of 29 chelonians retained by the Peruvian authorities, two of whom died during the alleged traffic and later one more due to natural causes.
+The Directorate of the Galapagos National Park of the Ministry of Environment, approached the Peruvian authorities to carry out the genetic analyzes and confirm that they are giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands, which, being protected species under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), it was necessary to comply with international procedures for its return to the Ecuadorian archipelago.
+This week, three park rangers from the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park traveled to Peru, where they removed the tortoises that were in the Cecilia Margarita Zoo in Piura, to begin the transfer to Lima, then to Quito and Galápagos.
+The compliance with the legal procedures was possible thanks to the coordinated work between the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park of the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Embassy of Ecuador in Peru, Agency for Regulation and Control of Fito and Zoosanitary, Regulation and Control of Biosecurity and Quarantine for Galapagos, Galapagos Conservancy, and National Secretary of Customs; with the support of the Government of Peru, through the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration, National Forestry Service and Wildlife, and National Service of Agrifood Health and Quality.
+According to the requirements of the authorities, the tortoises remained under a protocol of quarantine and veterinary examinations, to rule out diseases, prior to their return to the country.
+Wooden boxes specially designed for the transportation of the toirtoises, with estimated ages between three and five years, are used in the three-day journey that lasts until the final arrival in the Galapagos.
+Quarantine in Baltra
+The park ranger Christian Sevilla, responsible for the conservation of insular ecosystems of the DPNG, explained that upon arrival in Galapagos, the tortoises will spend at least 180 days in a specially built pen at the Ecuadorian Air Force Base on Baltra Island.
+The pen that will house the tortoises during the quarantine period is built on 16 square meters, has an outer cage that prevents any vertebrate: iguanas, lizards, etc., approaching the tortoises and another interior with all temperature and shade conditions that they need for their well-being, in addition it is covered with mesh, to avoid the entrance of invertebrates. This pen has a biosecurity area where the materials and equipment used by the park rangers who will take care of the chelonians will be kept.
+The quarantine will allow the reptiles to eliminate seeds, while they will be analyzed to rule out possible risks of infection before reinsertion into their habitat and protect the turtle populations of the archipelago.
+Photo credit: El Colono newspaper
+P
+At 9.5% growth per Year, Galapagos land based tourism is out of control
+Monday June 4, 2018
+I was quoted in the New York Times' June 1st paper (along with perhaps 500 other people in that day's paper... so my ego is kept in check). The article was entitled: "Is Land Tourism Threatening the Galápagos?". It was not a cutting edge article, and frankly, I don't think I said what the journalist quoted me as saying, but at the end of the day, the article was factual. Click here to read it.
+The article came about after I encouraged the International Galapagos Tour Operator's Association (IGTOA - I sit on the board) to make a statement on the unregulated nature of land based tourism in Galapagos. That statement can be consulted on IGTOA's website (click here).
+I was motivated to do so as a former staffer at UNESCO's World Heritage (WH) Centre. The WH Centre is the United Nations body charged with overseeing the state of conservation of WH sites - which includes the Galapagos islands. In its last decision, back in 2016, the intergovernmental WH Committee expressed concern over rapid growth of tourism and the absence of any plan to manage it. More visitors coming and going draw more migrants from the continent and together, there is markedly more movement of people and goods between the continent and the islands, and between islands themselves. All this to-ing an fro-ing raises the risk of more introductions of invasive non-native species - these are the main threat to the long term survival of Galapagos biodiversity (Darwin Finch numbers are currently in decline thanks to an non-native fly that lays eggs in the birds' nests).
+My conscience could not let me sit on the board of an association of Galapagos tourism companies that claims to be "dedicated to the complete and lasting protection of the Galapagos" on the one hand, and see that the same organization had not addressed threats linked to uncontrolled tourism growth identified by the United Nations on the other.
+We started by producing an IGTOA position statement on Galapagos (noted above). We followed that with a letter to the Minister of the Environment about this issue in 2017. The Ministry asked the the Galapagos National Park to respond. During the IGTOA meeting in Galapagos last November, we met with the park staff to discuss. Though we agreed to work more closely together on conservation related matters, the Park indicated that Galapagos tourism policy was a Ministry of Tourism matter. Our letter to the Minister of Tourism duly went out in February (and as noted in the NYT article, we have yet to receive a response). We were then approached by the New York Times who wanted to publish an article on the matter.
+All along, I have been working to convince my former colleagues at UNESCO's WH Centre to recognize the on-going absence of significant measures taken by the Government of Ecuador to control the growth in land based tourism. Government numbers show a growth in land based tourism averaging at 9.5% / year over the last 5 years. While the Government of Ecuador wisely saw fit to put a cap on the capacity of ship based tourism nearly 20 years ago, it has yet to impose any equivalent cap on land based tourism. As a result, land based visitors, who numbered fewer than 5,000 in the 1990's, will likely surpass the 200,000 threshold within 2-3 years.
+UNESCO's WH Committee is meeting again later this month / early July to review the state of conservation of WH sites, and Galapagos is on the agenda. I was hoping to present a solid case to justify strong wording from the WH Committee to the Government of Ecuador in regards to the need for a firm limit on the total number of tourists coming to the islands.
+Their draft decision on the matter was published recently. As in its last decision (2016), the proposal is to recognize that more needs to be done to manage tourism while recognizing the government's very small steps taken to date (these have had zero impact on tourism growth). The Government of Ecuador, in its report to the WH Committee, indicated that it was committed "to adopt measures that promote a zero growth model". That's not the same as "placing a firm cap on the total annual number of visitors granted a Galapagos National Park entrance permit". It leaves a lot of wiggle room, particularly in terms of when the "zero growth" is to be achieved.
+To conclude, though I am disappointed in UNESCO's timid recommendations to the Government of Ecuador, at least the issue remains on the front burner. The Government of Ecuador will have to report once again to UNESCO in 2019 and if no progress is made then, we can hope that bolder requests will be made. If Ecuador does not implement measures deemed necessary for the conservation of the islands, UNESCO's WH Committee can put the site on the Danger List, or further still, remove Galapagos from the World Heritage List altogether.
+In the meantime, anyone thinking of going to Galapagos using the cruise ship model can rest assured that they will not be contributed to tourism growth in the islands. Ship based tourism, thanks to effective Government policies, has been more or less flat at 70,000 people per year for the past 15 years or so. Enjoy your trip!
+Fuggedaboudit - leave your yogurt behind
+Tuesday May 15, 2018.
+
+Oh crap! Bridget, can someone go and physically check on him?
+Oh crap! Bridget, can someone go and physically check on him?
+Oh Bridget. I would be worried as well.
+I hope that soon you are kicking his a** for scaring you and worrying you.I hope that soon you are kicking his a** for scaring you and worrying you.
+Kate, one word....Brandy. LOL No seriously, try a shot of that or I hear whiskey is good too. Calms down my throat like nothing else....not my inhaler or a script from the pharmacy.
+I don't keep track either. I kept VERY close track for years and I'm rebelling now. I just don't wanna and I get warning she's a coming so why bother. I do think that I'm getting close to ovulation so not in synch with you all. I could go jump DH but kind of feel like why bother. I did last month and than I think about what if what if what if what if....which is annoying. If I know timing was awful, I don't get any hopes up. I wish I didn't know the signs of ovulation.
+Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
+And thanks Mandy, that's really what I wanted to know-if he could run in them better than regular sneaks. My foot pain is more constant that I like to admit..
+He is an hour from me. I wish I'd called my dad earlier because he'd be in bed now...trying to think of a friend that may have talked to him since we have several mutual ones.
+I didn't track while DH was deployed. In a way it was peaceful, not having AF be such a negative experience.
+I have an update about my private practice situation. There is a former co-worker of mine who had mentioned in the past she saw a few clients after school. I wanted to ask her about it, but she changed her name recently and since I can't remember her new name, I don't know how to find her on the district email system. Anyway, I saw her today at a continuing ed session we both went to and asked her about it. She said she has worked through a couple of different clinics here in town and also through the state (although I have heard from more than one person that the state can take 6 months or more to pay you). We were whispering during the presentation, but we exchanged phone numbers and I told her I wanted to talk to her about who she went through. The session ran over time and she had to leave (actually to see a private client!), but she mouthed, "call me" as she walked out the door. Yay! Making progress!
+I've also been reading up on the internet and saw a great strategy for attracting potential clients on my own: free screenings! I would never have thought of it, but what a great idea!
+Last edited by Gwenn; 03-28-2012 at 08:06 PM.
+Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
+Bridget, can you call him? That worries me, too.
+By the way, I didn't comment on your last post about Sawyer, but I love how you describe him and he sounds just so adorable to me. I especially love how you seem to take any behavior and characteristic and put the "cute" spin on it. You are the quintessential mom, and a good storyteller. I actually feel like I don't match up to my mom in a lot of ways, because I feel like she pretty much always enjoyed being a mom, and she always enjoyed being around her children, and while I do a lot of things she didn't do, I can't say I enjoy my children exclusively to the extent that she seemed to. She felt the same way about her mom, who was absolutely perfect to hear her tell it. I get the impression that you enjoy your children the same way she did.
+AND, I really appreciate your comment about Savana acting like Claire does when she's tired. It occurred to me after you posted, that Claire has been staying up unusually late for the past several nights. She's been missing 2-3 hours of sleep every night. I can't get her to go to sleep for the life of me. She stayed up late again last night. I talked to DH about it, and we both decided to be a little more gentle and understanding with her and hopefully try to get her to go to bed early tonight. My mom reported that she was really good today.
+-----
+I'm due to start AF any day now. I've been keeping track on my computer's calendar since I started having such awful and heavy ones last summer. My cycle is about 10 days long, every 26 days or so. So almost 50% of the time I'm bleeding profusely or moderately. I hate it. On the bright side, my doctor checked and I'm not anemic. And I've stopped spontaneously lactating. That weird thing just happened for a couple of months. If I could go back in time, I would have a hysterectomy.
+------
+I just use a cough drop when I have to be somewhere and not cough. There really is nothing that stops a cough, but a cough drop can ease that tickle. I've been sick the past couple of days and I have been falling asleep with a sugar-free cough drop in my mouth so I don't keep coughing myself awake. It helps me.
+Mandy, I'm glad you're making progress!
+I've been eating cough drops like crazy. I started with some Ricola drops that have syrup in the middle but they were very strong on the eucalyptus so I switched to Luden's honey drops and those are good but I have to eat them non stop or the cough comes right back.
+Bridget, keep us updated! I have to go to bed soon but I'll check in mid-morning or so.
+Can I just mention that I'm so enjoying seeing Stevie Nicks as a mentor on AI? ICan I just mention that I'm so enjoying seeing Stevie Nicks as a mentor on AI? I
+her. And she's an amazing mentor.her. And she's an amazing mentor.
+Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
+Mandy that sounds promising and at the very least helpful!
+Yeah I liked Stevie Nicks on there too. The kids did a good job tonight.....but I don't have any that I just really love like I did in so many past seasons. I'm not totally watching but had it on while I was on the phone with my mom and than my MIL.
+I hope you hear from your brother soon, Bridget. I'll have to keep checking my phone today to see if you update.
+Hey and fwiw, I'm due my period any day now, too. I keep track of mine in my little daily calendar. It's anywhere from a 26 to 32 day cycle. But, lately, I can tell when I'm due because of hormone levels and how I feel. I used to never be like that, but now I know AF is due when I'm feeling weepy and have no interest in sex. LOL.
+Argh, you guys, I've been having horrible dreams lately. I think it must be from all the stress that I'm feeling with not getting on to a teaching course, so I am now trying to think of what's the next step for me with going back to work and arranging the boys' childcare. I hate making big life choices. I have just applied to a 'progress tutor' roll at a local high school, so I suppose that is a positive. It's a job where I'd be kind of like a mentor to a small group of high risk kids to keep them on track and get them to graduate and go on to college, etc. I think I'd really enjoy it.
+Any how, the summer-like weather has continued here, so we're off out to a big farm today that has a massive playground for kids. I think it's supposed to get colder at the weekend, so we're in for a big chill after today!
+Bridget, I sure hope you can get ahold of him or find someone to check on him. How scary!
+Mandy, I think offering free screenings is a great way to get started and generate clients! People love free stuff!
+I'm waiting to get blindsided by AF. I can't remember for sure, but I *think* I got it back just before M turned 1 and A will be 10mo this weekend. They both were/are exclusively BF. A is just started to get into solids now. I would be SO bummed if I got AF back just a few months PP! I'm planning on getting the Mirena in June or around then, so I'm hoping it will help make my periods lighter than they have been in the past.
+L, I always love hearing your stories of your kids and I think everyone has moments of frustration/lack of enjoyment from their little ones. I know I do. My mom sounds similar to yours, but I'm sure that even she had her moments. It just makes you appreciate them more at other times I think.
+AKA Lisa724AKA Lisa724
+That sounds like a really great opportunity Ash. You'd be making such a positive impact on their lives. It may be one of those things that you won't realize at the time, but as years go by some might think of something you said and have that lightbulb moment where they go "ah ha!"
+L, I was going to say something like that. Your children's memories are going to be very different than yours and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they don't end up having the same perception about you that you hold for your mother.
+AKA Lisa724AKA Lisa724
+Okay, well I got a text. I called him four times last night and left two messages. I know he always has his cell in his pocket and rarely misses a call. He is very social and would never be without. That is why I get so concerned when he doesn't answer. Right before I went to bed I texted him that I was really worried and understood if he doesn't feel like talking but please let me know he is ok. Middle of the night I got, "I will be." Still so elusive. I worry and at the same time I get a little upset because he is one of those people who says he's fine but then makes it so obvious that he totally isn't. Like, "leave me alone but give me attention" and it's hard to know how to respond to that.
+Lydia, I thank you very much for you kind words. I have to say that those are the sort of compliments that really make me feel good and especially coming from you since I think you seem like a very thoughtful parent. I really hope that is was just Claire being tired. I should say it's not just Savana that gets like that. Kai gets the same. It is like they morph into these angry creatures. Last night someone put a piece of paper on the stove top and when I came to the kitchen and so I said, "Savana! Kai! I don't know how this paper got here but please don't ever, ever put anything one the stove top."
+Kai lost it. Screaming and crying at me that he already knew that and he didn't do it and I am very, very, very, very wrong. I asked him to go into his room until he was calm and he fell asleep in about 10 minutes. I always feel bad in those situations. Like I should have been more insistent about his nap so he wouldn't get to that point.
+My DD is the same way when she's over tired. Screechy, hitting, kicking, mouthy, etc. When she's not over-tired, she's an angel. DH does not deal well with it, so I always take over when she's like that.
+AKA Lisa724AKA Lisa724
+So glad you heard from your brother Bridget.
+Also, Ky is still like that too when he doesn't get enough sleep - a nut! Elle gets really happy and hyper like a fun-mobile. She is also usually very pleasant and talkative and sometimes I don't want to put her in the bed because she is being so funny and entertaining. But Ky, even at 10 will cry for no reason when he is tired. Tears fall down his cheeks silently, he will whimper and if you ask him to do a simple task he will cry like he is a 2 year old and tantrum and everything. This is why he must get at least 10-11 hours of sleep per night and sleep is a priority for him. DH also gets agitated easily when he is tired so I figure it is some genetic thing.
+Erin
+I'm so glad you heard from your brother too, and I hope he's back to normal soon.
+AKA Lisa724AKA Lisa724
+Bridget, I'm so glad you heard from your brother!
+And I think I haven't ever known a child who doesn't go nuts when they are tired or haven't had enough sleep. All 3 of my SIL's kids (her eldest especially) and both my boys go loopy when they are tired. And I remember before I had kids going to my friends' house for evening gatherings and they'd send their son up to bed once he started bouncing off the walls and doing psycho things. LOL. I think about myself when I don't feel like I've had enough quality sleep and I can be a moody little sod myself!
+We had a magnificent day at the farm today. This is the place: If any of y'all ever come over here, we'll go there since it's only about 30 minutes from my house and it's a great place!
+Bridget, even if you feel uncomfortable doing so, I think you (and your dad and your brother's friends) should insinuate yourselves into his life. He isn't going to ask for help. No matter how many times someone says, "Call if you need anything" no one ever really does. In times like these I think it's important for people to just do things for their loved ones, without them having to ask.
+Chrissy, I agree. Don't worry. I'm all up in his business. He probably wishes I would back the eff off! lol I just got off the phone with him and he's having a rough time. Hates his new job. Has a broken heart. I am hoping he will come over this weekend. My kids miss him. I miss him.
+ »
+shazbat, states taking the feds to court is entirely different from nullification.
+filing a suit in a federal court means something quite distinct from refusing to follow federal law.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 7:51 PM
+What many fail to realize is that nullification is taking place today with things like medical marijuana laws. The states grant all powers to the Federal Govt, and when that Govt gets out of bounds, nullification is one of the few ways the States can fight back.
+Plus, does anyone think that the Feds will send in the military to arrest State legislatures who nullify?
+27+ States and counting! This is not a trivial matter. Can anyone recall such an action in the past? This thing WILL be found unconstitutional in any regard. And then crr6 can go back to school.
+BierManVA on January 22, 2011 at 7:53 PM
+I like nullification, but something better than that would be to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment to restore selection of senators to the state legislatures. That said, however, doesn’t mean I’m opposed to nullification. We need both.
+Woody
+woodcdi on January 22, 2011 at 7:53 PM
+why? so that more easily erected petty tyrannies replace a large government representing many differing interests and regions?
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 7:55 PM
+Very well stated comrade… Couldn’t agree more.
+Keemo on January 22, 2011 at 7:57 PM
+Mizflam98, I think that I fixed that for you :)
+rgranger on January 22, 2011 at 7:57 PM
+Spell cheq, anyone?
+leftnomore on January 22, 2011 at 7:59 PM
+From a prior part on the NC nullification and Jackson’s view on it:
+Nullification rightly belongs to the United States under the Articles of Confederation, and by changing the mode of government there is also changed the formulation of entity that is brought into being. Under the weak federal system of the Confederation, nullification would be something that could be viewed as valid; under the Constitution the way to void out federal power for the States starts in the Senate…
+One of the problems with Amendment XVII is that it removed the appointment of Senators to the Senate by the Statehouses so that the States, as entities, could have a say in the federal government directly. That is a vital check that is not addressed by Jackson as the issue of federal taxation is a part of the House of Representatives, but the House is seen as a vital part of the check on taxation power. Similarly the Senate is part of the States ability to be represented so as to ensure that their voices are heard. The States are the ones who are signatories to the Constitution as representatives of the people in the States: to bring the US together they must have the collective sovereignty vested in them to do this work. Without that part functional, at this point in time, that remedy is no longer available in the Senate.
+That then brings the other notable piece by Jackson into play in the Veto of the National Bank:
+The question of the federal government imposing a singular system mandated by the federal government upon the States is one of the utilization of federal power without limits. In attempting to ‘regularize’ markets the federal government imposes its power upon markets and while making them a unity it also removes diversity via the mandates imposed within that system. Mandates are those things that must be done without recompense: they are orders, not requests. And yet the States have a guarantee of the ability to utilize their position for the people so as to ensure that the federal government does not impose solutions far beyond the few areas it is granted limited powers. To this day we still have not heard from the commerce clause twisters what is the practical limits of the commerce clause if it allows the government to tell you what to buy and sellers what to sell to you.
+Later the question of taxation with banking strikes parallels with health care:
+Note that the States reserve to themselves the majority taxing power and granted the federal government limited ability to tax… which has been unwisely expanded in our modern era… so where is the ability to tell the people and the States what to do in the realm of health care? Why was that not explicitly granted to the federal government? If it is a ‘right’ then it would have been seen as one at the Framing… yet there it is absent. What is present are Amendments IX and X reserving all rights and power not delegated to the federal government for the States and the people, respectively.
+Again what is the practical limit of the commerce clause when viewed via the lens of history? This modern and expansive view was not the one created or put down by the Framers. Indeed the ability of the National Bank to purchase lands is cited by Jackson as running afoul of the Constitution in which any government created entity must ask, per property, of the respective State if it will relinquish the use of that property to the federal government. Yet now, with ‘bailouts’ the government becomes a stakeholder in businesses that have real property in the States… where did that power come from when it has an explicit outline within the Constitution that is strict and limiting? I am unaware of the federal government asking the States if it may have any say, whatsoever, in each and every dealership and each and every factory for GM and Chrysler. Ditto the banks that have been bailed out.
+These two issues are not unrelated as they fall under the Constitution and yet only one of them, healthcare, has been examined because of the purchase and seller requirements via mandate… the other has flown under the radar and yet is just as much a palpable threat to the States who have sovereignty over their own land. Now the federal government can decide to tell you what to do with your body, and yet that must be the ultimate in ownership, no? If you do not have the right nor liberty to lead a civil life and decide your own path for health care, then what is the limit of what the federal government can and cannot do?
+They now invest in companies to run them, contrary to what the States signed up to.
+They now tell citizens what they must buy and what sellers must sell, which is contrary to what the States signed up to.
+Where is the guarantee of liberty in this system? Is the federal government going to do it all? But then that one has been examined, also:
+Would that our federal government keep to its proper orbit.
+By not doing so it disturbs the States and the people.
+And weakens the concept of federalism, which brings forth the question of nullification because of the reach of the federal government.
+ajacksonian on January 22, 2011 at 8:04 PM
+I believe that presidents in the 50s and 60s called upon the national guard to enforce the law when racist state governments insisted that they never would end segregation. the legislatures needed be arrested, they will just be ignored and made to feel foolish in consequence of their folly.
+in may, in whole or in part be found to violate the Constitution in some regard. that will occur in federal court and the legislation likely will stand after being amended.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 8:04 PM
+You know, I actually almost like the nullity better if it’s realistically possible (which I don’t have enough info on the process to make a valid judgment).
+It fights not only the symptom of the problem, but also the root – usurpation of states’ rights by the feds. A GIGANTIC foundational issue making our country more and more polarized is the spreading of a “one size fits all” federal gov’t trying to make laws that both Iowa and New York agree with. Not gonna happen – either the Iowa conservatives will love it and New York lefties will hate it or vice versa. Our gov’t was set up to allow for states to have individual personalities, and the more that is lost, the more resentment builds in the country. This addresses that.
+If Massachusetts wants a disastrous Health Care law, be my guest. Texas can come up with something sane and I can chose which state to live in. Obamacare is just the latest symptom of the disease of an overreaching federal gov’t. I prefer an approach that treats both the symptom and the disease. If you have cancer, an aspirin may take away the pain it’s giving you, but you’re still slowly dying.
+We focus too much on the short game on the Right – and it shows in how the left has been slowly marching forward with their agenda the last 100 yrs. Voting for another squish ‘just to get Obama out of office’, running from a candidate who is ‘unelectable’ because of false media attacks, and fighting specific overreaching legislation while being silent regarding its infringement on states’ rights might win a battle or two – but such strategy not only keeps our most important core values from advancing, but gives tacit approval to the false lefty worldview.
+It reinforces that beltway Repubs don’t have to listen to the conservative base because we will vote for whomever they give us, that the media actually CAN choose our candidates if they are nasty enough and that the feds can stomp on states rights, as long as we can’t dispute anything in the bad law itself apart from it’s conflict with states’ rights. Actions speak louder than words, people.
+When will we learn….?
+miConsevative on January 22, 2011 at 8:10 PM
+ajacksonian on January 22, 2011 at 8:04 PM
+Awesome, and will take some time to digest such a vast amount of information.. Thanks for spending the time and sharing this work with us.
+Keemo on January 22, 2011 at 8:12 PM
+I guess the other 4 are accountable to Soros, eh?
+mizflame98 on January 22, 2011 at 8:13 PM
+Those are excellent quotes from President Jackson. However, there still is no case for nullification in there, as far as I can see. In fact, just the opposite.
+AshleyTKing on January 22, 2011 at 8:15 PM
+Ooohh… so this is how liberals can sleep at night.
+So, under this same logic, a Democrat/liberal president freed the slaves.
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 8:24 PM
+Pray tell what was that vague political realignment and what triggered it?
+mizflame98 on January 22, 2011 at 8:32 PM
+Are you really this thick? You do know that the South used to be solidly Democratic, and the North solidly Republican, right?
+The realignment had a few separate causes, but the main one was that the Democratic party power began to court minorities by supporting civil rights measures, while the Repubs courted disaffected white voters in the South (by using the “Southern Strategy”). As a result, the party’s constituencies basically switched during the 1960′s and 70′s.
+In all seriousness….did you really not know all of that? You really should get outside the friendly confines of HA from time to time…
+crr6 on January 22, 2011 at 8:46 PM
+Jackson would be tried for crimes against humanity today for what he did to the indigenous people of the south.
+darwin-t on January 22, 2011 at 8:52 PM
+If the Democratic party was so aligned with Civil rights, pray tell was it REPUBLICANS that voted for all the critical measures and not your vaunted “civil” rights democrats?
+Noelie on January 22, 2011 at 8:53 PM
+Slip of the tongue?
+Friendly21 on January 22, 2011 at 8:57 PM
+Because the realignment had just started, really. Racist Southern Democrats began to defect to the Republican party en masse soon after the passage of the CRA.
+crr6 on January 22, 2011 at 9:03 PM
+Note that even when the CRA of 1964 was passed, Southern Republicans opposed it and Northern Dems supported it…
+crr6 on January 22, 2011 at 9:03 PM
+Maybe this has already been mentioned.
+Seems to me though, that many cities are nullifying state law by providing safe sanctuary to illegals. Could it also be argued that the Federal government is nullifying Federal laws as well? They refuse to enforce immigration laws and sue states who do.
+So, the case could be made that states are following the Federal governments lead by be refusing to enforce immigration laws, they can now also refuse to enforce other laws.
+JellyToast on January 22, 2011 at 9:10 PM
+ahaha.. what a complete load. Do you really expect people to believe that.. WHOAAOA!! A WIKIPEDIA LINK!!!
+My apologies… I defer to your obvious expertise on this subject.
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 9:14 PM
+Idaho is one of the most Republican states in the country, so to see them try this is not surprising. I hope they succeed.
+jdawg on January 22, 2011 at 9:16 PM
+I’ll remember that bit of dumbf*ckery the next time a right-leaning person here tries to use Wiki to back up an argument. Shouldn’t have to wait too long…
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 9:26 PM
+Hey, knock yourself out there, butt-plug.
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 9:31 PM
+Seriously, I don’t care what poll Dingy Harry or any of these other leftspaz tools wants to trot out. When you get multiple states calling BS like this…guess what???
+THE PEOPLE DON’T WANT IT!!!
+BigWyo on January 22, 2011 at 9:41 PM
+Seriously, did you even read that article from Wikipedia? Who was it written by, Paul Krugman?
+It alleges that Reagan’s and GHW Bush’s winning Presidential strategies were based on this. It’s strongest evidence of this is the “Willie Horton” ad used during Bush’s run against Dukakis (hah!)
+It’s basically a parroting of the ole’ Republican-policies-are-racist strategy used by progressives for the past 30+ years.
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 9:43 PM
+you sure that it’s not just the MSM telling them not to want it?
+the MSM is, like, totally controlled by the forces of reaction and the Big Money Boys.
+everybody on Hot Air knows that when the majority of the US thinks differently than they do, it’s because the MSM lies,lies, lies.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 9:46 PM
+Knock yourself out, Popeye wannabe.
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 9:46 PM
+Or because Soros is paying everyone to disagree…or something…
+If there’s one constant among “both sides of the aisle”, it’s the utter inability to come to grips with the idea that they aren’t the uncontested majority on something. Much less when the sane world has left them in the dust while they’re ranting in the wilderness…(ie; “bush stole the elections!”)
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 9:49 PM
+YES.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 9:54 PM
+Army of Darkness reference, actually (and, by proxy, Three Stooges).
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 9:58 PM
+My bad then, I’m a Stooges fan but I completely missed the reference.
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 10:00 PM
+You both are wandering in the wilderness happily whistling show tunes without the vaguest idea of what’s going on.
+Congrats.
+darwin on January 22, 2011 at 10:01 PM
+There is no doubt that, up until Congress ran amok, the regulation of Health Insurance rested in the states. Suddenly, here comes Congress and says they’re going to do it. Perhaps there is hope using nullification, there will be some interesting arguments, at least.
+bflat879 on January 22, 2011 at 10:02 PM
+darwin
+don’t know too many show tunes and don’t whistle.
+go fish!
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 10:04 PM
+Sorry, this was already tried once during the nineteenth century. It’s unconstitutional. Madison even talked about how nullifying federal law was not a fair basis for the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions.
+Nullification is essentially anarchy. There’s no point in having a federal government if a state can just choose to nullify the laws it passes. As much as we’d like to do it, just imagine the chaos it would have caused as liberal states tried to nullify the various laws passed by Bush.
+cpaulus on January 22, 2011 at 10:05 PM
+There’s no point in having a union if the federal government simply imposes its will on the states.
+It’s not anarchy either. Anarchy is a total absence of government, this is simply a declaration that the state will not recognize or abide by the law. It would be the last recourse should all other avenues fail.
+darwin on January 22, 2011 at 10:10 PM
+ajacksonian on January 22, 2011 at 8:04 PM
+Outstanding post as usual!
+txmomof6 on January 22, 2011 at 10:27 PM
+There’s a constant example of nullification done at the local level. It’s done by refusing to enforce immigration law and creating “sanctuary cities.” So please don’t say that it hasn’t been used successfully since the civil war.
+Of course, this example is a case where the federal government refuses to enforce their own law. But the act is still the same.
+njrob on January 22, 2011 at 10:32 PM
+of course, of course.
+lax enforcement, desuetude, nullification all one and the same.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 10:36 PM
+You’re so cute. Allow me to inform you on what I know about this. I’m sorry it took so long to get back to you. I just got off the phone with my sister.
+The south was Democrat, yes. But it was the blacks that were Republicans in the south. It was generally mixed Democrat/ Republican up north. This split in the south happened during reconstruction mainly because the freed slaves looked at the Party of Lincoln as their saviors. The Southern Democrats at that time started up the KKK to keep the uppity blacks in line. This makeup more or less stayed that way until the FDR’s presidency.
+Eleanore Roosevelt started catering to blacks to convince them to vote Democrat. At first the black leaders didn’t go for it, but with enough incentives and government programs, Roosevelt started to convince some blacks to vote Democrat. Also the fact that the Republicans didn’t bother to cater to blacks with government programs also did them in. Some blacks were convinced that they paid their debt to Lincoln. Unfortunately there still weren’t enough blacks voting Democrat to make a huge difference. Far too many of them were still voting Republican.
+Lets fast forward to the 50′s. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was put forward under Ike but it was so weakened by the Democrats that it was nearly useless. Guess who set it up to become a weakened bill… Senate Majority Leader LBJ.
+Now, end of the 50′s and beginning of the 60′s Stalin was putting out the word to the reds in the US to join in the civil rights movement. The reason was to stir up trouble with the US by taking a civil rights stance against America. Stalin felt that the US had no standing in judging the treatment of the Soviet people when America practiced segregation. So, that’s what many of the reds did. The same reds that joined the Democrat party and in the 40′s so they can dodge the “red scare”. So, I guess you can say that you’re right and during the 60′s there was a political shift. But that is only because the reds were infiltrating the civil rights arena and convincing more blacks to join the Democrat party… a party that became a bit more pink since Truman’s day.
+Kennedy really didn’t care much about the civil rights act, but LBJ (remember him?) knew that he would gain a whole lot of new voters if he passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He said, “We’ll have the n*g*er vote for the next 100 years.” and he was right about that.
+So you see, I did my homework instead of relying on the recycled propaganda you keep spewing.
+mizflame98 on January 22, 2011 at 10:44 PM
+Well, what do ya know. It was Sen. Robert Byrd who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He stayed a Democrat till his dying day.
+Also the vote statistics are quite fascinating. Majority of Republicans both in the north and the south voted FOR the civil rights act.
+mizflame98 on January 22, 2011 at 10:55 PM
+I have lived in grown up in cities (NYC) and states (NJ) that refuse to enforce federal law. They do that each time they arrest an illegal alien and then let them go without handing them off to federal authorities for deportation. Please don’t try and change the words I used from ‘refuses to enforce’ to ‘lax enforcement.’
+njrob on January 22, 2011 at 11:00 PM
+This! With careerists from both parties seeking only to line their pockets and buy off the voters to maintain their perks of office and the far left liberal presstitutes propagandizing for every leftwing liberal proven failure of a policy and position we are dangerously close to becoming a bankrupt nation unable to pay even the interest on our debts unless the peoples assets are confiscated!
+This brings us dangerously close to a call to arms and a for real Tea Party, but this time throwing the corruptocrats in the Potomac!
+dhunter on January 22, 2011 at 11:02 PM
+Here’s a free clue: you can comment on how much others understand when you actually have the remotest idea yourself. Until then, stick to something more your level, like tiddlywinks.
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 11:03 PM
+Should begin with “I have lived and grown up in…”
+Preview is my friend.
+njrob on January 22, 2011 at 11:04 PM
+the enforcement of immigration law is the task of which municipal agency that is an arm of the federal government?
+was this not what you said?
+You’re confusing me and I am a grown-up!
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 11:06 PM
+Most interesting and enjoyable thread, thanks to fabulous posts by mizflame, txmom, dhunter, darwin, VBMax and I’m sure a few other red hot posters that I’ve missed!
+Yes, I say. Nullify, amend the Constitution, litigate and more power to the states! Proceed soberfully, artfully and with due skill, concurrently with all of the above, and may the first horse over the finish line be celebrated with laurel and in legend. It’s time to take our country back.
+Thanks again for the great thread, guys (and gals)!
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:09 PM
+Not quite. Nullification is deliberate refusal of enforcement. It amounts to “I don’t want to and you can’t make me!”
+Parents hear equivalent sentiments every day the world ’round. Unfortunately, this kind of rebellion can’t be solved anywhere as easily.
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 11:11 PM
+That caught my eye too. Why would racist democrats join, “en masse”, a Republican party that was historically, and at the time of the CRA passage, opposed to everything these very same racist democrats stood for?
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:19 PM
+Thank you. It’s really cool to have an intense thread with minimum name-calling.
+mizflame98 on January 22, 2011 at 11:19 PM
+Two-party syndrome: “We’re getting screwed over here, let’s go over there! Yeah!”…promptly forgetting that ‘over there’ is a party that disagrees with them on about everything from A to Z.
+There was a third party, the ‘Dixiecrats’, that got tried. But it was a one-trick pony and when that trick failed they pretty much disintegrated.
+Dark-Star on January 22, 2011 at 11:24 PM
+I was not at all being serious with that comment.
+Nullification is not just deliberate refusal of enforcement but also a claim of superior authority.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 11:27 PM
+Prolly the lack of any facts presented in your arguments that threw him.
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 11:32 PM
+I understand your point, but I fail to see an historical affirmation of crr6′s “en masse” defection of racist democrats to the Republican party. I think the dems have historically proven themselves to be, and still are, racist in policy and racists found a home then and do now with the dems. Any dems who decamped to the R’s did so because perhaps they no longer wanted to be part of what became a party of commies and sleazes. That was the story with my parents, anyway, post JFK.
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:38 PM
+AMEN!
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:39 PM
+your poor folks run into some real bad luck.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 11:41 PM
+That’s because it never happened. The dixiecrats remained loyal to the Democratic party.
+spinach.chin on January 22, 2011 at 11:49 PM
+clarify.
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:52 PM
+Yes they did. I was hoping to get crr6 to question his/her reasoning and or sources…no biggie.
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:53 PM
+Oh, it surely happened, spich.
+Strom Thurmond was a notable example of a very large shift that happened in response to the civil rights stance of Kennedy and Johnson.
+There was a bunch of stuff written about it at the time and even afterward.
+You could look it up.
+audiculous on January 22, 2011 at 11:57 PM
+again. clarify.
+tigerlily on January 22, 2011 at 11:59 PM
+Nope, sorry.
+Likely example. Can you come up with evidence of mass defections of dixiecrats to the GOP?
+Nope.
+I could, but there’s lots of other stuff I’d rather do.
+Fact remains, a greater percentage of GOP lawmakers voted for the Civil Rights Act than Dems that voted for it. As has been said, why would dixiecrats migrate to a less-racist party.
+Don’t make sense, champ.
+As I said earlier, this is one of those bedtime tales that lib parents tell their lib kids so that they can sleep at night without the crushing moral responsibility of how their ilk have destroyed the Black American family (to name one thing).
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 12:08 AM
+Hiding under your bridge won’t help. You seem to think that people here at HA are stupid and don’t see you for what you are. The fact that posters have literally run circles around you on this thread should disabuse you of that ridiculous fantasy. Intelligent as the vast majority are, they’ll have no problem seeing that you are not just a troll, but one who attempts to lamely insult a commenter’s parents, for reasons only a two-year old mind could justify. I have seen many trolls insult commenters, but I have never seen one insult a commenter’s family. You have taken the prize, but then you don’t need to take it, because you carry it with you, always. You’ll find it in your diaper, widdle baby.
+tigerlily on January 23, 2011 at 12:15 AM
+‘The degree to which the Southern Democrats had abandoned the party became evident in the 1968 presidential election when the electoral votes of every former Confederate state except Texas went to either Republican Richard Nixon or independent Wallace.’
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 12:25 AM
+Therein lies the problem….one branch of government deciding IT is the ultimate arbiter of what is constitutional. That was never the purpose of the federal government.
+csdeven on January 23, 2011 at 12:26 AM
+The civil war settled the question of nullification.
+Oops. I guess it didn’t!
+There Goes The Neighborhood on January 23, 2011 at 12:27 AM
+The declaration of sanctuaries where illegals are shielded from federal law is an interesting contrast. Instead of labeling this as nullification, perhaps states can simply assert that they are declaring themselves “sanctuaries from Obamacare.”
+This fight will be won through spin and presentation as much as in the courts.
+slickwillie2001 on January 23, 2011 at 12:28 AM
+tigerlily,
+tke a breath. I didn’t insult your parents by pointing out that the sleazy racists of the southern states left the Democratic Party right at the same time that you said your parents left it.
+If they, as you said, left to get away from sleaze, that didn’t work because the sleaze left with them.
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 12:28 AM
+that wasn’t the purpose of the federal government. it’s a function that’s a part of the design of it.
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 12:34 AM
+The Constitution doesn’t limit the states. It limits the federal government. That is your first clue that the states are sovereign. Continue reading the Constitution and more evidence of the original intent will be clear.
+csdeven on January 23, 2011 at 12:36 AM
+Uh yeah, exactly what I said captain obvious.
+csdeven on January 23, 2011 at 12:39 AM
+drivelous. read the tenth amendment if nothing else.
+“ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. ”
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 12:40 AM
+Wait… what party was Wallace a part of? Oh yeah… he was a lifelong Democrat, so it’s convenient for the wizards at Wikipedia to lump Nixon with Wallace in trying to claim the Dixiecrats fled the Dems.
+I can see why you avoid presenting facts in your arguments, because you suck at it, champ.
+Got anything else?
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 12:41 AM
+When you ask libs for evidence of the mythical mass shift from Republican to democratic, they always come up with Strom Thurmond as an example. Ask them for a second example and they generally change the subject. Hummina-hummina.
+There were a couple of others, a nobody House member, a couple of city mayors, a state legislative member here and there, perhaps a city garbage commissioner or two, but there was no mass defection. It’s all liberal propaganda and over the years it has grown into a ridiculous fable.
+slickwillie2001 on January 23, 2011 at 12:41 AM
+Bit of a non sequitur, isn’t it? The Constitution doesn’t really address either secession or nullification, but the simple fact that the states keep their sovereignty except where power is specifically ceded to the federal government — as the 10th Amendment makes very clear — strongly implies that they have the right to refuse to honor laws which they consider to violate the Constitution they agreed to all those years ago.
+States do still have rights under the Constitution. Unless the Constitution specifically overrides those rights, the rights are reserved to the states, not to the federal government.
+In practice, I think the theory of nullification falls under “Rights reserved to the states.” Which makes it just one more of the checks and balances in our government.
+Awkward? Extremely. But our Constitution was not created to be efficient, but to make it harder for any one branch of government to usurp the power of others.
+There Goes The Neighborhood on January 23, 2011 at 12:44 AM
+so then, as a life-long Democrat, Wallace ran for president as the candidate of the Democratic Party?
+I thought that he ran with LeMay as a candiditae of another party called the American Independent and based his candidacy around opposition to the Civil Rights Act that the Democrats passed in 64.
+Yeah, my facts is all missing and everything. I just didn’t realize that the Democrats ran two slates that year.
+I forgot that the all-white delegations to the Democratic conventions from the southern states were challenged for their seats starting in 64.
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 12:56 AM
+Perfect does not necessarily mean “flawless.” It is often used to mean “complete” or “comprehensive,” especially in older texts.
+It’s frequently used that way in the Bible, which often leads to confusion from those who mistake it to mean “incapable of further improvement.”
+In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers to be perfect, just like their father in Heaven is perfect. Put in context, it means to quit being unjust in all the ways he condemned in the Sermon on the Mount. It certainly never implied any human being could be without flaws.
+So, a “more perfect” Union simply means a more complete and effective union.
+There Goes The Neighborhood on January 23, 2011 at 1:01 AM
+I don’t think I mentioned what party he ran under, did I? Just that he was a life-long democrat.
+Is Joe Lieberman a Republican? Sure, he’s technically an Independent, but come on *wink-wink*.
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 1:02 AM
+well, spich, you really aren’t a life-long Democrat if you run as an independent with a platform based on opposition to the Democratic Party’s positions.
+You’ve then become a no-longer lifetime Democrat and whether you mentioned that or not, it still means that you’re fulla.
+“winkedy-wink” and don’t tap your foot while in the men’s room, even if that is spinach running down your chin.
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 1:09 AM
+I’ll bottom-line it for you: in the 1968 Presidential election, if you consider the Dem Humphrey and racist-Dem-turned-independent Wallace as one unit, all southern states had the majority of their popular votes go to this duo.
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 1:09 AM
+Suck it up and embrace your party’s racist underpinnings.
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 1:16 AM
+Excellent. The liberals keep wanting to make the realignment all about race, as they do everything else. But as the Democrats became more liberal, it was inevitable that they would lose their grip on the South. It’s no accident that the South started voted Republican when the Democrats abandoned fighting the Cold War and started protesting Vietnam. The South has always been staunch supporters of national defense, and the Democrats were calling for unilateral nuclear disarmament, burning draft cards, praising the Soviets, supporting Cuba, and betraying the very troops we sent into war to fight for us. Plus, they jumped on every kind of 60′s-era “modern” social fashion that offended the morals of the conservative Southerners, such as abortion. And their promotion of socialism and government spending made all fiscal conservatives abandon the Democrats.
+And so Reagan came along and unified the fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, and national defense conservatives into a single alliance. rewriting the political landscape.
+But to any liberal, it was all about those racist Southerners jumping ship to the Republicans so they could keep the schools segregated.
+There Goes The Neighborhood on January 23, 2011 at 1:26 AM
+it’s your chin and (probably) your own spinach. you suck it up yourself.
+audiculous on January 23, 2011 at 1:33 AM
+Here’s a sampling comparison of Nixon’s vote percentages in 1960 and 1968 from some southern states:
+AL
+1960 42.2
+1968 14.0
+AK
+1960 43.1
+1968 31.0
+GA
+1960 37.4
+1968 30.4
+TN
+1960 52.9
+1968 37.8
+MS
+1960 24.7
+1968 13.5
+He, in fact, didn’t increase his percentage totals in any southern state from 1960 to 1968. How do you explain that, considering the whole “Southern Strategy” fairy tale. Libs claim it was the reason Nixon won in 1968.
+Didn’t seem to work too well…
+Plus, it doesn’t explain Jimmy Carter’s sweep of the south in 1976. So, they were racist… then they weren’t racist.. then went back to being racist so Reagan could win…
+I just can’t keep it all straight.
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 1:50 AM
+Good to know Nebraska is stepping up!
+Yakko77 on January 23, 2011 at 2:03 AM
+…you’re kidding, right? The reason those percentages dropped is because Wallace ran as an Independent (promoting segregation, mind you) and he siphoned off much of the Southern vote.
+crr6 on January 23, 2011 at 2:51 AM
+Do you mean his campaign against the natives attacking settlers from Spanish Florida? The Trail of Tears happened during Van Buren’s administration. Either the Cherokee could obey state and federal law, or they had to move west.
+AshleyTKing on January 23, 2011 at 2:51 AM
+Well yeah. That’s pretty much what happened.
+crr6 on January 23, 2011 at 2:53 AM
+BTW, if you don’t want to take wikipedia’s word on the Southern Strategy, how about two different chairmen of the RNC?
+crr6 on January 23, 2011 at 2:58 AM
+Umm… Nixon desegregated the schools of the deep south.
+So in appreciation… the racist dixiecrats-turned-Republicans voted for him en masse in 1972.
+Still doesn’t add up…
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 3:24 AM
+Maybe you should stick to lawyerin’
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 3:25 AM
+A good article by someone intimately involved with the Nixon desegregation plan:
+Maybe if you can open your mind, and resist some of your preconceived programming, you might agree that not everything you’ve been force fed your whole life is true.
+spinach.chin on January 23, 2011 at 3:36 AM
+Of course…I mean, any politically astute racist wanted nothing more than to join the Party of abolition.
+[sarcasm]
+anuts on January 23, 2011 at 5:30 AM
+Whoa! The leftist will never allow “nullification” to wrest their ill gotten power back from them. I suspect such thinking might divide this nation quicker than slavery (which was an economic issue as well as a moral issue)
+Pushing too hard, leftists, sooner or later, gets you pushback. A small earthquake can sometimes cause a massive tsunami. Maybe you should be building arks with that cache of stimulus money?
+Don L on January 23, 2011 at 6:37 AM
+Don’t the governors of the individual states control the guard?
+Also, what is to stop a state from requiring (under threat of punishment)that all taxes demanded by the feds be held in escrow by the state until such time as disputes with the feds are remedied? There are other weapons to use yet – but alas , few freedom minded leaders to use them.
+Don L on January 23, 2011 at 6:47 AM
+Isn’t that pretty much what sanctuary cities for illegal aliens do?
+Don L on January 23, 2011 at 6:51 AM
+Overall, this is one of the most informative threads I’ve seen here in quite some time. Right up to the point where crr6 and audiculous stepped in and puked their illness all over the good work. Like my Mom always told me; son, in life you must recognize the good and take from it, as there will always be bad lurking close by. Your ability to recognize the good from the bad will have much to do with your success in life.
+Much good contained within this thread, and I thank all of you for that.
+Keemo on January 23, 2011 at 7:15 AM
+Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
+My husband and I are planning our first trip to Europe this coming June. We’re planning on flying into Paris on June 19/20, stay there until the 23 or 24th. Fly to Barcelona, stay there until the 27th or 28th. Fly to London, stay there until the 30th. Fly to Edinburgh on the 30th to stay with a friend until the 3rd or 4th of July and fly home.
+Questions are: With 4/5 days in Paris & Barcelona, where do you suggest we stay, what are the sights we must see, & where to eat? We love museums, history & cultural experiences. We prefer a mix of activities & relaxation. Love good food & would like to eat the local specialties as much as possible.
+In London, we plan to spend at least a day with friends who live there & a day or two sightseeing. Would love hotel & activity recommendations here too. (I’ve been to London before, but it’s been able 13 years and was only there for a day.)
+Husband will require A/C in any place we stay, we like boutique feel, but SPG or Marriott brands are great too, since we can get a discount. Would love a great view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
+Finally, we have a decent amount of Amex, Chase Sapphire Reserve & Alaska Airline points, as well as a friend who works in SPG & can get us good rates. Would like to make use of as many of these points as we can, to bring down the total cost of the trip.
+Hmm, it's hard to know without knowing what you're into but here are a few of my favorite random spots in London and Paris if it helps.
+London:
+The British Museum - I could spend months here but if you do nothing else, stop in to see the Rosetta Stone. It'll leave you speechless.
+Kensington Palace - they always have one or two great exhibits here no matter what interests you.
+Tower Of London - if you're into British history even a little bit you will love this place. If you're not, I would skip it as the admission is steep.
+Hyde Park - it'll be stunning at that time of year.
+Harrods Food Halls - I usually don't tell people to spend their valuable travel time in a department store but this is well worth it.
+Piccadilly Arcade - if you like shopping you will love this little covered arcade. So, so cute with some really classic brands. I'd try to see it before Starbuck's moves in.
+Natural History Museum - this is generally not my thing but I love this place.
+Victoria and Albert Museum (Stop N) - worth going if only for the cafe. If you have any interest in design whatsoever you must go.
+Design Museum - same reason. And TONS of great restaurants around this area.
+Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - oldest pub in London and it feels like it. Don't miss it.
+Have a drink at the The Savoy Hotel. Not cheap but what an experience.
+Paris:
+Luxembourg Garden - it will beyond magical that time of year. Be sure to check out the Medici Fountain when you're there.
+Musée d'Orsay - so much more engaging and manageable than the The Louvre, although if you're determined to see the Mona Lisa, then go.
+Jardin des Plantes - beautiful gardens that for some reason very few people outside Parisians seem to know about.
+Coulée verte René-Dumont - this is a little garden walkway near the Viaduc des arts that is such a lovely place for a stroll. And again, something most tourists don't know about. The Viaduct is a series of little shops that are mostly hand craftspeople or artists--very unique little place to spend a few hours.
+Rue Montorgueil - lively market street with tons of restaurants and stores to stroll through.
+Rue Mouffetard - the more bohemian market street version of Montorgueil.
+Bateaux Mouches - this is the boat that goes down the Seine. Well, well worth it as it gives you a great sense of the city. If you want to do the land version of this, I would try the #69 bus.
+Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre - one of my favorite spots in all Paris. It's a shopping arcade with vintage stores and those iconic green chairs you can sit it to watch the world go by.
+Jardin des Tuileries - so beautiful I don't have words for it. Just be sure to wear shoes you don't care about here because the whole thing is covered in white gravel and you'll end up with it all over your shoes.
+Les Bouquinistes - these are the book and print vendors who sell from those iconic green boxes on the banks of the Seine. Some just sell tourist junk but many sell really unique prints and posters that make great souvenirs..
+I'd be happy to send more specific advice once I know what you like to do but I hope that's a start!
+C
+Mentioned in this answer:
+Hi Briana, Europe is awesome in June.
+I could really recommend looking at Triple. They are active in all the cities you listed (even though i've just tested them in Paris and London). In London they have a Street art activity that I've tried that was very interesting. The activities are in different price classes but there are some really good priced activities if you are on a budget.
+It's not professional guides but instead local people who this because they love to meet people and has a very nice feel to it.
+Definitely get the museum pass for Paris. It saves a ton of time not waiting in line and you get almost all the museums. Musée d'Orsay is great as is the Musee de l'Orangerie. The water lily murals are amazing.
+Mentioned in this answer:
+You're doing a lot of flying so I would suggest a night train between London and Edinburgh. I've always enjoyed the train trip and it will save you the hassle of getting to the airport. You could also look into a train from Paris to Barcelona.
+Mentioned in this answer:
+I would try to spend more time in Paris. I have traveled all over the world and go somewhere in Europe every summer. There is nowhere that compares to this magnificent city. We've been 3 times. I promise you when you are getting on the plane to Spain you will regret not spending more time there. Also, I would recommend buying The Paris Pass. It looks a bit pricey but it gets you in everywhere free with no lines except the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy!
+Mentioned in this answer:
+We stayed in the Le Marais district at this time last year. It is probably the most interesting area of Paris to stay. It is close to the city, is full of great restaurants and cute little galleries and has a fantastic, friendly, vibrant atmosphere. I would also recommend having dinner in the restaurant located within the Eiffel Tower, the view is tremendous and the food is remarkably good for a touristy type restaurant. We went to both the Lido de Paris and the Moulin Rouge, both shows were fantastic, but the service and food at the Moulin Rouge were outstanding. The Lido is in a better location, though. Have a dinner cruise on the La Seine. We went on the Don Juan 2. It was fairly small, only about 30 passengers and, according to our French hosts, the chef had been named as the best chef in the country by his peers.
+Mentioned in this answer:
+These are the must in Barcelona
+Palau de la Música Catalana
+Tibidabo mountain-from here will open up extremely beautiful views !!! Allow yourself enough time-until you get there, time to enjoy the scenery. approximately 520-meter-high :) Once you get there there are activities and entertainment
+Did you know that Barcelona is a place, where Picaso spent his early years, was beautiful and vibrant. So you have a chance to follow the footsteps of the artistic genius-visit Picaso museum.
+Try see food there-it's gorgeous and take a cable car- you''ll never forget this journey.
+In London i'd recommend these places:
+Number one is ,of course, London Eye-you' better don;t miss it. Everybody loves it. The best view you could ever get in London. You'll love it! 30 mins ride
+Buckingham Palace-everybody visit this place, even though the Royal family and quinn never comes out :) ha
+*Climb the dome of St Paul's Cathedral (Stop SK)& enjoy spectacular views across London.
+*Be dazzled by the largest diamond in the world, on display at the Tower Of London
+*See Egyptian mummies and the world-famous Rosetta Stone at the British Museum (Stop W)
+in Dublin visit *Dublin Castle* Old Library- this is the most beautiful book in THE WORLD !!!
+Paris is a lovely city. We had camel in a restaurant.first time in life, but it was gorgeous!
+Hotels are very expensive in Paris, but you can stay a bit further from centre- that will save you a lot, plus transport system in Paris is absolutely impressive !
+Must visit in Paris:
+*Eiffel Tower (you knew this, haven't you.Who doesn't know Eiffell...
+here is more must do:
+*the The Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral
+* Sacred heart Montmartre(amazing and FREE !!! attraction)
+*Luxembourg Garden(they are soooooo beautoful)
+* Musée d'Orsay-its a former rail station. Awesome !!!
+In Paris is very popular opera- attending. Make sure it's in English... :) just in case
+And there are also soooo much plenty much more to do
+If you planning to visit lots of attractions, then maybe get a city pass-you will save enough for your dinner !!! every little helps... :)
+Hope it helps.
+ENJOY your trip :)
+Mentioned in this answer: Louvre which allowed us to go to the Louvre early in the morning before the crowds arrived and at night to see the pyramids lit up with absolutely no one around. If you're into it, I recommend renting a scooter. It allowed to go to every single quarter w/ the limited time we had (3 days). The Mona Lisa at the louvre is a must, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile and Champs-Élysées for shopping, and the Catacombes de Paris.
+Have a nice trip!
+Mentioned in this answer:
+Hello!
+Sounds like a great visit! In Barcelona I would suggest staying in the old town if possible. Ideally to the south of Plaça de Catalunya and on the east side of the Rambla de Catalunya (if Placa Catalunya is north and the sea is south). I hope that's not confusing. Last time we went we stayed at Hotel Catalonia Sagrada Família which was perfect for our purposes, the area was great - close enough to the rambla without being on it.
+Favourites in Barcelona are Parc Güell, Basílica de la Sagrada Família, CASA BATLLÓ and other Gaudi sites. The covered food market at the top of the Rambla (west side) is fun, as is strolling through the streets of the old town.
+Hope this helps!
+Mentioned in this answer:
+Market Synopsis
+The global sorbitol market size was USD 1.55 billion in 2021 and is expected to register a revenue CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period. Rapid usage of organic sorbitol as a flavoring additive in the food and beverages industry, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products are driving market revenue growth. The food and beverages industry is the leading consumer of sorbitol products. Sorbitol is naturally produced in various plants as a result of photosynthesis and it is used as a sugar substitute to manufacture chocolate, bread, cakes, jellies and creams, and other food products. Rising population, disposable income, and growing demand for healthy and packaged food are generating demand for sorbitol products. According to the United Nations (UN), the world’s population is expected to increase by 2 billion persons in the next 30 years, from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050. With the growing world population, the food and beverages industries are looking for large-scale production to cater to maximum consumers and demand for processed hygiene food products is further fueling revenue growth of the market.
+Download the report summary now! Download Summary
+Consumers’ taste and preferences are changing frequently, therefore food and beverages industries are drifting their innovation in making a variety of flavorful and vegan recipes, sorbitol usage in making such products are expected to accelerate revenue growth of the market. In addition, trade and food standards initiatives by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on ensuring safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for a growing world population are elevating global trade opportunities for the food and beverages industries.
+Moreover, sorbitol-based dry compression formulations are rapidly used in manufacturing for medicinal syrups, medicated confectionery, and other life-saving drugs. Leading industry players of life-saving drugs manufacturers such as Pfizer, GSK, Novartis, and others are increasingly investing in clinical research and development of life-saving drugs. Several clinical trials are under execution by federal agencies such as The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and The European Medicines Agency (EMA), hence demand for sorbitol in medicinal usages is expecting a significant growth with these key developments.
+Market Dynamics:
+Driver: Increasing adoption of sorbitol in personal care products and maximizing the shelf life
+Consumption of personal care products demand is rising at a steady growth rate. With the growing population, disposable income and urbanization and consumer demand for personal care products are generating significant demand for sorbitol. Sorbitol is an organic synthetic sweetener are used for manufacturing oral-care products such as tooth paste and mouth freshener. The FDA has recognized sorbitol for the benefit of oral health. Sorbitol is used as a prebiotic ingredient in skincare as a hydrating and moisturizing agent. COVID-19 has further uplifted the demand for personal care and hygiene products and major personal brands brought on a new consciousness of purpose over profit. Consumers across the world holistically shifted their preference for using natural skin-friendly products to better protect the planet. As a result, consumer goods manufacturing companies are adopting sorbitol in manufacturing natural ingredient based cosmetics and personal care products by replacing petrochemical-based mono propylene glycol (MPG). Moreover, several food and beverages companies use sorbitol for making sugar-free products and promoting diabetes awareness among consumer. Large number of retailers, hotels, restaurants, and cafes (horeca) chains are shelving large volume of stock keeping units due to consumer demand for packaged products and such factors are enhancing demand for sorbitol in order to increase shelf life of these packaged products.
+Restraint: Substitutional threat from other sweeteners and shortages of commodities
+Cost-effectiveness is one of the biggest challenges in the sorbitol market. A large number of food and beverages manufacturers are shifting toward cost-effective alternative sweetener products such as erythritol, xylitol, lactitol, and mannitol for baking and processing food products. These alternative products have same functionality as sorbitol, as a result, many hotels, restaurants, and cafes (horeca) chains are buying alternative artificial sweeteners in order to achieve profitability without compromising on productivity. Moreover, global price fluctuations of commodity has further hindered revenue growth of the market. Global import of commodity and supply chains were severely affected due to the Russia-Ukraine war. These geo-political issues led to product shortage crisis in the market. Additionally, increased crude oil prices has impacted transportation and procurement costs, which has directly affected in manufacturing of sorbitol.
+COVID-19 Analysis:
+The food and beverages sector has been significantly disrupted during COVID-19. Major buyers of sorbitol such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes were closed due to government-declared lockdown, which effects in creating demand for sorbitol products during the pandemic. Sorbitol products are sourced from natural ingredients such as corn starch, fruits, and supply of agricultural-based products has been significantly disrupted due to lockdown. Major industry leaders in the sorbitol market, including Cargill, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, CHS, and others faced situations such as workforce shortages, raw material shortages, and supply chain delays. Food and beverages industries were facing product manufacturing challenges with ensuring food safety measures, stringent hygiene practices, and frequent sanitation schedules. During COVID-19, food regulations authorities have frequently audited hygiene standards of the food and beverages industry and ensured highest hygiene and sanitation procedures. Such initiatives have helped companies to comply with the highest hygiene standards during the COVID-19 crisis.
+Key Takeaways
+Product Type Outlook:
+Based on product type, the sorbitol market has been segmented into liquid sorbitol and crystal sorbitol. The liquid sorbitol segment accounted for a larger revenue share in 2021. Liquid sorbitol is frequently used as a key ingredient by the food and beverages industry. Sorbitol is an organic and ideal food additive in making diabetic fruit jam and peanut butter. Majority of sorbitol are made from corn starch syrup; however, it can also found from pome and stone fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. Liquid sorbitol is also used as a key ingredient for producing medicines such as syrups, emulsion ointments, and gelatine capsules. Liquid sorbitol offers excellent flow properties, uniform mixing concentration, which helps in maintaining constant tablet weight. Various utilization of sorbitol across several applications are driving revenue growth of the segment.
+The crystal sorbitol segment accounted for a steady revenue share in 2021. Crystal sorbitol is extracted from liquid form and industrially processed into crystal structure. Crystal sorbitol has excellent properties in long-term preservation, hence crystal sorbitol is commercially used as an ingredient to make processed food and beverages products such as liquid energy drinks, candy, chewing gums, biscuits, ice creams, and other food products. Processed food manufacturers uses crystal sorbitol for improving shelf life of packaged product and works excellent as a food texturizing agent. Crystal sorbitol also enhances cooling and moisture-stabilizing effects, as a result personal care product manufacturers procure crystal sorbitol as a key raw material for manufacturing toothpaste, mouthwash, creams, ointments, and other essential staple products.
+Ensure everything is in line with your specific requirements here Inquire Before Buying
+Application Outlook:
+Based on application, the sorbitol market has been segmented into baking and confectionery, skin and personal care, medicated confectionery, and others. The baking and confectionary segment accounted for a larger revenue share in 2021. Sorbitol products are used as a main ingredient in baking and confectionary. A large number of food processing companies as well as hotels, restaurants, and cafes uses sorbitol for making confectionery products such as bread, cakes, jellies, and creams. Sorbitol enhances preservation of baking and confectionery products from quality deterioration. Demand for bakery and confectionary products are increasing with global population and consumer eating habits, which is proportionally generating demand in the segment.
+The skin and personal care segment accounted for a steady revenue share in 2021. Sorbitol is an ideal organic raw material for manufacturing eco-friendly skin care products such as cream, moisturizer, and shampoo with a high degree of skin compatibility. Consumer perspective toward using skin-friendly products have increased drastically over the years and retailers and manufacturers have witnessed strong growth in sales in the segment. With the growing population demand for skin and personal care products are rising and these factors are driving revenue growth in the segment.
+The medicated confectionery segment accounted for a moderate revenue share in 2021. Sorbitol is widely used as a formulation in making medicated confectionary such as medicinal syrups, medicated confectionery, and other life saving drugs. Such formulations are best for conditions such as minor throat irritations, coughs, colds, respiratory tract congestion, and allergies. Sorbitol is made from 100% organic sources without any added preservatives, hence many life-saving medicines are made from the formulation of sorbitol, which is driving revenue growth of the segment.
+End-use Outlook:
+Based on end-use, the sorbitol market has been segmented into food and beverages industry, consumer goods industry, pharmaceuticals industry, and others. The food and beverages industry segment accounted for a larger revenue share in 2021. Sorbitol products are frequently used as an ingredient in the food and beverages industry for making various processed food products. According to research, global sorbitol consumption is 2.5 million tons and major volume is utilized by the food industry. Sorbitol keeps food products fresh along with long shelf life and it is also low in calorie, therefore the food and beverages industries rapidly procure sorbitol in making a wide array of food and beverages products such as liquid energy drinks, candy, chewing gums, biscuits, ice creams, and other essential products. Consumer demands for food products are expected to grow with growing population as a result sorbitol products are witnessing emerging growth in the segment.
+The consumer goods industry segment accounted for a steady revenue share in 2021. The consumer goods industry one of the major end use of the sorbitol market. Sorbitol offers hydrating and moisturizing skin friendly organic agent, therefore sorbitol is rapidly adopting in manufacturing fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) products such as toothpaste, cream, moisturizer, shampoo, and various other products. Many FMCG companies are innovating new product in eco-friendly skin and personal care category and sorbitol is an ideal ingredient in making eco-friendly personal and skin care products. These new product development initiatives are driving revenue growth of the segment. The pharmaceutical industry segment is accounted for a moderate revenue share in 2021. Pharmaceutical industries are generating significant demand for sorbitol products. Sorbitol products are procured by pharmaceutical industries in developing and manufacturing products such as cough syrups, capsules, medicated confectionaries, and other life saving medicines. With an increase cases of infection disease such as COVID-19, the pharmaceutical industries have witnessed significant demand of cough syrups, capsules, and other essential medicines, which are expected to fuel demand in the segment.
+Regional Outlook:
+Asia Pacific accounted for a larger revenue share in the sorbitol market in 2021. Increasing population, disposable income, and domestic demand for packaged food and consumer products are driving the growth in the region. According to the United Nations (UN), Asia Pacific is a home to about 60% of the world population. The Asia Pacific region is a major hub for food and beverages products export and demand for food and beverages products are increasing exponentially with global trade volume. These macro-economic trends hint large-scale growth of the FMCG industry and demand for sorbitol products will accelerate further with overall economic developments across the region. Moreover, several governments in the Asia Pacific region are taking many trade boosting initiatives to promote export oriented businesses is significantly creating opportunities across manufacturing industries.
+North America accounted for the steady revenue share in the sorbitol market in 2021. Rising demand of personal care and skincare products, change in lifestyle, and rising median household income is driving revenue growth in the region. According to The United States Census Bureau, the median household income was USD 67,521 in 2020. The U.S. and Canada are one of the leading markets in procuring sorbitol in making food and beverages as well as pharmaceutical products. With presence of leading personal care and pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, Novartis, and Pfizer, demand for sorbitol products is growing exponentially. Also, a large number of companies are focusing on manufacturing innovative eco-friendly products, which are further expected to drive demand in the region.
+Europe accounted for the moderate revenue share in the sorbitol market in 2021. Rapid usage of sorbitol in bakery and confectionary, medicinal confectionary, and personal and skin care are driving revenue growth of the market in the region. Consumers across the region is paying more attention toward health and nutrition status, and has become more willing to purchase foods with health benefits such as sugar free products. Therefore, demand for sorbitol products are expected to fuel demand in the region.
+Speak with our experts to clarify all your doubts Speak to Analyst
+Competitive Landscape:
+Competitive landscape of the sorbitol market is moderately fragmented with a few major companies operating on global and regional levels. Key players are engaged in strategic alliances to expand their respective portfolios and gain a robust footing in the global market. Some of the major companies included in the global market report are Cargill, Incorporated, Ingredion, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Wilmar International Ltd, The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM), Roquette Frères, Merck KGaA, Ecogreen Oleochemicals, CHS Inc., Louis Dreyfus Company, Sunar Grup, Tereos, and Nordzucker.
+- On 10 March 2022, Sunar Misir, a Turkey based sweeteners and functional ingredients product manufacturing company launched a new product called Sunsorb in its product portfolio. The company has ensured that the product is sugar-free and it has been specifically designed for manufacturing food and beverages products. The company aims to expand its manufacturing footprint in more regions as global demand for the product increases.
+Segments Covered in the report
+This report offers historical data and forecasts revenue growth at a global, regional, and country level, and provides analysis of market trends in each of sub-segments from 2019 to 2030. For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data has segmented the sorbitol market based on product type, application, end-use, and region:
+TV is a male contestant on Battle for BFDI and The Power of Two, and one of the 30 recommended characters that could have been voted into the competition in "The Reveal". He only got 13 votes, placing him 7th in the voting and not entering the game.
+In BFDIA, he only received 287 votes to join placing him 24th (21st after the contestants who weren't present were disqualified).
+Despite being a host, he is inside the TLC by the following season. He had another chance at joining the game in IDFB along with the other TLC prisoners until it was postponed. He got 318 votes.[1]
+In BFB, TV finally got to compete and was on A Better Name Than That. He later quit in "The Escape from Four" in order to compete on TPOT and is a member of Are You Okay.
+Contents
+- 1 Appearance
+- 2 Personality
+- 3 Official Character Guide biography
+- 4 Coverage
+- 5 Relationships
+- 6 Votes
+- 7 Deaths
+- 8 Kills
+- 9 Trivia
+- 10 Gallery
+- 11 See also
+- 12 References
+Appearance
+TV appears to be a flat-screen plasma (also widescreen) television. He has the ability to hide his feet and rest on the ground from the stand. He also can project images and videos on his display instead of his normal face.
+Changes
+BFDI 14
+- TV is named "Tele".
+- Tele has dark outlines on his border.
+- Tele’s face is black.
+BFDI 16
+- Tele is renamed to "TV".
+- TV is brighter.
+- TV's legs are far away.
+- TV’s face is white.
+BFDI 17 (recommended character)
+- TV's legs are more closer.
+BFDI 17 (Debut)
+- TV is more darker.
+- TV's outline is thinner.
+BFDIA
+- TV gradient becomes completely black and white.
+- TV becomes a lot larger in width and height.
+- TV's outline is slightly bigger.
+- TV loses his legs and face (although sometimes his face appears).
+IDFB
+- TV is a lot smaller.
+- TV loses his gradient.
+- TV gets his legs and face back.
+- TV's screen became more detailed.
+- TV now has a shadow.
+BFB/TPOT
+- TV has smaller legs.
+Personality
+While TV rarely speaks, he uses pictures and words to show how he's feeling and when he is talking to contestants. TV himself is often used by the other contestants to display information, stats, and Cake at Stake results. TV seems to believe his role as a mechanical mind is to lend a helping hand and apparently not speak, (as shown in BFB 4) which is why he displays results for Cake at Stake when he needs to, and he generally obeys when he is told to do something.
+In BFDI, TV dreams to win Dream Island. However, after realizing he only got 13 votes, which isn't enough to join, he shows an Announcer being crushed on his screen, indicating that TV is angry at him. Afterward, he is sent to the LOL.
+In BFDIA, TV expresses major excitement when he becomes the host. He displays the voting results in every Cake at Stake. He'll purposefully play bad variations of the Cake at Stake song and make loud noises to annoy Fries. maybe also snarky and has a sense of humor, as his voting icon is him displaying the word "don't", so that his voting message would be read as "don't type [E] to eliminate TV".
+Starting in "Return of the Rocket Ship", he uses clips from previous episodes of BFDI-BFB to articulate full phrases instead of speaking.
+Official Character Guide biography
+TV is a flat-screen who rarely speaks. He uses videos to communicate his thoughts, memories, and provide teammates with information. In fact, TV is so good at providing information that he served as the host for a short time in BFDIA!
+While televisions will often dominate a room, TV is happy staying in the background and doing what he thinks needs to be done. When someone needs him to display information, TV is happy to oblige.
+Did You Know?: TV has had a long history of counting votes, so he's learned how to estimate votes with a 100-vote margin of error.
+Coverage
+Instances of TV speaking are rare. As a result, TV's nonspeaking roles are not listed, but instances of him speaking are.
+Appearances
+- Battle for Dream Island
+- "Half a Loaf Is Better Than None" (does not speak coherently)
+- "Bowling, Now with Explosions!" (cameo)
+- "The Reveal"
+- "Reveal Novum"
+- "Return of the Hang Glider" (cameo)
+- Battle for Dream Island Again
+- "Yeah, Who? I Wanna Know"
+- "Get Digging" (speaks)
+- "Insectophobe's Nightmare 3" (speaks)
+- "Zeeky Boogy Doog"
+- "Get in the Van"
+- IDFB
+- "Welcome Back" (cameo)
+- Battle for BFDI
+- "Getting Teardrop to Talk"
+- "Lick Your Way to Freedom"
+- "Why Would You Do This on a Swingset" (does not speak coherently)
+- "Today's Very Special Episode" (speaks)
+- "Fortunate Ben"
+- "Four Goes Too Far"
+- "The Liar Ball You Don't Want" (speaks)
+- "Questions Answered"
+- "This Episode Is About Basketball" (flashback only)
+- "Enter the Exit"
+- "What Do You Think of Roleplay?"
+- "Return of the Rocket Ship" (speaks via video)
+- "Don't Dig Straight Down" (speaks via video)
+- "The Four is Lava"
+- "The Escape from Four" (speaks via video)
+- Battle for BFB
+- "SOS (Save Our Show)" (flashback)
+- "Chapter Complete" (cameo)
+- Battle for Dream Island: The Power of Two
+- "You Know Those Buttons Don't Do Anything, Right?" (speaks via video)
+- Non-canon appearances
+Battle for Dream Island
+In "Half a Loaf Is Better Than None", TV walks into a vat of hydrochloric acid to retrieve the Announcer's marbles.
+In "Bowling, Now with Explosions!", TV is in a crowd of Recommended Characters during Cake at Stake. They are all trapped in a metal box which sets on fire in the stinger.
+TV is one of the 30 recommended characters eligible to join BFDI in "The Reveal".
+In "Reveal Novum", TV plays a scene in which he wins BFDI, but then Announcer tells him he has 13 votes, which isn't enough to join. He then plays a scene where the Announcer is crushed before being flung to the LOL.
+In "Return of the Hang Glider", TV is in the massive crowd of Recommended Characters on the bleachers who are watching the final Cake at Stake.
+Battle for Dream Island Again
+In "Yeah, Who? I Wanna Know", TV only gets 287 votes, which ends up being 1 position short of the competition in BFDIA. However, Firey decides that TV should be the host. For the tug-of-war challenge, TV sets the timer for when to start and then displays "GO" on his screen.
+In "Get Digging", he plays two Cake at Stake songs, both of which are hated by Gelatin and Fries. At Cake at Stake, TV reveals that Coiny won the prize and Donut is eliminated. TV ends up choosing W.O.A.H. Bunch as the winning team as he found their Yoylestew sweet and simple.
+In "Insectophobe's Nightmare 3", he plays another Cake at Stake song which Fries calls a bit of an improvement from his last attempt. He co-hosts with Puffball Speaker Box after Puffball receives her as a prize, and reveals that Dora as he has several background texts in response to what's happening. With Puffball Speaker Box killed, TV now co-hosts with Firey Speaker Box. During Cake at Stake, he displays some images of Donut as Firey Speaker Box explains that his corpse is being used as the cake. He reveals that Puffball won the prize again and Match is eliminated. This would mark his last appearance in BFDIA.
+IDFB
+In "Welcome Back", TV is somehow in the Tiny Loser Chamber despite hosting for the previous season. He is given a chance to join the show. Had the season continued, he wouldn't have had enough votes to join.
+Battle for BFDI
+In "Getting Teardrop to Talk", TV is initially seen cheering on Loser, displaying text saying "I Loser", with a rotating Loser after the word "I". Later on, when the teams are forming, Golf Ball chooses TV and Robot Flower to join A Better Name Than That, reasoning that if their team has two mechanical minds, then they will outmatch the other teams. In response, TV displays a real-life time-lapse of a flower blooming. When A Better Name Than That is named, TV displays the team's logo on his screen. During the challenge, TV is assigned the task of relaying coordinates of the position of the basket. He also flings 8-Ball and Basketball with the trebuchet to weigh the baskets down. He can be seen frowning at Golf Ball and Tennis Ball's corpses as 8-Ball explains that they should use the trebuchet to get the basket to X, which makes their team safe. does not actively participate in the challenge. He reappears in the stinger, where he can be partially seen in the group of contestants running around while Taco is stuck inside a jawbreaker.
+In "Why Would You Do This on a Swingset", TV is first seen during the challenge, where he, along with the rest of A Better Name Than That, follows 8-Ball's orders and ignores Golf Ball's. He also turns purple alongside Robot Flower when 8-Ball tells them to.
+In "Today's Very Special Episode", TV displays the timer of ABNTT wasting time. He also shows the top floor of Golf Ball's Rocket in an attempt to escape the Twinkle of Contagion. While on the Moon, TV calculates that the odds of the Twinkle returning to Earth at 0.0017%. Once Saw announces that the Twinkle has left the Moon, TV shows his joy by showing a picture of a man in a suit giving a thumbs-up. However, when Golf Ball's Rocket breaks, he shows. During Robot Flower's control of Remote, TV displays a live-feed of the challenge back on Earth. When Basketball inquires TV about whether he knew about Robot Flower closing the connection, TV responds that he sides with Robot Flower, saying that "mechanical minds stick together".
+In "Questions Answered", TV shows Donut through the screen for Cake at Stake. After Donut announces this, TV shows a checkmark the members of A Better Name Than That are all far away from Donut. He says they don't have to sit so far, which is followed by them all going inside his hole. TV is safe with 2,578 votes.
+In "What Do You Think of Roleplay?", TV is shown displaying a chart of whose minds are swapped into which body. He also shows a flashback of Lightning flying around erratically, which leads to Fanny discovering that he is the impostor.
+In "Return of the Rocket Ship", TV begins to talk using words previously said by characters from earlier seasons to form sentences rather than text to speech. After Tennis Ball discovers the coordinates for X's emeralds, TV tells his team that they must keep the coordinates a secret so they have an advantage over the other teams, only for Grassy to yell them out anyway. Later, when Basketball tells Grassy she doesn't understand why Golf Ball won't trust her, TV reminds her that she was the impostor in the previous episode. TV sits blank-faced after his team finds where to dig, and is last seen smiling in Golf Ball's rocket.
+In "Don't Dig Straight Down", TV continues to talk using words previously said by characters from earlier seasons. When his team finds the emerald, he suggests bringing the emerald back to Four, which is accepted by Golf Ball. TV then wall-jumps with the rest of his team.
+In "The Four is Lava", TV is recovered.
+In "The Escape from Four", TV is first seen walking towards Four to watch him struggle to suck up Spongy. He then quits BFB and joins TPOT. He later replies "It appears so" to Two when he asks if Four and his contestants are gone, again using clips from previous episodes.
+Battle for BFB
+In "SOS (Save Our Show)", Announcer reveals that he got in contact with TV to put together the voting for BFDIA.
+Battle For Dream Island: The Power of Two
+In "You Know Those Buttons Don't Do Anything, Right?", TV shows footage of Four adding the BFDI back to their prize to the TPOT contestants. He shows Rubber Spatula all the names of users who voted them to join. He also displays all the votes during the final 3 and when Two checks to see who got the second most amount of votes. TV joins Golf Ball's team when she has one last spot left. When Golf Ball nearly names her team to "Our Team Name Will Have To Be", the corresponding text shows up on TV, and this happens again once the team is called "Are You Okay". During the challenge, he suggests using Tennis Ball's trebuchet. This results in them getting swung back and forward until Puffball stops them. When his team is safe, he celebrates with an applause, which is just a clip of Coiny and Firey slapping each other rapidly.
+Relationships
+- Main article: TV/Relationships
+Votes
+Season 3
+Deaths
+- "Half a Loaf Is Better Than None": Runs into a vat of hydrochloric acid.
+- "Bowling, Now with Explosions!": Burns to death while trapped in a large metal box.
+- "Reveal Novum": Gets crushed by the sun while in the Locker of Losers.
+- "Don't Dig Straight Down": Dies in the lava (off-screen).
+Non-canon deaths:
+- "If Among Us Was a BFDI Challenge": Sucked into Black Hole.
+Kills
+Number of kills: 1
+Trivia
+Comparisons
+- TV, Tree, Portable Music Player, Winner, Purple Face, Rubber Spatula, and Two are the only characters to not have American accents.
+- In TV's case, he spoke with a Scottish accent in two episodes, but in most episodes he now speaks via scenes in other episodes.
+- TV is one of two contestants who have been a host. The other is Donut.
+- TV is one of the 4 "mechanical minds" in BFB alongside Remote, Robot Flower, and Roboty.
+- He is one of the few contestants to have white facial features rather than the usual black. This also applies to 8-Ball, Cake, Remote, Profily, and Price Tag.
+- TV is one of the 3 characters to be voiced by a text-to-speech, the others are Remote and Announcer. 4 if one counts Dora prior to BFB.
+- TV is one of the few contestants who aren't included in TPOT's credits, along with Ice Cube, Rocky, and Remote.
+- TV is one of the two contestants who can retract their limbs, the other is Winner.
+- TV is one of the four contestants with a TPOT pose that references the season's name, along with Winner, Price Tag, and Clock.
+Competition
+- In BFDIA, TV got the most votes out of the contestants who failed to join.
+- TV was the last ever contestant to enter the TLC.
+- TV is one of the two contestants who have told the viewers not to vote for them to be eliminated, the other is Flower.
+- TV is the only non-BFDI(A) contestant on Are You Okay.
+General
+- TV is also called Telly in his joining audition.
+- As seen in "Today's Very Special Episode", TV can retract his legs into his body at will.
+- Apparently, TV's tongue has a static effect when his tongue is off his body as shown on his favorite screen in "Yeah, Who? I Wanna Know".
+- This shot is also the only time TV’s face was shown in the entirety of BFDIA.
+- In "Four Goes Too Far", after Four is multiplied by 0, TV shows the final votes like he did in BFDIA.
+- Despite being a television, TV acts more like a computer, as he calculates votes, displays various pictures and videos, and even plays random noises, none of which are the type of characteristics a real-life television could do.
+- "Today's Very Special Episode" marks the first time TV has spoken. (Most other noises made by TV were from either random noises or someone screaming, or the mechanic voices used for announcing Cake at Stake, but now he has a proper voice.)
+- In BFB 4 and BFB 7, he was voiced by a text-to-speech voice.
+- TV gained a Scottish accent in "The Liar Ball You Don't Want".
+- In "Return of the Rocket Ship" and onward, TV speaks using clips from previous episodes to talk, though Kenzie Bryant is credited as the one who voiced him.
+- TV has had several instances of "talking" without text-to speech or lines via clips:
+- He is the only mechanical mind whose name doesn't begin with an "R".
+- TV named Team No-Name in "Get Digging" as he displayed their name on his screen when judging the yoylestews.
+- As shown in the stinger of "Four Goes Too Far", TV has the ability to act as a mirror.
+- Despite the fact he was never sent to the TLC in BFDIA, he was in the TLC/LOL in "Welcome Back".
+- TV is the first character to appear in TPOT.
+- At the end of the TPOT intro, TV shows the Utah teapot in reference to the show's acronym. The Utah teapot is a common 3D test model that is an in-joke among the computer graphics community.
+- Based on the Announcer's story, TV is the only character who was aware of the Announcer's presence back on Earth before he revealed himself in "B.F.B. = Back From Beginning".
+Gallery
+See also
+References
+- ↑
+- ↑
+I am almost there with adjusting to and settling in a new town. It’s been a nonstop process: a new city, a new house, a new car and driver license, new neighbors, a new bank, new insurance and doctors … well, a whole bunch of new things. As part of starting all these new things I had to meet with a new accountant to learn the new requirements dealing with new taxes in my new state. Nothing extraordinary about all this, but it is the intro for the following thoughts and state of mind I’ve been in since. So please bear with me…
+Now that we have a site based on a subscription-donation model, I had to address all those pesky tax ramifications, and as part of that, I had to answer the following question:
+‘So what does this website deal with?’
+The short answer would be ‘information and news.’ And I gave the short answer, which only aroused further curiosity and a follow up question:
+‘What sort of information and news?’
+I listed a few: ‘Oh, all the assaults on our civil liberties, the speedy rise of the police state, our perpetual wars, hypocrisy-ridden foreign policy, corruption, government criminal conduct … you get the picture, right?’
+I tell you what: his face told me more than any verbal answer. You know … the kind of face we make when we face or hear about unpleasant stuff. And that my friends, started this whole nonstop thought process for me. It’s been a downer; really. I’ve been feeling like those cancer specialists-where people go with a dire dread, knowing they most likely will be getting dire news. I’ve been feeling like dentists- who are sometimes needed and always dreaded. I’ve been feeling like funeral-home directors, mailmen delivering bad news …Basically, I feel like the proprietor of a site that gives reality in high-dosages on the most unpleasant and painful topics. So should I be surprised at the minute percentage of people who regularly visit and read this website-ready to receive their dosage of ugly realities on the ground?
+Since yesterday I’ve been comparing our website to a very few non-political websites I’ve been visiting daily. And doing that has been even a bigger downer. I know how religions and specialists warn people against this thing called ‘envy.’ I am not sure if mine would be considered ‘real envy’, but even if it isn’t it belongs to that family. Let me give you an example:
+There is this incredible lady who started her highly successful and popular website on cooking/recipes and related topics as a simple blog only 4 or 5 years ago, and has gathered hundreds of thousands of loyal followers since. The website is called Pioneer Woman, and I’ve been visiting it since 2010. The lady photographs every step of her cooking-extremely well done photography, and provides simple wholesome recipes written with humor and lovely simplicity; very personable. Do I find some of the stuff in there completely corny? Yes; of course I do-it can’t be helped. On the other hand, in this case, being utterly corny hasn’t stopped me from regular visits. There are tens of thousands of people who visit and spend time on her website. There are thousands who post comments every hour. And the number of visitors and commenters has been increasing exponentially. Why wouldn’t it?
+There are sites like PW where people visit, spend time, and feel GOOD. Feel GOOD. The mouth-watering and gorgeous food pictures make everyone feel GOOD. Delicious sounding recipes and the joy of eating make everybody feel good. And that includes me. It is about food, creating food, the art of creating and picturing food, the joy of eating good-looking delicious food. It is FUN. It is LIGHT. It is a bit AIRY. It is … well, it is a site offering goodies.
+Now, immediately switch hats, and think about our site: Realities- the constant assault on our liberties, the constant many-fronted wars and daily death-destruction, the declining economy, government waste-fraud-abuse. That’s right. That’s what we are offering. The truth. The ugly truth. Hearing ad reading about it makes us feel BAD (as it should, of course). It makes us DEPRESSED. It makes some of us ANGRY. It is tough on the eyes and brain. It is hard to read. It is tough to stomach when we try to digest. It is a DOWNER. It makes sensible people want to AVOID it. It is like the dentist or oncologist offices we try to avoid-even if they are needed and necessary for us.
+Yes. That’s our site. Do I regret starting it? Hell, no. Do I regret operating it and keeping it alive? Of course not. Is it sometimes a downer to realize how much of a downer the realities we present here are? You bet. Do I have momentary (okay, in this latest case one full day) envy attacks-envying sites that present the good and beautiful? Sure. Is it frustrating to realize the necessity of an ugly-realities site, yet, seeing that even if it is needed it is dreaded and avoided by many? Most definitely.
+With all that said, despite all its down and depressing moments, I am still as determined as I’ve ever been to continue and run this website for the irate minority. And I certainly hope despite its downer-sobering effects presenting ugly truths and realities you continue your visits and support of this website. Because avoiding ugly realities won’t get rid of them; just the opposite-it will make it easier for them to accelerate their ferocious ugliness. Not seeing or reading about them will not prevent the ugly realities from infesting every aspect of our life. Seeing and facing the ugly truth is the first step taken towards challenging it. .
+Don’t be too discouraged, Sibel. The hard truth is a bitter pill, that apparently has to be swallowed at the point of a gun, or worse. You are doing the best job possible under the circumstances and I admire you for sticking to it. You can count on me to help make the website better as we grow.
+Yeah, I think that too about what type of videos people click on on youtube, or the fact that people show up by the droves to football games or action movies, but can’t be bothered with the inconvenience of learning about the way their tax dollars are used to slaughter innocent people. The fact that what you’re doing doesn’t get the same traffic as a cooking website indicates that you’re work is all the more needed. The reason change isn’t occurring is because people don’t appear to want to have to get involved and in so doing are apparently content to contribute to the downfall of everyone. I do believe that the kind of change we need will only be possible when it is on the tips of people’s tongues everywhere we go. How to get there is the question, because we can’t force people to want to do something, but if we wait until economic or environmental meltdown, or war with Iran, or all out martial law, it’s going to be a pretty rough ride.
+Seems like generating the right kind of momentum that creates a sense of urgency, community participation, and real achievement would be good for the spirit. I would think the 2012 NDAA is one thing that could serve as lightening rod of action for uniting the Left, Right, and Independents, and create momentum for your site. It’s probably worth doing some brainstorming, think multi media, maybe working with other groups, individuals, sites on a specific project/publicity campaign that would address critical issues and generate needed energy. As an artist, I hope to be doing a radical/political art contest for my blog in the near future. I’m thinking youtube videos with some strong, well crafted words and emotive music can be good attention getters as well. Royalty free music can be purchased fairly inexpensively to score your video w/out running into copyright issues.
+I just recently created a facebook page, and noticed that you can pay for an ad and then target specific interests. I’m not sure how successful those campaigns are, but I wonder if it would make sense to target something like Police State as an interest and then create a link in your ad to a compelling youtube trailer for your police state video. I will probably be making use of the Facebook ad function myself, but having never used it before, I’m not sure how well it works.
+Facebook has been accused of lying about the ad statistics, and many are saying they use bots to create false numbers. Then there is the notion that everybody is ignoring the ads anyway. Save you money, or give it to Sibel instead.
+Thanks ford
+The Truth……….priceless!
+You Rock! Sibel. I am right onboard with everything you say… I haven’t found anything you ever said that I don’t agree with!
+I will send you a couple a bucks tommoree.. I want you to be there… to read cause, I would be really lost with out you there… You are stupendous… I have a problem finding authentic truth tellers… and in these times…
+Well we better start thinking… thinking about… what is the… ??????? What is the info.
+well stupidly I didn’t make a copy, and stupidly I say this fact.
+I sent you another one, and it is mysteriously gone…
+But however, that shows don’t it? I said a bunch of crap, and it is not there!
+Well, like I said: you rock…
+Sibel,
+I know it seems that, at times you are the lone voice crying in the wilderness. I also know how dispair can catch up to youas you think you’re not making any difference. That said, things ARE happening. For every enemy a hero is fashioned.Last year we all observed how OWS was targeted and primed for elimination and irrelevance by the police state and their corporate masters at the banks. They failed, OWS is still going strong and is now forging links with the First Nations people of Idle No More here:
+INM was began a little over two months ago by Canada’s aboriginal people in response to Canadian Prime Minister Harpers attempt to end their treaty rights and open up Native lands for exploitation for petrochemical and mineral mining, particularly tar sands. Since then, it has spread across Canada into native communities in the US, Mexico, South America, Australia and New Zealand like a prairie fire despite all governmental and corporate media attempts to ignore or denigrate them. Check out the facebook page for more info. Tomorrow, 01/11/13, there will be a Global Day of Action with 130 events occurring across the globe. Idle No More.
+Reality is not what they show the world on TV and Hollywood. I follow several alternate media sites… some for many years with large followings.. Among them are Firedoglake began by two females, Jane Hamsher and Christy Hardin Smith who was a prosecutor and how moved on from FDL. They have numerous all articles and critiques through more aimed at the main and less aimed as your site is about the national security state. FDL’s Kevin Gosztola has done terrific reporting on Bradly Manning. FDL has supported OWS with drives for equipment for protestors, and has some top reporters such as Marcy Wheeler on the Valerie Plame affir. FDL worked for Ned Lamont to try to defeat Joe Liberman. And this site has incredible comments from brilliant people. I’ve attended meet ups and it is not a somber depressing affair with complaining people. I’ve listened to Amy Goodman for decades since she was a reporter on WBAI. Now she runs DemocracyNow! (accused of being a gatekeeper). Her broadcasts cover all manner of problems in the world, injustices and *downer* realities. She travels the country and the world speaking and meeting with listeners. There is also Glenn Greenwald, Chris Hedges…Matt Taibi
+BF has some excellent information about the abuses of the National Security State (NSS) and the fraud/abuse which has been going on forever.
+None of those who analyze and critique have managed to map out how the fix the mess… and most who point it out are locked out from the MSM.
+We DO need to read this bad news and we do need people digging it up. That’s clearly part of consciousness raising. But we will need some action plans and some vision of the future. Self sufficiency is part of it, but we are too many to live as self sufficient islands. We need a new paradigm… this one has failed… that’s obvious to most people… But most people don’t want to face this, to give up on “America” and have a clue on what to do it about it. So they distract themselves with pop culture and electronic devices.
+I like this site and regularly visit it because I prefer not to be in the dark. I support it with money equivalent to my income rather than buy a newspaper or watch T.V. Truth is discouraging and our efforts to effect change seem pointless, especially if we are effective. Some of this is to protect us. Our egos being what they are, the less I know how effective I am, the more I can accomplish. How does someone maintain a balance with this information? I spend time in the swamp with the wild critters. I work in community projects that implement real change with diverse demographics. Perhaps the best insight I have had recently will help. Our incubator group of entrepreneurs and scientists come up with many ideas. Usually those that get accomplished are the ones that benefit the larger community through a principle called open source. This does not discount IP (intellectual property), but that becomes secondary to the energy gained from inclusive efforts. When I observe crossover as I did the other day that confirms to me which efforts are really working. I met with an IT engineer and entrepreneur regarding our website. The following day our seed exchange met to create criteria we wanted in our public database and privacy restrictions. A software engineer and website administrator were both in attendance because they want to protect the genetic diversity of our seeds. Also, we used local, homegrown music and a potluck to start the event. Bottomline, is you got to stay happy to get things accomplished. This is more than just feelings, because we all get down. Hope this helps.
+Hey, don’t feel bad – you’re doing a good thing!
+Hopefully the fact that I don’t find this site a downer at all doesn’t mean I’m some sort of psychopath! I look forward to reading it, I feel psyched while I’m reading it, and the overall effect is Happiness Enhancement. Why on earth would that happen? Because I LOVE this opportunity to inform myself and not be a sucker for the mainstream nonsense. I call my ongoing personal research project What On Earth Is Going On Around Here, and the more I can fill in the picture — bleak as it may be — I still feel better because I’d rather know than not know.
+I guess I’m a sucker for the Blue Pill (or was it the Red Pill, I can never keep that Matrix stuff straight…)
+Also: there’s a nice human feeling going on at this site. A sense of community, and Sibel’s way of writing…it’s just nice.
+And hey, once a week we’ve got Jamiol’s music to chill things out, right? And you could do more of that kind of thing, Sibel, don’t feel constrained by your own themes. There’s no rules other than the ones you make, so if you want to, once a week or so, post a recipe or a photo or a story about something that made you smile. A regular injection of the joyful side of life. Why not?
+Sibel, I’ve watched our Supreme Court with angst and anger from the early 1970s when they caved in the Fourth Amendment for the DEA. It’s been down hill ever since. The 5-4 ruling on the Second Amendment, DC v. Heller, pretty much was proof of how corrupt our System has become. I’ve read your book and I’d like to thank you profusely for the labor you’ve expended both in writing it and living through the experience that formed the basis for it. I would like to share some thoughts from a book I read years ago by Walter Prescott Webb. “The Texas Rangers” The Forward was written by Lyndon B. Johnson, then President of the United States. I’m going to quote directly from the Forward. “One of the stories Dr. Webb related to me which I have repeated most often through the years stems from a figure in this volume, Captain L.H. McNelly. Captain McNelly was one of the most effective of the Texas Rangers, yet he was thin as a bed slat,weighing hardly 135 pounds, consumptive, in many ways the opposite of the prototype of a Ranger. But Captain McNelly.” In the challenging and perilous time of this century, free men every where might possibly consider that motto. We cannot be sure that in our own time we will reach and fulfill the goals of our society or the ideals on which our system stands. But we can, by dedication and commitment, be the kind of people who “keep on coming on.” Lydon B. Johnson May,1965. The pictures of hundreds of men taken in Poland in 1939 swinging from their necks are the pictures of men who most likely were engaged in their next cooking show or football game of the time. You are with no doubt the woman that Captain McNelly and President Johnson were looking for. A Sincere Thankyou
+I look forward to my daily (or nightly) dose of depression as I find myself “boiling” in the pot (or internally). It is an education I can rarely find elsewhere, though there are other sites which supplement the pain and suffering. One must be informed with truthful narratives (as well as the false ones constantly being fed to the public) if one is to have any hope of correcting the situation and one’s circumstance. So, Sibel, keep it coming- keep it coming non-stop.
+There used to be a radio show that dealt with heavy political truths.
+They had a comedy bit they played fairly regularly.
+It was something like “cooking tips in prison camps with Bella…. filet le shoe leather … Rat dejone… how to season gruel with available spices…”
+stuff like that.
+kinda dark but. uhhh
+probably won’t get the page count up here though.
+probably have to stick with the irate minority.
+But i have to say that frankly that since since 2002 I’ve found that fewer and fewer people dismiss out of hand the information i relay in person as just conspiracy theory. and i find more support than i used to when address an internet forum of rank and file Rs or Ds. many do see a real problem however they still often fall back on the idea that it’s the other parties fault, mostly. and just a good D or R congress/president will “swing the pendulum back” .
+Some have stopped saying that , they are just silent. almost paralyzed or but quietly talking about food storage and guns.
+but i do believe many more are starting to feel the water boiling and are ready to jump, they are not sure where.
+how to draw a lion face
+Do you want to learn how to draw Simba? Of course hahaha its a LION a real LION hahaha. Step 5. If you want to make your lion drawings even more realistic, we prepared some tips for you that you can use at any time. On each side of the circle, lines should begin beneath the shape, passing in then out again. Even in ancient times, they were used as a reference for a different type of drawings. Join me again for more drawing fun. A cool aspect of this tutorial is the fact that you can color it any shade your lions in any way you want. Again use lines and circles at this point to represent the leg and foot. Okay, here is where you will start sketching, and stop drawing. If you use the lowercase word “lion” you can learn with this tutorial on how to draw a lion’s face. By learning to draw also a lioness you will be able to create more complex drawings and explore a lot of ideas. The ear should be a bit larger then that of a tiger. How to Draw a Lion's Face. Add a pair of lines that defines the shape of the inner end of the eye that run slightly down the snout and join some distance away from the eye. perfect for any kid or beginner. Step 3. 2. It is very likely that you already have what you need inside your house. Step 1 Draw the basic outline by drawing 2 intersecting circles for the face with 2 perpendicular lines. The lion's neck contains a lot of muscles, so draw a curved line to give it some volume. I hope you had fun with this lesson on how to draw a lion face. It shouldn’t take you a lot of time until you master it. The images above represents how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved. How to Draw Lion Face & Head Step by Step. Learn How to Draw a Lion's Face Get this tutorial if you want to understand how to draw a lion. Nov, 20 2015. This video will teach how to draw a lion. This Free step by step lesson progressively builds upon each previous step until you get to the final rendering of the lion. In the example the right leg is slightly curved while the left is slight but angled to the bottom … How to Draw a Tree Branch With Leaves. Draw a circle with a diameter of 5 cm or more on a plain sheet. Way to Draw Lion Face . Erase. I do not own this. Drawing a coloring a large lion face will add a thrill to any kinder art class. It’s a great way to test and see if you really want to draw lions and if the answer is yes you can invest afterwards more in your tools. Start with a head shape, and then draw out the lions, snout shape like you see here. Next, draw the small eye, and then start the shape of the ear. Let's finish this picture! So, we now know that drawing a lion is cool and it has its challenges so let’s understand better how we can do it with the help of tutorials. Their face is quite complex, use light lines at first so you can erase easily whenever you do a mistake, On the upper area of their mouth, you will find black dots. They are the number one predator in Africa and can hunt pretty much any species that we can find on the African plains. Lions sometimes have spots on their belly and on their back the spots will be easier to spot because the fur is creamy white. If you follow the suggestions that you get in this tutorial you will be able to draw Nuka from Lion King. To the right of the rectangle, draw a small oval that is roughly 1/2 the height of the rectangle. Here you see with tip 1, when drawing in a 3/4 view, the lion's face shape is completely narrow. Once your lion is all cleaned up, you can start coloring it in. As you can see with the second tip for the lion's head to the left, the lip line for a lions mouth should be drawn in a bold manner. Lion drawing - step 18. We all know that the king of the jungle, the mighty lion is an amazing animal and one of the largest alive on our planet. How to Draw a Cheetah Sitting. Also, don’t forget to get an eraser and sharpener. He was wise and kind and he thought Simba what being powerful and courageous means. Get a pencil and a sheet of paper and start practicing this cool step-by-step Disney cartoon tutorial. You will need to sketch out the fury chin, neck or mane hair, and then sketch in the forehead, cheek, and detail inside of the lions ear like you see here. Step 2 In the larger circle draw the eyes and in the lower circle draw the nose. Probably the best tutorial that teaches you how to draw a lion on a budget. Make the lines on the face of your art drawing image. Step 16: Draw the outline of the roaring lion's face using the initial shapes as guides. Now, using the t-shaped guidelines, begin sketching the lion's facial features.If you want your lion's face to be perfectly symmetrical, this can be a time-consuming step. Use four lines to attach the oval to the head, two for the outside of the jaw, and two for the inside of the mouth. 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+Table of Contents
+Best Hard Drive for PS4
+If you’re searching for the best hard drive for PS4, you’ve come to the right place! This buying guide and product review will help you decide which PS4-compatible hard drive will best suit your preferences.
+Check out the top 5 hard drives for PS4 and computer-based applications:
+5 BEST HARD DRIVES FOR PS4
+Seagate 2TB FireCuda Gaming SSHD SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 2.5-Inch Hard Drive – Best Overall Hard Drive for PS4
+Click here to see reviews and prices for the Seagate 2TB FireCuda on Amazon
+The Seagate FireCuda 2.5″ SSHD has the 2.5″ drive form factor with a 7mm thickness, which makes it ideal for notebooks, HTPCs, and gaming consoles that use the 2.5″ drive slot. This SSHD was made to deliver high data transfer speed and boot-up times.
+The Seagate 2TB FireCuda is considered to be one of the fastest gaming SSHD products in the market. It runs about 5 times faster than the typical hard drive. It can read up to a speed of 136.8 MB/s and write speed of 121.3 MB/s. 2TB FireCuda runs at a 5400 RPM.
+The 2.5-inch device is proven to provide superior performance for PC gaming and it is the perfect upgrade for gamers, creative professionals, and PC enthusiasts. This product is equipped with the new and improved NAND flash memory technology.
+With a capacity of 2TB, this device from Seagate is a fantastic choice for people looking for the best hard drive for PS4. This eliminates the need to uninstall other games to give enough space for new game titles.
+In addition, its adaptive memory technology can efficiently identify all frequently accessed data to allow for speedier operations. Additionally, its multi-tier caching technology helps boost performance, thereby helping applications and files to load faster.
+Ultimately, the Seagate FireCuda 2.5” SSHD provides an excellent balance when it comes to price, capacity, and performance. It’s definitely an exceptional value for your media storage needs, and is worthy to belong to this list of best hard drive for PS4.
+Pros
+- One of the fastest 2.5” gaming hard drives in the market
+- 2TB capacity can store 80 x 25GB games
+- Five times faster than traditional hard drives for non-stop performance and seamless gaming experience
+- Adaptive memory technology allows quicker operations on frequently used applications
+- High read performance improves loading time
+- Competitive price point
+- Comes with 5-year warranty
+Cons
+- Works better as a gaming hard drive. May not be as reliable for desktop applications as SSD.
+- Needs casing to function as an external hard drive
+HGST Travelstar 7K1000 2.5-Inch 1TB 7200 RPM SATA III 32MB Cache Internal Hard Drive – Best Budget Hard Drive
+Click here to see reviews and prices for the HGST Travelstar 7K1000 on Amazon
+This hard drive boasts of top-of-the-line performance as well as high capacity designed in a lightweight, compact design. It provides the best-of-class operating shock and outstanding power management for durable unplugged notebook performance.
+With its 7200 RPM, 1TB storage and 6Gb/s SATA interface, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 hard drive is sure to deliver the best performance in its class. Its 4k advanced format technology improves capacity and enhances reliability. That’s why it’s included in our list for the best hard drive for PS4 and PS4 Pro.
+This product is designed to support the needs of multi-tasking as it offers the desired speed without having to sacrifice its overall performance which includes its battery life, capacity, or audio. What is great about this Travelstar hard drive is that it’s packed with patented technology that ensures 100% reliability of its performance along with its quiet and eco-friendly operation.
+This super-slim hard drive is also ideal for upgrading ultra-thin notebooks for a variety of different high-performance storage needs, including game files.
+The HGST Travelstar hard drive is designed to ensure the highest quality standards along with worldwide technical support and integration services to enable customers from all over the world to have access to this product.
+Its features will definitely not fall short in the array of the best hard drives for PS4 as it allows more storage space to accommodate several game files for a gaming enthusiast. The HGST patent technology hard drive offers a 3-year limited warranty.
+Pros
+- One of the most affordable in the market
+- 1TB capacity in a 2.5” 9mm form factor
+- High-performance 2.5-inch HDD with a 6Gb/s SATA interface
+- Low power consumption
+Cons
+- Only available for one kind of storage capacity
+- Needs casing to function as an external hard drive
+WD 4TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive – Best Value For Money
+Click here to see reviews and prices for the WD 4TB Black My Passport on Amazon
+If you are looking for a fancier-looking hard drive, WD 4TB Black My Passport may be perfect for you. Aside from providing an enormous amount of storage capacity, it also comes in fun and eye-catching colors. You can choose whichever color you want that will perfectly match your own personal style.
+Its sleek style will fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, which makes it more convenient for you to carry it anywhere you go. Because of its space-saving design, you can put it beside your PlayStation 4 while you play our favorite games.
+Aside from this, you can use the hard drive to easily back-up photos, videos, music, documents, and game files onto the My Passport drive with the included WD Backup software. It is as easy as plugging the device into your PC or laptop and your files can start transferring and saving wonderful memories, important documents or your selection of video games. It makes use of USB 3.0, but it is compatible with USB 2.0 as well.
+WD My Passport has been formatted for Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 operating systems. It may require reformatting if other operating systems are used.
+It has a built-in 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption with WD security to help keep your game profiles confidential and secure. The WD brand upholds its name as its hard drives are made to meet the demanding requirements for shock tolerance, durability, and long-term reliability. Performance-wise, it’s at par with most hard drives with its 128 MB/s read and 123 MB/s write capability.
+With its 4TB storage capacity, any gamer will definitely consider it as the best hard drive for PS4.
+Pros
+- Lots of great features for its price
+- Plug-and-play setup makes it convenient to use
+- Comes in different vibrant colors
+- Comes with a comprehensive software suite
+- Has password protection with hardware encryption
+Cons
+- Some issues with regards to speed when reading large files
+Seagate Backup Plus 5TB Portable External Hard Drive – Best Hard Drive With Additional Features
+Click here to see reviews and prices for the Seagate Backup Plus 5TB on Amazon
+What makes Seagate Backup Plus 5T unique from its previous iterations is that it comes in various colors. Color-coded drives are handy, particularly if you are storing different kinds of files.
+This hard drive measures features a micro-USB port and comes with a cable that plugs into a standard USB Type A for transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps.
+One amazing feature of this Seagate hard drive is the ability to recover lost data. All you need to do is sign up for the service, download the Dashboard backup utilities, and pay around $10 for two years of access. You won’t have to cry over accidentally deleted game data!
+Seagate Backup Plus 5TB is an excellent performer in writing and reading large files, as well as reading small files. It creates a backup of your game files to the Portable Drive. The dashboard would automatically back up all of the files and will continuously do the same for any new or edited files.
+Additionally, it allows you to create a custom backup plan where you could choose when and what files to backup. If you use it as a file storage device, it also allows you to upload and download your media files from your Social Media accounts such as Facebook or Flickr.
+Expect that this hard drive is a bit heavier and bulkier since it has a bigger storage capacity than other similar products in the market. However, it is still easy to carry it with you anywhere you go. It may not be too comfortable holding it in your hand compared to other sleeker designs, but it can still fit any small-sized bag.
+The speed results of the Backup Plus Portable 5TB is astonishing fast at 147.4MB/s sequential read and 140.9MB/s sequential write. Tests show that it takes less than 3 minutes to copy a 10GB folder into the drive, and a shorter time to copy the same file from it. This means that it has great performance when it comes to speed.
+The Backup Plus Portable is the biggest drive available on the market to date. Just imagine how much you can save from having to buy 2-3 storage devices by simply having this one device.
+All in all, it’s no wonder that the Seagate Backup Plus 5TB is included in our list of the best hard drive for PS4.
+Pros
+- Monster storage capacity of 5TB
+- High-speed performance
+- Powered via the USB port (no AC adapter required)
+- Also compatible with Mac OSX with the aid of the included NTFS driver
+- Cloud backup system with WiFi connectivity to and from mobile device
+Cons
+- Expensive due to its huge storage capacity
+Seagate 2TB Game Drive for PlayStation 4 Portable External USB Hard Drive – Most Lightweight Hard Drive
+Click here to see reviews and prices for the Seagate 2TB Game Drive for PlayStation 4 on Amazon
+Looking for the best hard drive for PS4 can be a bit daunting, particularly now that there are so many kinds of devices to choose from at varying prices. Fortunately, Seagate 2TB Game Drive for PlayStation 4 is among the most affordable hard drives in the market. With a 2TB storage capacity, you can store more than 50 of your favorite video game titles.
+The Seagate 2TB Game Drive is the answer to your massive collection of PlayStation video games. The high-speed USB 3.0 gives you full-speed gaming, just like playing from the console’s internal memory. This means you are assured to enjoy playing video games without lag or interruption.
+This hard drive was made specifically for PlayStation enthusiasts. Simply plug the device into your PlayStation, and just wait for a few minutes for the hard drive to boot.
+Its best feature is its portability. At 4.8 ounces, it’s easily the most lightweight hard drive on this list. While it is significantly smaller and lighter than other Seagate hard drives, its performance is not far behind from the rest.
+Installing games to the Game Drive is a painless process, and running games off it caused no issues. The Seagate Game Drive is a worthy investment if you are looking for a stable hard drive.
+Unlike the Seagate Backup Plus 5TB, this product only comes in black casing with blue outlining.
+Pros
+- Ultra-portable and lightweight
+- Power efficient
+- Value for money
+- USB 3.0 connection allows faster loading of games
+Cons
+- No optical audio
+- Not compatible with a 4k Blu-ray player
+Brief Background on Hard Drives for Gaming Consoles
+Although most consoles have built-in memory space to house a few games, nothing matches the idea of having so much more game titles stored in a hard drive.
+The hard drive is a convenient way of backing up data for your gaming console or PC and keep them safe from system crashes and other potential problems. You may store player information and a few games using the internal memory, but it’s not possible to accommodate every piece of data. Apart from slowing down the system, there is a big risk of losing everything that you’ve stored if you do not back up your files.
+Hard drives have the ability to store practically any file type, from text files to full games. It provides a seamless gaming experience by having a significant amount of memory to run the game and store information. Having said that, you need to get the best hard drive for PS4 that will fit your specific needs.
+What is the difference between HDD and SSD PS4 Hard Drive?
+HDD (hard disk drive) storage houses a magnetic tape and contains mechanical parts inside. This device (3.5 inches) was traditionally used in PCs before SSD technology came along.
+The SSD, on the other hand, is a flash storage and has no moving parts compared to the HDD. Using this, it is possible to move them about while transferring data to and from a PC without fear of causing damage.
+To differentiate the two, SSD is smaller and more compact for use in laptops, and it uses less power.
+Whether you choose an HDD or an SSD, make sure to check the best hard drive for PS4 to ensure that you get your money’s worth as well as provide you with an excellent gaming experience.
+External Hard Drive vs. Internal Hard Drive For PS4
+PlayStation 4 comes with a built-in internal hard drive that stores game data. Some gamers like to upgrade their HDD to a higher memory capacity, but are unsure whether to use an internal hard drive or an external variant.
+If you’re considering a new internal hard drive, you’re essentially replacing the stock drive in a standard PS4 console. It’s definitely a wise move, because you get to enjoy the following benefits:
+- Higher speed: The internal HDD storage that comes with PS4 is slow and relatively outdated. Replacing it with a new model will boost performance, reliability, and data transfer speed.
+- Local storage: When you play with PS4, you can store trophies and game saves on an internal hard drive. You can’t do that on an external drive.
+- Secure installation: The intact installation of the internal hard drive makes it more stable than an external hard drive. Your files are protected from accidental corruption due to vibration or shock.
+- No additional space required: Because the internal hard drive is built into the PS4 slot, you won’t have to clear up some space on the table or stand to accommodate an external hard drive.
+On the other hand, some people find external hard drives extremely useful when playing with the PS4. Here are some of the advantages of external hard drives over internal ones:
+- Easy installation: You don’t have to use tools or dismantle the PS4 to install the hard drive. All you need is a USB cable, and you can already connect the storage device to the gaming console.
+- Additional memory space on top of the internal drive: You don’t have to worry about using up additional memory that may slow your PS4 down. Storing other game data on an external drive will address that worry.
+- Portability: Want to use your personal game data on a friend’s PS4? You can bring your external hard drive to your friend’s house and connect it to another gaming console. Making your storage device portable is an amazing feature of the best hard drive for PS4.
+HARD DRIVE BUYING GUIDE – HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HARD DRIVE FOR PS4
+Acknowledging that you need a hard drive to store your files is not enough. With so many types to choose from, it is worth your time to determine which factors you should look for prior to purchasing the best hard drive for PS4.
+HDD or SSD
+Both have its advantages and disadvantages. SSD reads and writes data faster and has lower power consumption. It also doesn’t make noise and has a longer lifespan. The downside of SSD is that it is more expensive per gigabyte and offers a smaller capacity compared to HDD.
+Hard drive size
+Hard drives may come in either 2.5” or 3.5” size. A smaller storage device is more compact and can easily fit in the palm of your hand. However, the storage capacity may not be as big as those found on 3.5” devices.
+Performance
+Each type of hard drive offers different features such as speed performance and storage capacity. Know which performance features you need for your particular purpose.
+Price
+Choosing based on price isn’t a wise idea, although you may have no choice especially if you have a limited budget. Bottom line, bigger storage capacity, and higher performance means having to pay more — all for the pursuit of owning the best hard drive for PS4.
+If you are a video game enthusiast, relying solely on your PlayStation to store all of your favorite games may not be a wise idea. The same goes for PC or laptop users who rely on internal memory to save files. To ensure that you can safely keep all your essential files, consider purchasing a hard drive that can securely store them.
+Learning the factors on purchasing a hard drive makes it easier for you to select from the sheer amount of choices. Do you have a pick for the best hard drive for PS4? Sound off in the comments section!
+RSS
+Everything You Need to Know About Math Journals
+What’s Here.
+FAQs About Math Journaling
+What’s a math journal?
+Many teachers have a regular journaling time in their classroom in which students reflect on a variety of topics. Math journals work the same way, except the prompts are about math.
+Here are a few math journal entries produced by K-4 students in New York City during my demonstration lessons as a math coach. These are students’ initial attempts at math journaling (their very first prompts). Most of these lessons were taught in the second semester of the school year.
+Why math journaling?
+There are a number of reasons why math journals are gaining popularity at all grade levels:
+-Kids have the opportunity to reflect on their strategies and assess their own learning
+-Students practice putting their knowledge into words both verbally and in writing
+-Instructional focus is shifted from computation to problem solving and real-life application
+-The teacher gains insight into children’s abilities, opinions, understandings, and misconceptions
+-It creates a documented portfolio-like record of student growth and progress
+-Math journaling is an open-ended and naturally differentiated assessment tool
+Who should use math journals?
+I recommend math journals to teachers of grades K-12. They’re an incredibly versatile tool that can be used by students of all ability and age levels. Because the topics are open-ended, math journals are an easy way to incorporate differentiated instruction and meet the needs of every child in your class.
+How do math journals work?
+Many teachers choose to have students respond to math journal prompts in a separate math journal. Having a special math journal that’s different from everyday school materials can be very motivating for children. Other teachers have students respond to math journal topics as part of a Math Notebook: one composition book holds a student’s journal reflections, class notes, and practice activities. Still other teachers have students keep one journal in which they respond to a wide variety of prompts across different content areas (this could be termed as a ‘Writer’s Notebook’.) There’s no one right way to do math journaling, so feel free to pick a format that makes sense for you.
+How often do students write in them?
+Once a week is a beneficial and attainable goal for teachers just starting with math journals. Personally, I like to have students reflect on a topic before we begin the unit of study so I can gauge prior knowledge, and then after a few days of instruction, I have students reflect on their strategies and use their writing to assess progress and address misconceptions. As we finish the skill, I assign a topic that will provide an assessment, such as having students explain how to solve a particular type of problem or connect what we’ve learned to other skills. Because of the variety of ways I like to use math journals, it usually works out to two assigned math journal topic each week. I also encourage children to write in their math journals even when a topic hasn’t been assigned; it’s very own personal place for reflection and extension.
+What do students write about?
+At the end of this page, I have amassed enough high-quality journal prompts here to last you for YEARS! They’ll work with a variety of grade and ability levels. As you read them over, you’ll notice that there are three different types of prompts:
+-Prompts That Assess Attitudes: Students write about their personal thoughts and feelings about math. Examples: When it comes to math, I find it difficult to…, I love math because…, People who are good at math…, and When I study for a math test, I….
+-Prompts That Assess Learning: Students write about what they’ve learned and reflect on what they know (and don’t know). Examples: The most important thing I learned today is…, I could use today’s skill in my real life when I…, Today I used math when…, At the end of this unit, I want to be able to…, and Some good test questions for this skill are….
+-Prompts That Assess Process: Students explain how to solve problems or discuss a particular skill or strategy. Examples: Two ways to solve this problem are…, I knew my answer was right when…, Another strategy I could have used to solve this problem is…, If I missed a step in this problem, I could have…, and The most important part of solving this problem is to remember….
+How long should students write for?
+Only a few minutes is needed for math journaling: 5-10 minutes is enough for most classes, though you may want to allow for 15 minutes for more complex prompts. Allow an additional 2 minutes at the end for sharing.
+Do students need to share their writing?
+It’s important to allow about 2 minutes at the end of the journaling period for students to share what they wrote because the sharing time:
+-keeps students accountable
+-provides an incentive to write something meaningful and cohesive
+-acclimates kids to expressing their thoughts and strategies verbally
+-allows them to hear and explore other children’s strategies and techniques
+Math journal sharing can be done whole class in the beginning of the year (walk around as students write and take note of any exceptional or thought-provoking responses, and ask those students to share with the group afterward). This is a great opportunity for you to encourage reflective thinking and reinforce your journaling expectations. Later, students can pair-share on their own. I would not force an unwilling student to read his or her writing, but that’s my personal preference.
+What if students only write one sentence?
+Your students will follow your lead in math journaling: if you model lengthy and detailed responses, eventually students will follow suit. Writing about math is difficult and strange to many children in the beginning, so be very positive and encouraging with their efforts. As the weeks pass, you will see marked improvement in most students.
+Also, be careful not to fuss at kids who are staring into space and not writing—math journals require a lot of thinking time, and even if you suspect the child is daydreaming, give him or her the benefit of the doubt during journaling. The time spent thinking is equally important as the time spent writing.
+I recommend using math talk activities to help students get comfortable with writing about math ideas. You can use discussion starters and question stems such as these to help you:
+What do students do when they’re done?
+Set a clear expectation on this. Either students should write until time is up, or they should begin another activity as soon as they are finished. If you want students to write for a set time, make sure it’s short (like 5 minutes). You don’t want kids to start writing nonsense just because they know you’re watching. An alternative is to let kids draw about what they wrote when they’re done–this is actually very useful and most children will stay focused on creating pictures related to the prompt.
+How do I introduce math journaling to my class?
+MODEL, MODEL, MODEL. In fact, the first few times you do math journaling, students may just watch you write, or copy down your example. With very young students (gr. K-1), you might choose to model every time you introduce a new prompt to the class for the first few months. The same is true if your students are older and reluctant to write: compose several journal prompts together to get students comfortable with the idea and acutely aware of your expectations.
+I’ve written demonstration lesson plans for the teachers I work with as a math coach. These lesson plans include scripts that tell you exactly what you can say when introducing math journals for the first time. These lessons are my approach to the concept, but there are many other ways to do it. Read over the lesson plans and get a feel for how you’d like to adapt it for your class and teaching style:
+Model lesson script for introducing math journaling to grades K-1
+Model lesson script for introducing math journaling to grades 2-4
+How do I collect and assess math journals?
+Collecting and reading math journals is critical; assessment is far less important. In fact, some teachers don’t grade math journals at all, using them only as a record of students’ progress and thinking. If students know you are regularly reading their math journals and you care about what they wrote, you won’t have to assign a grade to get them to give their full effort.
+Here are a number of assessment methods that I like—you can choose one or mix them up throughout the year:
+-Walk around while students are writing and verbally confer with individuals. This is my favorite assessment method because it’s the easiest on the teacher and probably the most meaningful for students. I stop to talk to kids who are stuck, and comment on what’s been written so far to encourage the reluctant writers along. When I see a student drawing about the prompt (our assigned task for then they’re done), I ask to read the whole response and then give verbal feedback or ask further questions to help the student improve his or her response.
+-Collect only a handful of journals to read after each prompt. For one prompt, you might collect only your lowest students’ journals in order to see if they’ve understood a concept you know the rest of the group mastered. Another time, you might select journals randomly to get a pulse for how the class is doing as a whole and keep everybody on their toes. Or, you could create a schedule in which you read half or a quarter of the class’ journals this week and another group of kids’ work next week. If you’re going to only read a handful of journals, you can either collect them and write written comments during your planning period, or call a few students over to your desk while the others are working and verbally confer.
+-Collect the entire class’ journals. You can have students pass their journals in (bookmarked or left open to the current page) and write a short comment at the top of the page. Or, have students bring their journals up to you (be sure to have another activity for students to do when they’re done so the class isn’t playing around—this can be time consuming so make sure you’ve got your procedures in place). You might have children come to your desk whenever they’re done writing or call over one team or group at time and give verbal feedback. I like collecting the entire class’ journals every few weeks in the beginning of the year to make sure students are using the correct heading, copying the prompt (or not, depending on my directions), writing to the topic, etc.
+-Give a grade on particular prompts and/or a cumulative grade once every few weeks or once a quarter. If you do feel the need to grade journals (and I like doing so every few weeks cumulatively), I encourage you to base the grade on how thorough a student’s responses have been. I don’t recommend taking off for spelling and grammatical errors if you want students to stay focused on the content and their problem-solving skills. You can give a checklist or rubric to students to make the scoring less subjective, but I’ve found it’s more valuable to have students journal about what grade THEY think their responses have earned, and then simply write a comment and my grade on the top of that page. Keep in mind that the cumulative grade should be IN ADDITION to regular collection of students’ journals: if you’re only reading them every other month, you won’t be able to use students’ responses to inform instruction.
+Don’t feel guilty about not reading every student’s journal after every single prompt. Play around with a few different approaches and find something that works well for you. Remember, the main purpose of math journaling is for students to reflect on their thinking, so as long as they’re doing that and you’re using their writing to help you teach, you’re on the right track.
+My Favorite Math Management Resources on Pinterest
+Follow Angela Watson’s Teaching Ideas’s board Math Classroom Management on Pinterest.
+Now What?
+Main Math Page
+Math Game Routines
+Math Games/Center Ideas
+Math KITs (Fact Practice Games)
+Math Manipulatives
+Math Vocabulary & Word Walls
+Easy and Creative Centers
+Ideas for Free Centers
+Setting Up Centers
+-
+{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
+Angela,
+The links on the math journal prompts are not working. I was trying to access the 3rd grade prompts and the 2nd grade prompts.
+Thanks!
+Hi, Ashley, the links are working fine for me. They send you to the Google Doc version of the prompts, so it’s a document preview. If you can’t see them, try Googling “Manatee County Schools third grade math journal prompts” and download them that way.
+When I try to open the 3rd grade prompts the file opens correctly but it is the first grade prompts. Is this a problem with the link or did the web site upload the 1st grade prompts twice? Thank you for all the links I’m sure that was a time consuming process!
+Never mind! I followed your advice for the post above and found them on google!
+Glad the directions above worked. And thanks for letting me know about the 3rd grade prompt linking to the 1st grade prompts. All fixed now!
+Have you ever compared students’ responses when journaling about real world problems verses math theory? Do students demonstrate more knowledge when writing about real world problems verses math theory?
+Thank you for your help.
+so cool i thank every one shoud reed
+I am pre-service teacher (Internship 1) and I am enjoying your site. I have found many answers to questions and ideas for centers.
+I like how you have put a section for God’s place in the classroom.
+I have bookmarked your site and plan on visiting it many times.
+Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate your words of encouragement.
+Had to tweet this! I was interested in starting Math journals this year and you have made it so easy fro me to begin! Thanks for sharing!
+Awesome! Thanks, Lisa!
+I can not get the prompts to open for any of the grades. I would love to have it in Google Docs form. When I Googled it, it appears as a PDF. Any other suggestions?
+Hi, Lisa! It appears that the Google Docs have been removed for the second and third grade prompts. I changed the links to the PDF versions for those two grade levels. The other links are fine. Thanks for letting me know!
+Yeah! It worked! I am very excited about using your ideas!:)
+I’ve used notebooks in all other subject areas and am beginning to develop one for my math class. Thanks for the tips and organized prompts.
+I wanted to start math journals this year and your ideas are awesome. Thank you for making it so easy.
+Greetings, I do think your web site may be having browser compatibility issues.
+Whenever I look at your web site in Safari,
+it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s
+got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
+Other than that, wonderful blog!
+Hey, I know this is an older post but I’d love to utilize some of your prompts for 6th ,7th and 8th graders but the links seem to be broken. Is there any way to access those lists? Thanks
+Oh, no, the district took them down! I am so, so sad.
+I removed them from the page.
+Darn. Well thanks anyways, I’m excited to use math journals this year!
+{ 2 trackbacks }
+Restaurant Toque!
+Online Reservations
+dd/mm/yyyy
+I live in DC and be eaten at plenty of pretensious hot spots by celeb chefs. This is NOT that. Restaurant Toque! was class, intrigue and genuine goodness through-and-through. Get the 7 course. Enjoy every bite. Relish in the surprise. Have a good time with the incredible staff. Not to be missed!
+7/18/2013 12:00:00 AM
+The preparation and presentation was outstanding the dishes were truly beautiful to look at.
+We had the tasting menu with 5 wines they also offer 7 wines. We shared one order of wine which they served in two glasses.
+This was plenty for us (light drinkers).
+It is worth a try if you have the bucks to spare.
+7/25/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Very thoughtful wine pairings and excellent service supported a good meal. Some of the kitchen's missteps surprised me, like serving tuna for two of the tasting menu's five savory courses (why not include any of the many attractive alternatives from the regular menu?) and preparing bison well-done. In the beautiful dining room, auditorium-quality chairs and table bases that leave few places to put one's feet make it difficult for guests to sit happily for over three hours. While I enjoyed the experience, I expected more for a tab that easily exceeded C$300 per person.
+7/30/2013 12:00:00 AM
+This is good if you want fine dining or special occasion dining, but is on a tight budget. The food was good and the service impeccable. Dinner is pricier.
+8/1/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Le Toqué c'est des surprises tout au long du repas. Des attentions appréciées, un service attentionné et une cuisine exceptionnelle.
+We had lunch (at short notice), and found the food delectable, the setting quiet, the wine pairings very good (half glasses made it reasonable for lunch).
+8/7/2013 12:00:00 AM
+from start to end. A very very pleasant experience. In particular, the paring wine selection was outstanding.
+8/8/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Eric was a fabulous server! We had the 7 course dinner and the chef even made it gluten free with gluten free bread. Thank you for a wonderful evening.
+Super delicious, fresh, and creative dishes! Staff was very helpful and attentive. A very special treat!
+8/9/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Indeed a great dinner,, but what stands out is the freshness of the ingredients, our mushrooms and vegetable where crisp and flavorful... Great food indeed! Well done.
+8/14/2013 12:00:00 AM
+We had a great evening with the "degustation" menu with 7 courses with associated wine for each course
+Definitely a place to celebrate an occasion or just to appreciate a great dinner
+8/15/2013 12:00:00 AM
+One of the best restaurants in North America. The delicate balance of flavours with innovative ingredients was daring yet very successful. The wine paring with the tasting menu was superb. Excellent sommelier.
+8/16/2013 12:00:00 AM
+My husband and I, our son, and our son's girlfriend had lunch at Toque during a recent trip to Montreal to sightsee and visit family. We were all thrilled with the quiet, elegant atmosphere, the delicious and extremely creative food, and the impeccable service. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the lunch price included an appetizer of your choice. Given the quality of the food, we found the cost to be reasonable. In addition, our waiter was informative and very pleasant. We would most definitely return to Toque again.
+8/20/2013 12:00:00 AM
+toque match up minibar in DC and the late ElBulli..le menu degustation is the only way to appreciate Norman La Prise's genius
+8/22/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Tout était excellent.
+Une superbe soirée, en tête à tête, avec des plats exquis !
+Toute une expérience culinaire !
+Nous y retournerons...c'est sûr !
+We were in Montreal for a short get away and were lucky enough to get a reservation. Had the seven course tasting menu and my only complaint would be my stomach wasn't large enough. each course was a delight to the eyes and palate. If you can get a reservation to Toque!, grab it and go hungry.
+Restaurant Toque had been recommended to us a number of times as Montreal's best, so when my wife and I planned a weekend in Montreal, Toque was our highlight Saturday evening reservation. A big fan of blind tasting menus, we quickly settled on the 7 course tasting menu with foie gras and wine pairing.
+The menu was creative in concept, inspired in execution and beautiful in presentation. Each course was fantastic, with the possible exception of the dessert, leaving my wife and I with a difficult time settling on highlights.
+While I very rarely comment on service, I must mention the outstanding service at Restaurant Toque. Best service I have ever received at any restaurant anywhere. Genuinely attentive and pleasant.
+Wonderful!
+8/24/2013 12:00:00 AM
+We looked around where to go for dinner in Montreal. I found an articel in a travelguide which recommend this place.
+We trusted and had a wonderful food expierence. Taste and also the presentation was fantastic.
+Not really a low cost restaurant but a very good value for the price.
+We were there quite early and it was very calm. Later it became more noisy die to some
+Groups.
+8/27/2013 12:00:00 AM
+food with great finesse; bar somewhat deficient; nice modern and classy décor; waiter okay but lacked enthusiasm
+8/29/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Very good service and excellent food, go for the seven wine tasting option.
+8/31/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Maitre D, host, servers, somelier, all were welcoming, polite, informative. Tasting menu and wines pairings were exquisite. Dish presentations quite original. Memorable experience.
+I dinned at Toqué last week and it was quite simply the best dinning experience I have ever had. The food was exquisite (we had the tasting menu with wine pairing) and the service was impeccable. The sommelier in particular was a real pro, who managed to provide incredibly articulate descriptions of each of the wines, without sounding pompous.
+I also proposed to my GF on this night and the staff was really nice to accommodate 2 special requests (a dessert with a secret message in it and playing her favorite song) for us :)
+I was thoroughly satisfied, but I must warn that it was the most expensive meal I have ever had!
+9/3/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Food was imaginative and very well prepared. Service was good, but flawed; we were never offered bread. Wine list was impressive. Overall, it was very nice but decidedly over-priced for what it was.
+9/4/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Nous avons pris le menu découverte et toutes les saveurs ainsi que les accords mets-vins était excellent. Ce fût vraiment toute une expérience et de belles découvertes
+9/7/2013 12:00:00 AM
+I took my girlfriend to Toque! for her birthday on a Tuesday night. In summary everything was perfect. I've never been to a restaurant where every element of the dining experience is executed so well. The price is high, but I had no regrets and we will be back annually.
+Food was as good as it gets and if there's something you don't like it would be due to opinion because the quality and execution is top notch. The service was great and our waiter was very helpful and pleasant. There was the perfect amount of space in between tables and each table was arranged to be an optimal mix of intimacy and sight lines. This is a place to go for a special night if you're not on a budget.
+9/10/2013 12:00:00 AM
+This my first tasting experience. At first I was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect. The waiter eased my anxiety and tokd me "you don't have anything to do but sit and enjoy." The employees were friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable about the food and wine. They did not rush us to eat, rather it was a true food experience. The server followed through on his promise. I have never enjoyedthe restaurant experience as much as I did that night. The wine and food selections were exceptional. The manager gabe us a tour of the kitchen as well which was a delight. To top it off the server offered for us to meet the chef. Excellent!
+9/12/2013 12:00:00 AM
+There is nothing but praise for this restaurant. It was our first time here and though everyone raves about it; the "proof is in the pudding". This was one of the finest dining experiences we have in memory. The setting though a bit urban was elequant and understated, the service was nearly flawless, the timing of the food course. the knowledgeable staff were all outstanding. The real story is the exquisite food. We had the degustation menu with wine flights and fois gras and it was extraordinary. The food was creative, fresh, flavorful and presented beautifully. The wine flights, though a bit eclectic in selection, paired with the food in a harmony and balance I have not experienced before. What an experience; we will be back!
+9/13/2013 12:00:00 AM
+The food was excellent and our waiter was wonderful. Dessert was out of this world. Expensive but worth it.
+9/24/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Excellent restaurant in every way. Food is great, service is excellent, decor is nice and patrons are quiet. Totally enjoyable place to eat
+A unique food experience well worth the price. For any special occasion or for business dinner, this restaurant will impress your guests. Service was very professionnal and well orchestrated. Very quiet and relaxing environment even when the place of full. I will return to try more dishes.
+9/25/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Refined, creative, original and an absolute feast for the eyes and the palate. Highly recommended!
+9/26/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Wow! Dining at Toqué was the best dinner we had on our vacation to Montréal!
+We had the tasting menu and enjoyed every bite. The first dish featured a vegetable purée and the last dish cleverly kept that same theme. The inventive dishes like the salmon carpaccio to the heavier main dishes like the tender beef plate, were expertly prepared and served. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. Despite the beautiful and expensive dining environment, the staff was still approachable and accommodating.
+Try Toqué; try the best in Montréal.
+This was a excellent gourmet treat to end off our Quebec visit.
+Wonderful dining experience in nearby old Montreal showcasing its finest local ingredients and products.
+Service was impeccable and beyond as we were surprisingly given a private tour of the restaurant after our meal by owner.
+Highly recommeded to any foodie. Definitlely a place to consider to make a evening truly special and memorable.
+9/28/2013 12:00:00 AM
+This place is definitely worth going to. I'll leave my only complaint at the beginning since it happened as we sat down, that was we didn't get a menu until 20 min after we sat down, just found that to be a little odd. We ordered the tasting menu all around. Loved the progression in the courses. The tuna carpaccio was absolutely amazing and would go back to have 3 of those dishes instantly as my meal. The venison heart was very unique as that was my first time trying it and I was blown away by how tender and flavorful it was. We all noticed the beautiful wine cellar that was behind us and asked the server if it would be ok to get a tour of it. Our server was happy to show us. Will surely be back to enjoy again.
+10/2/2013 12:00:00 AM
+For me to dine alone, it has to be good cause your focus is more on the food than the conversation with people sitting with you and it was absolutly fantastic!
+10/4/2013 12:00:00 AM
+We enjoyed our evening very much but it fell short of the perfection we were expecting. First the white burgundy wine we ordered was not chilled and we had to wait 15 minutes for them to chill it. Then the tuna nicoise salad appetizer we ordered did not come with the green beans and tomatoes as mentioned on the menu. Finally the chef was a bit heavy on the salt for our liking. Everything else was delightful and we would return but only after trying Montreal's other fine dining spots.
+10/8/2013 12:00:00 AM
+We're from Calgary so we wanted to experience some fine French cuisine and it was the positive reviews from Urban Spoon which lead us here. The food was spectacular, absolutely delicious. My wife had the Halibut and I had the Arctic Char. Both were mouth watering, very flavourful with great presentation. I haven't had Arctic Char this good since Vancouver last year when I had it as the catch of the day while dining on a patio in Granville Island.
+We weren't shy with ordering wine, appetizers, desserts, expressos, etc. on top of our meals, yes the whole 9 yards so after all was said & done so to speak, we pumped $200 in the local Quebec economy but it was seriously worth every penny. Enjoy!
+10/16/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Very expensive but very good. Order the mushrooms for an appy and the halibut.
+10/17/2013 12:00:00 AM
+J'aime ce restaurant d'amour. Et que dire du service du dîner : même qualité d'ingrédients, même qualité de service, même vin recherché, même souci du détail, standards d'excellence uniques quoi. Mais à un prix plus abordable qu'en soirée. Que demander de plus? When perfection sits at the table :) Merci à Normand Laprise et son équipe.
+Modern decor. Excellent food and service. Expensive but worth it.
+10/18/2013 12:00:00 AM
+The Menu Degiustation was awsome. Every dish was incredibly tasty and creatively made. We loved it. The 7 glasses of wine selection was good but not up to the food level specially the red wine should have been a higher quality.
+10/19/2013 12:00:00 AM
+Probably the best food in Montreal, a city with no shortage of good food. Excellent service. Intelligent wine selection. Rather expensive, but deservedly so. Interesting preparations that still work. Kudos all around.
+10/21/2013 5:00:00 PM
+We experienced wonderful food in Montreal, but Toque was the highlight of our trip. The meal will set you back a buck, or two, and you will leave thinking it was worth every dollar. There is something special on the menu for everyone. We will be back next time we are in town.
+10/25/2013 12:00:00 AM
+We had the special menu for the festival so I can't really comment on their real menu items. I found the special menu to work very well and I was able to taste each item. Highlights were the appetizers - the soup and pate were fantastic. The low was definitely the desserts, did not enjoy either dish.
+The service was spectacular and exactly what I would expect from a high class restaurant.
+Very good experience and will return for the real degustation menu.
+11/7/2013 4:00:00 PM
+C est toujours une grande sortie quand nous nous rendons au Toqué !
+Merci d’être aussi passionnés dans votre travail.
+11/8/2013 4:00:00 PM
+My husband and I had just received a Toque gift certificate as a wedding gift from a few friends, so we decided to go all out. We ordered the menu degustation, and the 7 glass wine pairing. From the delicate flavours of all of the dishes to the sommelier coming to tell us why he chose each wine pairing, dinner was absolutely amazing. Our final bill was just under $500, and our gift certificate covered most of it so although it was super expensive, it was a one-time dining experience. Finally, the exceptional service was noticed when I felt a headache coming on, and they sent the Valet driver to go get me some Tylenol! Amazing! I don't think I'll be back because of the price, but I would definitely recommend it to others to try!
+11/11/2013 4:00:00 PM
+Had visited before in the old locale and liked it better. It is now too 'overdone' and lost its casual flair. A la carte plates were good but nothing spectacular.
+Still a good place to go for a special occasion but be prepared to pay more than the value derived from the experience.
+11/14/2013 4:00:00 PM
+We had not been to Toque! for a few years, assuming that the experience would be an extravagance.
+We were right! The prices are way up there BUT WELL DESERVED!
+I beg you, please start with one $5.00 oyster : just out of this world, woth every penny.
+The rest of the meal was equally memorable, not pretentious, elegant, tasty , original without excess.
+This place is indeed in a class above all competition.
+Thank you , Mr Laprise,for not basking in the glory of your past achiements.
+11/19/2013 4:00:00 PM
+Convivialité, excellete table, vins spectaculaires et visites de la cave à la cuisine!
+Un service extra dans une ambiance de bon goût!... à charge de revanche bientôt, nous l'espérons sincèrement.
+C'est certes une expérience dinatoire à répéter ou à faire partager.
+Pour une occasion spéciale le menu dégustation est une suite ininterrompue de découvertes agréables.
+Cordialement,
+L. Michel Delorme
+11/22/2013 4:00:00 PM
+I had an excellent lunch on Friday at Restaurant Toque. Service was accomodating as I had telephoned ahead to change the reservation from 12:30 to 12 p.m. Very good appetizer of pork suasage and brioche. A step up from that was the main course of Venison haunch. The mint ice cream with the brownie for dessert stood out. The purity of flavor of the mint was exceptional. My one suggestion would be that along with black tea, perhaps Darjeeling or Earl Grey could be offered.
+11/28/2013 4:00:00 PM
+Discussion
+Freezing chicken portions in Non-Freezer Zip-Lock Plastic?
+I've been trying to cook in bulk and freeze ready-to-go lunch portions for meals for the week.
+Normally I use these glad-ware cheap food containers and have been microwaving lunch in it. I know that microwaving in plastic is bad and I've never really liked doing it, but it is really convenient.
+Anyway, I didn't have enough of the plastic containers ready so here's what I did: I slow-cooked 8 pounds of chicken thighs for 7 hours overnight. I separated the meat from the bones. I spread it out on three plates so it would cool faster. I put one in the fridge, and the meat got down to about 100 degrees. I then put 4oz in a generic ziplock bag (which had 2 zip seams, rolled the chicken to get rid of the air, and close the bag. I put in freezer.
+It was pretty fast and took up much less freezer space than my half-filled plastic containers.
+And, because I was able to squeeze the air out, I think it will be less subject to freezer burn (though too soon to tell).
+I certainly won't nuke my chicken in the plastic bag so my vision is I'll take a portion to work, hopefully by lunch I'll be able to get the frozen chicken out of the plastic bag and into a ceramic bowl. If it turns out the plastic is rolled into the chicken, I guess I'll have to leave it out some time before so I can get the chicken out.
+I intend to freeze 6oz broth servings in the glad-ware plastic. Hopefully, I can pop it out of the plastic while still frozen and put in the same ceramic bowl.
+I'm going to be cooking white rice and I think I'll freeze it in plastic bags like I did the chicken, and likewise put the frozen rice in the bowl and nuke the 3 components together.
+I kinda wish I could manage assembling the meals before freezing but I cook the broth 10 hours more after separating the chicken.
+However, using the small glad-ware isn't really big enough for lunch for me and the larger size is too large and there's too much air inside and I think it's worse from a freezer burn perspective.
+Anyway, sorry for this rambling account but I was hoping for any tips for any of the steps I've identified.
+I don't think I want the hassle of a vacuum sealer. I was able to put the chicken in the plastic bags pretty quickly and I'm not freezing for more than a week or 2.
+Thanks for any tips!
+Mike
+I'd probably roll up chicken in a nice big hunka plastic wrap before putting in zip bags. The plastic wrap can give you a wrestling match, but think you could get rid of a lot more air. Then I'd put individual servings in small zips and then into a gallon size bag... getting rid of as much air as I go. Vac sealer would be more of an expense than a hassle, imo!?!
+- re: kseiverd
+I'm with kseiverd on this one.
+I wrap with cling film and then toss in to plastic zip bag of choice to help get out air and limit spillage.
+I store a LOT in Glad conmtainers as well as leftover Chinese and Indian take-away 16oz and 8oz tubs found at any restaurant supply store are also used all the time.
+For under 90 days of freezer storage, I don't see freezer burn.
+I also do not microwave in plastic so teh containers last a long time and hold up well, although when frozen and dropped, they can split or shatter. BTDT . Lol.
+I don;t freeze cooked rice, but most bulk make ahead meals cook and freeze well. For pasta, I;ll freeze sauce and then cook pasta night before and chill in seperate container and then combine and cook togehter in microwave in ceramic bowl.
+I'll grill offf a half dozen or dozen brats or beirwurts and then individ. wrap and freeze and then just pull, thaw and lightly nuke and use for lunch on a bun or as a pritien add in to a dish.
+I don't like to make lunches fussy, so for me it;s quick and easy.
+For dinners, I get a little more fussy over fresh and good ingredients. But since I mainly cook for one or two, we are back to freezer use and half batches of recipes.
+- re: kseiverd
+That's what I do when we grind meat. I wrap each patty tightly in plastic wrap and then they go into freezer bags. It usually takes us two or three months to eat them all and they're still the original color.
+PS to OP: I think the danger of plastic and MWs has been either completely debunked or certainly reduced.
+I think you're fine, since you're only freezing the chicken short-term.
+Freezer bags would be better, but I don't think it's a big deal short-term.
+You might also plunk the small bags inside a bigger bag, too -- that would also help give you some extra protection against freezer burn.
+- re: sunshine842
+- re: mike2401
+yes, it's the air that's already inside, but remember that the plastic bags are still gas-permeable to some degree, and the thinner they are, the more permeable they are.
+The good news is that freezer burn looks funky and wrecks the texture, but it's not harmful at all You're not freezing long enough for it to really destroy your cooked chicken, so even if you end up with a little freezer burn on a corner or two, you may not even notice it, especially if the chicken is reheated with other things.
+having said that -- I have very good luck with storing chicken -- I buy in bulk at the warehouse club, then individually wrap a breast or thigh in plastic wrap, then stack them all in a gallon-size freezer bag. I keep them on hand at all times, and have zero loss from freezer burn.
+- re: sunshine842
+- re: mike2401
+Mike, Sunshine is spot-on.
+The thicker the guage of plastic, the less air permeable, but all plastic breathes.
+I found out long ago by buying soda i n bulk for a party and having to slowly use up the leftovers.
+Soda in cans, like most items packed in glass jars have a LONG shelf life. Total seal for the most part.
+Flash forwaed to 20 oz. plastic soda bottles and the fizz/carbonation slowly will find it's way out of the platic over time leaving yo with a flat sugar drink. Not due to cap seal, but teh whole bottle breathes.
+Same with mayo and ketchup in platic jars. Over time, they will go rancid due to osmosis and gas permeablility. Oil based foods go rancid. Items like ketchup and mustard just dry out and go bitter/loose flavor due to moisture loss over time due to the plastic breathing . Which is basically what freezer burn is.
+You cant' stock up on plastic container food items any more due to it.
+Kinda sad really.
+- re: jjjrfoodie
+- re: jjjrfoodie
+- re: c oliver
+Open ketchup or even closed ketchup kept in a plastic bottle in a cool dark place will keep ro some time (thank you vinegar and acid tomatoes). But NOT as long as glass bottled ketchup.
+It's just a matter of science and osmosis.
+Let storage temp creep above 72 to 75F and it will go off quicker.
+At higher storage temps., even glass jar stored pickles, peppers, mustard etc. will go bad.
+c. oliver, your ketchup, if kept refridgerated will last a long time, but the truth is plastic breathes and pantry items in plastic containers will go bad far quicker than other forms of long term storage like glass or metal cans.
+It's not opinion , It's science fact.
+- re: juliejulez
+- re: mike2401
+i'm still missing the part why you can't freeze the rice and broth along with the chicken? the cooked chicken will hold just fine overnight if you want to then freeze it along with a portion of broth. if you're nuking it for lunch, it will reheat better in liquid vs. dry too.
+- re: hotoynoodle
+Good question. I guess I could hold all the chicken overnight, and assemble the complete meal then freeze.
+Originally, the problem I was solving was I didn't have enough gladware containers on hand so I resorted to the plastic bags which I liked because I could squeeze all the air out.
+I have the impression that broth freezes fine in the glad ware (better than chicken), but maybe for under 2 weeks, it doesn't matter.
+I did like how much less space the bagged chicken took in the fridge.
+I suppose if I end up with 12 cups of broth, I'll need 12 containers anyway. I guess if I put the chicken and rice in, there won't be enough room for broth in that size containers.
+(Just thinking out loud. I guess I need to see how much broth fits in a container, and if I add chicken and rice, will it all fit)
+- re: mike2401
+I freeze stock/broth in bags, too. I'm cooking for a family, so I freeze it 2 cups in a bag, but it would work for less, too.
+Just pour the cooled (cool enough to handle, not cold) broth into a ziplock, seal it **very well** and lay them flat in a casserole dish. When they're frozen you can stand them on edge like magazines.
+- re: mike2401
+I assume you know the trick where you crimp a plastic straw into the seal of the bag, suck out the air, and complete the seal as you pull out the straw. Another method is to close most of the seal, then submerge the bag to the level of the zipper. Water pressure will force the air out, but you have to be careful about the depth so you don't get water inside the baggie.
+Definitely put your individual bags into a container or large, proper freezer bag.
+Even though not stored for long enough to get freezer burn, your chicken will lose moisture in the thin bags.
+Nothing wrong with freezing the chicken in bags like that, just don't try to nuke them or the plastic will melt! But apparantly you know that already... (if the wrap is stuck to the chicken use the defrost setting on the microwave and then you'll be able to seperate it without cooking the plastic bag.)
+- re: Kajikit
+good idea, but I don't think I'd want to even defrost (50% power) in the microwave. I'd probably leave out, or run under hot water in the morning before I go to work.
+In fact, I guess that would be an option: find a ceramic container that could contain the chicken, rice brick and broth brick. Then, it will be easier when I'm at work: just nuke the ceramic.
+I LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING!
+- re: mike2401
+- re: mike2401
+In many MW models, defrost is 20% power.
+Regular temp/cool tap water will do just fine for defrosting your stuff enough to transfer to the ceramic dish.
+Trouble with freezing in the ceramic, is that the container will be cold when you heat your food in the MW at work. So, even if the food itself is hot, the temperature will drop quite a bit, due to the container still being cooler.
+- re: Kajikit
+Writing Fiction After Trump: How Do Writers Do It?
+By Becky Tuch
+Trying to write this past week, and every time I sit down to my work, I am reminded of what it feels like to go for my morning run. You see, I’ve got a 15-month-old baby at home. In the mornings, she is generally calm, happy to play around our living room, tugging on this, yanking on that. But the moment she sees running shoes on my feet and keys in my hand, she begins to cry. Forget about saying, “Bye bye!” as I head to the door. There are wrenching tears before I can even explain that I’ll be back in no time at all.
+For me to go--and I must go, I must--my boyfriend has to stand in front of her, ask her questions, show her toys, sing a song, whatever it takes so that I can slowly slip away and go do my sanity-saving thing for thirty minutes. By the time I’m back, she’s fine. It’s just that moment, that minute in which she sees that I am leaving and becomes frightened. The transition is a hard one.
+Right now, upon the election of Donald Trump for President, much of the world around me is crying. Literally and figuratively. My Facebook feed is full of friends expressing anger, sadness, grief, terror. I feel it. I am right there with all of you who are hurting. Though I suspected that Trump would win from the beginning, the grief of his actual win is no small thing. I feel the deep worry about hate crimes, increased policing, the deportation and harassment of immigrants, disregard for refugees, sexist policies that will set us back half a century, economic policies that will hurt the already disenfranchised, not to mention worry about our planet, our relations with other countries, the stock market, and on and on. Like many of you, I’ve felt a discomfort in my own skin that I’ve not been able to shake. A burning. What now? Where do we go? What can I do? Who do I turn to? What will happen to the people I love? How do we protect each other?
+And still, always, there is the work of writing fiction. Before the election, I was in the midst of revising a short story that is part of a collection. Is this story important? I don’t know. Is it meaningful? I don’t know. I believe these are questions writers are always asking. How does this story about [family dysfunction, a broken marriage, my ex…] measure up in the face of catastrophic disease, world hunger, global wars, climate change, police brutality…
+Most often questions like these lead nowhere. When I ask them of myself, I end up blocked, stifled. The answer, often, is that the story does not measure up. It will never measure up. I do not believe that the fiction I write will change how people think, or get them to behave in a certain way. Sure, it would be nice if it did. And sometimes I convince myself that it will. But I can’t guarantee that. Who knows what sort of effect one’s work will have on readers, or if it will have any effect at all?
+What I do know for sure is that I love writing. I love working out the machinations of a scene, twisting and turning it so that it is finally in the exact shape I need it to be. Doing this work also clears my head, puts me in a state of engagement and alertness in other aspects of my life, in a way I wouldn’t be were I not writing. Though I do hope my work connects with readers and lightens their load in some way (perhaps complexifies it in others), I also know that, like the morning run that keeps me sane, the work of writing fiction sustains my life. answer is surely different for every writer. And I believe there is no right answer. Your work might change in the face of political turmoil, it might not. I would hope that every writer already writes with an eye toward social justice and a sense of responsibility to speak against oppression and intolerance. But I know, not all writers do. And even if they do, this means different things to different people.
+In light of all that has happened recently, I asked my writer friends, specifically those who write fiction, how they get themselves to the page, how they have been showing up for their work (or not) during these very trying times. Below are their responses. And, to all of you trying to pick up your pen, for those of you for whom it is especially hard right now, I salute you. It is hard right now. You are not alone.
+Shubha Sunder:
+I have had no trouble at all writing this week--quite the opposite. After a man on the T said to me, "Go back to your country," I thought, "Are you trying to silence me???" While I have never considered myself an ardent activist (the last time I marched in a protest rally was when George W. announced his plans to invade Iraq), in that moment I was fully reminded of how the best sort of writing is a form of activism. So I have been working on my novel with two mantras in mind: 1. I will not be silenced, never. And 2. I have to pour everything I have into my writing, everything I know to be true, to make my work as powerful as it can be. Because this is no time for whisperings and half-baked messages; rather, it is a moment to speak up for what I know to be true.
+Nothing. I am in full-on depression mode. Hoping to shake out of it soon.
+I can't. There's an empathy that I need that I am having trouble mustering right now. And a depth of thought. It's hard to focus.
+Cathy Elcik:
+I was supposed to return today, but I can't get off the internet.
+Alison Murphy:
+Weirdly, as exhausted as I am by the sheer volume of feelings I'm experiencing about this election, I've been writing more, and better, than I have in months. Part of it is out of sheer stubbornness –– I was two chapters away from sending my book out and I'll be damned if I'm letting that motherfucker screw up my deadline in addition to this country. Part of it is also that, starting on Tuesday, I shut off Facebook and Twitter and haven't been back on since (until now, and I'm logging right back off after I finish this comment). Instead, I've been reading authors that give me comfort in times of upheaval, mostly Toni Morrison and Marilynne Robinson, authors that make me focus and think deeply (as opposed to the awful pinball game my mind became during this stupid election, with one thing after the next forcing my attention away from my writing), and force me to empathize, even with difficult people, even with total and utter monsters. And part of it is also probably that my novel is basically about political upheaval and the effect it has on relationships, so in some ways, I feel more at home writing it than now than ever. Whatever the reason, I feel less afraid to write what feels true than I did a week ago. So that's something.
+I've been about 50 pages from finishing my novel for months. It has nothing to do with the election or related issues, and I've had a very hard time tearing my attention away from the world I live in to work on it. I had a few ideas about what my NEXT book might be, and the election results have helped me to make that decision. It's a project that will allow me to process what's happening and maybe, perhaps say something about it. So: now I want to hurry and finish my current project so I can get down to that.
+Erin Almond:
+I haven't yet, because the urgency of the political situation has eclipsed, for now, the urgency I've felt to write fiction. But I'm headed home from FL today, and will be back at my desk tomorrow, doing my best.
+Yes, I have. I've been working on a novel with political ramifications. I feel more motivated than ever.
+I push myself to write my 5 pages each day (of my ever-crappier first draft) because if I don't finish, I don't get paid. But I do it through incredible pain, fear & anger. It is hard to get lost in a world of fiction (reading or writing) when the world has turned so grim. A declared racist anti-semite, a man who didn't want his children in school with Jews, has been put in charge of strategy?
+I am terrified for all of us, but most especially for those who've been hammered by this man and by DT. The fight or flight has been activated and fight we must. And we must beware fighting each other, but keep our eyes on the true enemy.
+My writing energy has been drawn to the political. Yes. Essays pour while my poor characters beg for any stray bit of dialogue I can throw their way.
+I worked on a short story that ironically begins on the day Obama was elected eight years ago... It is a happy story set during good times. Funny that I should be mentally and emotionally escaping to that "time"
+I'm having a hard time even journaling, let alone getting back to fiction. It's been difficult to face reality, let alone retreat into the creative worlds I try to create. Hopefully this week will be different!
+The bewilderment lingers and bursts forth without warning and recedes once more.... At a time like this I can't remember why I write. It feels useless and pointless in the face of such madness.... But I'll never remember why I write by thinking about how I should be writing. Just as I can't enjoy of getting the blood going by thinking about the treadmill.... I tell myself unplug Mr. TV, open that file, and get back to work, son. The work soothes the terror and transforms the absurd into a kind of insane serenity. The work allows me later today to be a human being with other human beings who are suffering through this much more than I am....There is some good thing in each of our lives, something that evil would love me/you to stop doing, to find futile, to see no point in, so take heart... If I want to vanquish the haters, if I want to restore justice to the country and the cosmos, open that file and write, friend, write as if my life depended on it, though I write about something as seemingly inconsequential as an angry girl going into Trader Joe's for a smoothie, because I know my life, in the deepest sense, does depend upon it. And oh, I'll find myself at some point miraculously finding joy while I'm at it. And as always, writing a little tiny bit is a zillion times better than writing nothing at all.
+I had been on a big roll and that came to a total stop. Anything productive has been a challenge.
+I had to go out of town the morning after the election for a reading and talk at the University of Michigan (my alma mater). It turned out to be a great place to process what had happened--what is happening--to our country, and to reaffirm to myself what the role of being a writer, especially a writer of color, in these times is. I didn't plan to write last week, because of my travel and because I'm doing edits for my new novel. But the election and everything after has made me more aware of the political ramifications of the new book, and some new ideas are slowly sparking too. No words yet, but I trust they're coming.
+Liz Fox:
+I've never written fiction in my life until Wednesday and I can't stop. Tump is one sexy muse.
+Whitney Scharer:
+I feel conflicted. I didn't write a word last week, and the project of my novel (set in 1930s Paris) didn't feel urgent or timely, which was depressing. After a wonderful meeting with my writing group yesterday, though, I am now feeling more energized. I know that what is going on politically right now is going to change my novel and the rest of my writing for the better.
+Sonya Larson:
+I say: journal first. The fiction will arise from it.
+Rebecca Schwarz:
+I'm just getting back to writing this week. I was feeling terrible about the state of our nation and feeling terrible about not writing. I decided to cut myself a bit of a break and just set my work aside. I was preparing to write a YA fantasy novel, but am now switching to an idea that I've had cooking that is darker and more relevant to our current situation. Deciding to pursue this other project has relit the fire for me a bit.
+I put aside a novel I've been planning for some time (the third in a kind of trilogy), because to continue the tone of the previous books would require quite a dollop of humor - and I'm too out of humor. Instead I'm revising/final-editing a bunch of short stories that are all pretty finished. Short stories have always been the "art of the possible" of women writers.
+I haven't written at all this week though that isn't out of the ordinary. Right now I've been more concerned about the short term--a lot more. I've just been protesting, talking to my family about it, and making plans to call up representatives. Morally engaged literature, I think, is crucial to preserving a free, humane society in the long term (like preserving a person's body by eating healthy and exercising) . But right now it feels more like we're trying to get a person to jump out of the way of an oncoming freight train. Or at least to be aware of the train.
+I think I'd never have been able to except one thing: this is my last week before I'm in the window where I might give birth at any moment, and so it feels like my last chance to get the final revision done on the novel I've been working on for over a decade. Also helped that the book already has a pretty marked political/social justice underbelly so I've been able to funnel some of my rage/hope/despair/optimism into that. And, super oddly, a quote from Alan Rickman really helped... "The more we're governed by idiots and have no control over our destinies, the more we need to tell stories to each other about who we are, why we are, where we come from, and what might be possible. "
+Yes! But was only able to get back to edits today. My novel out in June is about racism and my God I feel more motivated than ever.
+I have only written a few sentences of my novel over the past week. Specifically, I tried to capture the sort of physical grief I've been feeling, because my character experiences grief also, and I felt like I was able to really access it. But other than that, no. I know I'll get back to it soon, though. My novel is largely about class, and like Julia Fierro, knowing how relevant this issue is right now in our national conversation, I feel extremely motivated -- in the abstract, anyway. I just feel like I need a little more time to regain my emotional equilibrium. I'll get there.
+Anne Moore:
+I can't stop writing! I think I might crash, but right now my hypervigilance looks a lot like low-level mania, and it has infused new energy and clarity to my writing. But I've also completely changed gears--both the academic and the nonfiction projects I'd been working on are totally on hold for a series of blog posts about trauma and politics.
+I find it weirdly comforting - like I'm in a bubble where there are lots of problems, but not the current ones we're all dealing with. I've been writing more as a result.
+What about you? How have recent political events changed your writing or your writing practice?
+Becky Tuch is the Founding Editor of The Review Review.
+Photo credit: Thomas Hawk via Foter.com / CC BY-NC
+Here Sue Is gonna add the upcoming classes
+LAST CLASS ALWAYS HERE
+-----------------------------------------------------
+-----------------------------------------------------
+PAST CLASSES DOWN HERE
+.............................une 30, 2013
+Monday, June 24, 2013
+ALCHEMY OF CREATION PART 4 Recalibrating the Chakras
+6-24-13
+THE ALCHEMY OF CREATION PART 4
+Recalibrating the Chakras
+Greetings From The Arcturians,
+We return to continue our information about the Alchemy of Creation. Since you are now deeply into your process of returning to a conscious alignment Multidimensional SELF, your creative powers are greatly increasing. Furthermore, since beloved Earth has returned to Her alignment with the Galactic Center, Gaia and all her inhabitants are able to receive and download extremely high frequencies of light.
+This higher light creates a constant flow of multidimensional and unconditional love into your Sun and into Gaia’s body of Earth. As this cosmic, multidimensional light gradually downloads from the higher dimensions, it enters the light network of your fifth-dimensional lightbody, your fourth-dimensional astral body and your etheric body, which is slightly above your physical resonance. The etheric body serves as the interface between the physical and astral body.
+Since this light is multidimensional, even though it first enters your physical form via your Pineal Gland, it is then dispersed into the chakras. Each chakra is calibrated to a certain frequency of light. Therefore, the higher light is dispersed to each chakra according to the frequency of that chakra. In this manner, each chakra receives the healing and transmutation that is consistent with the purpose of each chakra.
+For an in depth explanation of how to prepare for the conscious download of the higher light, please click the below link:
+For the greatest benefit, please read through to the end of that section.
+If you choose not to do so, we recommend that you at least read this message from Mytria about the Lemurians:
+As well as downloading the higher light:
+And Calibrating the Third Eye:
+It is also important that this higher light becomes integrated into your consciousness and your physical body. See link for integration your consciousness:
+Reading the above writing will greatly facilitate your ability to understand what we are about to share.
+GROUNDING THE LIGHT
+It is vital that this higher light be grounded in the body of Gaia before it is distributed to your chakras. You would not plug in powerful oven without a third grounding prong or it could short circuit the electricity of the house. In the same manner, it is important to first ground the higher light into Gaia. A way to ground this light is to:
+· Visualize yourself as a speck of light within the core of your brain.
+· Look up to see the pineal gland of your Crown Chakra just above you to see the higher light entering that chakra.
+· Allow the higher light to enter your Brow Chakra, and look forward to see through your Opened Third Eye. How does your world appear when you see it through your Third Eye?
+· Now, look down from the core of your brain to see the long corridor of your spinal cord. Allow yourself to float into this corridor.
+· As you float past your Throat Chakra, pause for a moment to look at the world through this chakra. How does reality appear through the frequency of this chakra?
+· Continue your journey down into your Heart Chakra. How does your life appear through the frequency of your Heart Chakra?
+· Float down into your Solar Plexus Chakra. How does your reality appear through this frequency?
+· Continue into your Navel Chakra. How do you perceive your world through this frequency?
+· As you enter your Root Chakra at the base of your spine you see Gaia's body of Earth. How grounded in Gaia are you at this moment?
+To fully ground yourself into Gaia’s planetary body, think of your favorite place in Nature and see yourself surrounded by that area. It is from this location that you will journey down into the Core of Gaia's form. Move through Her Crust, Upper Mantle, Lower Mantle, Outer Core and deep into Her Inner Core.
+Take the Core of your Essence and wrap it around Gaia's Inner Core. Feel how you, people and planet, are ONE Being. As you merge your First Chakra with Gaia Her fourth dimensional Elementals of Gnomes, Sylphs, Salamanders, and Undines intermingle with the third dimensional elements of earth, air, fire and water to calm your adrenal glands and assist you to remain within your own center core.
+MOVING UP THE CHAKRAS
+From the Core of Gaia, you move up through Gaia’s Inner Core, through Her Outer Core, past Her Lower Mantle and Her Upper Mantle and exit through Her Crust. Feel the grounded higher light as it moves through your feet, up your legs and into your First chakra.
+As this grounded higher light moves up your spinal cord, it is dispensed to each chakra. As this grounded, higher light enters each chakra the function and area of the body for that chakra, the nerve plexus for that chakra, as well as the endocrine gland for that chakra are gradually transmuted.
+The lowest frequency/dimension of higher light moves into your First Chakra.
+FIRST CHAKRA TRANSMUTATIONS
+(See links below each chakra for third dimensional function and service.)
+FUNCTION AND AREA OF BODY: The higher light transmutes your first chakra to serve as the third grounding prong to ground your changing earth vessel into the Earth.
+NERVE PLEXUS: As the higher light enters the nerve plexus for this chakra, it is calibrated to the expanding frequencies of Earth. Then you can remain in alignment with Gaia while people and planet prepare the foundation of fifth dimensional New Earth.
+ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Your adrenal glands slowly become accustomed to a new frequency so that you do not go into Fight/Flight response with every download.
+The next octave of light will enter your second chakra.
+SECOND CHAKRA TRANSMUTATIONS
+FUNCTION AND AREA OF BODY: Your second chaka is between your waist and the First Chakra at the base of your spine. The higher light will prepare your second chakra for your rebirth and the vast changes that will occur due to the transmutation of your self, your family and your society. It will also prepare you for a new concept regarding money and different systems of compensation based on the balance of energy out is energy back.
+NERVE PLEXUS: This nerve plexus represents your Hara Center, which is the core of your balance within your physical and emotional life. This core will begin to expand to encompass core of the Earth and the core of your Multidimensional SELF.
+ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Your polarized identity as male or female shifts into the androgynous versions of your Lightbody. Hence, your female hormones will expand outward beyond reproduction of a child into reproduction of a new reality, while the male hormones will turn more inward to send the seed of new life into your self. Remember, that women have male hormones and men have female hormones, but at a much lower percentage. This separation will increasingly diminish as both genders create the balance of male and female hormones within their earth vessels.
+The next octave of multidimensional light will be dispersed into your third chakra.
+THIRD CHAKRA TRANSMUTATIONS
+FUNCTION AND AREA OF THE BODY: Your third chakra is between your second chakra and the base of your rib cage. This chakra is the power center of your physical body and functions as either power-over or power-within. As you consciously begin to commune with the higher light, you will begin to remember your innate power-within. Then, you will no longer allow yourself to be a victim. Will you face this challenge by activating your power-within or will you seek the revenge of power-over?
+NERVE PLEXUS: Your solar plexus is your own inner Sun that shines your inner power into your reality. Thus, the higher light will amplify your inner power and free you from the cycle of victim/victimizer. As you inner Sun glows stronger and brighter your power within will reveal and release hidden thoughts of fear or victimization. Hence, you will no longer create those scenarios, as you will know that you are powerful and find no need to become involved the 3D Game of power-over.
+ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Your pancreas is the hormone that has to do with digestion of food, information and energy. Hence, your intake of food will greatly change as any dense or difficult to digest foods will interfere with your more important task of digesting and distributing the higher light. Since your body will now be focusing on digesting the higher light, lower frequency foods will become indigestible and hopefully stricken from your diet. Also, with the intake of higher light you will begin to crave vast amounts of pure water to regulate and cool your system.
+The next octave of multidimensional light will be dispersed into your fourth chakra.
+FOURTH CHAKRA TRANSMUTATIONS
+FUNCTION AND AREA OF THE BODY: The fourth chakra rules your heart and lungs and has the ability to run energy through your arms and hands. Your heart and lungs work to together to feed you cells oxygen enriched glucose. As the higher light continually enters your system, your cells bodies begin to crave light rather than glucose. This transition of cellular food is the first stages of becoming Lightbody.
+NERVE PLEXUS: Your heart plexus is intermingled with your High Heart. Just as your physical heart runs your physical body by distributing blood through out your system, your High Heart runs your Lightbody by distributing higher light through your system. Since the highest frequency of light is unconditional love, your High Heart distributes unconditional love through your system.
+ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: The thymus gland of your fourth chakra rules your immune system and is the source of all the physical, emotional, mental and dimensional healing. Since unconditional love is the healing force of the multiverse, once your High Heart has taken superiority over your human heart new forms of healing and transmutation will be revealed in your daily life.
+The next octave of multidimensional light will be dispersed into your fifth chakra.
+FIFTH CHAKRA TRANSMUTATIONS
+FUNCTION AND AREA OF THE BODY: Your fifth chakra is your throat center, which is the center of communication via your physical voice and ears. As your heart and mind become the Heart/Mind of your High Heart your throat chakra serves as the waylay device connecting your opened Third Eye and your High Heart.
+NERVE PLEXUS: The throat chakra is ruled by the laryngeal plexus, which rules your throat, shoulders, arms and voice. Hence, your tone of voice, posture of your shoulders and movement of your arms will begin to give a clearer meaning of your communications than your words. This transmutation prepares you to communicate via telepathy, empathy and communing, which is the norm for higher dimensional realities.
+ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Your fifth chakra is ruled by your thyroid gland, which sets the pace/timing of your entire system. Hence, as the multidimensional light begins to integrate into your physical form your thyroid gland is called upon to maintain a steady pace for this higher resonance through out your entire body.
+The next octave of multidimensional light will be dispersed into your sixth chakra and the octave beyond that is your seventh chakra. Since your sixth chakra, pituitary gland, and your seventh chakra, pineal gland, work in unity to create your opened Third Eye, we will look at both of these chakras at once.
+SIXTH CHAKRA
+SEVENTH CHAKRA
+INTEGRATING SIXTH AND SEVENTH CHAKRAS
+SIXTH/SEVENTH CHAKRA TRANSMUTATIONS
+FUNCTION AND AREA OF THE BODY: Your sixth chakra is based at your forehead and your seventh is based at the top of your head. These two chakras work together. The pineal gland of the seventh chakra pulls the higher light into your earth vessel and sends it to your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland of your sixth chakra is the Master Gland that distributes this higher light throughout your entire body. This distribution is based on matching the frequency of light with the frequency of each chakra.
+NERVE PLEXUS: The nerve plexus for these two chakras is the physical brain for the unenlightened and the Cosmic Brain for the enlightened. Your physical brain cares for all the needs of your physical life, whereas your Cosmic Brain cares for multidimensional life. It is via your Cosmic Brain that you receive communications (often known as channels) from your expressions of your SELF in the higher dimensions of reality.
+ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: While you are unenlightened your pineal and pituitary glands work together as separate partners. However, as the pineal and pituitary gland merge to become your Opened Third Eye, you perceive frequencies of reality far beyond the third dimensions. Then you know that you know are not your body. Instead, you realize that you are wearing an earth vessel, which is the lowest frequency expression of your Multidimensional SELF.
+TRANSMUTING YOUR EARTH VESSEL
+Once you remember that you are a wondrous multidimensional being you begin the amazing journey of personal and planetary transmutation. In fact, this journey is likely the reason for your present incarnation. At this point, all the physical laws of separation, polarity, limitation and illusion are transmuted into a higher frequency of expression. For example:
+· Separation is transmuted into Unity
+· Polarity is transmuted into Convergence
+· Limitation is transmuted into Abundance
+· Illusion is transmuted into Truth
+You will also remember that you are among those who volunteered to be a prototype of transmutation of form into a higher frequency of expression. In this manner, you can assist with the transmutation of your entire reality. You greatest challenge is that you will undergo this personal transmutation while you inhabit the form that is transmuting. This process is similar to totally remodeling your house with a new roof, new floor, new plumbing, new electricity etc. while you are living within this house/body.
+In order for a species, or planet, to transmute forms without destruction of the previous form, it must be inhabited by an advanced consciousness that can communicate with its higher expressions of SELF, as well as the cellular consciousness of the transmuting form. Most of you do not remember that you volunteered for this adventure, but knowing that you were brave enough to choose this challenge gives you great “power-within.”
+Gaia's planet, Her animals, plants, elements and fourth dimensional Elementals are all waiting for the very diverse, and often wounded, population of humanity to transmute into their higher expression. However, just as you would not transplant a tree into a larger pot when it was "sick," a human who is wounded cannot be transplanted into a higher frequency body. Transmutation best occurs when your foundation is strong, your body strong and your conscious expanded.
+Therefore, we recommend that your first job is to heal your body, mind and emotions. This healing will be ongoing as you adjust to higher and higher frequencies of form. As soon as you adapt to one frequency of form the bar is raised and you will be called upon to adjust to even a higher frequency.
+Since the highest frequency of multidimensional light is unconditional love, and unconditional love is the healing force of the multiverse, this higher light heals as it transmutes. Thus, as you cells are healed and transmuted, you become increasingly aware that you are not just your body. YOU are a great multidimensional body that has extended its lowest frequency into a physical body on Gaia to assist with Her process of planetary ascension. You will assist Gaia by ascending your physical AGAIN!
+Yes, you are Ascended Masters in human bodies who have volunteered to assist dear Gaia. As you remember your higher, ascended SELF, your higher state of consciousness can open portals of communication with your cellular consciousness. Your cellular consciousness has direct access to the matrix for your body. When your body’s matrix is fully transmuted into the fifth dimension, you will flash point into Lightbody.
+When you, as your multidimensional Ascended SELF, send unconditional love into the cellular consciousness of your earth vessel, you greatly accelerate healing of any wounded areas of your body. In this manner, your physical form can more swiftly transmute into its higher expression of Lightbody. Furthermore, when you, your SELF sends unconditional love into your subconscious self, you free the many perceptions of reality that have been stored in your body’s matrix until your human expression was ready to perceive the higher dimensions of reality.
+The healing of this unconditional love will occur without draining any energy from your third dimensional self. All you need do is to recognize this steady stream of unconditional love from your Multidimensional SELF into your physical self. You can then relax, and the healing will proceed beyond the limitations of time and space.
+We are viewing your process and will happily communicate with any of you who call,The Arcturians
+PLEASE SEE TRANSLATIONS INTO:
+SPANISH
+JAPANESE
+DUTCH
+GREEK
+PORTUGUESE
+Italian
+You are viewing outdated content for BUG. If you have a BUG Y.T. edition or 2.0 series device, please visit our updated wiki:
+Dragonfly SDK Dev Release Notes
+From BUG Wiki
+Summary
+Begining January 2009, the Dragonfly SDK Release notes will be maintained on this wiki page
+Current Production Release - 1.6.1
+Full Version # - 1.6.1.v201005201430_P
+Build on 05/20/2010
+SDK Download Site | SDK Install Guide
+See #1.6_Releases for details.
+Features
+- Incorporates GSM module
+- Improvements to GPS Api
+- Some minor defects addressed
+- Improvements to build and deployment scripts
+Known Issues
+- Mac OS X - There are some minor issues with OS X, see the 1.6.1 details below. Most of the Mac issues are with the physical editor. We are not officially supporting OS X. Dragonfly works well on OS X, just not as well as on Linux.
+-
+- Ubuntu 10.04
+- The Virtual BUG can cause Ubuntu 10.04 to completely lock-up, requiring a reboot.
+Previous Production Release - 1.5.2
+Full Version # - 1.5.2.v200912221442_P
+Build on 12/22/2009
+SDK Download Site | SDK Install Guide
+See #1.5_Releases for details.
+Features
+-
+Previous Production Release - 1.4.1
+Full Version # - 1.4.1.v200909031323_P
+Build on 9/3/2009
+SDK Download Site | SDK Install Guide
+See #1.4_Releases for details.
+This is a minor release that contains new features and an upgrade of Concierge and CTE.
+Features
+- Built for/Compatible with BUG R1.4.2
+- Updated to use latest version (1.0.0) of Concierge
+- Includes the latest version of Concierge tools for eclipse
+- Fix classpath issues when importing a new bundle
+- Fix manifest file parsing
+- New menu entry for automatically adding exports (will automatically update manifest)
+- Visual indicator for all exported packages in package explorer view
+Known Issues
+- Existing defects can be found [
+- This version has been successfully used with the latest version of Eclipse (3.5 Galileo), but it has not been thoroughly tested and so Eclipse 3.4 Ganymede is recommended.
+Previous Production Release - 1.3.3
+Full Version # - 1.3.3.v200905151522_P
+Build on 5/15/2009
+SDK Download Site | SDK Install Guide
+See #1.3_Releases for details.
+Features
+- Build for Eclipse 3.4
+- Added Virtual BUG and Java API support for BUGbee
+- Added Physical BUG view support for Wifi and BUGbee
+- New Console view for connected BUGs (right click in My BUGs view)
+- Build number modifications (using datestamp)
+- Updated documentation
+- Introduction of IDesktopApp
+- Full install launchers created to launch in Dragonfly perspective
+- Works with older BUGs
+- PhoneME javadocs added
+- Help documentation updated to reflect latest look and feel
+Known Issues
+- Existing defects can be found here
+- Open issues and feature requests scheduled for the next release can be found here
+Previous Production Release 1.2.8.1
+Built on 3/13/2009
+Features
+- Improved API support for Von Hippel and Sound APIs
+- Improved BUGnet view
+- Sections layout removed
+- Now appears as one section w/ dropdown to select different filters on applications
+- Search box w/ clear and search buttons added
+- Login indicator text and link at top of view added
+- Download button for each app added
+- Improved build system
+Known Issues
+- When uploading a large app, attempting to do stuff in the My BUGs view will cause the UI to freeze until the app is finished uploading
+- Minor defects, mostly involving OS X and SLP
+- Existing defects can be found here
+- When starting the latest version of the SDK using an old workspace, the BUGnet view may not load and an error dialog may appear. Go to window -> reset perspective to remedy the situation.
+Releases
+1.6 Releases
+1.6 release -
+Version 1.6 adds support for the GSM module and fixes a few minor defects.
+1.6.1
+1.6.1.v201005201114_I Integration Build - May 20, 2010 1.6.1.v201005201146_T Testing Build - May 20, 2010
+Redmine Issues
+- 1267 - Minor Mac issue. Not completely supporting OS X, so not fixing
+- 1266 - Minor Mac issue. Not completely supporting OS X, so not fixing
+- 1265 - Minor Mac issue. Not completely supporting OS X, so not fixing
+- 1216 - Added 3G module as "GSM" module
+Known Issues
+- There are some known issues on the Mac (see Redmine Issues 1265, 1266, 1267)
+- See 1.6.0 Known Issues below for more
+1.6.0
+- 1.6.0.v201005061827_I Integration Build - 6 May 2010
+- 1.6.0.v201005061834_T Testing Build - 6 May 2010
+Redmine Issues
+- 1216 - GSM module added, API and graphics for SDK and Emulator
+- 1101 - Fixed Virtual BUG launch from New BUG Project Wizard
+- 1094 - Ensured VB Sensor Module XML matches real module
+- 1088 - Now only prints that message when not running on VBUG. This error has no impact because UAM does not run in VB, due to multiplatform issues.
+- 1053 - Work around is documentation for SDK 1.3 users who are upgrading. See below.
+- 973 - Fixed upload script. Need SSH keys to keep from having to log in repeatedly, but it works.
+Known Issues
+-
+1.5 Releases
+1.5 release -
+1.5.2
+- 1.5.2.v200912161827_T Testing Build - Dec 16, 2009
+- 1.5.2.v200912161800_I Integration Build - Dec 16, 2009
+1.5.2.v200911301821_I Integration Build - Dec 1, 2009
+Release candidate build. All major bugs fixed and features added.
+Redmine Issues
+- 1072 - - Fixed display on PC and MAC issues.
+- 1086 - - sewing now available
+- 1085 - - Fixed copyright date
+- 1084 - - Got new sensor module graphics from Mateo.
+- 1082 - - same as 1072
+- 1051 - - sensor module and API fully added to sdk.
+- 936 - - Added overwrite? dialog on app download
+Other
+- Autodetect improved
+- Refresh button on My Bugs view for when Autodetect no workie so good
+- Query for overwrite when dowloading copy from BUGnet
+- Can upload Java 1.6 apps to BUGnet
+Known Issues
+- Online documentation needs updating
+- Need to hook up API version in manifest w/ BUGnet
+1.5.1
+- 1.5.1.v200911251401_T Testing Build - Nov 24, 2009
+- 1.5.1.v200911251234_I Integration Build - Nov 24, 2009
+Initial QA release of 1.5
+Many new features have been released that depend on BUG r1.4.3.
+-
+Known Issues
+- Autodetect for USB bug doesn't work great, so there is a work-around that only detects the bug on startup.
+- Waiting on Sensor module images for virtual bug
+- Need to hook up API version in manifest w/ BUGnet
+1.4 Releases
+1.4 release -
+1.4.1
+- 1.4.1.v200909031323_P Production Build - Sept 3, 2009
+- 1.4.1.v200908181654_T Testing Build - Aug 18, 2009
+- 1.4.1.v200908181233_I Integration Build - Aug 18, 2009
+Initial QA release of 1.4
+This is basically a minor release that contains a few tiny features and an upgrade of Concierge and CTE.
+- Built for/Compatible with BUG R1.4.2
+- Updated to use latest version (1.0.0) of Concierge
+- Fixes to CTE courtesy of kgilmer
+- Fix classpath issues when importing a new bundle
+- Fix manifest file parsing
+- New menu entry for automatically adding exports (will automatically update manifest)
+- Visual indicator for all exported packages in package explorer view
+Redmine Issues
+- 917 - - errors when opening a closed BUG App resolved.
+- 784 - - always show "Send to BUG" dialog so no accidental uploads
+- 780 - - Additions to launch configuration so a user can choose which workspace apps to launch when launching the virtual BUG.
+140 - - This fix was taken out of this release because it requires R1.4.3
+1.3 Releases
+1.3 release for milestone --
+1.3.3
+- 1.3.3.v200905111235_T Testing Build - May 11, 2009
+- 1.3.3.v200905111225_I Integration Build - May 11, 2009
+- 1.3.3.v200905151522_P Production Build - May 15, 2009
+This is the 1.3 release candidate.
+- Fixed disconnect problems in console feature
+- Cleaned up code and removed debug statements
+Defects Addressed
+- 441 Typing 'headers' in Console view no longer produces error (according to notes, this defect was actually fixed in 1.3.2)
+- 445 Fixed Launch-Dragonfly.command Launcher for MAC. No longer launches existing version of eclipse.
+- 454 Disconnecting a bug while connected to the console doesn't kill the console window.
+- TT #650 - - apps registered as "Library" now show up in SDK
+1.3.2
+- 1.3.2.v200905041331_T Testing Build - May 04, 2009
+- 1.3.2.v200905011624_I Integration Build - May 01, 2009
+- BUGbee support added -- API "mocked out" meaning you can build against it and "run" it in vbug, but it's not actually functional in vbug
+- Updated online documentation, TT 635 -
+- kgilmer's console feature - Right click on real BUG in My BUGs view and select "Show OSGi Console" to see OSGi console in eclipse.
+- kgilmer's IDesktopApp code added, so a dev can create apps that run in AppUI (This feature requires r1.4.1 and above to run on a BUG)
+- Added Launch-Dragonfly clickable scripts to one-click install to launch eclipse in Dragonfly perspective
+- Added BUGbee and Wifi Icons for physical editor
+- New fix for TT 525 -
+Defects Addressed
+- 437 & 440 - Apps being sent to BUG twice -- was calling the UploadToBugJob.schedule twice in a row which created inconsistent behavior. Removed second call
+1.3.1
+- Built on 4/14 - 1.3.1.v200904141739_T (testing build)
+- Built on 4/14 - 1.3.1.v200904141729_I (integration build)
+Testing and integration builds were created
+- Fixed code completion issue - Previously BUG Libraries were not found in code completion while editing Bug Apps.
+- TT #524 - - added wifi to physical BUG
+- TT #525 - - updated help dragonfly help docs
+- TT #521 & 522 - Plugin & one-click install now on Eclipse 3.4.2
+1.3.0
+- Built on 4/2 - v200904021510_I
+- Built on 3/30 - v200903301319_I
+- Built on 3/27 - v200903271627_I
+These are integration builds.
+- Now works with BUG v 1.3
+- Moved to Eclipse 3.4 and have it build.
+- Plug-in still works in 3.3
+- Currently the release number scheme has changed. Not sure if it we will continue this or revert back to previous method.
+- Ken added the javadocs for phoneme, so documentation should appear on roll-over while working on BUG apps
+- Ken added code to allow SDK to work with old (1.3) BUGs
+1.2 Releases
+1.2.8
+- Built on 3/11/2009 - build 0 - stable
+- Built on 3/13/2009 - build 1 - stable
+Revision 8, build 1 is production version. Build 0 is a testing build. Nearly ready for production. Minor fixes and updates including jconnolly's updates to VonHippel --
+Defects Addressed in Public Bugzilla
+- 365 - vbug height on win -- added hack to check height after start of virtual bug and then adjust height if too small
+- 375 - flakiness w/ web services. I've added some ui social engineering stuff to display a dialog and progress bar when someone uploads a big app. This will at least let users know what's going on.
+- 366 - kgilmer addressed, see defect notes.
+- 385 - removed call to window.pack() after adding a module/refreshing vbug view.
+Known Issues
+Some minor open defects, especially regarding SLP and OS X. Will likely address existing defects in 1.3.
+1.2.7
+Built on 2/27/2009 - build 0 stable
+BUG fixes and some minor API changes to match BUG RC1.4.8. A severe bug that showed up in the accidental 1.2.6.7 release where a web service on the vbug was freezing the sdk was fixed, reflected below in kgilmer's changes.
+Here are kgilmer's changes:
+- Changeset 8297: VB GPS module now has position information in SDK
+- Changeset 8295: HTTP server would cause infinite wait to occur, causing SDK to lock up until VB was shutdown.
+Defects Addressed in Public Bugzilla
+- 363 - jconnolly updated the Audio module API for the virtual BUG.
+- 335 - added code so only one error is logged instead of repeated errors
+- 357 - kgilmer Added null check in StatusBar.write() for this condition. Fix is to com.buglabs.bug.menu.
+- 359 - This was related to an invalid ssl certificate on beetle. This will not be an issue on production.
+- 370 - All Browser tabs read BUGnet now no matter what app you click on and no matter where you go after.
+- 368 - Fix to model population code that tries to pass an Integer type to the property sheet
+Known Issues
+There are currently 18 open defects, many of them minor. The less minor defects are mostly mac-related. Also, the wifi module isn't in this SDK build -- see pubzilla defect #369.
+1.2.6
+Built on 2/16/2009 - build 6 stable
+Built on 2/11/2009 - build 2 stable
+- Mostly API fixes. This version is a slight improvement on 1.2.5
+- Fixed the Emulator Camera API to include IModuleLEDController and organized like real BUG Camera API
+- Update of Emulator GPS API - Real BUG API was refactored and these changes match the real BUG.
+- Improvements by kgilmer to the status bar api.
+- Continued minor bug fixes
+Defects Addressed in Public Bugzilla
+- 293 - Added (?i) to the beginning of the filter regexp string to tell java to do a case-insensitive match.
+- 351 - This caused it to fail smoke test. Ken fixed it. Had to do w/ reaching end of sample GPS data and returning null. Now it loops back around.
+- 354 - This has to do w/ module removal being threaded, and the code to update the config runs before the module removal threads are finished, which accounts for it's intermittent behavior.
+- 355 - kgilmer fixed this, see
+Known Issues
+- Same as 1.2.5
+1.2.5
+Built on 2/9/2008
+- Updates to Von Hippel API
+- Addition of new Von Hippel methods that correspond to BUG R1.4.5
+- Sound API Changes
+- com.buglabs.bug.base.IAudioPlayer#play(File file) changed to IAudioPlayer#play(InputStream is)
+- New download to SDK button in BUG Apps
+- Virtual BUG more stable
+- A number of defects addressed
+Defects Addressed in Public Bugzilla
+- 314 - Module icons should appear when they're supposed to more often and not disappear as often. Not perfect, but much better.
+- 315 - Found a big error when shutting down the vbug and made sure unavoidable errors are properly caught. This positively affects 335
+- 335 - Connection errors mostly occur w/ improper shutdown of Virtual BUG -- Defect 315 Addresses these errors.
+- 348 - When clicking the restore button in prefs, the defaults are loaded into form fields. Apply or OK will commit the changes.
+Known Issues
+- Open defects in public bugzilla -- none major.
+- Defect 241 - USB-Connected BUGs do not automatically show up in My BUGs view on a Mac.
+-
+- Spent some time with this but was unable to come up with a solution for now.
+- The work-around is to manually at the BUG connection
+1.2.4
+- Testing Released
+- A number of defects addressed
+defects addressed in public bugzilla
+- 311 - Fixed lcd and accelerometer code - these modules should no longer affect performance.
+- 332 - We moved from the public jslp bundle back to our internal one. To fix this defect with JSLP
+- 331 - DUPLICATE of bug 335
+- 325 - Marking as Cannot Reproduce
+- 324 - This was fixed by refactoring the BUGnet view
+- 323 - The applications by modules section was taken out and replaced by a dropdown, this is no longer an issue.
+- 273 - appears to have been fixed a while ago
+- 248 - assigning to bcruskie
+- 233 - Not an issue - calling it a BUG Application is what we do.
+- 188 - Not a bug. Just error message nit-picking and would require enough custom code to not be worthwhile.
+known issues
+- 5 or 6 open defects in bugzilla still need to be addressed
+- App download button image needs to be replaced. Mateo is on this and the next build will have it.
+- After installing, if you open an old workspace, you still get a "problems restoring workbench" error. See 1.2.3.1 notes.
+1.2.3
+- Testing Release
+- New build system worked out & new BUGnet view working.
+known issues
+- After installing, if you open an old workspace, you'll get a "problems restoring workbench" error because the workspace wants to display the old BUGnet View, which doesn't exist. Close this error and go go Window -> Reset Perspective if you get this error.
+Media Options
+Related
+Guests
+- Agnès Callamardsecretary general of Amnesty International.
+Calls are growing for stricter regulations on the use of surveillance technology after revelations that countries have used the powerful Pegasus spyware against politicians, journalists and activists around the world. The Pegasus software, sold by the Israeli cybersecurity company NSO Group, can secretly infect a mobile phone and harvest its information. While the company touts Pegasus as intended for criminals and terrorists, leaked data suggests the tool is widely abused by governments to go after political opponents and dissidents, according to reporting from The Pegasus Project, an international consortium of 17 media organizations. We feature.”: We begin today’s show with the shocking findings of The Pegasus Project, an international collaboration of 17 media organizations that investigated the Israeli cybersurveillance company NSO Group. The NSO Group manufactures and sells advanced spyware to governments called Pegasus that can secretly infect a mobile phone and harvest its information. The company claims its spyware is meant to target terrorists and criminals, but data leaked to The Pegasus Project suggests several countries use the powerful cyberespionage tool to spy on activists, politicians, dissidents and journalists.
+The consortium analyzed a leaked data set of 50,000 phone numbers that allegedly belong to persons of interest to NSO’s customers. A sample showed dozens of cases of successful and attempted Pegasus infections. The reporting also revealed a massive wave of attacks by NSO Group’s customers on iPhones, potentially affecting thousands of Apple users worldwide. In one of the most shocking findings, The Pegasus Project reported the Israeli government allowed NSO to continue to do business with Saudi Arabia, even after the Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in 2018 in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
+In a minute, we’ll speak with the secretary general of Amnesty International and one of the lead reporters on The Pegasus Project. But first, this is a PBS Frontline report that follows Washington Post reporter Dana Priest, one of the more than 80 journalists working on The Pegasus Project, as she traveled to Turkey and verify if Pegasus had been used to surveil Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz. The report was coordinated by the journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories, with technical support from Amnesty International’s Security Lab.
+NARRATOR: On October 2nd, 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Consulate in Turkey and never came back out. Around the time of his murder, a powerful spyware may have been used to surveil his family.
+REPORTER: Activists, journalists, all are said to have been hacked by spyware developed by the Israeli company called the NSO Group.
+NARRATOR: A consortium of news outlets from around the world, including Frontline, have been investigating the use of the spyware called Pegasus and the Israeli company NSO Group that sells it to foreign governments.
+BILL MARCZAK: The government can see anything on the phone, including pictures, contacts, listening in to calls.
+NARRATOR: As part of the investigation into Pegasus, Washington Post reporter Dana Priest traveled to Istanbul. Working with the journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories, the reporters were given access to 50,000 phone numbers concentrated in countries known to be NSO clients. They included journalists, politicians, human rights activists and Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz. Dana Priest and a producer working for Frontline and Forbidden Stories met with Hatice to verify if her phone had in fact been hacked.
+PRODUCER: What I’m doing is basically a backup. And then, based on this backup, we will look if there is any trace of infection past occurred. What we’re looking for is traces of a software called Pegasus.
+HATICE CENGIZ: I remember the first days after the murder, a lot of times they tried to hack my email. Hmm. And then Gmail was sending to me emails all the time: “Someone tried to open your account,” or something like that.
+DANA PRIEST: The simple ones are like that message. The really sophisticated ones, they don’t need a message. They don’t need you to do anything.
+HATICE CENGIZ: Really?
+DANA PRIEST: Yeah.
+HATICE CENGIZ: But why do people say the iPhone, they’re more safe to — no one can hack or —
+DANA PRIEST: That’s what the iPhone says, the company. But it’s not true. So, the Pegasus software can, if it gets inside — I don’t know if it gets inside every time it tries, but if it gets inside, it can turn your microphone on, so that it can — whoever is doing it can listen to what you’re saying and what other people are saying. But it also can go into your email, your WhatsApp, your contacts, your pictures, your videos, and it can just steal them all, make a copy of everything. And then, you know, our thought is, if it’s doing that against people like you, who are not terrorists or criminals, then why? Part of what we want to show, and what we think we know, what we are discovering and what we’re researching, is, no, they use it against civilians. And why would they want to know what you’re doing?
+HATICE CENGIZ: Yes, it’s my personal life. It’s my secret life. It is not enough to say, “Please, stop, after this murder. Please.” Yeah, it is — it’s horror.
+NARRATOR: After getting backups of both Hatice’s new phone and the one she was using at the time of Khashoggi’s murder, Dana Priest sent them to Amnesty International’s Security Lab for analysis. A few hours later, while on the way back to the airport, she received a call with the results.
+TECHNOLOGY EXPERT: I guess just pretty bad news is never-ending. So, I checked both the uploads. The new one seems clean to me. The old one, however, has some traces. It’s consistent with what we have seen.
+DANA PRIEST: Oh.
+TECHNOLOGY EXPERT: So, on the 6th of October of 2018 seems to have been a first — a first compromise, which was followed by some additional traces on the 9th and then on the 12th, which is obviously, as you know, pretty timely, within the context, obviously.
+DANA PRIEST: Yeah. Wow. She has already been infected, so it’s already happened.
+TECHNOLOGY EXPERT: Yeah.
+DANA PRIEST: So it’s great that you’re finding it.
+TECHNOLOGY EXPERT: Yeah, I don’t think the…
+NARRATOR: There was now proof that Pegasus had been used to target one of the people closest to Jamal Khashoggi around the time of his death. In a statement, NSO Group said its technology was not associated in any way with Khashoggi’s murder. The company said it was on a lifesaving mission, preventing terror attacks and serious crimes. But in addition to Hatice, Frontline, Forbidden Stories and the partner news outlets are investigating the cases of journalists, human rights activists, politicians and others in more than 50 countries who may have been targeted for surveillance.
+AMY GOODMAN: That video report part of an upcoming Frontline documentary, produced with Forbidden Stories, to air on PBS. And that last reporter voice, Dana Priest of The Washington Post, who went to visit Khashoggi’s fiancée in Turkey and found her phone infected.
+For more, we go to London to speak with Dr. Agnès Callamard, the new secretary general of Amnesty International, previously the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. As U.N. special rapporteur, she led an investigation into the murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. She was also director of the Global Freedom of Expression Project at Columbia University.
+Dr. Callamard, welcome to Democracy Now! Congratulations on your new position at Amnesty International. This is explosive information you are releasing right now, Amnesty working with the Forbidden Stories project. Let’s start with the example of Jamal Khashoggi and what this says about what to many may be the first time they’re hearing about this spyware produced by Israel.
+AGNÈS CALLAMARD: Well, what it first shows is what you have highlighted, that contrary to what NSO is claiming, the spyware Pegasus is used to target people absolutely unrelated to criminal activities or terrorism. It is used to target individuals like Hatice, the family or friends of human rights defenders and journalists. It is used to target journalists and human rights defenders. In fact, according to Amnesty International, at least 180 journalists have been targeted.
+I think what the project is showing is the breadth and the scale of the abuse. We already had an element of anecdotal evidence that the spyware had been used to target human rights defenders. What we have with Pegasus Project is actually the demonstration that the misuse of the spyware is systematic, and it is global.
+JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Dr. Callamard, what do we know about the NSO Group, its relationship to the Israeli government? And does it just sell this software and then no longer has connection with it, or does it somehow maintain an ability to monitor what its clients are doing with the software?
+AGNÈS CALLAMARD: OK. So, with regard to the first question, the intelligence industry is, for the government of Israel, a very important industry. It’s a strategic industry. It is also an industry that is supposedly regulated, in that every export by NSO is being licensed by the state of Israel. So, that’s the relationship. There is a relationship at the strategic level, and there is relationship at the regulatory level. So, I think the nature of the relationship is pretty close and pretty deep. So, when we talk about NSO’s failure to act with due diligence, we are also talking about the failure of the government of Israel to abide by its obligation under international law. That is the first issue.
+With regard to NSO relationship to its client, it is actually a pretty close relationship, in that NSO has the capacity to close down, to shut down the spyware and any kind of system it is providing to the client. NSO is claiming that it does not have any oversight over the use of the spyware. And, you know, we don’t know that for sure, but that’s what they are claiming. But they do have a sufficient relationship that they can shut down the system, which is why we are calling on them now, given the evidence being provided, that they shut down every single system in place with all of the clients that have been listed by Amnesty and others over the last few days.
+AMY GOODMAN: This is NSA whistleblower Ed Snowden speaking to The Guardian about spyware sales, he says, needing to be stopped.
+EDWARD SNOWDEN: If you don’t do anything to stop the sale of this technology, it’s not just going to be 50,000 targets. It’s going to be 50 million targets, and it’s going to happen much more quickly than any of us expect. The way we do that is to halt the trade around this technology.
+AMY GOODMAN: Dr. Agnès Callamard, would you go that far?
+AGNÈS CALLAMARD: Absolutely, absolutely. So, Amnesty International, as well as, in fact, when I was a special rapporteur, I did the same, are calling for a moratorium over the use and the export of that intelligence spywares and that industry, more generally, that needs to be more heavily regulated. We are calling for a moratorium because we believe that in the current conditions and environment, it is impossible to properly monitor how it is going to be used, therefore the only option is for a moratorium over its sale and its export.
+The other point I want to make, following on the journalist that you just interviewed, is that, indeed, that spyware is a weapon. This is the only way we need to look at it. It is a weapon against democracy. It is a weapon against human rights. It is a weapon against freedom of the press, against scrutiny of government. It is a weapon against the justice and fair trial, as we are seeing in Turkey. And it is used extraterritorially, meaning that the government of a country, such as Morocco, can use that spyware to target people on the territory of another country. That goes against every dimension of international law, and certainly against the U.N. Charter. So we are talking here about a pretty bad thing.
+AMY GOODMAN: So, you mentioned Morocco, and I wanted to talk about the Moroccan court yesterday sentencing the independent journalist Omar Radi to six years in prison, arrested last year on what press freedom advocates called “retaliatory charges.” For years Omar has been targeted by Moroccan authorities for his reporting on corruption and human rights. And last year, your organization, Dr. Callamard, Amnesty International, revealed Moroccan authorities had hacked his phone using Pegasus spyware from the Israeli company NSO Group. I spoke to Radi last year, just weeks before he was arrested. Moroccan journalist Omar Radi, again, just yesterday, sentenced to six years in prison. Soon after we spoke last year, he was imprisoned. Dr. Agnès Callamard, if you can comment on this case?
+AGNÈS CALLAMARD: You know, I mean, of course, what we are — what you are describing right now is an incredible miscarriage of justice. But it is also demonstrating how harmful — if we needed to, how harmful that spyware is. It is of course a violation of, let’s say, the right to privacy. But when it is being used, it is the beginning to — it has a domino effect on a range of other violations.
+In the case of Omar Radi, that spying, through the spyware, led to his imprisonment, led to his arbitrary detention. In other cases, even though the causal relationship is of course difficult to establish — in other cases, there are someone such as the Mexican journalist Cecilio Pineda being compromised with his phone, and a couple of days later, he is being murdered. We cannot make the causal relationship between the compromise and the murder, but surely the suspicion is there, as it is in the case of Omar, that the spying and the use of the spyware led to his arbitrary detention, and that led to this unlawful imprisonment.
+It is an extremely harmful tool at the hand of governments that will do anything to protect themselves — and not just, by the way, of the usual suspect. In the list of countries that have used the spyware, we found Hungary. We found India. Of course, we found Morocco, but we also found Azerbaijan, Mexico. Mexico, more than 20 journalists have been targeted through the spyware. India, more than 40 journalists have been targeted.
+JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Dr. Callamard, I wanted to ask you about a remarkable coincidence, it seems. The very day that these revelations come forward from this international consortium, the United States government suddenly announces that it has found that China was hacking into Microsoft email, and they marshaled condemnation from other governments around the world — an investigation that was going on for months. And also, they suddenly unsealed indictments that occurred back in May of some Chinese hackers. As a result, last night in the national news, a lot of the attention was on China’s hacking, not so much on the revelations that your consortium has unearthed here. Your sense — how does this compare to some of the stuff that supposedly is happening that China is involved in?
+AGNÈS CALLAMARD: Look, we have focused on the privatization of spying and intelligence through a focus on NSO. We know that the surveillance industry is very powerful, and it is completely unregulated. So, that is something that must remain on the international agenda. It does not mean that spying by government is not as crucially important. Of course it is. It may fall under a different form of regulation. I have not followed closely enough the allegations against China and Microsoft. I will say that the overall surveillance world is one that is out of control. It is the Far West. Whether it is powered by a government or powered by a private company, it is equally dangerous for — frankly, for global peace and for democracy. And it must be — it must be scrutinized, and it must be regulated. You know, I can’t comment really on the motivation of the U.S. government and whether they were trying to derail a little bit the focus on NSO. I don’t know whether they did it. My point is that there is an overall world here that we need to control and need to really regulate.
+AMY GOODMAN: Dr. Agnès Callamard is our guest, secretary general of Amnesty International. We’re going to break, come back with her, and we’ll be joined by Nina Lakhani, senior reporter at The Guardian, one of the 17 media organizations who are part of The Pegasus Project. She specifically looked at the Mexican journalist Dr. Callamard just mentioned who was murdered, and also looks at others who are surveilled as targets for potential hacking by NSO’s clients. Stay with us.
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+* The information contained in this guide is not a substitute for the paralegal’s own research, analysis and judgment. The Law Society of Ontario does not provide substantive legal advice or opinions.
+Introduction to the Guide
+Active or Open Client Files
+Closed Client Files
+Outstanding Undertakings, Trust Conditions, Obligations, Reporting to the Client
+Client Funds, Accounting, Books and Records
+Other Client Property
+Special Appointments and Obligations
+Office Premises, Equipment, Employees and Public Notice
+Notice to the Law Society of Ontario
+Notice to Professional Liability Insurer
+Practice Closure or Transfer Due to Illness, Disability or Death
+Appendices
+Appendix 1 - Sample Notices
+Appendix 2 - Active File Tracking Chart
+Appendix 3 - Letter to Client Advising or Practice Closure or Transfer
+Appendix 4 - Clause in Letter Re: Client Funds, Documents or Property in Trust
+Appendix 5 -Direction to Transfer Client File, Funds, or Other Property
+Appendix 6 -Client Request for File, Funds or Other Property
+Appendix 7 -Client Acknowledgement of Receipt of Files, Funds or Other Property
+Appendix 8 -Transfer Memo to File or New Legal Representative
+Appendix 9 -Closed File Tracking Chart
+Appendix 10 -Reporting Letter to Client: Matter Complete
+Appendix 11 -Reporting Letter to Client: Matter not Complete
+Appendix 12 -Office Inventory Checklist
+Appendix 13 -Office List of Contacts
+Appendix 14 -Letter to Service Provider or Supplier
+Appendix 15 -Letter to Law Society of Ontario
+Appendix 16 -Letter to Professional Liability Insurer
+Appendix 17 -Letter from Replacement Paralegal or Lawyer to Client
+Appendix 18 -Letter from Replacement Paralegal or Lawyer to Law Society and Professional Liability Insurer
+List of Resources
+There are many circumstances in which you or those acting on your behalf may have to deal with the transfer or closing of your practice: the sale of a practice, a change in career, joining a firm, appointment to a board or tribunal,. Paralegals often underestimate the time and effort required to effectively conclude a legal services practice. Failure to properly plan or prepare for both anticipated and unexpected departures from your practice may expose your clients to significant damages or prejudice, and subject colleagues or family members to financial and emotional stresses associated with the transfer or closing process.
+This Guide to Closing Your Paralegal Practice was created to help you plan for and fulfill professional conduct responsibilities when transferring or closing a legal services practice. Whether the decision to conclude your practice has been made or you are planning ahead for such time, this Guide outlines the various issues that you will need to address. These may include transferring active or open files; custody or destruction of closed files; maintaining firm books and records; satisfying outstanding undertakings and honouring all trust conditions and ongoing obligations; addressing accounting and filing requirements; handling client property; dealing appropriately with personnel and office matters; and satisfying all change of status notice requirements.
+The Guide is divided into sections that deal with the different aspects of closing or transferring a legal services practice, some of which may not apply to all practices or in all situations. Each section provides a brief overview, a checklist, and references to relevant articles and sample documents. All sample documents should be reviewed and, if needed, modified appropriately for your individual use. Where relevant, links and/or contact information for outside organizations have been included, which are accurate at the date listed on this Guide. may need to transfer to another lawyer or to the client. Often, in the event of an unexpected practice closure, all active and ongoing files may need to be transferred elsewhere.
+You should prioritize by initially working on matters that can be completed promptly. If you will no longer be providing legal services at all, paralegal or lawyer, or are closing your practice to join a firm, you may advise clients of the new contact information for the individual purchasing or taking over your practice but, ultimately, the choice of legal representative rests with the client. If you are transferring active files to another paralegal or lawyer, the paralegal or lawyer receiving the file must check for conflicts to ensure they do not have a disqualifying conflict of interest as outlined in Rule 3.04 of the Paralegal Rules of Conduct or Section 3.4 of the lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct.
+If you have outstanding client matters that will not be completed before the closure of your practice, you are effectively withdrawing from representation and must comply with Rule 3.08 of the Paralegal Rules of Conduct. A paralegal may only withdraw service if there is good cause and on reasonable notice to the client.
+Paralegals leaving or closing a practice are often unsure of what to do with closed client files. Determining what to do with closed files will depend on who owns the file or, more accurately, who owns the documents stored in the closed file.
+Ideally, paralegals paralegal. These may include copies of original client documents, copies of draft and final agreements, the paralegal’s personal notes, copies of correspondence (including e-mails, memos or notes relating to client communications), all of which are kept for the paralegal’s benefit and at the paralegal paralegal’s discretion and depends on a number of factors, such as the limitation period for actions against paralegals, the nature of the original matter, and the outcome. For issues to consider see the Law Society’s Guide to Retention and Destruction of Closed Client Files for Paralegals.
+If you not have followed the recommended procedure and a closed file contains documents that belong to or are the property of a client or former client, you have an obligation to preserve these in accordance with By-Law 9 and Rule 3.07 of the Paralegal Rules of Conduct. You must deliver the documents to the client (or to his or her direction), continue to preserve the documents (either personally or by transferring to another paralegal or lawyer) and, in some cases, you may decide to return the entire closed file to your client. Prior to transferring a closed file to another legal representative Paralegal’s Copies of Documents
+Destruction of Closed Files
+Retention of Closed Files
+Transfer of Closed Files to Another Paralegal or Lawyer
+Delivery of Closed Files to Client
+Rule 2.02 of the Paralegal Rules of Conduct states that a paralegal must fulfill every undertaking given and honour every trust condition once accepted. It further provides that the person receiving the undertaking is entitled to expect that the paralegal giving the undertaking will honour it personally, unless the undertaking clearly indicated otherwise at the time it was given. Likewise, trust conditions are obligations on the accepting paralegal that the paralegal must honour personally.
+As such, all undertakings, trust conditions or ongoing obligations must be satisfied before your practice is closed or transferred to another paralegal or lawyer. If this is not possible or practical, you must advise the client and the successor paralegal or lawyer of the nature of the undertaking or obligation. You must determine whether the successor legal representative will honour your given undertaking or obligation, whether you must satisfy these, or whether you may be relieved from strict compliance by the person to whom you gave the undertaking, the trust condition or to whom you owe the obligation. or original client documents.
+Rule 3.07 of the Paralegal Rules of Conduct provides that a paralegal has the obligation to safeguard all client property, including money, as a careful prudent owner would. Where funds are being held on the client’s behalf, the paralegal must also comply with the money handling and bookkeeping requirements of By-Law 9. Upon ceasing to provide legal services, Ontario for continued safekeeping, in accordance with By-Law 10. Your obligations to maintain certain records, financial and otherwise, will continue after you close or transfer your practice. You must continue to comply with the Law Society’s By-Laws and other legislation relating to your firm’s records.
+Client Funds
+Trust Accounts
+General Accounts
+Collecting Accounts Receivable
+Books and Records
+As with client funds, upon ceasing to provide legal services a paralegal must return to the client (or per the client’s direction) any other client property that may be in the paralegal’s custody. Such property may include items of value or original client documents, paralegal to hold original client documents and items in trust after initial services have been completed for the client, ideally, client funds and valuable property held in trust should be returned to the client as soon as the paralegal has completed the services he or she was retained to provide.
+A paralegal who has been appointed to or has taken on a role that is in addition to the provision of legal services may have special obligations that do not necessarily end with the closure or transfer of the legal services practice. Such special obligations or considerations may arise where you have been named as an estate trustee of a will or attorney under a power of attorney, where you have been appointed as a corporate director, notary public, or commissioner for taking affidavits.
+Estate Trustee or Attorney Under Power of Attorney
+Director of Corporation
+Commissioner For Taking Affidavits, Notary Public
+Public Notice
+It is likely that closing or transferring your practice will result in a change of your status with the Law Society of Ontario. Notice of the closure or transfer and your changing status must be provided to the Law Society and should be given as far in advance as possible to ensure that your records are accurate and, where you are no longer providing legal services at all, your annual fees may be adjusted.
+There are special considerations where you cease to provide legal services because you have been appointed to a board or tribunal, or you intend to apply to surrender your licence to provide legal services or to apply for an exemption from further Law Society fees and filings. There are other considerations if you later wish to return to the provision of legal services. For more information regarding these, refer to the Law Society’s Status Changes and Fees, Filings, Insurance pages online.
+Also, if your practice is a limited liability partnership, you provide legal services through a professional corporation or you do so in connection with non-licensees, there may be additional Law Society reports or notices required. These are in addition to any legally required notices or reports. To discuss any additional Law Society requirement related to the business structure of your practice, contact the By-Law Administration Services department via the Resource Centre at 416-947-3315 or toll-free at 1-800-668-7380 extension 3315.
+Change in Status
+Appointment to Board or Tribunal
+Surrender of Licence to Provide Legal Services
+Exemption From Annual Fees and Filings
+Additional Notices
+Because closing or transferring your practice is also likely to result in a change to your insurance coverage requirements, notice of the closure or transfer must be provided to your chosen professional liability insurer, and should be done as soon as possible to ensure appropriate and seamless coverage. Contact your professional liability insurer directly for all inquiries regarding professional liability insurance matters.
+A paralegal’s duty of competent representation includes safeguarding client interests in the event of his or her death, disability, impairment, or incapacity. Ideally, as a sole practitioner or a paralegal in a small firm you should make arrangements for a replacement paralegal or lawyer to step into your practice in the event that you are unable to continue. All critical information regarding client matters and the operation of your practice should be stored in a location that can be easily and efficiently accessed so that your replacement paralegal or lawyer can continue, close or transfer your practice on your behalf. Ideally, such preparations for the unexpected should be made shortly after you open your legal services practice or firm.
+However, in the event that you are consulting this Guide because you have been asked to assist in managing or concluding the practice of a paralegal that has not put such contingency plans in place, review the Checklist for the Replacement Paralegal Who Takes Over The Paralegal Practice of Another Paralegal in The Contingency Planning Guide for Paralegals and consider the information outlined below. For guidance, contact the Law Society’s Trustee Services department at 416-947-3315 or toll-free 1-800-668-7380 extension 3315.
+List of Resources
+The Bookkeeping Guide for Paralegals
+The Contingency Planning Guide for Paralegals
+Client Service and Communication Guideline
+File Management Guideline
+Financial Management Guideline
+Guide to Retention and Destruction of Closed Client Files for Paralegals
+Trustee Services
+Unclaimed Trust Fund
+Canada Revenue Agency
+Employment and Social Development Canada
+Law Society of Ontario
+Law Society of Ontario 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3315 or 416-947-3315
+Unclaimed Trust Funds 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3312 or 416-947-3300 ext. 3312
+Law Society Act
+Paralegal Rules of Conduct
+By-Laws made pursuant to Law Society Act
+By-Law 4: Licensing
+By-Law 5: Annual Fee
+By-Law 7: Business Entities
+By-Law 7.1: Operational Obligations and Responsibilities
+By-Law 9: Financial Transactions and Records
+By-Law 10: Unclaimed Trust Funds
+Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act
+Notaries Act
+Income Tax Act (Canada)
+Substitute Decisions Act, 1992
+Application for Exemption from the Requirement to Pay the Annual Fee and to Submit the Paralegal Annual Report (under By-Law 5 & 8)
+Application for Permission to Surrender a Certificate of Authorization (under Part II of By-Law 7)
+Application for Surrender of Licence to Provide Legal Services (under By-Law 4)
+Report on Opening or Closing a Trust Account
+Notice of Change of Information
+Unclaimed Trust Fund Programme, Licensee Application Form
+Look at His adorable face.
+Look at His glazed and sunken eyes.
+Look at His wounds.
+Look Jesus in the Face.
+There, you will see how He loves us.
+~ St. Therese of Lisieux
+Look at His glazed and sunken eyes.
+Look at His wounds.
+Look Jesus in the Face.
+There, you will see how He loves us.
+~ St. Therese of Lisieux
+Preparation:
+- Getting Ready for Lent (2009)
+- A Few of Our Lenten Activities (2010)
+Lenten Calendar:
+- Our Lenten Calendar (2008 Calendar with Explanation and 2009 Calendar)
+(I'm sure this year's calendar will be similar to our past Calendars, at my children's request. . . After 7 years, it is officially our family's tradition!)
+Shrove Tuesday:
+Ash Wednesday:
+- Receive ashes at Mass
+- Serve Ash Wednesday Beans
+Prayer for Ash Wednesday.
+- From the Jesse Tree to the Jesus Tree
+- The Jesus Tree - A Lenten Bible Study
+- The Jesus Tree - Week One
+- The Jesus Tree - Week Two
+- The Jesus Tree - Week Three
+- The Jesus Tree - Week Four
+- The Jesus Tree - Week Five
+- The Jesus Tree - Week Six
+- The Jesus Tree - Week Seven
+The Jesus Tree kit can currently be purchased from Leaflet Missal.
+I've started updating any links that are no longer valid, and adding some additional links to new coloring pages (to go along with the symbols and our readings from the New Catholic Picture Bible
+Stations of the Cross:
+- Coloring the Stations of the Cross (This year I printed the coloring pages found here and here.)
+- Here is the link to a printable version of the wonderful old Stations of the Cross booklet for Children that I remember using as a child. (Thank you Jenn!)
+Crown of Thorns:
+- Crafting our Stations of the Cross (2011 - In Progress)
+- Way of the Holy Cross (2011 - Completed)
+- More Treasures for Lent and Easter (Jesse Tree Treasures Stations of the Cross)
+- Inspired by Waltzing Matilda
+Lent Lap Book:
+- Lent: a Journey Towards Easter Faith Folder from Faith Folders for Catholics
+Last Supper Puzzle:
+Lenten Cleaning:
+- Spring Cleaning ~ The Goal (2008)
+- Lenten Cleaning (2009)
+- 40 Bags of Stuff (2009)
+- 40 Bags in 40 Days and Update (2010)
+- Shaking off the Bonds of Stuff :: A 40-Day Plan for Lent (2012)
+Meatless Meals for Days of Abstinence:
+(Information on Fast & Abstinence)
+Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent):
+- Mothering Sunday (2008)
+- Laetare Sunday (2009)
+- Happy Laetare Sunday! (2011)
+Palm Sunday:
+- Palm Sunday (2008)
+- A Simple Craft for Holy Week and Easter
+- Shower of Photos 2009 : Day 5 (Palm Sunday) ("Palm" of Palms Craft)
+- Palm Sunday (2010)
+- On Palm Sunday (2011)
+View all posts for Palm Sunday.
+Holy Thursday:
+- A Lenten Tea on Holy Thursday (2009)
+- A Lenten Tea on Holy Thursday (2010)
+- A Lenten Dinner on Holy Thursday (2011)
+- Our 4th Annual Lenten Dinner on Holy Thursday (2012)
+View all posts for Holy Thursday.
+Good Friday:
+- A Lenten Tea on Good Friday (2009)
+- Resurrection Eggs (2009)
+- A Few Pictures from Good Friday (2010)
+- On Good Friday (Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified)
+- A Lenten Tea on Good Friday (2010)
+- A Lenten Dinner on Good Friday (2011)
+- Our 4th Annual Lenten Dinner on Good Friday (2012)
+View all posts for Good Friday.
+Holy Saturday:
+- Easter Story Cookies ~ Resurrection Cookies (Recipe)
+- Making Resurrection Cookies (2010)
+- Resurrection Rolls
+View all posts for Holy Saturday.
+Our Picture Books for Lent:
+For my older children:
+Praying the Way of the Cross:
+Other Great Books/Resources:
+What I will be reading this Lent:
+, from his Sunday remarks before praying the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on February 21, 2010
+~ Pope Benedict XVI, from his Sunday remarks before praying the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on February 21, 2010
+wonderful source of inspiration. thanks for taking the time to put this together.
+i will definitely be referring back to this.
+AMDG
+Thank you, thank you Jessica. Your blog is such a tremendous help to this Catholic homeschooling mother.
+I'm definitely bookmarking this. God love you.
+Thank you so much for putting this all together, Jessica! May you be blessed for your effort in bringing others closer to our Lord. I'm honored to call you friend.
+Did you end up getting your own copy of In Conversation with God, Vol. 2? If not, I have an extra copy now. It would be no trouble for me to send it out to you. Just let me know.
+Thank you so much Jessica! I really appreciate all your help and ideas! God bless your family this Lent.
+Jessica...thank you so much for putting this together. Your such an inspiration.
+Thank you very much for getting all this info together!
+I've definitely bookmarked this post!!
+Just an fyi:
+The Jesus Tree Kit is out of stock at Leaflet Missal, and I have not yet been able to find another source for it. Do any of your readers have another source? Thanks!
+Thanks for all the great links! Lent is sneaking up on me fast! Also thank you for the heads up about the ipieta. I am downloading it now!
+Thank you Jessica! I have been in dire need of some ideas for making Lent more meaningful for my children. Can you tell me more about the sacrifice beans?
+Many, many thanks for this, Jessica. Last year I made all the symbols for the Jesse Tree, but not the actual tree. I picked up the felt for the tree this year, but now am wondering--how do you attach your symbols to the tree? I can't quite tell in any of your photos.
+Lori, I never had success finding the kit even after watching for several months last year, which is why I undertook just buying the needed felt and making my own based on Jessica's photos (I actually made three of everything and gave the others to godchildren as gifts). It's time-consuming, but worth it (and I'm sure time-consuming even with the kit)!
+-Kelly
+Kelly,
+Thank you for your info - sigh. :-)
+I'm afraid I'll do that as well. Great idea making multiples - I'll have to do that for my grandkids as well, but only one set this year!! I'd better get going on it...
+Lori ~ I sent an email to Jodi (Scripture Trees) asking if they are available currently available anywhere, and I haven't heard back yet. I know back in 2009 they stopped selling the kits directly and were only selling them through a contract with Leaflet Missal.
+It is nice to have the patterns and the felt all in one kit, but it could easily be made without them. It does take time, but that would be the case with or without the kit.
+Kelly ~ Our banner is also made from felt, so the felt pieces stick to it pretty easily - though they will fall off it someone brushes up against the banner, for example.
+Mrs. White ~ Last year our children placed a black bean in a jar for each sacrifice they made during Lent. On Easter Morning they found that all the Beans had been replaced with Jelly Beans. (You can see a picture here.)
+Thank you for all of your posts. I'd be lost without you! Also, thanks for sharing your source for the Jesus Tree. I was able to call Leaflet on Friday (2/25/11) and order over the kit on the phone even though online it sated out-of-stock.
+Yes, I just heard back from Jodi at Scripture Trees. . . She did say that they no longer sell their products directly and that Leaflet Missal is the place to purchase the kit for the Jesus Tree. She also said that they shouldn't be out of stock for long, because they keep reordering more from them frequently.
+She also said that "Anytime they order from us, we deliver more kits within a day or so. I think the issue that comes into play is that they receive the product in their warehouse but don't enter them into their system right away. I always suggest that people call Leaflet's toll-free number if their website says they are out of stock."
+I hope that helps! :)
+Don't know if you have read the Advent books Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage and such, but there is a Lenten book now called Amon's Adventure.
+Just wanted to let everyone know... Leaflet Missal has the Jesus Tree Kits marked as in stock on their website. I just ordered one. Also, buy.com has a great price on the New Catholic Picture Bible ($6.63 before shipping)!
+Katie
+Jessica,
+Thank you so much for the Jesus tree readings and picture. It's too late to order the kit for Lent, so I used what I had here to make the ornaments and banner. I just finished it today - and hung up the banner so that we are ready to go next week. I am sure this is a tradition that my youngest child will come to love and appreciate. And I am sure the older ones will benefit, too!
+God Bless,
+Jennifer
+PS - I've posted a picture on my blog with a link and shout out back to you - - thanks, again!
+Hi Jessica, I can't remember if I've seen it on your blog or not but I'm looking for a downloading Lenten Bingo Game. Any idea where I could find it?
+No, the only Bingo Game I've made is the All Saints Bingo. Is that what you are remembering?
+I promised something momentous. You wanted it to be a major publishing contract. You may have wanted it to be an appearance on a talk show.
+Maybe you wanted it to be my first squash harvest of the season.
+Well, I did just harvest some zucchini, so that’s something.
+The truth of the matter is that it’s none of those things. However, what I wanted to talk (write) about is very related to my writing career.
+No, I’m not giving up. Nothing of the sort.
+You see, I’ve been thinking about myself as a writer, the kinds of things I write, the kind of writing I can do well, the kind of writing I still am not at all good at—meaning novels.
+Anytime I consider myself in this way, my main thought is not very helpful: I feel lazy, unfocused and undetermined.
+By the way, here’s the song I’m listening to right now:
+Now I have had people tell me that they think I work really hard, that I get a lot done.. and so on. The truth is that I feel like I’m pulling the wool over people’s eyes. I see the minutes in each day that has passed and I feel like too many precious minutes have been burned on the altar of fiddling around. I feel like a procrastinator, a lollygagger, a directionless oaf, and… a bum.
+I’ve changed my career from being an educator, quit a master’s program (although I have to add that when I have the Spirit with me, I feel like that was not a mistake), and have tried to support a family of five kids as a freelance writer.
+All of this adds up to regular, considerable doubt and a lot of hits on what used to be a pretty invulnerable self-esteem.
+By the way: here’s the current song:
+So am I a writer? Is this really the right way for me to go? I mean, this is a pretty serious question, considering I have a large family that seems to constantly be eating and that we have a rather tiny house. No, seriously. Should I have some other full time job and try to fit in story and novel writing on the side, like so many of my heroes, colleagues and friends? Stephen King made it work. Sanderson, Jordan, Salvatore: they all did it.
+But then, how many didn’t do it? How many have had the dream and had it fizzle? And how many of those did all they could, had talent, but circumstances simply never allowed success?
+These are the types of questions that slap that self-esteem around.
+Let me describe how freelancing works, in case there are readers who are not familiar with that particular world.
+You are constantly fishing for clients. Usually clients who advertise their needs have attached a budget. You want to charge your usual rate, but you really need the work, so you go for it. The job takes a little longer than you expect, mainly because there is always a learning curve with each individual client, their industry and the style/tone they are looking for.
+But the time you put in is immaterial to them, and they are the people paying you. They are paying you for what you produce, say $10 or $15 per article. You had planned on doing about 1 ½ pieces per hour, hoping to thus approximate your usual rate.
+That didn’t work out. You’re not getting compensated for how long and thoroughly you research a subject. You’re not getting paid for the time you spent finding the exactly right tone, style or source material. You’re ONLY getting paid for the pieces you send on and they approve.
+To clarify: you are only employed when you get paid. You only get paid when you send off a project. You don’t get paid for your time. So you try to compress the amount of time you spend doing a project in order to increase your hourly rate. Because $12/hour sucks if you have a BA, a graduate certificate, are 35 years old and have a family and a mortgage.
+Current song:
+But I freaking love it. I love being able to turn out great copy, meld key words into marketing articles, teach people about gardening, asset tracking, personal finance, air compressors or whatever else I write about.
+That’s not all. I’m damn good at a lot of what I write. SEO articles—somehow I have mastered the art and while it can get a little old, I love the comments I get from my clients and I like being paid for doing something I enjoyed quite a lot. I’m also pretty good with my personal finance articles, although there is still a pretty steep learning curve in some areas. And I totally get off on writing about politics and gardening. An odd combo yes. But are you surprised?
+In any case, I’ve certainly been forced to learn the business very quickly. Considering that I’ve only been freelancing full time for about two years, I have to say it’s gone miraculously well.
+Let me provide some details of recent miracles.
+I currently write SEO articles for Clearlink, a SLC based communications marketing company. I like the people at that company a lot, love their dynamic, and think they are really going in a very exciting direction. They have said I can write as much as I want; they will pay me for each article.
+I’m exploring going to work full-time for them.
+I also write passages for the English Language Center at BYU—yes, that is where I used to work as a teacher. These passages are on academic topics and are actually pretty fun too. They are non-fiction. I get paid per hour, which is really nice, except that the rate is just over half of my normal fee.
+I’m doing some editing/proofreading for some professors working on a manuscript as well.
+Current song:
+I’ve also taken a temporary, very part-time teaching position with a local ESL school. It pays very well, but the trade-off is that it is cutting into my time on my family’s trip to Alaska. That’s okay, but I’m sad to miss two weeks of Eden (Alaska).
+So the work situation is busy and compensatory. It’s still tight; I still have to be producing at every moment that I’m working, unlike how it works at a regular job.
+But things have turned and I absolutely see it as a miracle.
+And remember, you can Google: Jared Garrett and at least 9 of the first 10 organic results are me.
+Current song:
+Anyway, so that’s basically an update on the writing career. In my good moments, I know this is the right place for me, the right work for me, the right direction for my career. I still fear for my family sometimes, but I know Heavenly Father has ratified this direction and He tells me not to fear.
+Incidentally, I’m still planning on starting school in the Fall. Instructional Psychology and Technology.
+Now for that momentous thing. You see that word up there that is underlined, bolded, italicized and large? By my calculations, that is my 1,000,000th career word. Why is this significant?
+John D. McDonald once said that you had to write a million words before you knew what you were doing. I got this from Elmore Leonard’s blog:
+Current song:
+Do I know what I’m doing?
+Almost.
+Granted, the point of that statement was really to say that you need to write a million words in your style and genre of choice in order to really have an idea of what you want your writing to sound like. And granted, I write in a lot of different mediums and for a lot of different purposes and audiences. So this will probably apply better when I hit my million fiction words, but I think it’s a nice milestone.
+So what does this mean for me as a writer? What can I be doing more or better as a writer?
+Current song:
+Here are my goals:
+1. Do a little rewriting of The Cabin every day. Even if it’s just for five minutes.
+2. Read good writing. Right now I’m reading some McCullough and poetry by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Gonna move to other modern classics as I go.
+3. Take writing classes. Hopefully for free. If this doesn’t work, I’ll read books on writing. I have to learn this art.
+4. Schedule my days so I don’t have to stay up until all hours to finish projects. Ambition seeps out as fatigue sets in.
+5. Full-time work. My family comes first.
+That’s all for now.
+Or not.
+This journey has been ridiculous at times. I haven’t felt my heart jitter so often ever before in my life. As I was writing The Cabin, I actually felt something moving through me that filled me with exhilarated, painful, fearful wonder.
+I want to write good. I want to write well. I want to tell stories that will move, that will inspire, that will make people think. But the me that I am right now seems to not have enough deep thought going on to qualify as a writer who inspires others to deep thought.
+I have to change that.
+Current song:
+The sum of my existence is not to be a bum who just barely squeaks by each month, my family feeling the stress of my laziness. But I don’t reach past each moment enough. I don’t look far enough forward with my minutes and hours.
+I have to change that. Tomorrow I’ll be there.
+Okay, maybe not. But I will not settle into lame existence as often. I will lengthen my stride. I will create good. I will write Good and will inspire Good.
+I want to welcome the good in my life by filling myself full of it. There is so much out there to live, to experience and to write. I will be patiently impatient. Writers, I know you get exactly what I mean by that.
+Current song:
+And I won’t fear going deep. I think I have to work on that a lot.
+That’s it for now.
+I will continue to seize the dream. You do it too.
+I will continue to seize the dream. You do it too.
+Yay! You're the best. Congratulations on your millionth word. That's a huge accomplishment. Lets organize another writers lunch soon. I'll contact the others. Keep up the good work. I've never thought you were a bum. You're more productive than anybody I know.
+Hi Jared;
+Remember that writing is a calling. All the prophets were writers. Maybe prophecies were given to others, but those prophecies never were taught to anyone else unless they were written. I too feel like my calling in life is writing, and through some near death experiences it has been more true, even though I have not even broke even on the costs of stamps, paper, computer, typewriter, etc etc. to do the job. I also have had hundreds of published magazine articles, under the genre of inspirational/humorous. I lived in Logan for 20 years and worked from that Idyllic vallely setting. I started 8 books, then got ADD and lost the ability to organize a book. My brother is now published, after writing a natural medicine encyclopedia for 11 years. I have OFTEN wondered what I would do if I was expected to be the sole breadwinner as well as being called to be a writer. That's a hard thing to do. Eventually, I did become the major breadwinner to get my husband through school. Inspirational writing only pays in copies of magazines, and that's my forte and gift, so I went and did other jobs for those years and wrote on the side. I will be following you! A fellow writer, guided by the spirit! CHOOSE THE RIGHT…is a hard call many times.
+Blessings,
+Sheila
+Kristi, thanks. No seriously. Thanks for your support. It means a lot.
+Bluebirdy, it's so great to be amongst like-minded folks who see God in all. Stop by again!
+Dude! Congrats on the millionth word!! How did you keep track to know when that precise word would be?! That is so amazing. I follow your Twitter updates and am amazed at all you get done in a day. You are not a bum, you are a working machine! You totally need your own domain, though. I would love to host it for you in trade for writing. Keep up the good work!
+Read full article on original website
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+The Ten Secrets Of Medjugorje
+Song: “Ten Days” by Celine Dion
+***
+OUR LADY OF MEDJUGORJE
+Also see this blog page:
+The First Secret of Medjugorje is Not the Illumination of Conscience (The Warning of Garabandal)
+LOCUTIONS TO THE WORLD
+THE TEN SECRETS OF MEDJUGORJE.
+February 1, 2012
+“Revealing the Future of the World (at Medjugorje)”
+MARY 8, 2012
+“The Secrets of Medjugorje”..
+***.
+Click the links below for more information:
+The Ten Secrets Of Medjugorje
+Overview Of Ten Secrets
+Visionaries Insights Into Ten Secrets
+Third Secret – The Lasting Sign
+Parchment Of Ten Secrets
+Priest Who Will Reveal Ten Secrets
+Summary Of Ten Secrets
+***
+_2<<
+Click below for a free downloadable PDF and WordDoc_3<<
+Click below for a free downloadable PDF, ODT, and WordDoc copy (13 pages) of this commentary:
+Secrets and Chastisements – Tilting the Earth’s Axis and Fire from Heaven (PDF)
+Secrets and Chastisements – Tilting the Earth’s Axis and Fire from Heaven (ODT)
+Secrets and Chastisements – Tilting the Earth’s Axis and Fire from Heaven (WordDoc)
+***
+SECRETS AND CHASTISEMENTS –
+TILTING THE EARTH’S AXIS AND FIRE FROM HEAVEN
+By a soul
+(Feast of Our Lady of the Place, October 3, 2017)
+Recently, a blog follower asked me if God will tilt the earth before the Great Warning (Illumination of Conscience) happens. She asked me as part of a few questions that she had about the Book of Truth (Maria Divine Mercy) as she was trying to discern some videos she came across. So, I want to answer her question and address some things about the chastisements and the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje in this commentary. Because many people may have similar questions. I also want to speak briefly about another question that was asked of me about the Abomination of Desolation.
+Now, I have never claimed perfect discernment. I am not infallible and I never will be. I have had some mystical experiences, but I have also experienced serious spiritual warfare. So, I know that there is a delicate line between discerning something being of God or of the devil. And since I am not perfect, I have to figure out things just like everybody else. So, taking that into account, I hope that readers of this commentary will give me the benefit of the doubt.
+Recently, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, revealed to Prophet John Leary (), that the apostasy of the Catholic Church starts before the Great Warning happens. Jesus clearly says this fact in the 2017 messages of September 11th and 12th ; and also, this is a known fact since Garabandal (see blog posting: News – Garabandal Insights – The Warning is preceded by an “event” in the Catholic Church,). Although, I will be honest and say that I had personally hoped that the schism would take place after the Great Warning happens and not begin before it. However, although Our Lord indicates that the apostasy happens beforehand, I will be honest and also say that I do not know until what extreme point the schism will be taken to. Mainly, I do not know if the Abomination of Desolation takes place before or after the Great Warning happens.
+However, based on what I know, I believe that the Abomination of Desolation will happen after the Great Warning. I could be wrong, but I say this based on what was revealed to me about the antichrist by St. Gabriel the Archangel in January 2017 while I was undergoing major spiritual warfare. I wrote a summary of facts about the antichrist in this lengthy commentary:
+Exposing Satan’s Evil Agenda – Part One – The Antichrist
+And so, based on what I know, the Real Presence of the Holy Eucharist is the only thing that is preventing the antichrist from fully entering the Catholic Church. I also know that the antichrist does not fully reveal himself until after the Great Warning takes place. So, I am taking an “educated guess” by saying that the Abomination of Desolation does not happen until after the Great Warning. Meanwhile, individual churches or dioceses or Bishop conferences may make changes to the consecration prayers for the Holy Eucharist before the Great Warning, but I do not think the Abomination of Desolation fully takes hold universally in the Catholic Church until after the Great Warning. In the Book of Truth, Jesus specifically says that the Great Warning is merely the first event and will take place to help fight the great apostasy:
+Tuesday, January 20th, 2015 @ 20:40
+“My dearly beloved daughter, when the Warning takes place this will be the first stage of the preparation for My Second Coming…”
+“The Warning will help the world to fight the greatest apostasy of all time…”
+Meanwhile, I want to talk a little more about the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje and the Secrets of Garabandal. In January 2017, when St. Gabriel the Archangel was revealing certain heavenly things to me, he told me very specific things. I was told in much detail what the Great Miracle and Great Sign of Garabandal are. However, I was not told everything about the Miracle and the Sign and I did not receive a vision so I do not know all the mystical aspects, etc. I was also told in a very limited way about the Sign of Medjugorje (Third Secret) and its connection to Fatima and Garabandal, but again, I did not receive a vision, so I know only a little about the Sign at Medjugorje. Finally, it was revealed to me that the Great Chastisement of Garabandal and the Tenth Secret of Medjugorje are the same event and it involves the Three Days of Darkness, which has been prophesied by many saints throughout the ages.
+Beyond those revelations, I was not told what any of the rest of the Chastisements are or the dates of any of the Ten Secrets. The main thing that was revealed to me by St. Gabriel was the “sequence” for the unveiling of the Secrets, which I explained in this Easter 2017 writing:
+After The Great Warning – Understanding Fatima, Garabandal, And Medjugorje
+Now, I have to say that when all these Secrets were being revealed to me, I was shocked. Because I never thought in my wildest imagination that such knowledge would be given to me. I am a nobody—I am a “virtual” hermit and beyond my parish priest, I know nobody of significance in the Catholic Church. Although I love the Blessed Mother very much, I still have a hard time praying Her Most Holy Rosary, as I usually spend my prayer-time singing songs off-key to God. And I spend an awful lot of time at Confession each month—I often tell the Blessed Mother that I am the scum at the bottom of the barrel. So, if anyone reading this writing is wondering why these things were revealed to me by God, I do not know. Meanwhile, I am grateful to God for the blessing and His unfathomable Love; and I am thankful that I can help others through these writings.
+And so, these Secrets of Heaven were revealed to me, including the sequence of the “unveiling” of the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje and Secrets of Garabandal. And truly, when the sequence was told to me by St. Gabriel, I knew that either this knowledge was of God or I was dealing with the devil, because no human being is that intelligent, clever, or sophisticated to think in this way. Truly, these thoughts were coming from a superior being and are not my own because I could never think in this way—I am simply not that smart.
+There are currently three visionaries that have received all Ten Secrets from Our Lady of Medjugorje and three remaining who only know Nine Secrets. Some of the Secrets appear to be different between the visionaries, but all have both the Third Secret (the Sign) and the Tenth Secret in common. Those seem to be the same among them all. Finally, the visionary, Mirjana, has been entrusted with revealing all Ten Secrets on certain dates only known to her through a priest of her choosing.
+Now, most people who follow Medjugorje believe that the three remaining visionaries will receive the Tenth Secret one at a time with intervals of time between them—similar to how the first three visionaries received their Tenth Secret gradually and then stopped having daily apparitions. Also, most people who follow Medjugorje believe that the Ten Secrets will be revealed in numerical order.
+However, what St. Gabriel revealed to me in January completely flips this conventional thinking on its head. As I revealed in my Easter writing, the last three visionaries will receive the Tenth Secret during the Great Warning. Also, during the Great Warning, all six visionaries of Medjugorje and Conchita, the visionary of Garabandal, will all experience the Tenth Secret/Great Chastisement as it is truly viewed in the Holy Eyes of God. Then, Our Lady will permit Mirjana to reveal the contents of the Tenth Secret, but not the date to the world, along with the other Medjugorje visionaries, and Conchita of Garabandal. God expects all seven visionaries to testify to the world about the Great Chastisement (Three Days of Darkness) so it can be hopefully mitigated and most ideally, averted by conversion of the entire world.
+Now, I addressed this question in the Easter writing, but I want to repeat it here. Some people might question whether the Tenth Secret is the Three Days of Darkness, as the visionaries have denied this fact. The Tenth Secret is indeed the Three Days of Darkness. The reason that the visionaries deny this fact is because they are seeing the vision of the Tenth Secret in daylight and not in absolute darkness. Also, God has held back certain supernatural terrors of the Three Days of Darkness in the visions.. The Great Chastisement is the gates of hell completely open on earth during Three Days of absolute Darkness while all natural laws of the universe are suspended. It will be a very intense experience for the visionaries, because their senses will be heightened while in their spiritual bodies, and as I said in my Easter commentary, they need much intercessory prayer to prepare them for the shocking experience.
+Also, people might be wondering why the Medjugorje visionaries have mostly different Secrets between them. The reason was to prevent satan from figuring out the Divine Plan. satan did not know what the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje are or the sequence for their unveiling, as it was hidden from him by God. satan also did not know what the Great Miracle or the Great Sign of Garabandal are. And because these things were kept hidden from him, satan has had limited opportunities to prepare for the unveiling of the Secrets. However, in January, when St. Gabriel revealed these limited facts about Medjugorje and Garabandal to me, satan finally found out what they are and it has infuriated him, especially, knowledge of the Great Miracle and Great Sign, because he has no counter-attack prepared for them. Also, satan did not know that God was going to have the visionaries reveal the Tenth Secret first after the Great Warning. So, this fact has also infuriated him and panicked all of hell.
+Now, let me finally address the question of a fellow blog follower. Will God tilt the axis of the earth before or after the Great Warning? Although I do not claim perfect discernment, I believe that God will tilt the axis of the earth after and not before the Great Warning. I actually believe that the tilting of the earth’s axis, as well as the other chastisement mentioned in the Book of Truth—fire upon 1/3 of the earth—are two separate Secrets of the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje. I do not know the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje, so I do not know all the Chastisements, but it is simple enough and logical enough to deduce that the tilting of the earth’s axis and fire upon 1/3 of the earth are at least part of the Secrets.
+Firstly, it is very characteristic of Our Heavenly Father that He warns His children before He chastises them. Our Heavenly Father has revealed in the Book of Truth that He will warn His children about accepting Babylon—an abomination created in hell—by tilting the earth. However, the creation of Babylon only becomes possible after the Great Warning, because the antichrist does not reveal himself until after the Warning takes place. Then, once revealed, the antichrist collaborates with the false prophet the creation of Babylon—a humanitarian initiative that joins governments, economies, and religions into one global partnership. In the Book of Truth, Our Heavenly Father says this:
+Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 @ 18:50
+“When this [Babylon].”
+Again, I do not have any insider information on what all the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje are, but it simply makes sense that God would reveal by warning His children in advance His intentions to tilt the axis of the Earth. I mean, Noah warned the ancient world while he was building the ark about the forthcoming worldwide Flood, Moses warned Pharaoh before the Ten Plagues, etc. Sacred Scripture is filled with many examples after examples of warnings by the prophets for the people before any chastisements. So, it makes more sense for God to warn His children than not to warn them in advance of something so major like tilting the earth’s axis. It fits God’s character and His nature as a loving father. It also makes more sense to warn rather than, just tilting the earth’s axis and not explaining or making any causal connection between the chastisement and the sin (abomination of Babylon). Likewise, a warning before inflicting fire upon 1/3 of the earth, etc., also makes sense.
+Finally, the two paragraphs that I quoted above from the Book of Truth also seem to support that some of the Secrets of Medjugorje involve the tilting of the earth’s axis, etc. Our Heavenly Father speaks about “warning” His children about Babylon, as well as giving “great signs.” Also, in the Book of Truth. the Blessed Mother speaks about “great signs” when referring to the Miracles (Ten Secrets of Medjugorje) that will take place during a three year span of time. Specifically, She mentions Miracles such as the “movement of the earth,” etc.
+Thursday, June 19th, 2014 @ 13:48
+…”
+In conclusion, I want to say that the chastisements in the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje have been mitigated by prayer. Knowing this is a true blessing. In Fall 2015, when I wrote a commentary about the failed prophecy of worldwide economic collapse, I said that it was such a blessing that prayers had been answered. Many people took the experience negatively—disbelieving in prophecy—instead of being happy that the economy did not collapse when all the signs of the times were saying otherwise.
+Failed Prophecy – Economic Collapse – Believing In Locutions To The World
+Well, I wrote in the same commentary how great it would be if the Ten Secrets of Medjugorje were failed prophecies, because it would mean that prayer worked and many lives would have been saved. I do not know how much of the Ten Secrets have been mitigated, but Jesus tells us in the Book of Truth, that many disasters have been averted. So, that is a good thing. Here is the quote.
+Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 @ 22:00
+…”
+God bless!
+REFERENCE:
+Prophet John Leary.”
+THE BOOK OF TRUTH
+(Maria Divine Mercy)
+“Doubts make you stronger in your love for Me”
+Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 @ 22:00
+“Mother of Salvation: These Miracles will happen over a period of three years”
+Thursday, June 19th, 2014 @ 13:48
+“The Warning will help the world to fight the greatest apostasy of all time”
+Tuesday, January 20th, 2015 @ 20:40
+My dearly beloved daughter, when the Warning takes place this will be the first stage of the preparation for My Second Coming. Those who will not accept Me will be given an extraordinary chance to take time to ponder upon the Truth, such is the extent of My Great Mercy.
+Please wait for this Day with great joy for it will fulfil their glorious future.
+While the Warning will ignite the faith of the faithful and convert many, there will be a great number of people, including priests and senior members of the clergy, who will deny it took place. They will lead many away from Me and for that they will be judged harshly. The Illumination of Conscience will bring with it a great outpouring of love from those whose names are contained in the Book of Life. These are the people – and they include many unbelievers – who will convert and who will fight to save their brothers and sisters.
+My Time will be used to draw towards Me those who do not know Me at all, but who will still come to Me, when they witness this great event. They will know Me instantly and will respond in the way that they know best.
+All of these events will come soon and, when the prophecies given to man from the beginning unfold, they will make perfect sense. Many of the prophecies given in the Book of Revelation were written in a way so that people would understand them through the use of symbols. The reality is different, but know this. The Intervention by Me will change the world forever. After that those who are for Me and who love Me, will help Me to bring Eternal Life to billions.
+YOUR JESUS
+Marshall County football players who 'took bullets' now are playing for the victims
+Three football players talk about what their first game means after the trio survived being shot in the January 23 Marshall County High shooting. Matt Stone, Louisville Courier Journal
+BENTON, Ky. — Minutes before Friday night's season opener, Tyler Stevenson stepped to the front of a crowded Marshall County High School football locker room.
+The senior's booming voice reverberated off the walls and cut through the silence.
+"Nobody really understands what we have gone through in the past six months," Stevenson said. "We have three people in this locker room right now that took bullets on this campus. ... They’re standing here right now. Play for them."
+Those players — juniors Devon Evans, Dalton Keeling and Gage Smock — were scattered at different ends of the locker room and didn't flinch despite the reminder of what they went through on Jan. 23.
+They were in the commons area of the high school when gunfire erupted before the morning bell. By the time it was over, they were among the 14 students who were injured.
+Their friends, Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, had been killed. Another student, Gabe Parker, was arrested.
+Back in the locker room, Stevenson continued.
+"If you don’t play for Preston and Bailey tonight, then you ain’t playing for nothing," he said. "We have spilled blood, sweat and tears on this freaking campus. And it is time you take it to somebody else."
+The latest: As Marshall County preps for school, suspected shooter appears in court
+The Marshals jumped out of their seats and hurried out of the suddenly raucous locker room and under a doorway to the exit that featured the sign, "MC Pride."
+The players circled around their captains underneath the south-end goalpost and broke the huddle with "Marshall Strong."
+In front of thousands of friends, family and classmates, they headed out of an inflatable tunnel and onto the field.
+♦ ♦ ♦
+Keeling remembers the sound of the gunshots, but then his memory gets fuzzy.
+He knows he was standing in a crowd with Evans, Smock, Cope and Holt. The next thing he remembers was just trying to make it to an exit.
+“I just kind of froze," said Keeling, now 17. "I couldn’t really do anything. I was like, 'Is this real?'"
+As he was running, he noticed he was out of breath. He lifted up his shirt and found he had been shot through the chest. The bullet exited through his back and shattered his ribs.
+He was rushed to a hospital, where he stayed for three days. There, he was overcome with emotion.
+"Just seeing somebody do that to us when we didn’t do nothing to him, there’s a lot of anger," Keeling said on Friday.
+He returned to school about two weeks later. He said it helped with the healing process, but it hasn't helped the recurring memories of the shooting.
+"It’s something that is burnt into my brain," he said. "You got to learn how to grow and overcome it, but it’ll always be there."
+♦ ♦ ♦
+A bullet entered one side of Smock's face and exited the other, shattering his jaw. He was taken to a Nashville hospital, where his jaw was wired shut for six weeks.
+Confined to a liquid diet, he lost 30 pounds. He stayed home from school the remainder of the semester while he recovered both emotionally and physically.
+Cope was a good friend and his baseball teammate, but Holt was his girlfriend. They had been dating for eight months.
+His favorite memories with her were hanging out after school and watching old movies, like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and the National Lampoon series. He loved her sense of humor.
+Marshall Co. teacher: NRA leader's visit after school shooting 'callous'
+"I miss her a lot," said Smock, 16. "That’s what's really has bothered me the most."
+He said the shooting made him grow up faster than he needed to and caused him to look at the world differently.
+"You appreciate more things in life and you notice more things that you didn’t notice before, like things you took for granted before," he said. "Like just being able to drive, being able to see, being able to be with family.”
+♦ ♦ ♦
+The bullet that struck Evans exited his left arm.
+He was taken by a teacher to a classroom, where they stayed until authorities cleared the commons.
+As he left the school, they told him to his close eyes. He didn't listen.
+"I saw everything that was out there," said Evans, 16.
+The doctors told him he wouldn't regain feeling in his arm for three months.
+But just days later, he was in the weight room working out with the football team. And he was back at school the first chance he could get.
+"You’ve got to get on with life and show everyone that no matter what you can always push past it," he said, also acknowledging that he's always been hard-headed.
+On his left biceps, he's in the process of finishing a tattoo to commemorate the shooting. It features Bailey and Preston walking up the stairway to heaven. There's a clock with the time of the shooting; it's being shattered by his shooting scar.
+He acknowledged nothing is ever going to be the same. But he said the best thing you can do is just show you're OK.
+"We’ve had a lot of curveballs thrown at us in life, but no matter what, you can always step up to the plate and show them what you got to go out with," Devon said.
+♦ ♦ ♦
+The school year started last Thursday and brought a few changes — metal detectors, a ban on backpacks and an increased presence of student-resource officers.
+It also brought another update: the commons area is closed off, part of a renovation that was planned before the shooting and will be done by the end of the 2019 year.
+On Friday, Marshall County Superintendent Trent Lovett remembered how he and high school principal Patricia Greer were concerned whether the students would go back into the area when school reopened after the shooting.
+When they arrived that morning, they were greeted by the students in their same spots. So they decided to join them.
+"Ms. Greer and I would go and try to stand in the area where the shooter stood," Lovett said. "If they turned around to see anything, I wanted them to see a friendly face. We did that for the rest of the year.”
+Lovett said the school is reaching what he called "a new normal." And he's been mostly impressed by the students, who he called "very, very resilient."
+Related: Gov. Matt Bevin blames school shootings on phones, psychotropic drugs
+“You will never forget what happened. That will be with them the rest of their lives," he said. "It’s going to be with all of us the rest of our lives."
+When asked to describe the community, the Marshall County native responded with "utopia" and "tight-knit."
+"Support has always been unbelievable but even more so after the event occurred in January," he said. “We may bicker among ourselves, but if you’re an outsider, you better not bicker with us because we’re going to have each other’s back.”
+♦ ♦ ♦
+In Marshall County, sports have played a role in the quest to move on from the tragedy.
+Football coach Evan Merrick said since the shooting, fans have filled up every sporting event from basketball to soccer to baseball.
+"People were craving to get out and establish some type of normalcy," said Merrick, who is in his fifth season as head coach. "That was a big thing for us."
+He labeled the Friday night game as "another step toward healing."
+And then he turned his attention to Evans, Keeling and Smock.
+'Don't forget about us': Marshall County sheriff meets with Trump on school safety
+He remembered the moment they grew close, during a practice at the end of the eighth grade, the spring before they tried out for the high school team. They wore jersey numbers 51, 52 and 53.
+They've been best friends since.
+"They got a great dynamic amongst them three, and they mesh really well in our locker room," Merrick said. "They’ve been a big part of what’s helped us push forward this offseason and have been leaders for us and leaders for our school."
+♦ ♦ ♦
+In the hours leading up to Friday's game, Keeling said he was looking forward to finally releasing all the anger he pent-up after the shooting.
+"I’m not as mad as I was when I was laying in the hospital bed," said Keeling, an offensive lineman. "All the anger, yes, is still there, but I can control it all. ... It’s going to be a good night."
+He sat in the locker room alongside a scooter-bound Evans, a running back who broke his ankle during a scrimmage the previous week. An opponent landed on his leg while he was fighting for extra yards.
+He picked a purple cast for his ankle – Holt's favorite color. When he plays in his first game, he's going to wear Cope's baseball number – No. 5.
+The doctor told him it would take up to six weeks to return, but he planned on being on the practice field Monday.
+"I got to get back out here," he said.
+Meanwhile, Smock received welcome news Wednesday. He was cleared to play his spot on the offensive line.
+When asked what he was most looking forward to about the season, he said playing for the entire Marshall County community.
+"This whole entire county was a victim, really, cause everybody is so tight together. Everybody has kids that go to school," Smock said. "I just think that this year if we do really good, it’d be so awesome."
+♦ ♦ ♦
+In a county of roughly 31,000 people, at least one-sixth filled into the stadium Friday night for the Marshals' season opener against the Fort Campbell Falcons.
+On the humid night, the Marshals used a pair of long touchdowns from Stevenson to take an early lead. After each touchdown, loud booms ripped through cheers, chants, and screams of the crowd — fireworks.
+More: Marshall County, other 'fed up' Kentucky students fill Capitol's steps to call for change
+Keeling started at right guard and played on the defensive line. When he was on the sideline, he stood next to Smock and Evans, who both didn't get into the game.
+They joked around with their teammates as the Marshals held the Falcons scoreless in the second half en route to a 34-12 win, avenging a season-opening loss to Fort Campbell last season.
+After the post-game handshakes and a larger fireworks show, the Marshals returned to the south end zone and took a knee.
+Merrick addressed the team and pointed out that they were 1-0 for the first time since 2012.
+"Set the tone," Merrick said. "That's what we wanted.".
+Jabra Elite 65e REVIEW Surprisingly comfortable in ear earphones
+When it comes to portable sound, I have two requirements, comfort and comfort. It does not matter how good a pair of in-ear headphones sounds if you feel like someone roundhouse kicked you in the ear during or after their use. The Jabra Elite 65e surpassed this requirement and surprised me with their features. The Jabra Elite 65e earphones arrived in an attractive 6 7/8 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches tall by 2 3/4 inches thick retail package. Instead of bland packaging, Jabra chose to focus upon and enhance the entire consumer experience. The grey/pewter cover served as a wonderful backdrop for the centered picturesque Jabra headphones. The yellow text beneath the image shone brightly against the darker background, as did the yellow rectangle along the top left. The etched “ELITE” towards the bottom right was a nice touch, providing an enjoyable tactile feel. The cover promised that the around-the-neck style headphones used 3-microphone technology, provided ANC with up to 8 hours battery life (13 hours with ANC off), and were “engineered for superior wireless calls and music with professional-grade ANC.” Rotating the packaging ninety degrees clockwise, Jabra continued the etched silver text on grey background theme, announcing “Exceptional Engineering and Superior Sound For 145 Years.” The opposite side displayed a useful side view of the earphones, the ear hook accessories, and the oval ear tips. The back of the packaging provided a pleasant glimpse of the ear tips and listed six icons detailing the product features: 3-microphone technology, Customize your music, Active Noise Cancelling, 2-year dust and water resistance warranty, up to 8-hour battery life with ANC and Voice Assistant enabled.
+To access the internal components, slide the outer case upward and separate the inner yellow box from the outer shell. Once the inner yellow box was separated, the innermost grey box slid out easily. Inside of the box, Jabra did a great job at displaying the headphones. Resting atop a grey thin plastic shell, I found the 1.83 ounce earphones. Beneath the tray, Jabra included an accessory packet with multiple sets of ear hooks, small and large ear tips, a short 12.5 inches long USB-A to USB-micro cable, a 37-page multi-lingual instruction manual and a 6 1/2 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches tall neoprene carry bag. The manual was laid out by language, with English from pages 1–5, French from pages 5–9, Spanish from pages 9–13 and Portuguese from pages 13–17. The manual was very limited but essentially unnecessary if you have ever used a pair of Bluetooth headphones. If you orient the headphones so that the buttons are upward and the around-the-neck portion is draped over your neck, you will find three buttons on the right arm and two buttons on the left arm. To activate/Connect the headphones, simply press and hold the central (open) multi-function button (MFB) along the right arm for 3 seconds. The manual stated that the LED will turn blue and that there will be voice prompts to follow. Pressing the MFB will lead to a short jingle/vibration followed by a female voice stating “To connect, go to the Bluetooth menu on your mobile device and select the Jabra product from the list.” When you navigate to Settings and select Jabra Elite 65e, you will hear “Mobile Device Connected.” Setup was simply that easy. I was impressed with the quality of the vocal cues and with the clarity of the assistant. Now if only they could get Paul Bettany to be my vocal assistant! The second page of the manual displayed the method to attach and customize the ear tips and the ear wings to your particular ears. The third page was the most useful, providing a schematic diagram of the earphones.
+On the left arm, you will find two buttons, one for mute/Siri activation and one for ANC/Hear through. If you press the ANC button once, the microphones on the headphones will listen to the outside world, and the device will create an opposing signal to block outside noises. This may cause momentary disorientation, as you will feel a pressure difference in your ears. I have used active noise canceling headphones previously and did not notice the pressure problem with the Jabra earphones. If you hold the ANC/Hear Through button, it will change modes to pass through mode. This will allow you to hear your surroundings without taking off your headset. I have tested numerous headphones and used both of these features, but I was shocked to find both on this pair of headphones. The versatility of eliminating the outside noise or passing it through to your ears was outstanding and should be industry standard, in my opinion. On the right arm, you will find three buttons for volume up/track skip, Multi-function button, and volume down/skip track. The button spacing was perfect, and the short-press volume control proved to be very responsive. Located 3 1/4 inches from the right arm and 3 inches from the right ear tip, you will find the 1 3/4 inches long by 1/4 inches wide microphone. The layout of the earphones proved to be ideal, placing the microphone near your mouth. Instead of the tunnel effect observed when testing numerous other headphones, my wife noted that the sounds were rather clear and better than she expected. The microphone also allowed for voice controls even in noisier environments. With the ability to charge the headphones in two hours and a magnetic zone on the back of each of the ear tips to hold the headphones at rest, the Jabra Elite have become my absolute favorite around-the-neck style earphones.
+The ear tips and wings that came installed felt a little big for me and I chose to change them out for the next size down. I was pleased that the ear wings and tips were both interchangeable. I ultimately chose the small tips and wings as the best fit for my ear/ear canal. The oval tips seem to fit much better into my ears than the round silicone/rubber/foam that come with some other brands of earphones. I was very pleased with the fit and overall it was quite comfortable. I suspect that nearly everyone should be able to find a comfortable fit with small, medium and large tips. The around-the-neck plastic core rested upon my neck and did not heat up. I did notice that my neck seemed to sweat a little, just at the point where the plastic rested upon it. While I was riding my bike, jogging on the treadmill and working around my yard, I found that the around-the-neck component moved much less if tucked into my shirt collar. I did not experience the ear tips falling out of my ears with any activity. One of my favorite features was not even mentioned in the instruction manual. Instead of having to push the MFB button on the earphones or going to get your smartphone, you can touch the magnetic backs of the headphones together. This decreased the chance that the device would fall of my neck and also paused the song, the audible book or the movie. When you remove the magnets, the device will not automatically restart the last played track. At first, I thought that this was negative but then I realized that you would miss sections of songs/books/movies as you were trying to replace the ear tips. Thus, I figured that Jabra openly chose this as a feature.
+To test the sound of the Jabra Elite 65e, I turned to my favorite music testing site, audiocheck.net. Using the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10–200 Hz), I was pleased to hear the deep rumble at 20Hz. Using the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22–8 kHz), I was able to hear sound at 16 kHz. For the novice, the upper range of hearing is more dependent on your ability to hear than the speaker. Since we lose upper range first, most adults will be able to hear from the 14–15 kHz range but this will drop to 12–13 kHz by age 50. Using the Left/Right Stereo Audio Test, I found that the channels were appropriately programmed. To test the bass of my earphones, I used Holly Cole “Train Song,” “Bright Lights Bigger City” Cee Lo Green, “Hotel California by the Eagles and I watched the opening sequence to Star Wars Episode 3, Attack of the Clones. Another track that I found, from a variety of web pages, was “Acid Rain” by Lorn. A Verge article best described the track as a “shovel stabbing deep into hard dirt. It’s quick, deep, penetrating, and almost physical.” I love this song and I imagine it as someone swinging a sledge hammer against the ground. I enjoy the opening bass line of “Train Song” and the sultry feel of the song. The earphones provided their bass by creating a seal with your ear canal. The bass was good to above average but not the best that I have heard. Regardless, the experience was worth more than the ~$150 price tag of the earphones. To evaluate the upper/mid sounds, I used the soundtracks from Far and Away, Braveheart and Gladiator. To test the sound Stage, I used Bob Marley “Turn Your Lights Down Low.” and multiple options from Yosi Horikawa “Wandering.”
+To personalize your experience, you can download the Jabra Sound+ App from the app store. You can edit your call preferences, increase the bass or treble and turn on/off sidetone, which will allow you to hear your own voice in the headset or not. You can activate/deactivate the headset audio prompts, and you can activate/deactivate vibration signals. The earphones provided some very useful audible cues during testing. I found that I could watch movies on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix and listen to music on Pandora, Amazon Prime Music, and Apple Music for multiple hours without issue. I did not notice a lag between the audio and visual playback using Amazon Prime Video and was impressed that there was minimal lag when watching YouTube. I did notice, although very rarely, an abnormal high pitched digital sin-wave sound. I noticed this a few times during a phone call and others while listening to some music. Each time it resolved after changing songs or turning off/on the device. After I updated the device with the app, this did not happen again. I was pleased with the battery life, being able to use the device for most of a day without the need to charge. The ability to get 8–13 hours (ANC on-off) off of a single 2-hour charge was outstanding. I found that I could charge the device overnight, without fear that they would run out of power. I did not like that the device did not seem to have an auto-off feature. Luckily, the standby mode seemed to use minimal power.
+I had to remind myself multiple that I was reviewing the earphones and not just pleasure watching/listening. I really enjoyed this pair of around-the-neck earphones from Jabra.
+Learn more about the Jabra Elite 65E earphones.
+Follow Jabra on Facebook and Twitter.
+Related
+Originally published at macsources.com on June 18, 2018.
+Confessions of a Cheating Disabled Athlete
+I never thought it would be possible for me to feel athletic, but soon I realized I loved to win.
+Illustration by Eleanor Doughty
+I have 15 gold medals for swimming. I used to think this was because I am a good swimmer. Now I think it might be because I was competing against people with no arms or legs.
+I was born missing my left hand just below the elbow. The medical term for this condition is that I am a "congenital amputee," but everyone usually only hears the "genital" part and gets confused and thinks I have no vagina. So let's make this simple and just say that I have one hand.
+I was never that interested in sports, not because of my arm, but because I just didn't like them. I was more interested in reading, but most of my classmates were heavily into sports. I felt like a loser in that sense. I did, however, enjoy swimming, which is why my mom wanted me to try to get more involved in it. We didn't have a pool, so there weren't many places that I could swim. Until I found out about the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged through an amputee support group I was a part of.
+Read more: Urine Luck: Woman Who Pees 30 Times a Day Tries Pee-Proof Panties
+The Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged was a three-day, Olympics-esque event on Long Island for disabled children to participate in various physical activities. I didn't have to try out. I just showed up, on a warm day in June, to a large open field. The DJ was playing "We Like to Party."
+I signed in and was greeted by many kids around my age with varying disabilities. We had a barbecue, were given the choice between a burger or hotdog plus a bag of chips, and were told about the events we could sign up for. I signed up for just about every event I could—swimming, running, shot put, you name it. Like I said, I actually really hated sports, but my mom encouraged me to try everything. When we were given T-shirts and told how amazing we were, I thought I could end up having a good time.
+"Watch out for this girl! I can tell she's a toughie," one of the able-bodied volunteers said to me as I balanced my plate on my stump.
+Me? A toughie?
+"Can't wait to see what you've got!"
+I was starting to get into it.
+In some ways, we all wear our trauma or insecurity on our sleeves, but this can be especially true of people with disabilities. Most people wouldn't go up to someone and ask, "Hey, what happened to you in that horrific accident when you were 6?" But when you are asking a disabled person, "What happened?" you could very well be asking that. It is like people think we owe them a narrative to satisfy their curiosity.
+Outside of the games, I'd have to answer the same question. "What happened to your arm?" I used to say something corny like, "God made me this way," but after a while, I needed to spice it up a bit.
+You might assume I would look at an able-bodied synchronized swimmer and wish I had a left hand, but I was really thinking about how thin she was.
+"What happened to your arm?"
+"I got hungry."
+"What happened to your arm?"
+"Disease. Be careful, it's contagious." (Proceed to rub arm in questioner's face.)
+"What happened to your arm?"
+"...what? OH... MY...GOD. WHERE IS IT? IT WAS JUST HERE!"
+One of the reasons I liked the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged so much is because no one ever asked what happened. We all had a mutual understanding of each other, and for three days, we all looked the same as everyone else. We were the normal ones; the able-bodied spectators, they were the weirdos.
+The first event I participated in was a foot race. I didn't win the race—I had never been much of a runner—but the adrenaline it gave me was intoxicating. I soon began to think about where I might be able to get a gold medal, and I thought I had a shot at swimming. I had always loved the water; I felt less self-conscious—more nimble, more free.
+After all the competitions on the ground, the games moved to the pools at Nassau Community College. The buildings seemed enormous to me. I figured we were in New York City. These games must be really important, I thought.
+Read more: Making a Successful Indie Film with My Brothers Was a Total Nightmare
+I competed in freestyle and backstroke, and won. The crowd cheered, and two shiny gold medals were slipped over my head. I had never been congratulated for my physical abilities—my intellect, yes, but never my agility. I felt particularly affirmed, like I was just like all the other, normal kids at my school. Better: I was like a jock. I did this with my body, I thought. I won these medals with my strength.
+In between races, there was entertainment. The college where the games were held at had a synchronized swimming team. I sat next to my mom, in a big T-shirt over my bathing suit, my goggles hitched up on my forehead, and watched the water ballerinas. Digested them. Memorized their routines. Memorized the curves of their bodies, the symmetry of their limbs, the hardness of their nipples, the sparkles on their swimsuits. I didn't have language for it yet, but I already had begun to establish a hatred for my fat, graceless body in an orange one-piece from JC Penney. You might assume I would look at an able-bodied synchronized swimmer and wish I had a left hand, but I was really thinking about how thin she was and how big her boobs were. I was looking at her thinking the same things that all insecure girls look at women and think. Did I want to do her or be her?
+Screengrab via Vimeo
+After freestyle and backstroke came breaststroke. I was nervous about this race because I hated breaststroke. Apparently everyone else hated it, too, because only one other person signed up for the race. I got into the water, felt the invigorating itch of chlorine, and turned to size up my opponent. She was pretty and small, wearing a swim cap and blue bathing suit, and being helped into the pool by a mobility device. I don't know what disability she had, but she was allowed to use a boogie board, and an aid was in the water with her. My dad stood in the pool next to me. I didn't really need him there, but the rules stated that all competitors needed a supervisor—every competitor had someone in the water with him or her for accommodations, or in case of an emergency. My guess is, they were afraid of getting sued if a kid drowned.
+The gun went off, and I started swimming as hard as I could. I soon began veering to the left a little bit as my right arm propelled me more than my stump did, but my dad would tap me if I started to move over too far. I concentrated so hard on breaststroking, my mind went blank. I didn't realize how important winning was to me until I thought there was a chance I might lose.
+After about 10 yards, I stole a glance at my opponent as I came up for air. I had won every race up until now. I wanted to feel that rush again—but she was beating me.
+I grew angry at her for thinking she might take it away from me. She wasn't really swimming; her assistant was just pulling her along on the boogie board. She wasn't even doing breaststroke; she was taking a ride. I pushed harder. About a yard away from the finish line, I looked at her again, and we were neck and neck.
+Here, I started to panic and froze. So my dad grabbed my arm and yanked me to the finish line. I heard clapping. I had won the race.
+What is the meaning of cheating—and of fairness—in an event where everyone has accommodations?
+The second I got out of the water, I burst into tears. I was always brought up to respect the rules: My mom was a teacher; my dad, a cop. You might say my regard for the rules was almost disabling. I was angry at myself. I was angry at my dad. I was angry at my competitor, who I refused to look at.
+"You deserved to win," my dad justified when I told him why I was upset.
+"Not by cheating." But I knew I was happy to have won—in fact, I thought I deserved to win over her. I wiped my tears, which were easily disguisable as I was wet, and I accepted my victory, because there was nothing else to do. I accepted the "congratulations!" from everyone.
+What is the meaning of cheating—and of fairness—in an event where everyone has accommodations? At first, I was surprised the crowd still cheered for me even when they had to have seen my dad give me help. That's when I should've learned that it didn't matter: The spectators knew these events were just a fun way of making us feel normal. We were all getting help one way or another.
+The realization that I wasn't a good swimmer didn't come until much later, when I tried out for my high school swim team with able-bodied students. I didn't make the cut. I couldn't really keep up; when I wanted to leave, I had difficulty even getting out of the pool. (There were no ladders.) I felt like that insecure girl again, tortured by the perfect synchronized swimmers. I didn't even finish the tryout—I told the coach I had pneumonia and left in tears.
+Read more: I Feel Bad About My Nose
+In the end, the Empire State Games didn't make me feel better at all, though they were designed to. For some people, these events can be really life-affirming. Some of my opponents went on to become very successful athletes, and the games gave them their start. These events were life-affirming for me too, briefly—it felt good to be valued for my supposed athletic ability, and I grew to enjoy swimming even more. I "trained" at Saf-T-Swim and continued to compete in the games for a few years. I thought I spent this time becoming a better swimmer. But to go on and find out I wasn't actually athletic was crushing.
+When I exited the pool after that fateful breaststroke race, I didn't allow myself to look at my opponent. I couldn't know how she was feeling. I couldn't know if she saw my dad pull me to the finish line. I couldn't know if she thought of me as a cheater. I couldn't know if she had a chance to feel victorious, and I took that away from her. I couldn't know if she wanted to be there or if her parents forced her. When I was accepting my gold medals, I felt like I wasn't just a fat, one-handed girl in a JC Penney swimsuit. All the times I had won before—and after; I swam 12 more times during the games—the breaststroke race, I felt strong, unstoppable. But that time was different. That time I felt empty, and I can't help but think it was a sign of the reality check that would later come in my high school pool.
+What we learned from Missouri State men's basketball's 2020-21 media day
+The Missouri State men's basketball team hopes to put the 2019-20 season behind it as it enters Dana Ford's third year as head coach.
+Ford has a roster full of newcomers while having key returners in Gaige Prim, Isiaih Mosley and Ja'Monta Black for this upcoming season.
+The Bears were picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. From the sounds of it, they seem to think they're going to have a lot more fun than that.
+Here's what we learned from MSU's virtual media day on Thursday:
+The Bears feel like they're going to have more fun this year
+It wasn't a secret that the Bears had their struggles during the 2019-20 season. A team that was picked to win the conference fell well short of its championship expectations while finishing in the middle of the Missouri Valley Conference.
+The team never found a rhythm. The ball wasn't being shared much and a collection of highly touted newcomers never looked like a team.
+Going into this year, the Bears are now picked to finish near the middle. But the Bears say the ball is moving and that they're enjoying themselves a lot more going into this upcoming season.
+"Our ball movement is way better," Black said. "It's just fun playing with this group of guys. That's what's different from this year and last year — it's just way more fun on the offensive and defensive end. We're just way more enthusiastic and it's just better playing with these guys, honestly."
+Hoops news: Kickapoo basketball's new Big 3 signs with Mizzou, Missouri State before hyped season
+Missouri State still adds a new batch of newcomers featuring a few juco transfers and a few freshmen. The players made available during media day all described the team as more of a "family" than it has been in the past. Since the newcomers came in, they all clicked on and off the court.
+"That bond happened when we first met," Black said. "I never felt like they were the new kids over there. We all just kind of went over there and started talking and gelled right when we first met. That's why I feel like this team will be really special."
+The non-conference 'plan' is on its way
+While we're used to having a non-conference schedule sometime in August, Missouri State has still yet to release who it will play before Dec. 30.
+That will change on Friday, according to Ford. The non-conference schedule will be released — and Ford describes it more as a "plan" than a "schedule."
+"I foresee changes, not only in any non-conference thing we put together but in any schedule," Ford said. "Hopefully, we can execute it."
+Missouri State's schedule is expected to be home-heavy and not very strong. A Central Arkansas home game was confirmed for Dec. 1 by UCA while a Dec. 5 home date with Oral Roberts and Dec. 12 date with Little Rock appears likely, according to previously obtained contracts.
+Other dates to keep an eye on include Nov. 28, Dec. 7, Dec. 15, Dec. 19 and Dec. 21.
+Women's basketball: The No. 24 MSU Lady Bears have 'unfinished business.' What we learned from media day.
+Ford described it as a "plan" due to the uncertainty around COVID-19. He anticipates games being canceled — as has happened with a team like Southern Illinois having to back out of a multi-team event already due to the virus hitting its program.
+It's certainly a season of uncertainty.
+Jared Ridder is shooting better than ever
+Kickapoo graduate Jared Ridder is finally feeling healthy as he enters his junior year. He sat out all but six minutes of the 2019-20 season after receiving surgery to repair a torn labrum.
+The six minutes came after a redshirt-freshman season in which he never appeared to be comfortable on the court after having to sit out the first semester to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.
+Despite only playing one semester of college basketball and six minutes, Ridder is still considered a veteran player in a room full of newcomers.
+"I definitely feel like an older guy," Ridder said. "I feel like I've learned a lot. You don't realize how much you learned just by watching. I definitely feel like a veteran out there and I feel more comfortable talking and getting to know the younger guys as well."
+Ridder is averaging 18.3 minutes per game in 24 career appearances. His freshman year saw him start twice while averaging 5.1 points and 1.8 boards per game. He's a known 3-point specialist and is 30.6 percent beyond the arc over his career.
+But his teammates feel like that's about to improve.
+"He's shooting the ball probably the best out of anybody," Black — who played against Ridder in high school — said. "He's been shooting really good. We've been finding him and he's been knocking down shots at a high clip. You should be looking for him to be shooting the ball the best he's ever done."
+The last few years have been difficult for Ridder — whether it was sitting out a freshman season, not finding his groove in a redshirt-season or having to sit out his sophomore year.
+Recruiting: Inside look at Aminu Mohammed's college options entering the 5-star prospect's senior year
+He should be a good weapon for the Bears this upcoming season.
+"You find your love for the game when you're away from it," Ridder said. "Mentally, I feel a lot better and I'm excited to be out there again. Being away from basketball, it was hard at times but I feel mentally stronger than I ever have been."
+DeMarcus Sharp is 'special'
+Missouri State's new starting point guard this season is coming off an NJCAA first-team All-American season.
+Demarcus Sharp joins the Bears from Colby (Kansas) Community College — where he averaged 16.5 points, 4.7 boards and 5.6 assists per game.
+He led his league in steals and also earned offensive and defensive player of the year honors.
+"He came in and he's been a leader for us from the start," Ridder said. "He's always finding the open guy and he knows all the plays from any position. He's a great teammate on and off the court."
+"Man, he's special," Black added. "He can see things on the court before you can even see them. He's a pass-first point guard and he's not worried about scoring, but he can score. He doesn't turn the ball over and he's always going to play hard and leave it on the line."
+Gaige Prim dropped 25 pounds
+Prim couldn't help but laugh when he was asked about his new physique.
+The Bears' big-man had obviously cut some weight. It's something he said the coaches asked him to do so he could be healthier going into this season.
+"I feel like I got too skinny," Prim smiled.
+Prim said he cut 30 pounds over the summer and has since gained five back. A whole 25 pounds that he and the coaching staff believe will allow him to practice and play at full-strength a season after he had to be "load managed" due to injuries to his legs.
+"I'm moving faster and my defense has gotten a lot better," Prim said. "I think it's helped me in some cases for sure."
+Prim said he still has his strength — as he will have to match up with some of the best players in the league in the post, whether that be Loyola's Cameron Krutwig or Northern Iowa's Austin Phyfe.
+The Bears are going to need their best player to be healthy this season after he averaged 13.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game during his debut season in Springfield.
+Lu'Cye Patterson's name came up a lot
+A surprising name that came up quite a bit during Thursday afternoon's virtual media day was Lu'Cye Patterson.
+Patterson is a freshman point guard from Minneapolis. He was the final player to be added to the Bears' roster for this upcoming season as he took the final scholarship.
+"He has a good spirit about him," Ford said. "He loves to pass and things of that nature. The thing I think I like the most about him, and all our guys, is that I like being around him. I like him as a person."
+Patterson played at Minnesota Prep Academy last season as a part of the Grind Circuit prep basketball league. He was the league's offensive player of the year as a senior while averaging 21.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.7 boards per game.
+He impressed at the Bears' lone public exhibition game in September and he appears to be a player who will get some playing time.
+"He's been doing what he's supposed to do in practice," Black said. "He's one player you really have to look at."
+Nic Tata is a 'freak of nature'
+Missouri State is going to be able to use different lineups with a lengthy roster — but the possibilities down low with Prim can be pretty fun.
+Nic Tata is a 6-foot-10 junior forward from Blinn College in Benham, Texas. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 boards per game while making 73.9 percent of his field goals as a sophomore.
+His athleticism for his size and his ability to play the four could turn into Tata and Prim being on the floor at the same time.
+"I'm very excited," Prim said. "He's a freak of nature, for sure. He's 280-pounds and he can jump out of the gym. I think he's going to be really good defensively protecting the rim."
+Ford expands on adding Isaac Haney
+Ford expanded on the addition of former Dora standout Isaac Haney for the 2021-22 season. Haney now plays at Kickapoo — alongside Ford's step-son Cameron Liggins.
+Haney led Dora to a Class 1 state championship and he's coming off back-to-back Class 1 Player of the year honors. He averaged 31 points while knocking down 114 3-pointers during his junior season.
+"He is a hard-worker, blue-collar type of guy who wants to be at Missouri State," Ford said. "We're excited about him."
+Even though Haney is now moving up and playing bigger opponents on a more consistent basis, Ford found Haney when he was a Class 1 player playing at a tiny gym in the middle of the Ozarks.
+Ford was in attendance at Haney's 32-point performance at the 2019 Ozark Mountain Shootout. Haney was up against Trey Alexander — who was ranked as the No. 27 player in the country at the time. Haney led the Falcons to a win over what was one of the best teams in Oklahoma.
+On Haney's bus ride home to Dora, he received a call from Ford — who made him an offer he didn't refuse.
+"He held his own and showed his worth," Ford said Thursday. "It's not always an evaluation of him but it's an evaluation of the moment — like how college players improve their stock in the NCAA Tournament. It's the moment and not necessarily who they're playing against. Every time I've seen him, he's been great."
+MSU men's hoops 2020-21 roster
+- Gaige Prim, Sr., F
+- Demarcus Sharp, Jr. PG
+- Nic Tata, Jr. C
+- Jared Ridder, Jr., SF
+- Darian Scott, Jr., C
+- Dawson Carper, Jr., C***
+- Keaton Hervey, Jr., SF
+- Ja'Monta Black, So., SG
+- Isiaih Mosley, So., SG
+- Skylar Wicks, Fr. PG
+- Raphe Ayres, Fr., SG
+- Melvyn Ebonkoli, Fr. PF
+- Lu'Cye Patterson, Fr. PG
+- Spencer Brown, Sr. G
+- Jake Branham, So., G
+- Elijah Bridgers, Fr., G.
+You’ve seen the marketing hype and heard all the promises:
+Build a Six-Figure Business in just 60 Days!
+Or, Fail Fast, Succeed Faster.
+There’s even a magazine called Fast Company.
+And it’s true: most of us want that income NOW.
+We’ve got bills to pay. Kids to send to college. Vacations to take.
+And we’re constantly looking for ways to be more productive. To cram more things into our measly 24 hours.
+Need to make everything happen yesterday? There’s an app for that.
+But the speed of our lives isn’t news.
+We’ve been fighting the Cult of Instant Gratification and the Glorification of More for decades.
+Did you know the Slow Food movement originated in 1986?
+That was nearly THIRTY years ago.
+But over that time, the Slow Food movement ushered in all sorts of ancillary types of slow: Slow Cities, Slow Travel, Slow Money, Slow Design. Slow Sex, Even Slow TV.
+So why not Slow Marketing?
+I asked several folks on Facebook recently how they responded to the term.
+Most said they dug the idea of it — but they couldn’t wrap their heads around the name.
+“Slow means lazy.” Or, “Slow means I’m spinning my wheels.”
+“I don’t want to take a slow boat to China.”
+Yep, Slow Marketing has a branding problem.
+In business, we already know that success usually takes longer than we’d like.
+We pay people (sometimes BIG money) to help us succeed faster.
+To avoid the long way around.
+To shorten our learning curve.
+To get us to our destination before our competitors.
+So going slow — even when we know logically that it’s better to be mindful, intentional, and relational — may not feel so attractive.
+Folks have suggested we use other terms like “Conscious” or “Mindful” marketing.
+Personally, I like the word, “Presence.”
+But “Slow” has a decades-long international movement behind it. And that means quite a lot when you’re looking to create (or build on) momentum for changing the way people think about an industry.
+Slow Emphasizes Process and Choice.
+It’s not about being lazy, stupid, or indecisive. It’s about knowing that the ends don’t justify the means.
+So much of our commerce today — especially with publicly traded companies — is about boosting profits at all costs.
+Outsourcing talent to the lowest bidder.
+But you and I aren’t publicly traded companies.
+And we can be lean and agile in ways that they can’t.
+One of my very smart colleagues shared that she struggled with the concept of process in terms of how she talked about her copy coaching services.
+She’s someone who loves the journey just as much as the destination. But she said, “I know people aren’t buying plane tickets. They’re buying the destination.”
+I had to challenge her on that one.
+There are lots of different ways to get somewhere.
+It’s why we have airline and seating options: you can fly coach, or you can fly first class.
+Or, you can skip the planes and drive. Or even take a train.
+HOW you get where you’re going is a choice. And it’s a choice you get to make. Only you can decide what kind of journey you’d like to take.
+I love the definition of ‘slow’ that comes from Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food movement:
+.”
+Slow Facilitates Deeper Relationships.
+All over the world, people are slowing down to the speed of human. And that’s part of the Slow Movement ideal: connection to people, place, and purpose.
+It’s about quality over quantity. Right speed and right timing. (Which, ironically, isn’t always slow.)
+And it’s perfect for what we do here at Story Bistro: listen deeply. Bloom the connections we’ve already got (rather than seek only to add to their number). And take the time to share our best stories with those who need and want to hear them.
+Our unofficial motto is Ubuntu: I am who I am because of who we all are.
+Slow is Smartly Balanced. (And in the End, More Profitable).
+In Australia, Carolyn Tate’s Slow School of Business is creating waves of positive change.
+She says, “Fast-profit and short-term thinking is why business and capitalism has failed humanity and the planet. I started Slow School to help people make mindful, sustainable choices that would benefit everybody. I also believe that prosperity is a far more meaningful measure of success than profit. When we all slow down, we connect more deeply with ourselves, each other and with our communities. That’s where real change happens.”
+There’s also the World Institute of Slowness headed up by Geir Berthelsen. (See his video below.)
+Both of these organizations work to change the world of business by focusing on a balance of process and profit.
+Many of my colleagues here in North America are staunch advocates of this movement, too: Tad Hargrave, Mark Silver, Andrea J. Lee and Racheal Cook, to name just a few.
+Racheal says, “I’ve totally found that slow = profits! Especially because instead of chasing a million shiny objects, you get to really go deep into your work. Which leads to better results for you and your clients.”
+Here’s what’s interesting: In a Harvard Business Review study, “the companies that embraced initiatives and chose to go, go, go to try to gain an edge ended up with lower sales and operating profits than those that paused at key moments to make sure they were on the right track. What’s more, the firms that ‘slowed down to speed up’ improved their top and bottom lines, averaging 40% higher sales and 52% higher operating profits over a three-year period.”
+It’s about taking the long view. Thinking about more than profits for this quarter, but long-term impact AND profits…and how those affect people and place.
+In short, it’s building something sustainable. That won’t burn you out (or damage your most precious relationships).
+Would you like to build a business that serves you, your life, and your relationships?
+First, reframe the idea of Slow for yourself.
+Start with this book: “In Praise of Slow,” by Carl Honore.
+Watch these two videos:
+(If you’re reading this via email, the links you need are here and here.)
+And then start a conversation with your peers and colleagues.
+Ask them if they’ve heard of the Slow movement. Find out if they’re looking for a way to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with their right people.
+You can begin by sharing your thoughts in a comment below. Are there other resources not mentioned here? Do you have ideas or questions? Are you willing to publicly declare yourself a Slow Marketing advocate? Let’s see where our conversation takes us…
+***
+This post is part of a group writing project we lovingly call Word Carnivals. This month, we’re tackling the myths and misunderstandings of our particular fields. Read more and get smarter here.
+Totally in favor of Slow Marketing, Tea. Thanks for expanding the concept and framing it in this way. More mindfulness is a GOOD thing, both in life and in business.
+LOVE this from the first video (A Slow Movie):
+“Slowness is a thought … but a very powerful thought: It’s an appreciation; a sensorial experience; timeless; classic.” Ahh … music to my soul.
+And from the TED Talk:
+“A world stuck in fast forward.” (“Even instantaneous gratification takes too long”) That and a reference to “speed yoga” made me laugh out loud. However, there’s really nothing funny about it at all.
+I hope we can all get back to the lost art of shifting gears. I definitely want to get back in touch with my “inner tortoise”. 🙂
+Just for the record:
+Publicly declaring myself a Slow Marketing advocate. Did you hear that, people?!
+So glad to have you officially on this band wagon, Melanie. We need all the positive energy we can get.
+I really leaned in when you asked the question on Facebook! Surprising the number of different “takes” on “Slow”. Maybe it’s my age or the farm country I grew up in or just my general nature, but I’ve never been one to embrace speed. What I mean by that is “speeding through life”. I’m far more comfortable with a slow pace that affords me the chance to experience/note/soak in/enjoy/remember/taste/feel whatever it is I’m doing. Know what I mean? When I rush through something, I’m certain I’m missing out on something wonderful. Might sound abstract but I hope you get what I’m getting at. 🙂
+I stand behind ya, Tea, and declare myself a Slow Marketing advocate, practitioner and maybe even an evangelist!
+I do think it has a branding problem, but that same branding problem is what makes it meaningful — it requires a significant shift in perspective. The suggested alternatives of Presence, Mindful, and Conscious don’t really cover all of the territory that Slow does, they’re just elements of it, and they add additional baggage. If an alternative is used, I think it needs to mean slow.
+Left to my own devices, I’d probably build Tortoise Marketing, just because I totally want to draw the tortoise and the hair, today.
+You know I would totally love to see anything you draw, Tori. Especially a tortoise. And I totally agree — the other terms just don’t cover all the bases.
+Because my brand revolves around food and cooking, Slow has felt like the most-right term for me. The tortoise tho, is definitely the avatar we use over SlowMarketing.org. Fun fact: a tortoise can be pretty darn fast when they want to be. According to Google, “The fastest recorded tortoise speed is 5 mph.” Which is WAY faster than I normally move.
+It’s a mantra I preach constantly. No, I can’t get you results now. Or like, in a month. Or maybe even three or six. Marketing and growing a business takes time. Can you get a quick hit? Add a ton of followers or subscribers fast? Sure, five bucks and some spit will get you that. But to what end? Numbers aren’t the end result. Sustainable, long term – preferably meaningful! Quick fixes never last. They may not even work. What’s the point of adding a thousand email subscribers if they don’t buy form you or even talk to you? Anyway, I’m a believer 🙂 Slow and mindful wins the race!
+Here’s to our Inner Tortoises.
+Slow is relief – to do things at a pace that make sense to what you can manage and walk away from the mania of imposed deadlines by yourself or others.
+Part of slow is self permission. That’s hard. We’ve been trained for decades to be busy, work long, say yes, listen to the siren call of more, (money, likes, links, followers). Most of which is nonsense.
+It’s exciting Tea, that you are putting forward a clarion call to change our tempo and refocus on what balances us. I don’t want my girls buying in to the madness of the last few decades. It’s lapped at their edges of their experience, but maybe slow will change things in time for them to lead a more considered life. I hope so.
+Me, too, Sandy! Glad this one landed for you.
+Marketing + the need for instant results = inevitable disappointment.
+Absolutely spot-on advice, Tea. Marketing takes time, and nurturing your contacts and network is worth it if it fits into your long-term plan. Now I just need to start thinking long-term and stop getting hung up on managing the day-to-day. It’s a constant struggle; I think baby steps are in order. 🙂
+First of all THANKS for a great post 🙂
+At Philosophies.dk we are all in with Slow as well – also the marketing. It’s like our Slow Inspirator Carl Honoré says – “When businesses strike the right balance between fast and slow, staff are happier, healthier and more productive. They also build better relationships with customers and clients”
+…………………………….
+Slow Quote – “If you kill the roots you kill the tree – It’s like in the systems of the governments – if they don’t care for the roots, the systems are eventually sentenced to fail” – Tanja Schjellerup
+Thanks for a great article and reminder for everyone… I am proud that Carolyn Tate of Slow School is a dear friend of mine, it was wonderful to see her excellent work being profiled here. As a long time marketer/entrepreneur, I too am getting sick and tired of all the claims to fast success and making millions. It simply doesn’t happen that way, or if it does, it’s rarely sustainable and the person who made a fast million promptly ‘loses’ it again. Slow School and the Slow Movement are making slow, conscious, mindful, considered and positive change in the world… and it’s up to us as individuals to apply those changes in our own lives… and be the pebbles in the pond. The butterfly effect. My husband and I hit the road in a motorhome 9 months ago to live, work and travel full-time as we explored North America – we have the ability to work remotely, as long as we have internet. Some people think we’re crazy, others think we’re ‘living the dream’ but we made it happen by deciding to live our life in alignment with our values, not by following what society thinks we should do to be ‘normal’ or ‘successful’. We ARE successful, by our own terms – we live where we want, when we want for as long as we want, we choose the weather we want to be in, we choose our views, we have no commute, our life is simplified, we have fewer bills, our living expenses have become less fixed and more variable (and therefore more controllable as needed), we make real connections with others on the road who are truly enjoying life and have time to chat and get to know one another, we rarely, if ever, meet people who are busy or stressed. We have time, space, we eat well, we have some of the most amazing places in the country on our doorstep to explore every weekend or even on an afternoon after work. We have time to laugh and play, to rest and sleep, to bike and hike… in new places every other week or so. We stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones, expand our minds, our social circles, our environment, we have less debt, more photographs, incredible memories and so much more to look forward to. By living our lives as an example of what we believe in, by enjoying the journey (as well as the destinations), by living our lives now, by being in the present moment, by appreciating every little thing, watching hummingbirds fly by us, watching the sun set much more often, by being truly happy within ourselves, by slowing down our lives to the point where we already ARE where we once thought we wanted to be… we know we are making a difference to others without even trying… as it inspires them to think differently, witness our joy, happiness, laughter and fun, and create their own experiences… and remind them that if we can do it… they can too… and they are.
+Thank you for this article and yes I agree and I lean to the Slow movement. I have found the Slow dimension in fact is “fast” as by also giving time for “waiting for your Soul” – following my intuition – the outcome is always fulfilling, sustainable empowering.
+Twitter: LindaUrsin
+on March 29, 2015 at 6:24 am
+I’m doing my marketing the slow way. I’m not the patient kind, but pushing stuff on people doesn’t resonate with me. Plus I’m disabled from chronic pain, so I can’t go 150% anymore.
+Twitter: trudyvanbuskirk
+on March 29, 2015 at 7:34 am
+I have the book by Carl Honore and have been an advocate of slow marketing for years. Here is another resource about this – Do you know Tad Hargrave, Tea? written in Feb 2012.
+I like the quote in the link attributed to Martin Luther, indicating that it’s even more important to take the time to meditate when things are busy.
+Great blog post Tea! I have been an active member of the Slow Food movement for a long while – it’s delicious! It’s a big part of the work I do in my private practice with women. So glad to see that marketing is adopting its brilliance and that you’re on board. I feel like I’ve just been given permission to market at the same pace that I do almost everything else these days, which is tortoise-like for sure – thank you for that! As a grateful to be recovering fast food life-liver, I know the pitfalls and land mines of the instant gratification, more more more, and need it yesterday mindset – it about killed me. So now I will add slow marketing to my list of things that I do at an enjoyable and relaxed pace.
+Twitter: grovecanada
+on March 29, 2015 at 5:02 pm
+Small is beautiful, Economics as if People mattered, by E. F. Schumacher, is a book I read for our high school geography class…Back then it was called “small”, but easily the word “slow” was part of this philosophy…I remember being at Vinitaly in Verona in 1990-ish, & asking what that snail pin meant…It was the slow food movement…Small, slow, patience, taking your time, grass roots, baby steps-these have all been part of my vocabulary for decades…It’s nice to see that the rest of the world is starting to slow down a bit too…
+A close teenage friend of mine once wrote me a letter telling me that I was a “slow horse”…She was warning me about the speed of everyone else around me, & for me, that it was better not to join in or try that…I kep that close to my heart as people got married & had babies & mortgages & careers while I was still figuring out which flavour of ice cream was my favorite at Baskin N Robbins…Was it slim chocolate mint maybe?
+I still am amazed by the day to day “normal” people carry on…How do they work 8 hours & feed themselves & groom & socialize & drive their children to swim classes & earn money all at the same time?
+It could be that where I live it is cold for 6 months of the year & just getting to work, the commute part, is only for the Hercules types…
+Yay for slow marketing! Finally the world is catching up to my slowness!!! Yay!
+Thanks Tea! You are great!
+I’ve always felt that I grew up in the wrong era, or maybe the wrong country. For two years I lived and studied at a United Word College in Italy. Meals were taken slowly, with much conversation. Questions about life for students from other countries were encouraged and not considered rude. Although distance has rendered us Facebook friends, the friendships began many years ago, and the trust we built up during those two years remains. Prior to creating a webpage with WordPress, I hated email, let alone texting, Tweeting, being on Google+, etc. I still hate it for the most part, but sometimes it is the only way I can interact with someone. I am taking my time with this, getting to know people with similar values in my field.
+Tea I love that you are able to bring numbers in to play, and how they demonstrate you really should bet on the tortoise! Fav is “40% higher sales and 52% higher operating profits over a three-year period”. I’ll be bookmarking this to share with my clients.
+Japan’s cities deservedly get so much of the tourist attention, but the mountains are just as spectacular. In fact, one of our drivers for visiting Japan was the chance to explore the so-called Japanese Alps: a long mountain range dominating much of Northwestern Honshu.
+In the end Mica and I decided to make the Denver-like city of Matsumoto our home-base to spend a week exploring the area. Our primary goal was to hike the famed Mt. Yari-Daikeretto-Mt. Hotaka circuit.
+The Kamikochi-Yari-Hotaka Circuit
+The three day, two-night loop climbs 1,700 meters up from the Kamikochi valley up to the summit of Mt. Yari (Japan’s 5th highest mountain) before coming back via the Daikeretto (it’s most famous ridge) and Mt. Hotaka (the 3rd highest mountain). With that many highlights it is one of the seminal alpine hikes in Japan.
+- Day 1 represents a day-long slog to the top of Mt. Yarigatake (槍ヶ岳), at 3,180 meters the third highest mountain in Japan with an incredible mountain hut stay
+- Day 2 takes you along knife-edge ridges, including the famed Daikeretto (大キレット) where the trail drops 300 meters between two mountains, and claims several lives each year, before finishing with a climb up Mt. Hotaka (奥穂高岳) Japan’s fifth largest mountain
+- Day 3 offers several descents through the Karasawa Valley, a prime Japanese fall foliage area
+So this was the dream, a route so good it was half the reason we timed our trip to Japan for October.
+Long-planned and long-awaited we were eager to set off. But of course, these are mountains we’re talking about. And mountains don’t care about your plans or your timeline. They demand your respect, not the other way around.
+So what happened?
+Day 1: Matsumoto-Kamikochi-Mt. Yari
+Kamikochi (上高地) is the most famed and popular spot to kick off many Japanese Alps hikes and this one is no exception.
+Getting to Kamikochi
+From Matsumoto there are two ways to main ways to get there. A once-daily 5:30 AM direct bus, or a 30 minute train ride to Shin-Shimashima Station followed by a 60 minute bus ride. We opted for the early start which is necessary to make this ambitious Day 1 itinerary work (alternatively camp/stay in a hotel in Kamikochi the night before).
+With Mica asleep next to me, the bus followed a long series of switchbacks through different Onsen towns before passing Taisho pond and entering the Chubu Sangaku National Park proper. A grey and dreary sky began to lift as we got to Kamikochi promising the forecasted window of good weather.
+After registering our itinerary with the mountain rescue office and downing a couple cups of coffee we set off. (Note: there are no trash-cans here. Vendors will take back what they sell you but will NOT take any of your other garbage. Plan your breakfast/snacks from Matsumoto accordingly).
+The Kamikochi to Mt. Yarigatake Hike
+The hike begins by following the Azusagawa River river up a wide and flat valley. The hiking is easy for the first 2-3 hours as you first pass Myojinkan lodge (1 hour in) and another valley hut, both with free water to replenish your bottles.
+The hike begins
+About 2.5-3 hours in you get to the first notable juncture near Tokusawa and Yakoo lodges. This is a good place to stop and eat some snacks as the rest of the day gets a lot harder. After mingling with the hundred strong crowd we began to climb more steeply up the Yarisawa Valley. Almost immediately the trail narrows and the crowds dissipate. The official high country approach has begun.
+After a little over an you arrive at the Yarisawa hut, which is another good lunch stop. It offers good food and a welcome respite from the steady climb. Take advantage of the moment to steel yourself before the real fun begins. A 30 minute climb from the hut takes you to a nearby campground: not a bad stopping point if you don’t have another 2-3 hours of vertical climbing left in your legs. The ground here is rocky but sheltered, and the view of the Alpine bowl and fall colors is very nice. This campsite is the last place for filtered water (although in about 1.5 hours or so there is a dependable creek that cuts down across the trail from the mountains to your right that looked clean and filterable).
+From here the terrain becomes notably alpine and rocky, with the route staying largely above or next to treeline. For us in mid-October we had most definitely walked up into fall foliage which offered beautiful vistas even as we slogged ever higher.
+As we left the river to veer east, Mt. Yarigatake finally appeared off to the right, a towering sentinel with a view of the remaining hours of climb unapologetically visible to digest.
+A few of ascent options present themselves here (including a couple of nearby huts and one last campsite about 45-60 minutes below the ultimate ridge).
+For what its worth, we recommend getting to Yarigatake-sanso hut because (a) reservations are not required and (b) the sunset is completely and utterly incredible:
+In terms of the hut itself, it is a well run mountain hut that does not require reservations for small parties (9,800 yen with two meals, 6,800 without).
+The food was OK, the sleeping area had curtains which was a nice touch, and the bathrooms were clean. It’s still a weird feeling to order a beer or sake at the top of the mountain, but it’s a nice luxury even if its less wild than what we’re used to. There are also very limited tent sites available (1,000 yen a night) which are decently protected from the wind whipping over the ridge but you have to get here early to have a chance at one.
+Some practical notes covering Day 1
+- While distances throughout the day were not astronomical, the combination of elevation and tough terrain over the last 4-5 hours does take its toll. Be prepared for a very long day if tackling this hike and don’t discount the times posted on the topo map between locations, especially for the 2nd half of the hike. The 5:30 bus is your only realistic option of making it up to Yari-sanso hut in time for dinner/sunset.
+- Until the campground 30 minutes past Yarisawa hut there are fairly frequent water sources. You do not need to haul a ton of water.
+- You can scramble the summit to Mt. Yarigatake from the hut in about 20-30 minutes (up). The hut has helmets to rent which are designed for protection from any loose rocks other climbers dislodge. Outside of weather, which prevented our morning ascent attempt, the main obstacle here is dealing with the crowds of other summiteers which can really slow you down. In other words, don’t leave right after breakfast
+- While we had diligently translated the huts and major trail points on our topo map from Kanji to English most trail signs were clearly marked in both. There’s a photo in the logistics section at the end to help you translate your own map as this was very time consuming
+Day 2: The Daikeretto…or not
+We woke up at about 4:15am on Day 2. This isn’t as bad as it sounds because we were asleep by about 7pm. Also, the Ravens were in the fourth quarter of a tie game with the Steelers and we found a radio stream in time to listen to a thrilling and necessary win!
+Breakfast was at 5:30, which is standard at Japanese mountain huts. After we milled around looking at the whipping cold and wet wind and occasional drizzle wondering if the expected sunny forecast would ever materialize.
+It didn’t, and it wouldn’t. Ever hopeful we began our day on the ridge heading over three consecutive 3,000+ meter peaks towards the Daikeretto anyway. As previously mentioned, the Daikeretto is a gap in the mountains that is precariously traversed by one centimeters wide trail. We didn’t end up on the ridge, but from our next hike in Yatsugatake 50 odd miles away, the Daikeretto looks like this:
+After a cold, wet and generally difficult two hours we found ourselves at Minamidake Goya hut thoroughly soaked because (a) we didn’t have rain pants and (b) Victor found out the hard way his shell wasn’t very good. After eating some ramen and trying to warm up and dry off next to a kettle we realized we were just getting colder and colder. Time to move. But where to?
+Minamidake Goya hut marks the last turnoff down the mountains before the trail becomes much more technical. With continued spitting rain and whipping clouds there was no chance we were attempting the ridge.
+So down we would go, with the realization that this route, our pre-established bailout route, doesn’t end up back at Kamikochi but instead at Shinotaka Onsen, a separate entrance to the park. If you think there’s a chance weather interrupts your loop, don’t buy the round-trip bus ticket from Matsumoto to preserve flexibility.
+The descent from this hut into our 2nd mountain valley was hard. First, we descended chains and ladders onto narrow ridges, with horizontal ladders snaking over the scant shrub surviving between each peak. Visibility was good enough here that it wasn’t dangerous, and once we had descended a bit the weather’s bite also subsided enough that we were nicely warmed up. But then the trail hit us with a 2.5 hour bushwacking descent down slick rock, partially decomposed wood ladders, and generally overgrown trail. This was clearly a murderously tough trail even in good conditions and rarely used as a result. Our progress was glacial and well-earned, with moments of wonder for the solitude and hints of fall peaking at us through the fog.
+Finally we hit the valley bottom around 3pm. Legs shaking, knowing tomorrow was bringing heavy and consistent rain, Mica jumped into action asking the hut staff to book us a hotel down the mountain.
+An Accidental Ryokan and Onsen Experience
+Everything near the trailhead was booked, but they eventually found us a hotel that would pick us up if we could get there before sunrise so we wouldn’t miss the prescribed dinner time. We didn’t know where this place was, how much it cost, or what it would be like. But after 10 minutes of rest off we went, racing the sun with visions of a dry bed ahead of us.
+Half jogging, half power hiking we made good time down a beautiful trail hugging a thundering mountain stream and passing an epic waterfall spilling down in the distance. After about 90 minutes the trail became a gravel road and we bombed down to civilization just before sunset. We called the hotel and miracously before we could even put on a layer the car was there, and a 15 minute drive later we were told by a 70+ year old Japanese man, the only person there who could speak any English, that dinner was in 20 minutes, the men’s and women’s public baths were down this hallway, and we could check in later. After the day we had that was fair enough: I imagine we did smell that bad.
+In the end, somehow we had stumbled, most gloriously, into a truly authentic Ryokan and onsen experience at Mahoroba (the name we would only discover later). If you’re in the area, we highly recommend a night here for a relatively affordable and truly authentic ryokan.
+This was mountains, like only the Japanese, can do. Wild weather, hospitable huts, steaming lava springs, and a seven course tasting dinner casually spread out before us filled with a half dozen dishes we didn’t recognize and couldn’t ask about.
+The next day, watching the rain pour down for hours, and sitting in a private outdoor Onsen I would think to myself that while this wasn’t the Daikeretto, this was some consolation prize indeed.
+Logistics for Kamikochi and Hiking in the Japanese Alps
+You will need Map #38. The bookstore at the train station mall, which you can find if you enter the glass doors to the right of Starbucks on your way out and going towards the back) had the entire topo map series. There are also excellent outdoors stores in the main department store as well as the New Media Center if you need gear, the latter also has an outpost of the Matsumoto Brewing Company that we highly recommend.
+If you’re going to hike up to Mt. Yari, you’re going to want a day or two up on the ridges to soak in the views we didn’t get. You’ve earned it. The best weather reports I found were from weawow.com.
+This person’s account of the full loop is another great starting point for planning or getting inspired:
+Matsumoto makes an excellent base camp for the region. We stayed two nights at Hotel Buena Vista (recommended, especially the executive suites which aren’t much more expensive with advance planning) and one night at the New Station Hotel (totally fine/nice). The Dormy Inn Matsumoto is also supposed to be amazing.
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+Temari Sushi Making Class
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+Japanese Tea Tasting with Japanese Sweets and Snacks
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+Asakusa Street Food and Drink Tour in the Evening
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+Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Tour
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+Tokyo Ramen Tour with Frank
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+For crisp and refreshing Japanese beer, traditional sake, and top-quality wagyu beef skewers come on a Shibuya bar hopping adventure in the hidden Niku Yokocho!
+Izakaya Bar Hopping and Food Tour in Asakusa at Night
+A feast of authentic Japanese dishes and drinks, explore the best back streets of Asakusa at night during our perfect izakaya bar hopping tour.
+Japanese Sake Tasting and Painting Your Own Mt Fuji
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+Experience Shojin Ryori, Japanese Buddhist cuisine, in a class supervised by a Japanese monk!
+Katsudon Cooking Class in Kappabashi
+Prepare and make this crispy katsudon pork cutlet bowl, a dish!
+Sushi Mille-Feuilles and Rolled Sushi Making Class
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+Sashimi Class in Tokyo
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+Tempura Cooking Class in Kappabashi
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+Yakitori (Grilled Chicken Skewers) Making Class
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+6 Hours Limitless Japanese Sake Drinking in Ikebukuro
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+Drink with Locals in Shinjuku: Tokyo Bars and Izakaya Crawl
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+Vegetarian Sushi Making Class
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+Osaka Style Okonomiyaki Cooking Class
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+Tokyo Sushi Making Class
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+Japanese Home Cooking: Tokyo Teriyaki Class
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+Intense Tofu Class in Tokyo
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+Traditional Japanese Sweets: Tokyo Wagashi and Mochi Class
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+Make Your Own Ramen and Gyoza in Asakusa
+In this special Tokyo ramen class learn how to prepare and make a classic bowl of ramen in Asakusa, and cook the perfect crispy gyoza to match!
+Tokyo Sake Tasting
+Become a Japanese sake connoisseur during this comprehensive 1-hour Tokyo sake tasting!
+Gyoza (Fried and Boiled) Making Class in Tokyo
+In this cooking class, learn all the wonders of making the best gyoza in Tokyo using authentic gyoza skins which are popular in local supermarkets.
+Tokyo Geisha Experience with Sake Tasting and Games
+In this special sake tasting event, you can interact with beautiful geishas as you play a popular Japanese game and experience a night of dancing and having fun!.
+Ramen Tour in Tokyo by Local Ramen Expert Hiroshi
+Explore the bustling streets of Tokyo with your choice of ramen during a personalized ramen tour in Tokyo, guided by local ramen expert Hiroshi.
+Tokyo Yakitori and Ramen Tour in Shinjuku
+Get yourself ready for that hearty bowl of ramen and plateful of Tokyo yakitori in this unique evening food tour in Shinjuku.
+Ramen and Izakaya Tour in Shinjuku
+In this Ramen and Izakaya Tour in Shinjuku, you'll have a bowl of ramen followed by a visit to a local seafood izakaya, then cap off the night with a drink in hand.
+Tokyo Ramen Tour with the Ramen Adventurer
+One of Japan's favorite foods, taste two bowls of the best ramen noodles in Shinjuku on this tasty Tokyo ramen tour.
+Shinbashi Food Tour: Eat and Drink Like a Tokyo Salaryman
+Explore the food scene of Shinbashi, the boisterous “salaryman” district of Tokyo, and eat like a local!
+Morning Market: Tsukiji Fish Market Tour with Breakfast
+Start the morning off right with this fun and delicious food tour in the famous Tsukiji Market!
+Back to Edo: Sensoji and Asakusa Food Tour
+Explore the streets and eat local food, experience a remarkable historical tour in two of Japan’s must-see spots, Asakusa and Sensoji.
+“UNESCO Recognized Washoku” Cooking Class
+Learn how to cook your own UNESCO recognized washoku food just in 20 minutes for each dish during this traditional washoku cooking class in Tokyo.
+Kyaraben: Cartoon Character Bento Making Class
+Not only delicious but also extra cute, make your own colorful kyaraben in this character bento making class in Tokyo.
+Street Food Hunt in Shibuya
+Discover the Japanese street food scene in Shibuya like a local, while learning about Japan’s food culture and history!
+Golden Gai Food Tour in Shinjuku (Golden District)
+Packed with nightlife and colorful lights, get a glimpse of Shinjuku's nostalgic past during the Golden Gai Food Tour.
+Kawaii Food Tour in Harajuku
+Experience Harajuku’s vibrant and youthful culture through kawaii food! This tour showcases the yummiest, cutest, and most Instagram-worthy treats of Harajuku and Omotesando.
+The All-Star Tokyo Food Tour
+Taste the diversity of Tokyo’s neighborhoods in this ultimate All-Star Tokyo Food Tour, spanning Yurakucho, Ginza, and Shinbashi!
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+This invention relates to an apparatus and method for non-invasively detecting, digitally recording and processing cardiac generated electrical signals in the assessment of acute myocardial damage at the site of the victim's heart attack.
+Electrical conduction in the human heart is initiated by a spontaneous electrical impulse at the sinoatrial node located at the top of the heart. This depolarising wave which spreads down the heart gives rise to heart muscle contraction and hence causes pumping of the blood. The ordered contraction of the heart muscle depends on an adequate supply of blood provided by the heart's own coronary arteries. Blockage "clot" of a coronary artery deprives a certain portion of cardiac muscle from receiving blood "ischaemia" and results in myocardial infarction. Myocardial ischaemia is a major cause of heart attacks and results in cardiac injury or even death to a high proportion of patients. Current medical intervention now provides "clot busting" thrombolytic drugs to remove the clot in the occluded coronary artery. These anti-clotting agents are given intraveneously on monitoring ischaemic damage. The potency or absorption rate of these drugs ensures rapid restoration of the ischaemic region by the reperfusion of blood. Since the majority of heart attacks occur outside hospital myocardial salvage will depend on the time taken to attend the patient and provide thrombolytic therapy.
+A typical graph of cardiac generated potential of a normal heart beat is shown in FIG. 1, and consists of an isoelectric flat portion followed by a P wave, which is generated by the depolarisation of the atria, a QRS wave pattern, resulting from the depolarisation of the ventricles, and the T wave indicating repolarisation of the ventricles and termination of the heart beat. Initial ischaemic damage gives rise to the generation of "injury currents" through the chemical imbalance of these damaged muscle cells. This is reflected in the heart beat as elevation of the ST period as shown in FIG. 2 and the height provides an indication as to degree of damage. This electrical activity is at a maximum at the time of the heart attack and will change as infarction is caused or if thrombolytic therapy is provided.
+Conventional electrocardiographs measure surface potentials from a limited number of locations i.e. a maximum of nine points. These twelve-lead electrocardiographic recorder/analyzers provide limited detection of ischaemic damage since they are primarily concerned with the interpretation of rhythm disorders. Heretofore it has only been considered necessary to monitor a small number of electrocardiograms in emergency situations in an attempt to detect myocardial ischaemia through some electrocardiograms showing sufficient elevated ST levels. This method, however, cannot detect all ischaemic regions throughout the heart and cannot provide assessment of the extent of the initial injury and therefore of subsequent recovery.
+Clinical evaluations of myocardial infarction use blood enzyme tests and radio-isotope imaging which are invasive tests and cannot be used at the time of the attack and can only provide information hours after the event. They are, however, standardised clinical methods of reporting on myocardial infarction.
+Body surface mapping systems are known. They are, however, concerned with providing detailed iso-potential contour plots and employ in the region of 200 leads. One known system, the Corazonix predictor BM-32 made by the Corazonix Corporation, of Oklahoma City, United States of America employs 32 leads. The system detects 32 electrocardiograms and, by extrapolation, and with further interpolation between these leads, provides a high definition of the geographical contour style mapping in the manner of a 192 lead system. This type of mapping system is then used in an attempt to differentiate normal patient distribution with suspected abnormal or infarct patients by using differencing maps. Articles by Robert L. Lux and others of the College of Medicine, University of Utah relate to the use of a large number of ECG leads. Their subsequent work shows that spatial redundancy may be achieved to reduce the 192 contour style lead system to 12 co-efficient waveforms. More recently the patent of Erwin R. John, 1990 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,598) employs multiple electrocardiogram statistical analysis in an attempt to provide a system or method for determining the presence of a wide range of heart disease conditions among a broader population. These current methods are concerned with the problems of contour style maps to identify abnormalities or sophisticated multiple statistical analysis in an attempt to identify a wide range of heart disorders. None of the known methods provides a technique in which the extent of the initial ischaemic injury, particularly within minutes of the commencement of a heart attack, can be determined.
+It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-invasive apparatus and a method for rapidly determining the presence and extent of ischaemic injury at the onset of the symptoms, particularly when the use of thrombylitic therapy is being considered necessary.
+The invention, therefore, provides an apparatus for the detection, recording and analysis of the electrical activity of a cardiac which apparatus comprises an array of a plurality of n number of electrodes, where n is an integer from 40-100, each of which is capable of detecting an electrical signal associated with the ST component of a heartbeat the array being connected to a microprocessor controlled interface which in turn is connected to a microprocessor controlled analyzer and display apparatus.
+The invention also relates to a method of detecting, analysing and displaying electrical signals associated with the Q or ST or both waveforms of a heartbeat produced by an in vivo heart of an animal which comprises applying to the torso of the animal an array of a plurality of n number of electrodes where n is an integer from 40-100; amplifying the signal detected by each of the electrodes in an interface device; electronically grouping said signals into a plurality of groups of signals each group comprising from 2 to 20 electrode signals; digitising the amplified signals and feeding the digitised signals to a display, storage and processing (DSP) unit via a digital link connecting the unit with the interface; and displaying, storing and processing the digitised signals in the unit.
+Preferably, the step of storing the digitised signals includes the step of recording the signals onto a memory card unique for that patient.
+The apparatus and method according to the invention enables the objective measurement and computer analysis of Q or ST or both elevation maps and does not depend on the subjective interpretation of analog ECG waveforms or of topographic maps of body surface potentials or isopotential contours.
+The medical problem is that heart attacks normally occur outside hospital and the victims have to be attended to by trained nurses and doctors. The present invention provides an apparatus and a method which is of practical diagnostic use in assessing ischaemic injury or infarct size, which is used at the location site of the cardiac victim and which presents information quickly so as not to impede emergency resuscitation.
+Each of the electrodes of the array is juxtaposed in a different spatial location relative to the heart. Hence, each electrode detects a different potential pattern as generated from different sections of the heart which enables the presentation of the signal in such a manner as to enable the clinician to perceive a substantially three-dimensional picture of the condition of the heart, thereby enabling the clinician to assess the extent of the ischaemia. Successive heart beats are similarly monitored and, accordingly, the extent of ischaemic recovery can be continuously monitored with respect to a given time period. This time period may vary from a few minutes to a few hours or even days.
+Essentially, therefore, the invention will enable the enhanced detection and size assessment of ischaemia as soon as possible after the attack. The provision of a plurality of electrodes at different points on the thoracic surface makes it is possible for a picture or map or fingerprint of the ischaemic area to be formed. Each electrode relates to electrical activity originating from different parts of the heart. The reconstructed body surface ST map can then be related to the depth and area size of the ischaemic region.
+The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
+FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of a single heartbeat of a typical normal heart;
+FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of the Q and ST component of a single heartbeat of a heart immediately following the onset of a myocardial infarction or ischaemic heart disease;
+FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the main components of a mapping device according to the invention;
+FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the amplification requirements of two of the signals of the mapping device according to the invention;
+FIG. 5 is a block diagram of some of the components of the device according to the invention;
+FIG. 6 is a representation of the ST component of a single heartbeat derived from signals received by a plurality of electrodes at the onset of an infarction; and
+FIG. 7 is a representation similarly derived as in FIG. 6 but 90-120 minutes following onset of the infarction.
+Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a graphical representation of a single heartbeat of a typical normal heart which has been described earlier in the Specification. FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of a single heartbeat of a heart immediately following the onset of a myocardial infarction or ischaemic heart disease which has been described earlier in the Specification.
+The graphs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are derived from relatively low voltage electrical signals detected by electrodes located on the torso of a patient 100. It is the Q and/or the ST component of these signals which provide the data for enabling the present invention to detect the extent and severity of a myocardial infarction of ischaemic heart disease.
+In the present invention, a removable two-dimensional array 10 of a plurality of electrodes is attached to the anterior surface of the torso of the patient 100. The number of electrodes in the array can vary from 40 to 100.
+For a single heartbeat, each of the electrodes detects the electrical signal associated with, inter alia, the Q and/or the ST component of the heartbeat which signal has a strength in millivolts and requires high amplification (voltage ratio>1000) before recordings can be obtained. A mapping unit 11 performs the front end amplification and analog to digital data conversion (FIG. 3). It will be appreciated that each electrode in the array 10, although detecting the same Q and/or the ST component of a single heartbeat, receives the signal with a different voltage having regard to their different spatial juxtapositions relative to each other and the heart.
+The form of amplification employed is referred to as differential, since each electrode of the array 10 must be related to a common reference point known as the Wilson central terminal. This point is derived from the average of the sum of the limb lead points. The electronic amplifiers used are instrumentation differential amplifiers 33. These buffer the chest signals with ultra high input impedance (>100M ohms) and high common mode rejection ratios (>80 dB). The preamplified signals are then electrically filtered from 0.05 Hz-100 Hz in a filtering device 34 to further eliminate noise contamination such as DC polarisation and low/high frequency radiation and conduction. The total set of signals from the array 10 is divided into channels of 16 signals per channel (FIG. 4).
+As FIG. 4 shows, the amplification on each signal is identical. Each signal is then frozen for a time period by a sample and hold device 32 so as to prevent signal phase distortion when these multiple signals are sequentially digitised. Each channel therefore contains 16 banks of amplification, filtering and sample/hold devices. A 16 to 1 analog signal multiplexer 30 is then used to sequentially switch through each of the 16 signals over the sample/hold period to enable a single channel digital conversion to be used. Prior to the digital conversion process a programmable gain circuit 35 is employed to allow a selection of common signal gain settings to be chosen by the operator in order to maximise overall signal strength. A microcontroller 21 controls the process of freezing the 16 analog signals and for this time period known as the sample/hold time the analog multiplexer is selected 16 times with each step sequentially switching through one of the 16 signals to the programmable gain circuit 35 and then into the analog digital converter 31. Therefore, the total number of signals captured is a multiple of the number of channels being used. Each channel and associated electronics may be accommodated onto a respective module all of which are then mounted in a compact unit which attaches directly to the array 10.
+Although this embodiment shows 16 electrodes per channel, depending upon the total number of electrodes this will typically be from 2 to 20 electrode signals per channel.
+The synchronised instantaneously sampled multiple data is then digitally transferred to the display, storage, and processing unit 12 via a direct digital link 13. The unit 12 contains a microcontroller board which polls each of the channels or modules to transfer sampled data onto a memory card 14 for total map recording. The unit 12 is also used for processing user input key operations and communicating to the display system the selected group of ECG strips. A display is necessary to serve as a means of interpreting the quality of the signals of each group of channels, for either gain selection or determining which electrodes may have poor skin contact. Once the patient hook-up is satisfactorily completed the recording method stores a pre-selected time frame (typically 5 seconds) of all the channels onto the memory card (typically 512 kbytes) for subsequent storage onto a permanent patient database in hospital.
+This analysis carried out by a further microprocessor computer section of the portable display unit 12 relates to the technique of graphically assessing ischaemic injury using data gathered and processed from the signals derived from the array 10. FIG. 5 shows the general digital ECG data flow and analysis. The microcontroller 21 receives the digitised data 20 and simultaneously transfers it to the memory card 22 and display module 23. The data is also simultaneously transferred to the microprocessor analyzer section 24 which performs automatic heartbeat detection, and the multiple ST elevation extracter 25 extracts the multiple ST elevations associated with each heartbeat. Each electrode provides an independent electrical picture of the heart when it is contracting as each one detects the summation of electrical changes in the heart from different angles or notional slices. Each picture or potential pattern will remain fairly constant from one heartbeat to the next in a normal contraction. Injury to the heart causes distortion or disturbance to this electrical activity and will result in changes in the potential pattern of those electrodes providing information on the injured area. The spread and depth of this damage causes more electrodes to change their potential pattern and the height of the ST component in each pattern. The multiple input signals are processed to extract the PQRST information. ST elevation (FIG. 2) is computed and selected as area under the ST segment or as a single or average value of at the ST segment taken at a fixed point into the ST segment relative to the S wave. Distribution information of the ST elevations is then displayed as a matrix of values or in a three dimensional bar/line or fishnet grid format. Calculating algorithms for calculating such formats are conventional as illustrated in the following publications: "Combined Manual For VidC & DigC" by Chirp Technical Services, pp.1--1 to 1-3; and Borland C++ Dos Reference, Version 4.0, p.54. This data is also stored on the memory card 22. This method of enabling the ischaemic injury to be assessed is shown in FIG. 6. The parameter known as ST level is an accepted measurement when detecting ischaemic injury in the standard twelve-lead system. Using the array 10 can now improve the accuracy of detecting ischaemic and infarct areas as well as of providing an estimate of the size of the damaged area. The method as presented here consists of producing a three dimensional profile of the ST levels processed from each electrode lead. Bar height or ST lead elevation refers to depth of damage as viewed from that specific electrode position. Therefore the overall damage can be quantified by the number of leads showing increased ST levels. This can be quickly reviewed by the doctor visually or as a statistical parameter. When ST maps are taken at different time periods and presented in this group format a better appreciation is given to the dramatic changes that take place when thrombolytic drugs are used to recover ischaemic injury. This recovery is reflected in the change or reduction of abnormal electrical activity, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Therefore, this information which indicates the rate of resolution of the ST due to the absorption rate of the thrombolytic agent, can only be captured if the ECG's are recorded at the onset of the heart attack. Office or hospital based systems, therefore, cannot provide this information with respect to the initial picture of the injured area for patients incurring heart attacks outside hospital.
+The multiple ECG maps are recorded as early as possible after the onset of symptoms of infarction. The electrode array 10 is attached to the anterior and part of the posterior surface of the thoracic torso. The simplified array 10 can make it possible to quickly apply and record from these multiple electrode sites on the chest wall. Should ventricular fibrillation develop rapid removal of the electrode array 10 is possible. During the initial period of acute myocardial infarction the only immediate changes are contained in the ST segment of the ECG. At this time equipotential maps are of little use because the ischaemic area has not yet developed. The ST maps produced from this portable system allow immediate patient management of the acute myocardial infarction and with the intervention of thrombolytic drugs will optimise the patient treatment. The ST map will normally change as the ischaemic damage develops and unless used at the site of the attack this data will be lost.
+The present invention provides a system and a method that allows immediate recording and processing of the electrical activity at the site of the heart attack. The portable processing of these multiple electrograms and in particular ST maps will increase the sensitivity of ischaemic damage, thereby improving the need for thrombolytic therapy and also providing a method of qualifying these drugs.
+The present invention also provides a method of allowing ST map monitoring during transport of the patient.
+The present invention also provides a form of presentation of 3-dimensional Q or ST or both maps for clinical evaluation.
+The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments described which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.
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+Deliverance - The Lost Abbey
+Ratings: 1,161 | Reviews: 370 | Show All Ratings:
+WillCarrera
+Ohio
+4.18/5 rDev -2.8%
+look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
+375 ml bottle, 2011 vintage, poured into a tulip glass.
+A- Pours a dark brown color, produces a thin layer of head that quickly vanishes to nothing, leaves no lacing.
+S- Bourbon and brandy notes as well as sweet dark fruit, chocolate, caramel and vanilla.
+T- Sweet and boozy but not overly so, has some flavors of bourbon and vanilla, chocolate, caramel and vanilla, the finish has flavors of wood and a bit of vinous fruit.
+M- Medium-bodied, slick feel with medium to low carbonation, a bit of boozy warmth.
+O- Another solid barrel-aged beer from the Lost Abbey.
+Serving type: bottle
+08-02-2012 10:49:19 | More by WillCarrera
+cfrances33
+Illinois
+4.35/5 rDev +1.2%
+look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
+2012 bottle poured into a Tired Hands wine glass.
+Pour: Nearly pitch black with a finger and a half tan head. Recedes quickly to a tan ring.
+Smell: Bourbon vanilla bursts from the glass. Really quite powerful. Some coffee.
+Taste: Bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and caramel. The bourbon us quite strong, but in a great way. Sweet.
+Mouthfeel: Very creamy. Viscous to the max. Pretty hot and very sweet.
+Overall: An amazing beer, and one I like better than Bourbon Barrel Angel's Share. My only complaint, if at all, is that it is severely sweet. But I'm just nitpicking with that one. Definitely get this
+Serving type: bottle
+07-29-2012 21:37:28 | More by cfrances33
+Etan
+Wisconsin
+4.05/5 rDev -5.8%
+look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
+12.7oz bottle into a snifter.
+A: Pours a very dark brown-black with a reddish tinge. Big fizzy chocolate head.
+S: Nice barrel-forward aroma. Vanilla, bourbon, big caramel, raisin, chocolate. Sweet alcohol heat and a bit of sugary grape (the brandy?).
+T: Burnt caramel, dark roast and a bit of tannic bitterness. Vanilla, big booze, heavy bourbon and oak. Dark fruits come out as it warms.
+M: Medium-bodied, slight fizzy carbonation, bit of an alcoholic bite.
+O: I can definitely taste both the Angel's Share and Serpent's Stout, so the blend is pretty competent. The barrel character is quite good but the heavy wood has thinned the beer out a bit. Overall a very good blend, but not the tastiest BA strong ale out there.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-20-2012 02:01:26 | More by Etan
+harrymel
+Washington
+3.7/5 rDev -14%
+look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
+Vintage 2010
+No audible pop at corking. Pours like spent oil - inky black-brown with heavy viscosity and little sign of carbonation. Lots of prune, caramel, bourbon and brandy, raisin, figs, and hints of cinnamon sugar in this one. Really pretty nose. Profoundly rich flavored beer: caramel, tawny, bitterness (surprised), nougat, chocolate - light, bourbon, figs, sugar and slight booze. Quite still on the mouthfeel, a slight effervescence. Warm and dry finish with a long standing flavor residual.
+I'm a bit torn here. The smell and flavor of the beer are top notch, but the look and mouthfeel are far from superior. I wish the beer was just slightly cabonated - previous bottles I've had were.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-19-2012 06:51:18 | More by harrymel
+jsanford
+Georgia
+4.58/5 rDev +6.5%
+look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+2012 vintage
+Pours dark brown with a dense, mocha-colored head that settles to a nice cap. Insane aromas of chocolate-covered raisin, brandy, bourbon, caramel, and brown sugar. Phenomenal nose. Big, boozy, and bold, with tons of chocolate, raisin, brandy, and caramel. Sweet and boozy, with a slightly "hot" finish. The definition of decadence. Velvet-smooth mouthfeel, with a medium-full body and just-right carbonation. Such a great beer, easily one of the best I've had from Lost Abbey.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-11-2012 01:46:11 | More by jsanford
+jnezda
+Texas
+4.63/5 rDev +7.7%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+Poured from 375ml bottle into snifter. Poured a beautiful oil black with dark tan full head. The aging comes through in the aromas coming from this beer, oaky, brandy/bourbon with some dark fruit or sugar. The mouthfeel was think and viscus almost warm from the booze over powering the malt characteristics. Agree with many of the other reviewers that the alcohol shows through perhaps a bit too much on this one. The barrel aging brings out some interesting after notes on the finish but I think this would improve if I had let is sit for awhile.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-08-2012 16:34:02 | More by jnezda
+51mmz0rz
+New Jersey
+4.7/5 rDev +9.3%
+look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+Poured form an 12.7 oz bottle into a tulip. No date from what I can tell.
+A: Body is totally opaque black. Nice light mocha head, tight bubbles, reasonable retention.
+S: Lots of vanilla and whiskey comes through in the nose, as well as the stout aromas. Smells like it has some age on it.
+T: A tremendous blend. Some roasty malt freshness along with just enough aged whiskey stout character. Totally outstanding.
+M: Beautifully carbonated, not flat like some barrel aged stouts I've had.
+D: They did everything right here. I wasn't crazy about angel's share, but the balance here is exactly what it was missing.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-07-2012 19:14:46 | More by 51mmz0rz
+liamt07
+Ontario (Canada)
+4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
+look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
+Bottle shared by Jason, 375ml into a tulip. Unknown vintage.
+Dark brown body, with a ring of brown head. Big legs, no retention however. Nose of sweet alcohol, dark chocolate, caramel candies, dark fruit and candi sugar. Oak and fudge as well. Alcohol is again prominent on the palate, fudge, oak and dark fruits. Brandy is a little more prominent that the bourbon, although both stand out in a boozy fashion. Mouthfeel is thick, viscous and boozy. Low carbonation, but not flat. A really good BA'd beer/blend - really brings forward some characteristics that I felt were reminiscent of BB4D in a really good way.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-05-2012 19:56:01 | More by liamt07
+tut2528
+Illinois
+3.96/5 rDev -7.9%
+look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
+2011 Vintage
+A: completely black, no transparency whatsoever. Pours about ½ fingers worth of head formation at the most, that is mocha colored. Moderate film sticks to the edge of the glass.
+S: huge bourbon notes complemented by dark fruits such as raisins and figs. I also get a bold roasted note aspect with some alcohol, but the alcohol sits in quite nice. There also is a nice sweet and sugary toffee to heighten the complexity in the nose.
+T: like the nose, except a monster of bourbon and the alcohol crush the palate. once you get past the ABV, some of the other pleasuring notes come up...dark fruits (raisins, figs again), mild coffee, mild chocolate, with a cream vanilla finish.
+M: full bodied, fits the appearance and the taste quite well. Carbonation much more enhanced than Angel’s Share.
+O: disappointing for the price that is it sold at, but glad I tried it. There are many other brews that are much less expensive and more well balanced than this one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good brew, but this was a one timer for me. I highly recommend laying this one down for an extended period of time to mellow out the bold alcohol because it is just too dominating at this moment.
+Serving type: bottle
+07-01-2012 13:08:36 | More by tut2528
+macktbone
+California
+4.6/5 rDev +7%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+Enjoyed at the Davis Beer Shoppe from a cooled bottle.
+A- dark but deffinately not black with a thin rim of head only around the edge in a light brown ring. Lots of gorgeous oil that lingers on the glass like a sweet wine.
+S- tone of whiskey barrel and brandied wood and purple velvet.
+T- Hot and buttery. Tobacco, grain and bourbon.
+M- good for the strong ale style but a little thin if put directly up against some of cali's great strong anniversary strong ales.
+D- highly enjoyable on the right occasion or as a treat for the soul.
+Great mix of two great outputs from Lost Abby. Another home run!
+Serving type: bottle
+06-26-2012 02:25:04 | More by macktbone
+Gatch
+Massachusetts
+4.53/5 rDev +5.3%
+look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
+A: Deep, dark brown. Not quite black. Light brown, bubbly, slowly fading head.
+S: Booze, bourbon, brandy, sour apple.
+T: Sweet, buttery, delicious bourbon. One of the most bourbon-forward beers I've tasted. Body is a bit thin. Faint roasted malt, dark chocolate, typical IS flavors but huge bourbon. Brandy is there. Burnt fruit flavors.
+M: Super smooth, warming, boozy, extremely tasty.
+O: Once it warms up...unspeakable brilliance. An absolute treat but a one-time opportunity at $20 for a 355ml bottle.
+Serving type: bottle
+06-20-2012 05:16:46 | More by Gatch
+ahijevyc
+Colorado
+4.75/5 rDev +10.5%
+look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
+This had everything I like: Imperial, Dark, roasted, ABV, and Bourbon.
+It graced us with its presence at West End and Backcountry Pizza and Taphouse in Boulder in Spring 2012. Pure awesome. I gave an average rating for "mouthfeel" because I don't remember. I'm not even sure I know what that means.
+This beer is in my top 5%. I actually thought Lost Abbey's Angel Share was even better (the Bourbon barrel version) so it isn't a surprise I loved this. Deliverance is part Angel's Share and part Serpent's Stout.
+Serving type: on-tap
+06-17-2012 02:02:37 | More by ahijevyc
+coreyfmcdonald
+Georgia
+3.63/5 rDev -15.6%
+look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
+375ml bottle into a snifter
+A: Very dark brown, pretty much black with a finger of lively head that sticks around for a while.
+S: Strong bourbon up front with dark chocolate, roast, and toffee. Very nice, but lacking a bit in complexity.
+T: Dark chocolate and toffee up front with brandy in the background. A bit on the dry side and quite boozy.
+M: A tad thin with adequate and fairly creamy carbonation. Could be more full bodied.
+O: Rarely do I feel like a beer needs to be aged, but this beer is very boozy and I believe it could develop some with age. Still decent, but I think I'll lay a couple of these down for a while.
+Serving type: bottle
+06-11-2012 01:57:49 | More by coreyfmcdonald
+Rifugium
+Pennsylvania
+4.48/5 rDev +4.2%
+look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+First had: on tap at Barcade, Philly, PA
+Served in a snifter, a thick black pour with a thin cap of chocolate head that dwindled to a ringlet. Creamy chocolate and vanilla on the aroma, smooth bourbon, caramel, minor vinous notes. Taste thick with dark malts, chocolate, a moderate roastiness, bourbon-soaked wood, vanilla, lesser notes of fruitcake brandy, brown sugar, tobacco. Smooth and dangerously mellow, and a bit too drinkable for a higher octane brew. Yummy.
+Serving type: on-tap
+06-05-2012 06:56:39 | More by Rifugium
+Wasatch
+Utah
+4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+Thanks goes out to dsgolovin for this brew.
+12.7 oz Bottle
+Caged/Corked
+Poured into a chalice a very nice black color, very nice carbonation, with a nice one-finger fizzy dark tan head, with a big oil slick in the middle of the glass. The nose is malty, sweet, with some cherries, bourbon, brandy, figs, raisins, plums. The taste is very nice, malty, with lots of dark fruits, and a nice touch of bourbon/brandy, slight chocolate note. Full/Medium body, ABV hidden very well. It's been awhile since I've had a LA brew, but this one is a very very tasty brew, highly recommended. Thanks David!
+Serving type: bottle
+06-03-2012 20:29:23 | More by Wasatch
+sidetracked
+Illinois
+4.15/5 rDev -3.5%
+look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+On-tap at Acre for Faux-BAB.
+Pours black with brown highlights and medium brown head.
+Aroma of bourbon, wood, and some dark fruits.
+Upfront taste is heavy on bourbon with a light roasted malt base, a little chocolate, and dark fruits. Blast of bourbon and wood dominate the finish.
+Full bodied and syrupy with low to medium carbonation. Sticky finish with decent alcohol heat.
+Very barrel-forward. Glad to see that it came carbonated. Not too complex as the bourbon overwhelms a lot of the flavors and aromas, but very enjoyable. If this wasn't so expensive in bottle format, I'd stock up on it.
+5/23/2012
+Serving type: on-tap
+05-26-2012 15:46:06 | More by sidetracked
+4thelvofbeer
+Virginia
+4.13/5 rDev -4%
+look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
+Reviewing a 2011 Vintage Deliverance Ale.
+A: Pours black with a brown head, quickly disappears to a slight tan rim-foam...
+S/T: Stong with alcohol right up front, almost to the point of overpowering but, smooths out quickly with a sweet flavor of bourbon and brandy notes, sweet heat, some candied sugars, vanilla and molasses notes in the background. A long finish lingers leaving a nice vanilla taste behind....
+M: Somewhat thick, oily and a bit slick. Not really digging the mouthfeel here...seems it is missing something, but can't really pin down exactly what...needs to be smoother....
+O: Good, not great. A nice sipping beer, but really lacks in the mouthfeel dept. Try if you have not had it before, but not drinkable quantities above one bottle...
+Serving type: bottle
+05-25-2012 00:38:07 | More by 4thelvofbeer
+cradke
+Texas
+4.45/5 rDev +3.5%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
+Appearance: Black with some brown and amber hues. A thin head fades except at the edge of the glass.
+Smell: Intense bourbon and sweetness. Brown sugar, some brandy. Enjoyably intense.
+Taste: Sweet up front. Some heat comes out. Good bourbon and distinct brandy flavors hover around a great malt base. The alcohol is there but very enjoyable.
+Mouthfeel: Nice carbonation and thickness. I dig, I dig.
+Overall: I got this in a trade as an extra and love it. For a BA beer, this is world class. The complexity is great, the sweetness is very much there (almost a bit too much even) but the distinct brandy and bourbon notes are awesome.
+Serving type: bottle
+05-22-2012 06:29:23 | More by cradke
+yamar68
+Minnesota
+4.5/5 rDev +4.7%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+Been anxiously waiting for some special occasion to open this one. I guess Monday night is special enough. Poured from 375ml to tulip:
+Pours an inky black with a half finger of light mocha head. Stubborn lacing and sultry legs.
+The nose is stuffed with smooth bourbon and spicy wood. Malted caramel and toffee, warming booze and licorice. Some cherry notes as well.
+Hot damn. Delicious. All the expected players make an appearance with the addition of some tart, earthy woods. Very nice. The booze is nicely incorporated.
+The feel is what I was concerned about. I had heard from countless people that Lost Abbey beers are notoriously flat. This is far from flat. Velvety smooth, beautiful.
+Overall, I desperately wish we could get Lost Abbey here in the north woods. If their other beers are even half as good as this, I would be their biggest customer. WANT.
+Serving type: bottle
+05-22-2012 02:38:04 | More by yamar68
+yourefragile
+District of Columbia
+3.55/5 rDev -17.4%
+look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
+12.7 oz cork and caged bottle. 2010 bottle.
+Hard, vigorous pour produces a thin, fleeting light tan head that faded to a thin collar with no lace on top of an opaque, still and viscous milk chocolate. Strong, barrel heavy and boozy nose, dominated by brandy and vanilla, raisin, plum and brown sugar. Medium full body with trace, light carbonation. For this type of beer the lack of carbonation isn't a problem but for this particular beer wears out my tolerance for the flavor quickly. Still extremely hit and boozy, with a very sweet profile, Belgian yeast, raisin, molasses, vanilla, brandy and chocolate malt. Carbonation would help, but this would still be a chore to drink.
+Serving type: bottle
+05-20-2012 01:39:52 | More by yourefragile
+BostonHops
+Massachusetts
+4.38/5 rDev +1.9%
+look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
+12.7oz bottle served in a snifter glass.
+pours an opaque, deep mahogany/borderline black tone with a short tan head that soon lapses into a collar around the glass; decent lacing.
+outstanding, aromatic nose is replete with bourbon, chocolate and roasted malts; caramel or perhaps toffee; also picking up on a subtle note of vanilla. smells deliciously complex. i get the brandy a little more in the flavor, with the bourbon, chocolate, and roasted malts all pulling through in fine form... bit of a molasses presence... very interesting brew; unique and tasty. not quite as delicious as the nose led me to believe it would be, but close. very close. big boozy kick to the finish, unsurpising given the 12.5% ABV on this bad boy. yum.
+full-bodied mouthfeel with light carbonation. the quintessential sipper - one is most certainly enough per sitting (even if it wasn't so costly). highly recommended.
+originally reviewed: 12-06-2010
+Serving type: bottle
+05-18-2012 22:34:47 | More by BostonHops
+AgentMunky
+California
+4.38/5 rDev +1.9%
+look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
+Poured from a 12.7 ounce into a Knoingshoeven chalice. The bottle date is rubbed off.
+A: Opaque dark brown-red. No head.
+S: Boozy. Bourbon and brandy both make an appearance, but I think the Serpent's Stout overpowers the Angel's Share. Roasted-dry malts are reminiscent of an imperial stout. A rich, ensorcelling scent, deserving of full marks.
+T/M: An intriguing combination that definitely works, though I think in the favour Angel's Share. It shares the same fruit (grape) heaviness, with a smoothness that is perhaps a bit TOO smooth. However, the deep dark chocolate maltiness balances it out with bitterness. Excellent!
+O: Damn. A big, huge, powerful, compelling beer. That doesn't, however, make it an excellent beer by necessity. Worth trying, worth buying, would have again. Recommended.
+Serving type: bottle
+05-17-2012 07:04:25 | More by AgentMunky
+mondegreen
+Georgia
+4.18/5 rDev -2.8%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
+375ml Bottle into a Bruery Tulip
+Pours pitch black with a healthy fan head. The head falls to a thin film leaving only slight lacing on the glass.
+Nose is complex. Heavy on the spirits (boozy), but invitingly sweet at the same time. The barrel character overshadows anything else in the brew, but it smells fantastic.
+The taste is a touch hot, but not overwhelmingly so. The balance of the two barrels is masterful - the bourbon and brandy play very well together. A residual wood flavor dries the palate slightly. Everything works together here.
+The mouth is a little more thin than I'd like. This beer tastes like it should be motor oil thick, but it comes off as medium bodied.
+Overall, a supremely enjoyable brew from Lost Abbey. I hope this is an indication of things to come from Lost Abbey's barrel program.
+Serving type: bottle
+05-16-2012 22:12:18 | More by mondegreen
+jondeelee
+Massachusetts
+4.55/5 rDev +5.8%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5.
+Serving type: bottle
+05-14-2012 16:47:07 | More by jondeelee
+Drinkerofales
+California
+4.4/5 rDev +2.3%
+look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
+Pours brown, ends up black, with no light passing, some brown in the edges as well. A medium sized mocha dissipates rather quickly to a well retained ring, constantly supplied with new bubbles sliding up the glass.
+Smell is chocolaty, sweet bourbon, booze, and a hint of vanilla and dark fruitiness.
+Taste is bitter chocolate, bourbon, booze, roasted malts, and dark fruits soaked in brandy.
+Full bodied, and very silky smooth. A bit of heat, but expected. A sipper for sure, which smooths more as it warms.
+What a treat to find this within walking distance of work, and the cheapest price yet. I will be getting more for sure, this was delicious.
+DOA
+Serving type: bottle
+05-04-2012 19:24:04 | More by Drinkerofales
+Deliverance from The Lost Abbey
+95 out of 100 based on 1,161 ratings.
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+As well as in an effort to help make products less one-dimensional, EA Pacific has chose to include unit updates. AKs for the enraged Mob being just one such instance. Resource management and building construction have also received overhauls. Each part begins on with a bulldozer, which acts as your building car funny, but i have for ages been under the impression that bulldozers were intended for knocking things down. These can erect new structures everywhere on the chart, as opposed to only within your base.
+EA Pacific is wishing that this can open up an entire new array of tactical options in Generals. Resource gathering will revolve around pick up trucks and offer depots. Will they fall into the floor and lb the earth with scab-covered fists and shout:. The blend regarding the two will be called the Sage engine.
+Now this is certainly a strange one. The 3D engine is just one big reason and seeing it operating at E3 shown that Westwood has gained from biding their time and watching otl ler strategy games make the error of getting truth be told there first.
+Mark Skaggs, executive producer on the game, went us through an average objective, which kicks off with a botched political murder in a little fishing town.
+A UN envoy, being escorted to Kazakhstan, is ambushed by two vehicles that explode and take-out the escort cars, offering us initial taste for the cinematic high quality for the visuals. After a hefty firefight Skaggs settles accountable for a US and allied Chinese base and purchases the construction of a nuke. A bridge distinguishes him from the adversary GLA base, and a giant dam is located upstream.
+Instead of making this to your imagination, the latest engine lets you monitor significant events similar to this and witness the fallout, in this situation the sight of this villagers trying, and eventually failing, to outrun the water. Of course, being a Westwood presentation, Skaggs gets their ultimate revenge by calling a nuclear attack and obliterating the GLA soldiers.
+Westwood always manages to have enjoyable into its games but the build-and-rush strategies of old are becoming stale plus it has to proceed. Despite their defects, and there were many throughout the seven-year history of the franchise, the games have always achieved enormous playability through addictive gameplay, a somewhat cheesy feeling of humour and an aura of toy-like wonder built into each and every device. This time around it will take place in the long run involving the American, Asia and the terrorist organisation associated with the GLA worldwide Liberation Army within the structure of a continuous campaign, with eight to ten missions for each side, maps and a skirmish mode.
+The theory is to keep quality high at the cost of quantity. Tiberian Sun was also very serious and hardcore and we desired to make a move which was in the centre.
+Our goal is to make a game that is like a Hollywood action war film which has had this sense of enjoyable, then when you go out, you feel great. The developers have certainly played on this, also they should, with paused explosions during the in-game cut-scenes that demonstrate off the might of the recently created Sage motor and degree rotations, that could came straight out of Swordfish. Cars will leave tracks and drive over walls and trees, instead of just rolling through them like they did formerly; rangers will drop down onto the top of structures to eliminate opponent troops.
+In game play terms, this implied that in the event that you worked out the structure the enemy units would follow, you can usually overcome them with ease. This might be something which EA Pacific is trying to deal with in Generals. Therefore, if a unit uncloaks nearby, your soldier will have some kind of ‘Wow a stealth device has simply showed up! The Chinese and GLA may also just take enemy units prisoner. The GLA usage tranquiliser darts to knock out opponent soldiers and special snipers that may fire through armour to destroy tank motorists and capture their vehicles.
+The Chinese decide for plastic bullets and simply take their prisoners of war back once again to their propaganda centre where these are typically brainwashed until they turn into Chinese products. Even buildings have special attributes. For example, the Americans fill theirs up with rangers that spill out of them as soon as the building is destroyed, and the Chinese have actually mines all around their base building, so nearing them is potentially life-threatening.
+But probably the most interesting, is the sub-basements of this GLA, which enable a building to rebuild it self through the cellar up only if the main element of it’s damaged.
+It is something that will undoubtedly be useful during some of the greater amount of powerful strike assaults. Every side features a choice of three Generals at the start of each mission, every one of gives their particular side various advantages, improvements and special products, instead just like the sub-races you can ally with in Emperor: Battle For Dune.
+And like a master, whenever their particular command center is damaged, they truly are extremely weak, with only a pistol to defend all of them. The most effective brass into the GLA train up their products to veteran level much faster and change them into superior guerilla fighters.
+They may be able additionally be a dab hand at biological warfare too. They also have a Warlord General who provides the Chinese tanks a horde bonus, making them an incredibly powerful siege force when kept together.
+Just a little been here, done that,” explains Browder. We want to make great games, not great games mixed with bad TV shows! Another familiar the main Westwood games, that of resource administration, has also been revamped for Generals. The united states use helicopters to pick up resources from supply heaps and return all of them with their base, whereas the GLA use individuals to perform some same thing. The Chinese concentrate on hacking the web for resources.
+Asia is a technological superpower that utilizes propaganda and the net to fuel its war work, while the major reason everyone is going to war after all may be the nefarious GLA, a terrorist group who are developing weapons of size destruction. Starting to sound familiar? Nonetheless, this doesn’t suggest it is simply a brushed up version of Red alarm 2 with a few brand new units chucked in, there’s far more occurring underneath the surface than that.
+However, this appears like gimmickry when compared to the little details you keep noticing out from the place of your eye, which truly add level into the game. In reality, in a variety of ways Generals is an even more precise portrayal of war than numerous official development reports. At this point small things such as this sound so fundamental to method games that you must ask yourself why Westwood clung with their antiquated system for such a long time.
+The traditional upgrading mode was improved on various levels. You will find upgrades for some of this buildings and various improvements when it comes to products that endow them with additional weapons, rate and get attack bonuses. Alongside that, as a new player you get promotions considering your overall performance throughout the online game, which in turn lets you access brand-new technology.
+Site gathering happens to be processed also, so that you’re no longer worrying such about small piles of tiberian or gold.
+Controlling stockpiles as well as the numerous civil structures like hospitals and oil derricks remains an important part of gameplay, but each side happens to be provided imaginative means of generating resources from in their very own base.
+Picture of this time: “small stellar” galaxy in
+constellation hounds dogs
+24.12.2021 [23:34],
+Sergey Karasev
+In April 1789, the English astronomer of German origin William Herschel found the bright galaxy NGC 4707: then he suggested into the information it is a “small stellar” galaxy when you look at the constellation of Hounds.
+And now, almost 230 years later, the NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope has transmitted a detailed image for this object. The picture ended up being posted on the website of the United States nationwide Aeronautics and area management (NASA).
+NGC 4707 is located about 22 million light years from us. The galaxy is viewed as a spiral, though it does not have a well-defined structure typical for items with this kind.
+The picture had been taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) onboard the Hubble, that has been put in during one of the telescope upkeep missions. NGC 4707 looks like a chaotic scattering of movie stars on a black “canvas” with blue “blots”. The latter are elements of celebrity formation with a large number of youthful stars.
+Club for Growth defends Herman Cain, 9-9-9 plan
+The. “Eliminating taxes on capital gains and dividends and combining that with huge rate cuts in both corporate and income taxes would create an unparalleled economic boom. 9-9-9 also eliminates the regulatory and compliance costs from the current tax code that suck billions out of the economy each year. It is an outline for a more prosperous and globally competitive America.”
+“Those who argue against the sales tax component of 9-9-9 really miss the mark,” said Chocola. “Of course a future Congress could raise taxes above the 9% levels, but under our current monstrosity of a tax system, Congress already can raise taxes at any time and often has. It is on a path to do so yet again next year with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Herman Cain’s proposal might not be the perfect plan,. The American people deserve nothing less.”
+The Club is neutral in the campaign, but this is the first time that Chocola has shored up the flank of a candidate under fire.Continue Reading
+Get reporter alerts
+- Maggie Haberman
+Readers' Comments (52)
+Technology is taking over more and more of the complicated tasks which slow down and trip up humans.
+A diet plan, for instance, can be designed to replenish expended calories using balanced macronutrients.
+When the method is applied to taxes,combinations of entities can be tapped according to the constraints Congress sets that can be applied to all amounts and types of income, expenditures, assets and liabilities each entity has to match government expenditures using the same linear (and non-linear) programming method.
+This method can employ existing constraint limits while allowing technology to work out the details.
+The number of calories (government expenditures) a person burns can be replenished with meals (taxes) composed of calculated combinations of varying amounts of available ingredients, which fall within the minimum and maximum constraints for each macronutrient (fats, carbohydrates and proteins) and other nutrients such as fiber (income category).
+Using this method the constraints can be adjusted to permit payment of the government's expenditures without over or under taxation.
+It's a radical proposal, but one that can solve the deficit problem automatically, once the expenditures, resources and constraints are defined by the government and the people....
+To use a direct quote from the piece..'Herman Cain's proposal may not be the perfect plan'.. it's actually far from perfect according to a rational economic analysis with adding $200B in deficits, distorting taxes in some states that rely on sales taxes and have no income tax, and on and on. Then there's the political reality that it does not have a snow balls chance in H*** of passing Congress. So where does that lead us.... into a dead end.
+Let's face it, if this plan will lower the tax level of the super wealthy from 35% to 9%, that's a great thing! They are the job creators. They care about us. Their extra millions will trickle down to the underlings. Probably we'll have a situation like Alabama where there are now too many jobs and no one to fill them.
+Even the paid campaign consultant who scored the plan for Cain said the idea was more of a theory than a politically viable solution — and not the route he would suggest himself.
+If your own team has doubts, you are in a bit of trouble. If your entire campaign is about one issue, 999, you are in even more trouble.
+Sounds interesting on the surface, but those states that have a state sales tax will feel the most pain. Then the poorer people, wow, their personal tax will now becomes 9% (instead of 0% after deductions)add to that a sales tax of 9% and your at over 15% if you account for some savings and non taxable items. Oh, will that change too! What about California's state sales tax and local sales taxes. Personally, I am not the "poorer" but after deductions (home owner)I am paying that now, without the fed sales tax! add to that a fed sales tax and I am over taxed!!!!!
+Those who are against any proposal to completely overhaul the tax code are the same people who are benefiting the most from the archaic code we now have.
+The problem with the 9-9-9 is not the idea, but the insatiable appetite for the federal government for our money. A 9% national sales tax seems fair as long as the other two get absolutely locked into place. This junk about it being "regressive" is a Democratic campaign advertisement that we are not feeding those who are "rich" to an angry mob armed with pitchforks and by torchlight -- its just a way of getting votes.
+But in a time when our President has gotten elected and is again running on a platform that Americans do not deserve to keep anything we have earned, inherited, stolen, borrowed or been gifted, and that we "owe" whoever the Feds decide needs the money, do you really think that any of the nines are going to stay that way? And for everyone equally?
+We have a Constitutional Amendment that states "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration." Yeah, I know the Constitution is a moldy old document written by out of touch elitists, but this Amendment is less than 100 years old! And the sole and only reason for the Constitution was and is to protect the common citizens from the Federal Government -- the Founders understood that no politician could be trusted with our lives, liberties ... or money. Our spending excess has proven the need for that document for all time!
+So, Mr. Cain ... interesting idea, probably would work, but I don't trust you or anybody else in Washington to not keep the national sales tax and revert to the 91% on marginal income that used to be levied. Strangely that is 100% which is what any socialistic government feels they are owed!
+I would repeal the 16'th Amendment (above) and make the Feds run golf tournaments and raffles to keep themselves in business. Or beg with guys like Warren Buffet.
+Mr. Chocola said: "... would amount to a massive job creating tax cut on investments ..."
+This comment shows a stunning ignorance of Cain's plan. As part of the plan, the workers wages and benefits would no longer be deductible for businesses. This will put another massive downward pressure on both hiring workers and paying them well. Even the most ignorant person should be able to see that.
+But then again, you need to realize what type of person we are dealing with. The Club for Growth is merely a shill organization for the wealthy. It's time to recognize these so-called conservatives for what they are. They are dangerous reactionaries that are leading this country to ruin.
+When support comes from organizations like Club for Growth, the 99% had better grab their wallets...
+Club for Growth is part of the Kochtopus faux-libertarian empire. Real libertarians don't get sucked into this fantasy. You can tell how committed Cain is to low tax small government by his opposition to Federal Reserve transparency and auditing, and his support of TARP bailouts.
+For principled supporters of limited government, Ron Paul is the real deal.
+There are 5 STATES that have NO SALES TAX and there are 9 STATES that have NO INCOME TAX. Then all of a sudden, you want them taxed at 9% sales tax and 9% income tax. Do you think millions of those people will be happy that they will have to start paying taxes that for the longest time they paid zero? At least in California, the sales tax is close to 9%. What about the cities and states that have lower sales tax rate? Do you think they will be happy also? Think about that! Cain's 999 plan is bad for America. It will create a burden to a lot of people when buying things. Right now, some pays none. Other pays too low of a sales tax. Then you want it uniform? The sales tax of 9% will add another burden to the people who are already suffering from lost or declining income. The rich instead of paying 35% will end up paying 9%. Do you think that's fair? People complain that the rich are not paying enough taxes yet under Cain's 999 plan, they will pay the same rate as the poor people.
+The 999 is a disaster plan. It will create tax burden to millions of people. It will not solve our economic problem. Too simplistic.Our economic problem is complicated and the solution can't be just turned into a simple 999 plan.
+Anyone who claims to support this plan is either very rich or completely stupid. Only a simple minded person would be in favor of this "simple" tax plan. It eliminates Social Security and Medicare, it has no provision for how we would tax American products with foreign components, it DOUBLES the taxes on the poor. This guy is going to go down in flames very shortly once his plan is read and analyzed by people with brains.
+How quaint! The Club for Growth (a group that won't disclose where their funding comes from), supports 9-9-9, a tax plan borrowed from a video game (SimCity). The man pushing said plan, Herman Cain, just happens to be a former chairman of the Federal Reserve (that private banking cartel that poses as a government organization and "administers" our economy with no transparency).
+At least we know that much of Herman Cain's funding is from the Koch Brothers, a couple of politically-minded "patriots" whose taxes would be halved by the 9-9-9 plan.
+What I wonder tho, is what is going to happen to the national debt, already out of control, when billionaires and corporations pay half as much tax?
+marielle: Let's not forget what it'll be like in high tax states. I live in NYC. Our sales tax rate is already almost 9%. Really the lowest classes are going to have to pay a total of 18% sales tax on top of another 9% of local and state income taxes? This is a tax cut how?.
+Lets tax those that can't afford it, that will surely empower the American economy!
+I swear it must be backwards day every day in Hermain Cain's head.
+Headline should be corrected to read: "Club for the Enrichment of Millionaires Defends Plan to Eliminate Middle Class".
+why does hermans plan benefit only rich. lower credit card interest to 9 percent too....
+herman, your plan only benefits the rich mainly....
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+Furry comics for February 2013 (Previews and Marvel Previews)
+Here’s what’s coming up in February next year, for those of you who buy comic books. For those of you who don’t, I guess you can skip this one.
+Ape Entertainment
+Dragons: Riders of Berk #2
+Written by Aaron Sparrow and Jai Nitz, art by James Silvani, Amy Mebberson and Aaron Lopresti
+Full color, 28 pages, US $3.99
+ dispostal issues. Can Hiccup come up with a way to keep the streets of Berk free of dragon deposits?”
+Penguins of Madagascar Volume 2 #4
+Written by Jackson Lanzing, art by Anonio Campo and Bob Renzas
+Full color, 24 pages, US $3.99
+“The comics based on DreamWorks Animation!”
+Antarctic Press
+Action Time Buddies #1
+Written by Robby Bevard, art by Fred Perry
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Gold Digger #148
+Writing and art by Fred Perry
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+ traveled from the dawn of time to light her darkest hour. An ancient peebo named Peebri!”
+Archie Comic Publications
+Sonic the Hedgehog #246
+Written by Ian Flynn, art by Terry Austin, Tracy Yardley and Matt Herms
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99
+hot in the mix? Find out in this exciting finale!”
+Sonic Universe #49
+Written by Ian Flynn, art by Jim Amash, Stephen Downer and Tracy Yardley
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99
+?”
+Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within Volume 1
+Trade paperback
+Written by Tania Del Rio, art by Tania Del Rio, Jim Amash and Jason Jensen
+Black and white, 256 pages, US $10.99
+!”
+crossie’s note: There’s a talking cat in this, right? I think there’s a talking cat.
+Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Volume 20
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ian Flyn, art by Patrick Spaz Spaziante
+ Saga Volume 2: Order from Chaos
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ian Flynn, art by Patrick Spaz Spazinante and Tracy Yardley
+Full color, 112 pages, US $11.99
+!”
+crossie: Anonymous, huh? I hate that guy.
+Sonic Super Digest #2
+Trade Paperback
+Art by Tracy Yardley, Matt Herms
+Full color, 128 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Sonic Universe Volume 3: Knuckles Returns
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ian Flynn, art by Tracy Yardley and Ben Hunzeker
+?”
+Big Dog Ink
+Ursa Minor #5
+Written by Tom Hutchison, art by Ian Snyder, Sony Merbitt and Natalie Sanders
+Full color, 28 pages, US $3.50, mature themes
+“A detour takes Naomi and company to Hungary. Lady Bathory is about to receive visitors for the first time in hundreds of years.”
+crossie’s note: Some kind of sexy werebear comic, I think. You don’t see a lot of those.
+Bongo Comics
+SpongeBob Comics #17
+Written by Robert Leighton, art by Gregg Schigiel
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99
+“Readers take SpongeBob’s fate into their own hands in Trading Laces, a choose-your-own-porous-path interactive adventure comic by puzzle-designer Robert Leighton (The New Yorker) and artist Gregg Schigiesl )!”
+Buymetoys.com
+The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: Prelude to Evil #3
+Written by Ben Avery, Casey Heying, art By Teddy Riawan and Casey Heying
+Full color, 24 pages, US $3.99
+“Mr. Raven sets Sarah on the path to her Destiny, but is anyone prepared for what that means? Oz and Wonderland will be changed forever. Don’t miss the last chapter of The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles prequel series!”
+The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles Prelude
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ben Avery and Casey Heying, art by Casey Heying, Teddy Riawan and Arthur Suydam
+Full color, 136 pages, US $14.99
+“Sarah’s life is about to take a very unexpected turn. As a chance encounter with Alica and Dorothy sets in motion events that will change Oz and Wonderland forever! Collects The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: Prelude to Evil #1-3, Oz/Wonderland KIDS, an exclusive Wizard of Oz pulp-style story, and plenty of extras! Featuring a cover by Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies)!”
+The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles Volume 1
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ben Avery, art by Casey Heying, Glen Orbik and Alex Ross
+Full color, 184 pages, US $19.99
+“Alice and Dorothy must leave their modern Chicago lives to return to their childhood fantasy lands, as the Jabberwocky from Wonderland threatens to destroy everything.”
+The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles Volume 2
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ben Avery, art by Casey Heying, Glen Orbik and Alex Ross
+Full color, 184 pages, US $19.99
+“Upon returning to Oz, Dorothy and Alice only find death and destruction, compliments of the (new?) Wicked Witch!”
+Boom! Studios
+Adventure Time #13
+Writing and art by Ryan North, art by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+“Critics are calling Adventure Time the best series of 2012! Get the latest issue of the hottest all-ages comic on the stands! Join Finn and Jake as they work to save BMO from a magical virus … by going inside the game!”
+Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake #2 (of 6)
+Writing and art by Natasha Allegri
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Fairy Quest #1 (of 2)
+Written by Paul Jenkins, art by Humberto Ramos
+Full color, 32 pages, US !”
+Garfield #10
+Written by Mark Evanier, art by Andy Hirsch, Dan Davis and David DeGrand
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Peanuts #6
+Writing and art by Charles M. Schulz and Vicki Scott
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Planet of the Apes: Cataclysm #6
+Written by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman, art by Damian Couceiro
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+“As Ape City struggles to build itself back together, tensions between the ape races are reaching a boiling point as aid quickly runs out. Zira and Lucius struggle to find help before chaos descends, once again, on the planet of the apes!”
+Planet of the Apes Special #1
+Written by Daryl Gregory, art by Diego Barreto
+Full color, 32 pages, US $4.99
+“Daryl Gregory returns to the Planet of the Apes in this this epic over-sized issue, featuring fan-favorite artist Diego Barreto (Irredeemable) throughout 32 pages of new story and art! It’s the return of what Jason Aaron (Scalped, Wolverine and the X-Men) called: ‘The …”
+Adventure Time Vol. 2
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Ryan North, art by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb
+Full color, 128 pages, US $14.99
+a and Jake? Find out more in this exciting volume!”
+Peanuts Vol. 2
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Charles M. Schulz, Shane Houghton, Vicki Scott, Mona Koth, Alexis E. Fajardo, Paige Braddock, Jeff Dyer and Bob Scott, art by Charles M. Schulz, Paige Braddock, Matt Whitlock, Vicki Scott, Mike DeCarlo, Mona Koth and Bob Scott
+Full color, 112 pages, US $13.99
+.”
+Dark Horse
+Emily and the Strangers #2 (of 3)
+Written by Rob Reger and Mariah Huehner, art by Emily Ivie and Buzz Parker
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99, on sale Feb. 27
+“Emily’s ready to rock ‘n’.”
+crossie’s note: I can’t remember if the first issue came out in December, when I would have typed it out but never submitted it. Anyway, the original solicit was much clearer on the furry aspects; namely, Emily’s cats.
+DC
+Animal Man #17
+Written by Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder, art by Steve Pugh and Yanick Paquette
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated T+, on sale Feb. 6
+“The epic climax of Rotworld starts here and continues in this month’s Swamp Thing #17! All hope seems lost! Can Buddy find a way to stop the Rot before it takes over the world! Before that can even happen, Buddy must confront the horrible truth about the fate of the his family.”
+DC Universe Presents #17
+Written by Joe Keatinge, art by Ricken and Ryan Sook
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated T, on sale Feb. 20
+!”
+Dial H #9
+Written by China Meiville, art by Alberto Ponticelli, Dan Green and Brian Bolland
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated T+, on sale Feb. 6
+.”
+The Flash #17
+Written by Francis Manupul and Brian Buccellato, art by Francis Manupul
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated T, on sale Feb. 27
+“The finale of Gorilla Warfare as Barry’s battle with Grodd comes to its bone-crunching conclusion! Don’t miss the introduction of one of The Flash’s greatest foes!”
+Looney Tunes #211
+Written by Sholly Fisch, art by Robert Pope and Scott McRae
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated E, on sale Feb. 6
+“Porky Pig is taking driving lessons - and Daffy Duck is his teacher! Join Daffy and Porky on a wild ride!”
+The Savage Hawkman #17
+Written by Frank Tieri, art by Joe Bennett and Art Thibert
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated T, on sale Feb. 27
+“The Shadow Thief makes his first appearance in The New 52! Hawkman’s mission to uncover the secrets of Thanagarian weapons on Earth leads him into the path of a deadly Xerxes!”
+Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #30
+Written by Sholly Fisch, art by Scott Neely and Scott Gross
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated E, on sale Feb. 6
+“The gang takes a trip to New Orleans and discovers a curse of zombie-fying proportions! Can Mystery, Inc. crack the case before falling victim themselves?”
+Superman Family Adventures #10
+Written by Art Baltazar and Franco, art by Art Baltazar
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, rated E, on sale Feb. 27
+“General Zod escaped from the Phantom Zone … to open up a hot dog stand? Can Superman save Metropolis from the fiery footsteps of fifty-foot frankfurters?! Maybe – but can we let him finish his lunch first?”
+Drawn & Quarterly
+Moomin Builds a House
+Trade Paperback
+Writing and art by Tove Jansson
+Full color, 56 pages, US $9.95
+ Falls in Love
+Trade Paperback
+Writing and art by Tove Jannson
+Full color, 56 pages, US $9.95
+“Moominvalley is flooded, so Snorkmaiden and Moomin head out to rescue anyone stranded in the deluge. They bring home Miss La Groona, the leading lady of the visiting circus, who turns out to be quite a demanding houseguest. Nonetheless, Moomin, having read a few too many romantic novels, falls head over heels in love with her, and chaos ensues.”
+Moomin: Valley Turns Jungle
+Trade Paperback
+Writing and art by Tove Jannson
+Full color, 48 pages, US $9.95
+“Moomin: Valley Turns Jungle is the second companion volume in D+C’s new Moomin full color paperback series.
+Trade Paperback
+Writing and art by Tove Jannson
+Full color, 48 pages, US $9.95
+.”
+Fantagraphics Books
+Good Dog
+Harcover
+Writing and art by Graham Chaffee
+Black and white, 80 pages, US $16.99
+.”
+The Complete Peanuts Vol. 19 1987-1988
+Hardcover
+Writing and art by Charles M. Schulz
+Black and white, 344 pages, US $28.99
+ which, along with Schulz’s increased use of gray tones, give this volume a striking, distinctive look.”
+IDW
+The Adventures of Augusta Wind #4 (of 5)
+Written by J.M. DeMatteis, art by Vassilis Gogtzilas
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+“August and her companions seek refuge in the underwater world of Lake Innermost. But an attack by the Terrible Something forces them into deeper waters, and even deeper mystery, when they come face-to-face with the enigmatic Sleeper On The Ocean Of Story.”
+My Little Pony: Frienship is Magic #4
+Written by Katie Cook, art by Andy Price and Stephanie Buscema
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+?”
+My Little Pony Micro-Series #1 (of 6) Twilight Sparkle
+Written by Thom Zahler, art by Amy Mebberson and Thom Zahler
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+“Introducing the first of six spotlights focusing on everyone’s favorite Ponies! Twilight Sparkle becomes enthralled in a literary masterpiece. Dismayed to hear the series never continured, Twilight goes on a quest to hunt down the reclusive author, Jade Singer. It will take all of the studious Pony’s detective skill to find the author, and twists and turns abound! Don’t miss this adventure in imagination!”
+crossie’s note: Still sounds like pony ‘Misery’ to me.
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #19
+Written by Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman, art by Ben Bates
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #50 Treasury Edition
+Writing and art by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
+Black and white, 72 pages, US $9.99
+“A deluxe treasury-sized version of a classic! Presenting the landmark silent 50th issue of Eastman and Laird’s TMNT. Part one of the epic 13 issue City at War arc, reprinting the original layouts in fantastic, oversized glory … bonus pin-ups from Todd McFarlane, Walter Simonson, Erik Larsen and more!”
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics #9
+Writing and art by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and Michael Downey
+Full color, 38 pages, US $3.99
+“A young man wakes screaming from a recurring dream about samurais in battle. Elsewhere, Master Splinter mediates and senses someone … something … is searching for him. Find out what it all means in this newly colored reprint of the TMNT classic!”
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secret History of the Foot Clan #3 (of 4)
+Written by Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham, art by Mateus Santolouco
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99!”
+Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots #4 (of 4)
+Written by Mike Johnson and Mairghread Scott, art by Agustin Padilla and Ken Christiansen
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+“Dinobot war! Grimlock leads the Dinobots against Shockwave’s troops – and the results won’t be pretty! With Swoop under the Ser-Ket’s control, it’s an all-or-nothing battle of Dinobot versus Predacon – with the fate of Cybertron hanging on every punch, blast, jab and bite! Don’t miss the senses-shattering conclusion to this mind-blowing miniseries!”
+True Blood #10
+Written by Michael McMillian, art by Greg Scott and Michael Gaydos
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.99
+!”
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Animated, Vol. 1
+Trade Paperback
+Full color, 112 pages, US $7.99
+“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming out of the sewers and back to your TV screen! And TMNT Animated adapts these kinetic, fast, action-packed episodes into comic book form! Read along and re-live the cartoon action with Leo, Don, Mikey, Raph, Splinter, April and Shredder in these young reader volumes.”
+Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 4: Sins of the Fathers
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman, art by Andy Kuhn
+Full color, 104 pages, US $17.99
+“The forces of good and evil marshal on multiple fronts in Sins of the Fathers. The Turtles have a new mission, but Shredder’s ambitions could put and end to it before they begin. Plus, Krang unveils his master plan! How far will the Turtles go to defend themselves?”
+Image Comics
+Elephantmen #47
+Written by Richard Starkings, art by Axel Medellin and Camilla D’Errico
+Full color, 40 pages, US $3.99, rated M, on sale Feb. 27
+“Sleeping Partners, part six. Sahara must give up her baby, before it is even born.”
+Perhapanauts: Danger Down Under #4 (of 5)
+Written by Todd Dezago, art by Craig Rousseau
+Full color, 32 pages, US $3.50, rated E, on sale Feb. 6
+“The Australian Adventure, part four.!”
+Super Dinosaur Vol. 3
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Robert Kirkman, art by Jason Howard
+Full color, 112 pages, US $12.99, on sale Feb. 20
+“Escape from Inner-Earth! Derek Dynamo is a prisoner of The Exile – who has taken him deep into Inner-Earth. Now Super Dinosaur must assemble a team to save his best friend, but along the way, he will learn the secret of Inner-Earth – and something that could bring about the fall of human civilization!”
+Marvel
+Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1
+Written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Steve McNiven
+32 pages, US $3.99, rated.”
+Monster’s Inc.: The Humanween Party #1 (of 1)
+Written by Alessandro Ferrari, art by Elisabetta Melaranci, Federica Salfo, Michela Frare, Paco Desiato and Mirka Andolfo
+32 pages, US $2.99, rated T+
+“An all-new Monsters, Inc. tale!!”
+crossie’s note: I somehow doubt this is really rated T+. I’m guessing that’s just a goof, but feel compelled to type it out that way anyway.
+Road to Oz #5 (of 6)
+Written by Eric Shanower, art by Skottie Young
+32 pages, US $3.99, all ages
+“With the help of the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy finally reaches the Emerald City. But there are surprises along the way – like the three deaths of Jack Pumpkinhead! The Shaggy Man reveals the shameful secret of the Love Magnet. Dorothy finally learns who first enchanted the magical road to Oz.”
+Scarlet Spider #14
+Written by Christopher Yost, art by Khoi Pham and Max Fiumara
+32 pages, US $2.99, rated T+
+“In the Midst of Wolves part two of three. The cast deals with the fallout from last issue’s shocking fatality. The Lobos are on the prowl as Aracely fights for her life. Who is the other?”
+NBM
+Ariol Volume 1: Just a Donkey Like You and Me
+Trade Paperback
+Written by Emmanual Guibert, art by Marc Boutavant
+Full color, 124 pages, US $12.99
+“Brand new series from!”
+Th3rd World Studios
+Stuff of Legend: The Toy Collector #5
+Written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith, art by Charles Paul Wilson
+Full color, 24 pages, US $3.99
+“The Boogeyman’s will is the way! The Toy Collector’s work is finally done and the Boogeyman is very pleased. As the Dark braces for the coming War of the Toys, the whistle is blown … What evil will it unleash on our poor boy and his loyal toys? Will this war be over before it has begun? The startling conclusion to The Toy Collector arc is here.”
+Vertigo
+Fables #126
+Written by Will Buckingham, art by Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha and Joao Ruas
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, Mature Readers, on sale Feb. 20
+.”
+Fairest #12
+Written by Lauren Beukes, art by Inaki Miranda and Adam Hughes
+Full color, 32 pages, US $2.99, Mature Readers, on sale Feb. 6
+.”
+About the authorcrossaffliction (Brendan Kachel) — read stories — contact (login required)
+a reporter and Red Fox from Hooker, Oklahoma, interested in movies, horror, stand up comedy
+Formerly Wichita's only furry comic.
+Moomin is still a thing? Wow. I guess the home value issue it covers is current, at least.
+Tove Jansson died in 2001. These must be new translations from the Swedish.
+Fred Patten
+And a movie in 2014, apparently.
+I liked the few episodes of the Japanese 1972 anime Moomin TV series, directed by Rin Taro, that I saw. Tove Jansson reportedly hated it because the producers threw out her stories and wrote their own around her characters. They were not bad stories; they just weren't hers. I loved Snufkin's theme song.
+Fred Patten
+The Moomins remain pretty big in Japan to this day.
+Post new comment
+“THERE’S A PLACE”
+(Paul McCartney – John Lennon)
+There are an untold number of stories about popular recording artists releasing songs that they felt very strongly would be big hits, only to wind up instead as much lesser known achievements. Almost none of us could probably name the B-sides of such huge hits as “I Got You Babe,” “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” or The Rolling Stones hit “Angie.” Amazingly, all of these number one hits were intended to be the throwaway flip sides while the other side of these records were thought to be the ones that would make the big impact. In the recording industry, one can never know.
+This was the case with the newly written “There’s A Place.” As The Beatles excitedly entered the EMI studios on February 11th, 1963 to record their very first album, it was their priority to record this song first. They had high expectations that this serious, well-constructed song would have an impact on their career.
+But, this was not to be. It actually ended up in a very unflattering position on the album; next to last on side two. It did end up being released as a single in America, but only as the flip side to the amazingly successful “Twist And Shout.” And at a time when US disc jockeys were playing even the flip sides of singles in order to find more Beatles product to play on the air, this song was hardly noticed. In addition, after October of 1964, the song was not on any US album until 1980, which gave the song the reputation of being one of a few ‘lost Beatles tracks.’
+It seems that the excitement about this song waned shortly after it was recorded, although, upon further listening and the passing of time, it can be assessed that the song was truly a unique, well-crafted slice of Beatles music which shouldn’t be forgotten. “There’s A Place” has truly found a place in the hearts of Beatles fans throughout the years.
+Songwriting History
+‘”There’s A Place’ was my attempt at a sort of Motown black thing,” John Lennon remembered in 1980, “but it says the usual Lennon things: ‘In my mind there’s no sorrow.’ It’s all in your mind.”
+From this quote you would assume that John wrote the entire song himself, his reference to Motown inferring the melody and his lyrical quote inferring the words as well. Most authors have felt this for years but, while Lennon probably was the major catalyst for the song, McCartney apparently played a vital role as well. Paul owned a copy of the soundtrack album to Leonard Bernstein’s 1957 musical “West Side Story,” which contained the song “Somewhere.” The lyrics begin with “There’s a place for us,” which became the original inspiration for the song. Not only is "There's A Place" described by author Barry Miles, in his book “Many Years From Now,” as “co-written,” he even suggests that there’s “a bias towards being Paul’s original idea since he was the owner of the soundtrack album…’West Side Story.’” While this may be a stretch, Paul’s quote from the above book does appear to confirm his involvement in the songs’ writing:
+“But in our case the place was in the mind, rather than round the back of the stairs for a kiss and a cuddle. This was the difference with what we were writing, we were getting a bit more cerebral.”
+At any rate, the song is included among the many that were written in the front room of McCartney’s Forthlin Road home. Since the song was so fresh in their minds and they were so eager to spring this song out for their first album, it is estimated that it was written in early February 1963 just before their recording session on the 11th of that month.
+Recording History
+Upon entering Studio Two of EMI studios on February 11th, 1963 to record their first album, The Beatles chose to record this newly written song first. Although nearly half of the songs on this first British album were cover songs, emphasis was first given to original material through the encouragement of their manager Brian Epstein. With the exception of “A Taste Of Honey,” all of the cover songs recorded for the album were done at the very end in order to fill the allotted 14 tracks on the album before the day was over.
+Starting at 10:00 that morning, the first take was complete and with all the exact nuances already in place, except for the harmonica riff which appears to have been an afterthought. George Harrison played what we know as the harmonica riff as his lead guitar part. This take was flawless except for two things: George flubbed his introductory guitar riff and Paul’s vocals were recorded louder than John’s. Being that all the vocals were recorded onto the same track, this deemed the take unusable.
+Concerning the vocal parts, Paul relates: "We both sang it. I took the high harmony, John took the lower harmony or melody. This was a nice thing because we didn't have to actually decide where the melody was till later when they boringly had to write it down for sheet music."
+Take two corrected these two elements and was a complete run-through of the song. Upon listening, the only explanation as to why this wasn’t the finished version was that producer George Martin thought it could be improved upon somehow.
+Take three was stopped immediately after the introductory guitar riff no doubt because George Harrison’s timing was a little late. Take four was complete but, even though it’s early in the session, you can hear John’s voice sounding a little strained already as he had a sore throat that day. They also experimented with some staccato rhythm guitar playing in the final verse, which may also have influenced George Martin to have them take another stab at the song.
+Before take five began, the session tape caught George Harrison practicing his introductory guitar riff, which was played in octaves just like he had done for “Please Please Me.” In fact, he actually plays the “Please Please Me” riff here just to get himself acclimated to playing in this style. We also hear John instructing Paul on how to keep good timing during their a cappella line “the-e-e-e-ere.” John explains to Paul, “you gotta think the beat.” However, Paul himself stops the take after a few seconds because George was late on his guitar riff again.
+Take six was also complete with near flawlessness. Take seven started off well also, but George Martin called it to a halt after George Harrison was late again with his riff at the end of the first verse. Take eight was also complete but, with Ringo’s fire-cracker-like drum fill before the bridge and George’s staccato rhythm guitar work in the final verse, this wasn’t good enough either.
+Take nine was also complete but this time you could hear Paul’s higher harmonies getting a little shaky. This and a very noticeable guitar flub in the final verse had them try it all one more time. Take ten, as it turned out, was nearly perfect and, with it being 11:30 already and a lot on the agenda that day, they deemed this as “best.”
+However, at about 4:15 pm in the afternoon, a decision was made to return to the song to improve upon it. It was decided that John should overdub three harmonica riffs for the song. These were played using the exact notes that George Harrison originally played for his lead guitar riffs in the song. Therefore, one can barely hear these lead guitar parts in the finished song. The first attempt at this overdub, take 11, saw John’s harmonica work a little shaky, and take 12 didn’t get passed the first few seconds because they accidentally didn’t have the harmonica volume up loud enough. However, take 13 was the keeper and therefore comprised the final completed version of the song. The harmonica riffs that John added were heard during the introduction of the song, at the end of the first verse, and then throughout the last 10 seconds of the song. By 4:30 pm, the song was complete.
+The mono and stereo mixes of the song were done by George Martin, assisted by Norman Smith and A.B. Lincoln, on February 25th, 1963. This mixing session was used to create both the mono and stereo masters for their first album, as well as editing the songs “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Please Please Me.” The fade out at the end of the song was also accomplished at this mixing session.
+Song Structure and Style
+As with the majority of the songs on their first album, “There’s A Place” is written in the aaba format, which consists of 'verse /verse /bridge /verse.' But there is more to the songs’ structure than meets the eye. Much more.
+To start out, a five bar introduction begins the proceedings, which consist of the songs’ melodic riff repeated twice by Lennon’s harmonica and, if you listen carefully, Harrison’s lead guitar. At the beginning of the fourth bar, The Beatles trademark ‘break’ occurs and lasts for one and a half bars while the reverb of the last chord rings out. In the ensuing silence, John and Paul perform a harmonized five note descending and then ascending performance of the word “there,” which act as a clever anticipatory introduction to the first verse.
+The 15 bar first verse is sung in harmony throughout, John taking the lower melody while Paul takes the usual higher harmony. The eighth bar includes a triplet performed in unison by the whole group which acts as a transition into the second half of the verse. The 13th bar repeats the melodic harmonica/guitar riff once, which again leads us into a one and a half bar break, where John and Paul repeat their harmonized five-note run, but this time on the word “I.”
+The second verse is different from the first in a few different respects. For one thing, it’s only twelve bars long and does not include the ‘group triplet,’ the break or the harmonized five-note run. In order to create a proper transition from the verse to the bridge, an alteration of the verse structure was deemed necessary by the songs’ writers. Therefore, after the first seven bars of the second verse, which are identical in structure to the first verse, a complete change in the song occurs during the words “like I love only you.” The new chord pattern presented here allows for a more natural progression into the bridge. (An altered second verse occurs periodically in Lennon/McCartney compositions, such as in “I Should Have Known Better.”)
+The ten bar bridge creates a reflective mood which temporarily relieves the tension created in the song. This is achieved by Lennon singing two of the four lines solo for the first time in the song, alternating them with octave harmonies (Paul taking the higher harmony as usual) which also occur only during the bridge. With Lennon’s solo lines “In my mind there’s no sorrow” and “there’ll be no sad tomorrows,” we’re allowed to see the intended gist of the lyrics, as if the fog has lifted and we now know the moral of the story.
+And then, once again, the final two bars of the bridge repeat the ‘break’ and the harmonized five-note run on the word “there” identical to what was heard in the introduction of the song. This naturally takes us to the final verse, which is nearly identical to the first verse, lyrics and all. Identical, that is, except that it is only 14 bars instead of 15. The difference being that there is no harmonized five-note run. (Three times in a two minute song is clearly enough; a fourth would have been a little much, as the writers or George Martin must have realized.) Therefore, the ‘break’ is only half a bar long, which then propels us into a conclusion, which was needed in order to create a note of finality to the song. The conclusion consists of a continually harmonized repetition of the title of the song alternating with the harmonica/guitar riff as the song fades out.
+A side note may be necessary here to explain why there was a need for a conclusion to be tacked on to the end of this song. Usually, Lennon/McCartney songs that have an aaba structure have verses that end with the title of the song, such as “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Love Me Do” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Verses such as in these three examples were written with a note of finality ‘built in,’ so to speak, which didn’t need a conclusion tacked on at the end to make it sound complete. To understand this, imagine if “There’s A Place” ended directly after the final verse with the words “when I’m alone.” Since the end of the verse was not on the signature chord of the song, in this case “F,” standard practice at the time usually required the signature chord to be returned to in order to create a ‘resolve.’ Therefore, a separate conclusion needed to be added at the end of “There’s A Place.”
+As for the musicianship of the song, both Lennon and Harrison basically play rhythm guitar throughout, with the exception of George’s hardly noticeable lead work on the signature riff of the song. Since there was no solo section written into this song, its’ musical highlight is Lennons’ harmonica riff which occurs periodically throughout the song. The only other contribution from Harrison is backing vocals, which occur only during the vocal line "love only you" in the second verse.
+McCartney’s bass work is proficient at best, but while this was performed simultaneously with his spot-on high harmonies throughout the song, “proficient” is definitely worth recognition. Ringo performs his trademark “beat” style drumming, which appears as an identical but slower version of both “Boys” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” He gets to add his flams, his accents and his ‘awkward-but-lovable’ left handed drum fills, which results in his putting in a noteworthy performance.
+Lennon’s vocal delivery is timidly but effectively performed, including his warbly-but-classy accents in the verses, such as on the words “place,” “go” and “low” in the first verse. Motown artists, such as the influential Smokey Robinson, were no doubt the catalyst to this vocal gimmick which Lennon performed flawlessly throughout this song.
+It has been noted that The Beatles only wrote songs about love (and/or relationships) throughout their early career, and that the first appearance of a song outside of this topic didn’t occur until 1966. Although this is debatable (or, should I say, incorrect, because “Nowhere Man” originally appeared in December of 1965…but if you say that it appeared first in the US in 1966, then I stand corrected), there are a few Beatles songs written before 1966 that only hint at a relationship. “One After 909” comes to mind. “There’s A Place” is another one of them.
+Although it has been said that Lennon didn’t write about himself in his early work with The Beatles before “Help!,” we see here an example that blows that theory out of the water. This appears to be his first piece of self-analysis, which pre-dates the similar topic of the Beach Boys’ hit, “In My Room,” by a few months. Unfortunately, Lennon’s self-analysis turned into self-indulgence in his later solo years, which turned his songwriting sour in many people’s eyes.
+After the first verse informs us that the place that the singer can go to cheer himself up is his mind, it’s the second verse that tells of a relationship. In his mind he thinks of the things that his ‘significant other’ does, such us her saying that she loves only him. But the general theme of the song is stated in the bridge. When he is alone, he thinks about when there is “no sorrow” and about a happy future. This topic is returned to and refined much later in his solo work “Imagine.”
+American Releases
+The first release of “There’s A Place” on US shores was on the legendary Vee-Jay album “Introducing…The Beatles,” released on January 10th, 1964. The second US release was as a single, which wasn’t released in Britain, as the flip side to “Twist And Shout.” This single was released on the newly formed Vee-Jay subsidiary Tollie Records in late February of 1964 as a way to capitalize on their performing “Twist And Shout” on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 23rd, 1964. Although its’ A-side reached number two on the Billboard charts, “There’s A Place” charted at number 74 for the week of April 11th, 1964..
+Unfortunately, Capitol Records decided to omit the song from its’ “Early Beatles” album that was released in March of 1965. This omission meant that the song was not available in album form for the next 16 years. This also meant that the excellent stereo mix of the song was not available either during this long duration. The only available version of the song during the remaining 60’s and the entire 70’s was on its’ sixth release, which was as a Capitol single. Released on October 11th, 1965, Capitol’s budget Starline label made the original mono “Twist And Shout” single, with “There’s A Place” as its’ B-side, available for a while.
+On March 24th, 1980, Capitol released the American version of the album “Rarities,” which contained the original stereo version of “There’s A Place.” A stereo version of the song hadn't been available since the Vee Jay albums of 1964 went out of print, so the "Rarities" album was quite the revelation for its' time.
+The original British "Please Please Me" album was finally released in the US on February 26th, 1987 on compact disc, although it was only in mono at the time. The re-mastered stereo version of the CD was finally released on September 9th, 2009.
+On June 30th, 1992, Capitol released the box set “Compact Disc EP Collection,” which contained “There’s A Place” due to its inclusion on the original British “Twist And Shout” EP of 1963.
+The box set “The Beatles In Mono,” which came out on September 9th, 2009, also contains the song in its pristine re-mastered mono condition.
+On November 11th, 2013, the album "On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2" was released which featured an unheard version of "There's A Place" as recorded on August 1st, 1963 for the radio program "Pop Go The Beatles." Notice George's guitar runs making up for the absence of the harmonica on this version, as well as the flawless harmonies of John and Paul.
+Live Performances
+Although they felt strongly about the song at the time of its' recording. They apparently lost interest in the song quickly thereafter. They did not perform the song during any of their national tours of 1963, nor is there any documentation of them performing the song at any other live performance of 1963. Since it has been stated that the song was part of their live act in 1963, one would have to assume that the performance life of the song was limited at best. They preferred to continue to perform the cover songs recorded for the first album, such as "Baby It's You," "Chains" and "A Taste Of Honey," probably because of how uncomplicated these songs were in comparison to "There's A Place."
+However, they did perform the song three times for BBC radio. On July 2nd, 1963, The Beatles performed the song for the first time on the BBC for the show “Pop Go The Beatles,” which aired on July 16th. On July 17th, they performed the song for the show “Easy Beat,” which aired on July 21st, 1963. The final BBC performance of the song was on August 1st, again for the BBC show “Pop Go The Beatles,” which aired on September 3rd, 1963. This was the last known performance of the song.
+Conclusion
+Lennon had stated many times that he never paid that much attention to lyrics and that, in the early years with The Beatles, lyrics were not much of a consideration for him. It was only when Bob Dylan suggested to him that he should use his songs to express his views and feelings that he adjusted his viewpoint. Listening to The Beatles catalog through to mid 1965, you can see that this must have been Lennon’s viewpoint, since the main focus of all of these lyrics tends to be love or relationships. He even succumbed to re-using topics of songs, such as with “All I’ve Got To Do” and “Any Time At All.”
+This fact makes it all the more interesting that, this early in the songwriting history of Lennon/McCartney, we find an introspective lyric that suggests exploring the mind, although in a more innocent way then “Tomorrow Never Knows” would suggest three years later. This solidifies the notion that The Beatles were truly ahead of their time…even of their own time!
+Song Summary
+"There’s A Place”
+Written by: Paul McCartney / John Lennon
+Instrumentation (most likely):
+Written and compiled by Dave Rybaczewski
+"A Taste Of Honey" PREVIOUS - NEXT "Twist And Shout"
+Janet 16,022 Report post Posted May 28, 2016 June 7, 2001 Troy Tolley, Channel Open Floor [Michael_Entity] We are here. One moment. Hello to all of you. We will begin with the Energy Report. This Report is for the weeks running between June 10 and June 23. Recall that our Energy Reports are not based on predictions, but rather, probabilities and momentum of consciousness based on collective choices. Over the next two weeks, more implementing of a wider circle of contact is the focus. This means more people in interactions with you in some way, either in dreams or in waking state. These fragments are in some way related to a larger picture, however small their contribution to your current perception. Regardless of your age in physicality, and regardless of your psyche relative to your Life Task, it appears to be a year centered around individuals increasing communion and exchange. The next month or so will bring you into examinations of your Needs involving Exchange, Communion, and Acceptance. In fact, NEEDS, in general, are at a height in examination over the next month or so, whether they are your primary needs or your neglected needs. Though Exchange, Communion, and Acceptance are the themes, all Nine Basic Needs (Security, Acceptance, Freedom, Exchange, Power, Expression, Expansion, Adventure, Communion) will be under examination. The challenge will be between the want to have your Needs fulfilled by fragments in your intimate circle, while the reality requires that any Need can ONLY BE FULFILLED BY YOURSELF. This will mean that you, yourself, may end up in positions that are asking you to fulfill Needs for someone else. This could create opportunities for truth, love, and energy to be infused into a relationship, or an opportunity to displace your responsibilities and “blame” others. Sensitivity will rise in terms of the fragments involved in your intimate circle, challenging you to choose between recognizing what you are Offering Vs Getting. Your culture supports in the most insidious of ways how to GET, but rarely how to truly Give. This certainly creates a dichotomy within, in regard to what you are to provide yourself Vs what is valid in accepting from external sources. Over the next two weeks, if you choose, you can examine your behavior in your intimate exchanges. Observe your REACTIONS. Your reactions are your messages over the next couple of weeks, at least in terms of discovering where you are responsible for fulfilling Needs that have been neglected for a time. We define “intimate exchanges” as anything involving conversation, touch, social grace, sex, sharing, eating together, and several other incidences of behavior which gauges another fragment involvement. As we said, Communion, Exchange, and Acceptance will be the “issues” over the next week, for many. This means it is a very important time to Offer valid sincerity, compassion, and attempts to “see past” the flaws of others. We will also add that at least 10 of you here have “messages” to collect from “strangers” in the next couple of weeks, regarding your next life steps. We would also venture to call the next couple of Weeks, “Sage Weeks,” meaning it is a time to view everyone as children, regardless of behavior and to trust in the “flaws” you see in others and yourself. It will be a time to allow room for major “mistakes” created by yourself or others, if you choose. Celebrate the many varied ways others express themselves, even if you “wish” for someone's change in behavior or someone is expecting a scripted behavior from you. The energy is available as support for experiences of true Exchange, Communion, and Acceptance, again, if you choose to utilize it. The most pivotal, powerful tool you will have over the next couple of weeks is a smile. We do not mean this in a trivial way. The Energy Report is commented on enough that we may move on, or take questions regarding it. Questions? [MaryBV] Would it harm us to know who will receive a message from a stranger? [Michael_Entity] No [MaryBV] Hahahah, ok who? [Michael_Entity] Anne, Annette, “nelson,” David, Ludmila, Marion, Troy, Lawrence, Leela, Mary. This is not conclusive, but a picture of the momentum at this point. There are “messages” for all of you; pivotal. It simply happens that the ten mentioned are in positions that allow contact with more of a “stream” of people through their various environments. [Anne49] would you define the true nature of giving? [Michael_Entity] The true nature of Giving is in creating an Exchange without the fear of “being ripped off.” Giving is not just an active offering of something, but a gauging of the recipient's capability to receive. To be put simply, True Giving is in the comprehension of Other as they are a part of an Exchange. True Giving, as an example, includes the allowance of OTHERS to Give what is natural to them. For instance, TOUCH. It is considered a violation in many ways to have a stranger touch you, when in reality it is a form of Giving for you to allow social contact from another fragment. We do not mean for you to reduce your boundaries to allow true violations, but a gentle touch, a bump, a brush against you, is not a violation, they are opportunities. Listening to another fragment without using the exchange as a platform to tell your own stories is another example of True Giving. Many of you are kind listeners, compassionate, and deeply helpful, but this does not mean you are Giving if your intentions are to “earn” another's love or to be able to “get them” to listen to you. Many with Self-deprecation are prone to do the latter. . [Liiona24] Is there any real intention to allow drilling for oil off the coast of Florida or is this being stages between the brothers to allow Jeb Bush look good when he “fights” his brother and “wins?” Cynical view perhaps, of what could be going on. [Michael_Entity] There is real intention to drill. Its probability is at 57%. There is no political conspiracy behind it, simply what some might call ignorance. [xyzlorenzo] Mormon roots are showing… can you tell me overleaves for Joseph Smith and just a little blurb about the his and the Mormon faith's significance to world affairs? [Michael_Entity] Joseph Smith: Early Mature Priest/Server, Artisan Cast, Acceptance, Passion, Idealist, Arrogance (double), Intellectual/Emotional. Mormonism is a mature soul religion as opposed to the baby soul religions such as Christianity and Hinduism. Its focus is on acceptance and inclusion, but its roots are heavily weighed down by Arrogance. The philosophy is still within the parameters of Baby Soul behavior, but with a broader definition of what is acceptable. There is still an emphasis on negative poles, even in the focus being Acceptance, as the focus is on Ingratiation, not Agape. In terms of its “significance to world affairs,” it is simply another religion. Religion, in general, is losing its footing in positions of power and authority as more Mature Souls question themselves. [clavis] Could Michael comment on which stage of the 4th IM that I'm going through? And how to stay on the positive pole through the process (the 4th IM)? Thanks. [Michael_Entity] We do not comment on personal situations in public chats; however, we will include a response to this, sent to you privately, when the transcript goes out. We will say you are at the 3rd Stage. [JNelson] (From my mom) How can I differentiate between past life recall and imagination? [Michael_Entity] They are the same. Imagination is incorrectly distrusted, when in reality it is your highest form of contact with various non-physical aspects of life. There IS a difference between delusion and perception, however. Delusion requires you to enforce a vision, while a memory of a past life, or perception, “happens.” [JNelson] But can't you create things completely original with your imagination? [Michael_Entity] Yes, you can create something completely original with imagination. Past Life Recall, as we said, “happens,” while creativity is actively pursued, which can lead to delusions. If you are seeking recall, for instance, in meditation, your differentiation will be more difficult, but the validity can come in the determination of the “past life's” significance NOW. If you are more entertained than empowered, it is more likely delusion. If there is relevance and meaning even if only symbolically to you NOW, then it is more than likely a Past Life Recall in some form. We refrain from saying “it might be your imagination,” simply because Imagination is a large context that includes both delusion and memory/perception. Most of your own memories within a lifetime are based on Imagination. Most valid past lives, though, as they become available and however vague, will have direct relevance to your life. They are recalled for a reason. Active pursuit of past lives can lead to delusion, only because most have expectations and scripts for what they must experience. [JNelson] I am interested in how The Book of the Law was channeled by Aleister Crowley. Would Michael care to explain who/what Crowley was channeling and possibly comment on Crowley's teachings and abilities as a whole? [Michael_Entity]: We will include our response in the transcript, but will conclude here, for tonight. [added response] The fragment known as Aleister Crowley (a Final Level Young Priest, Artisan Casting) was simply “channeling” his own Essence and Personality's ideals. Much of the interpretations are distortions from the original intentions, but his goal was ultimate empowerment of the individual, along with the encouragement that all was ultimately “safe”. Good night. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+How The Housing Crisis Made Them Stronger
+How The Housing Crisis Made Them Stronger
+Real estate goes through cyclical ups and downs, and, you would be wise to prepare for the next time your market—and your business—hits a trough. But a slowdown should never be a cause for panic, preventing you from strategizing a forward-looking path.
+Three practitioners who weathered the worst of the housing collapse in 2008 and beyond share insights about their own fortitude and business savvy that got them through the toughest times. They all reached a crossroads in their careers as the crisis unfolded, and while giving up might have been the easier choice, their persistence and flexibility enabled them to find a route back to success. Get inspired by their stories.
+Adding Value at Low Points
+Linda Stevenson chose perhaps the worst time to open a real estate brokerage. An agent in Nashville, Tenn., since 1997, she started Kijiji Realty (meaning “small village” in Swahili—an appreciative nod to the community of people behind every successful real estate transaction) in June 2008 as home prices nationwide were spiraling downward. Her sales business was in the middle of a months-long dry spell with no closings when she launched her company out of her home. It took her another three months to land her first sale as a broker.
+Why didn’t Stevenson, who worked alone until hiring two agents last year, wait for a steadier market to take on such a big commitment? “I had been wanting to [open my own brokerage] for a while, and I didn’t want to talk myself out of it if I waited longer,” she says. “And I told myself that if my company could survive the hard times, then I knew I’d be here to stay.”
+She would need to be brave as her resolve was put to the test. In 2010, Stevenson and her husband lost their own home to foreclosure and were forced to rent from one of her clients whose property wouldn’t sell. By then, her sales volume, which was typically $1 million annually before the downturn, dropped to less than half that. She was making little money, and her saving grace was not having to pay for a physical office space. “I told my husband that if this doesn’t start to get better, I’m going to have to hang up my license,” Stevenson recalls. “Looking back on it, I honestly don’t even see how I made it.”
+But a valuable lesson she learned during those dark, early days as a broker helped her refocus on a way forward. The worse the economic environment got, Stevenson says, the more she noticed buyers and sellers gravitating toward larger, more recognizable real estate brands. For her fledgling brokerage to survive, she realized she’d need to show consumers that she provided something her competitors didn’t. “What do I offer that Crye-Leike or Century 21 doesn’t?” Stevenson says. “I offer individual service. When you call my number, you’ll get me, not someone’s assistant. I will have all the information about your listing, not someone else. And I will tailor my service to your exact needs.”
+That became her mission statement, and she followed it up with action every chance she got. In 2012, she went as far as to conduct the entire home search process by herself for one relocating buyer who was moving to Nashville from New Jersey and couldn’t spend enough time in town looking for a condo. The buyer expected to fly in and find a home in 24 hours. “I said, ‘That’s not going to happen,’” Stevenson says. “So she gave me an escrow check and asked me to find a condo for her.” Stevenson went on home tours for two weeks, taking detailed photos of every property to send to the buyer. They closed on a condo a couple of months later.
+Offering individualized service brought Stevenson closer to the stresses her clients endured through crises of their own and helped her soften her communication style. One seller who decided to put her home on the market after her son’s death nearly backed out of the sale under intense emotional pressure. Stevenson offered to ease her through the process by helping her move. “I came over and helped her pack and found her a moving company,” Stevenson says. “We looked through family photos and heirlooms, and I listened to her stories. It helped me learn how to deal with people a little better.”
+The lengths she would go to for her clients started creating buzz about Stevenson’s brokerage. And once the referrals started pouring in, she realized she had discovered her value. Last year, Stevenson and her two agents, whom she spent much of her time training, completed five and a half transaction sides. But as her agents become more equipped to serve clients, she has goals to grow her brokerage’s production. “I thought I was going to fail at one point just because of the market,” Stevenson says. “But people do business with people they like, so I see now that it was my ability to nurture relationships that kept me alive.”
+The Guts to Tell It Like It Was
+After closing 48 transaction sides in 2005 during his first year as a real estate agent, Joshua Smith suddenly faced a crisis of confidence. By 2006, homes in the Phoenix area—one of the first cities to be dragged down in the prelude to the nationwide housing meltdown—were already stalling on the market. Soon after, nearly every seller Smith worked with was forced to either abandon the sale or lose tens—or hundreds—of thousands of dollars in a short sale because they were upside down on their mortgages.
+Smith, a sales associate with My Home Group Real Estate in Surprise, Ariz., a Phoenix suburb, worried that he wasn’t doing enough to save his clients from heartache and financial ruin. He was feverishly studying the market and trying to offer his best advice to buyers and sellers given the deteriorating market conditions. But sellers in particular were stubborn and refused to listen. “I had clients who had $80,000 in equity and were just chasing the ball down the hill, and they were underwater by the time they accepted an offer,” Smith says. “I would tell them early on to take the best offer, even if it was less than what they wanted, but they wouldn’t do it. And then their situation just got worse.”
+As he learned more about distressed sales as more of his clients were forced into a short sale or foreclosure, Smith decided he needed to become more direct and transparent when educating sellers about the obstacles they faced in a down market. He increased regular updates with sellers from monthly to weekly. To this day, he contacts his sellers every Tuesday to give them information on their listings, covering number of showings for the previous week versus activity at comparable homes, an update on market prices, and his written opinion on what he thinks his clients should do next. “I’m big on education way more than I was [at the start of my career],” Smith says. “I’ve learned to get crystal clear on what my clients’ goals are.”
+He’s also learned to be more blunt when assessing clients’ needs. Smith says he used to worry about offending sellers with his advice, particularly if their opinions on list price weren’t aligned. But he sees now how much time and anguish he could save his clients by being up front when they want to set a list price that seems too high. His strategy is still important today, as home prices in pockets of Phoenix’s suburbs remain 30 percent below their prerecession peak, according to data from the West Maricopa Association of REALTORS®.
+Smith recently had an elderly client who wanted to move closer to her family but demanded $20,000 more for her home than buyers were willing to offer. “I literally said to her, ‘Is losing the memories you could be making with your grandkids worth this extra $20,000 or not?’” he recalls. In the end, Smith’s client accepted a lower offer.
+Smith has become more proactive in helping clients avoid worst-case scenarios with their transactions. “I’ve become more aggressive and relentless in my communication and follow-up because I had so many sellers that, if they would have priced their house correctly, they would have put a lot of equity in their pocket,” he says. “So I always tell them up front: ‘You’re the boss, and I work for you. It’s your home, so you set the price, but it’s my job to look out for your best interest. You may not agree with what I tell you, but I’m still going to tell you whether you want to hear it or not.’ My job is to give them enough facts and statistics that hopefully they understand what they’re getting into.”
+Staying Connected to Her Roots
+Villegas watched more than half of her colleagues quit the real estate office she worked at during the downturn. Out of the eight agents at Associates Real Estate in Chicago a decade ago, she’s one of just three who remain in the business. Having started as a part-time agent in 2005, Villegas, who aspired to be a teacher, considered following her colleagues’ exit. But instead, as the housing crisis deepened in 2008, she switched brokerages and became a full-time agent.
+“People were saying, ‘Are you crazy?’” recalls Villegas, SFR, now one of 48 agents with ERA Mi Casa Real Estate. “I never forgot that I got into this business to help people, doing the hard work that others aren’t willing to do. Real estate fulfilled the same desire to serve that I had when I thought I was going to become a teacher.”
+In foreclosure-plagued Chicago, Villegas knew she’d have to work longer hours and make twice as many phone calls and emails to get business and help clients. Sometimes her extra work didn’t pay off. She remembers helping a buyer who had lost her job three days before going to the closing table. Her lender performed a final job verification at closing—and the buyer’s loan was denied. “The buyer and seller were both devastated,” Villegas says.
+Though that situation was beyond her control, Villegas developed a network of professionals who could help her and her clients through unexpected problems during a transaction. She discovered that a slow real estate market was the perfect time to find people such as local lenders, home stagers, and real estate attorneys who were less busy and more available to work with her. “I was always open to building new relationships with people my brokerage hadn’t been connected to before,” Villegas says. “I created a network of people who had access to things I didn’t know about.”
+Villegas also found that a positive attitude could make all the difference to a client struggling through fear. Even in booming markets, buyers and sellers get apprehensive about the real estate process, and Villegas says staying positive reassures her clients and boosts her confidence. “I’m not a Debbie Downer—never have been one,” she says. “Any challenge I’ve faced has helped build strength and given me that extra push to make it work for myself and my clients.”
+Keeping priorities straight during rough times is an important aspect of resilience, she adds. From worries about whether a client will qualify for a mortgage to whether a property will appraise, real estate professionals need to exemplify calm and steadiness to balance their clients’ emotions. “You can’t forget that you are the expert,” Villegas says. “We do this every day, and yes, every client and transaction is different, but they all have similar fears. We have to be that rock for them.”
+That philosophy recently helped her manage the emotions of a nervous young couple who were buying their first home and needed a great deal of feedback and reassurance. Villegas had to show her clients the home they eventually bought three times before they would make an offer, and she had two additional buyer’s consultations with them. “They say, ‘I’m sorry, Erika, we have more questions.’ And I always say, ‘Do not apologize for anything. I want to make sure you are 100 percent positive with your decision.’
+“When they close on a deal, I want them to know that I had their best interests at heart and that I was there educating and guiding them the entire way.”
+This application is a continuation-in-part of parent application Ser. No. 343,566, filed Mar. 21, 1973 now abandoned.
+The present invention is primarily concerned with the inspection of carry-on baggage at airports but the present apparatus is also suitable for the inspection of other types of baggage, cargo, prison mail and parcels, logs being conveyed to a cutting blade, and a variety of other X-ray permeable products which may contain X-ray detectable items which are intended to be excluded.
+Referring primarily to the inspection of carry-on baggage at airports, it is well known that federal regulations require that all baggage which a passenger carries onto a commercial airplane must first be inspected by ground personnel to insure that bombs, guns and other weapons are not present therein. In order to avoid the delay and embarrassment involved in a personal inspection of such baggage, X-ray inspection devices have been provided which include an X-ray tube, a fluoroscopic screen, a shielded baggage station, and means for viewing the image of the contents of the baggage on the screen either by means of a mirror or as a televised image on a monitor.
+There are several disadvantages of known X-ray inspection devices. Firstly, they represent a health hazard unless a substantial amount of expensive lead shielding is used to protect the operator, inspector and passengers. This is due to the fact that X-rays of relatively high and dangerous intensity must be used in order to provide an image on the fluoroscopic screen which is sufficiently visible to the naked eye to permit the rapid and reliable visual detection of wires and other bomb components, thin blades and other small weapons.
+Also, conventional photographic film is sensitive to X-rays of such intensity and therefore must be removed from the baggage being inspected or it will be ruined by exposure thereto. This removal is time-consuming, and in many instances the passenger forgets that such film is present in the baggage and valuable film, exposed in a camera, is ruined by exposure to the intense X-rays.
+However, the most fundamental disadvantage of known X-ray inspection devices is that they provide a static or fixed picture of the product being inspected. The product is inserted into an inspection station where it lies motionless during exposure to the X-rays and/or the X-ray device is of the "pulse" type whereby a single burst of radiation is released to provide a static picture, even if the product being inspected is in motion. The use of such devices causes delays since the inspection process is not continuous. More importantly, however, a static picture of the contents of a product, such as a piece of luggage, frequently merely provides an indication that the product contains questionable items, requiring the delay and embarrassment of a personal inspection, or a false indication that only permissible items are present. For instance, if a piece of luggage contains several items which are detectable by X-rays, such items may be positioned over each other, either accidentally or intentionally, so that the static picture of the contents shows only the top item, which may be a harmless and permissible item positioned over a hidden weapon, or shows an indiscernible combination of overlapping items, each of which may be harmless and permissible. The inspector may device not to make a personal search in the first case and may decide to make an unnecessary personal search in the second case.
+It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved X-ray inspection device which is faster and more reliable than prior known X-ray inspection devices, obviating the necessity for personal manual inspection in many instances.
+It is another object of this invention to provide a novel X-ray inspection device which is safer than prior known X-ray inspection devices from the standpoint of personal exposure to escaping X-rays and exposure of photographic film.
+It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel X-ray inspection device which is suitable for the inspection of elongate products and containers, such as logs, storage trunks, flower carbons, and other products which will not fit into the inspection stations of prior known X-ray inspection devices
+These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the present disclosure including the drawing, in which:
+FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray inspection device according to the present invention.
+FIG. 2 is an end view of the X-ray inspection device of FIG. 1.
+FIG. 3 is an end view of the X-ray inspection device of FIG. 4, taken along the line 3--3.
+FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the device according to FIG. 1, taken along the line 4--4.
+FIG. 5 is a top view of the device according to FIG. 4 taken along the line 5--5.
+FIG. 6 is an enlarged segmented top view of a mounting assembly for the shielded curtains of the present device.
+The objects and advantages of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of an X-ray inspection device having an X-ray source adapted to continuously emit a divergent beam of X-rays of low intensity, a fluoroscopic screen adapted to receive the X-ray beam, and an inspection station therebetween. Means are provided for continuously moving products to be inspected into and out of the inspection station for exposure to the continuous X-rays, and flexible shielded curtain means cover the entrance and exit of the inspection station to retard the escape of X-rays even when the product being inspected protrudes from either the entrance or the exit during exposure. Also the device is provided with a television camera-viewing monitor system including a signal intensifier whereby the camera views the back surface of the fluoroscopic screen to provide television signals corresponding to the relatively-weak image projected on the screen by the low intensity X-rays, the television signals are intensified and sent to the monitor which projects a visually-clear, sharp and intense picture of the image from the fluoroscopic screen.
+Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the present X-ray inspection device 10 comprises a lead-shielded housing 11 having an X-ray tube section 12 and an exposure station 13, and a camera station 14. The exposure station 13 is provided with an automatic conveyor belt 15 which moves products to be inspected into and out of the exposure station at a variable continuous slow speed through spaced banks of flexible shielded entrance curtains 16 and exit curtains 17, as shown in FIG. 4, a photoelectric eye switch 18 being provided at the entrance end of the exposure station 13 to sense the movement of an article 19 into the exposure station 13 and to activate an X-ray emission tube 20 to emit continuous low intensity X-rays for a period of time which extends beyond the time when the article being inspected passes the photoelectric eye beam, i.e. by about 2.5 seconds after the article 19 reaches the location shown in FIG. 4, as regulated by a conventional timing device.
+The shielded X-ray tube section 12 comprises an X-ray emission tube 20 mounted on spaced supports 21 so that its radiation collimation orifice 22 is centered with respect to the central opening 23 in the shielded focal member 24. Member 24, such as of lead-shielded plywood, prevents any X-rays from leaving section 12 except through the port or opening 23, and the size of opening 23 and its position relative to the tube 20 and the fluoroscopic screen 25 produces a divergent beam of radiation which strikes only screen 25 and strikes substantially the entire top surface thereof.
+The X-ray tube section 12 also comprises an X-ray control box 26, shown in FIG. 3, which is associated with the photoelectric eye switch 18 for activating the X-ray tube 20 and includes a timer for deactivating the X-ray tube 20 a predetermined period of time after the photoelectric eye beam is restored by passage of the article being inspected.
+The shielded X-ray inspection station 13 comprises a central exposure section 27 and associated entrance section 28 and exit section 29. The photoelectric eye switch 18 is provided at the entrance end of the exposure station 27, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Sections 28 and 29 are provided to accommodate elongate articles being inspected and lead-shielded flexible curtain banks 16 and 17 are provided to permit articles to be conveyed to and from the exposure station 27 while not permitting any of the low intensity X-rays to escape. In most cases the article being inspected, such as luggage article 19, will be completely within the inspection station 13 before the X-ray tube is activated and the latter will be deactivated before the article 19 reaches the interior exit curtain 17. However, even if an elongate article or a succession of smaller articles is conveyed through the shielded inspection station 13, the flexibility of the banks of shielded curtains permits them to conform closely to the surface of the articles, and to close between articles, so that no radiation can escape. Also the low intensity of the radiation and the distance between the exposure station 27 and the outermost curtains 16 and 17 precludes any danger of harmful exposure of the inspector to radiation.
+The ceiling of the exposure station 27 comprises the shielded focal member 24 of the X-ray station 12 while the floor of station 27 comprises the fluoroscopic screen 25 which supports the article 19 being conveyed on the belt 15, as shown by FIG. 4. The screen 25 comprises leaded glass to provide a barrier against the passage of the X-rays, whereby the underlying camera station 14 need not be shielded. However the floor or table 30 which is coplanar with the screen 25 and supports the conveyor belt 15 in all areas, except with the exposure station 27, must be shielded insofar as it is located within the entrance section 28 and exit section 29 of the inspection station 13 and between the outermost curtains 16 and 17.
+The camera section 14 comprises the shielded fluoroscopic screen 25 as its ceiling, a mirror 31 supported at an angle with respect to the screen 25 and a television camera 32 supported at an angle and distance relative to the mirror whereby the camera 32 can "see" a reflected image corresponding to the entire undersurface of the fluoroscopic screen 25. The mirror 31 permits the camera to be spaced further from the screen 25 so that the entire screen can be exposed to the camera.
+The television camera 32 is provided with a special secondary signal booster which increases the sensitivity of the camera and the strength of the signal current transmitted by the camera 32 to the receiver or monitor 33 comprises a cathode ray tube. The present secondary signal booster, more properly called an emission multiplier or photomultiplier tube, provides at least a 1,000 times gain and preferably a 50,000 times gain in signal strength and thus converts the weak, low-intensity X-ray image, which is present on the fluoroscopic screen and is difficult or impossible to discern with the naked eye, into greatly intensified television signals which are transmitted to the monitor to form a sharp, clear, intensified picture on the monitor screen.
+The conveyor system for moving articles to be inspected into and out of the inspection station 13 comprises support housings 34 and 35 which support the table 30 and the continuous conveyor belt 15, which moves over the table as it carries articles into and out of the inspection station and returns under the table 30, as shown in FIG. 4. The drive and support mechanism for the continuous belt 15 comprises drive roller 36 in housing 34, spaced idler rollers 37 and support roller 38 rotatably mounted in housing 35. Drive roller 36 is driven by a variable speed motor 39, mounted within support housing 34, in association with a drive belt 40. Motor 39 is electrically connected to control panel 41 and is adapted for normal continuous operation at any desired slow speed. However the control panel includes manual override switch means whereby the speed of the motor may be varied, or the motor may be stopped and reversed by the operator as may be required during the inspection operation.
+The ability of the operator or inspector to view the television picture of the fluoroscopic screen 25 on the monitor 33 while the article 19 such as luggage is in motion through the exposure station 27 is an essential feature of the present invention, and the ability to vary the speed of the article, stop its motion and reverse its direction is a preferred embodiment in that it improves the ability of the operator to scrutinize and distinguish the contents of the luggage being inspected. In effect, the operator obtains a three-dimensional view of the contents of the luggage as he views the television monitor 33 which pictures the fluoroscopic screen as the luggage passes thereover from entry position to centered position to exit position. Each detectable item in the luggage produces a continuously changing motion image on the fluoroscopic screen 25 so that its shape and relative position within the piece of luggage are observable on the monitor 33 as the article is conveyed through the X-ray beam. Spaced superposed items can be distinguished as such in a continuous motion exposure whereas a single direct exposure of the same piece of luggage would not show the presence of items shielded beneath other detectable items.
+The banks of shielded curtains 16 and 17 form an important part of the present invention since the X-ray tube 20 frequently continues to emit radiation while articles to be inspected are still entering or exiting the inspection station 13. Such is the case when the article being inspected is longer than the distance between the outer curtain 16 or 17 and the center of the exposure station 27, or when a succession of closely-spaced articles are conveyed for inspection. Each of the curtains 16 and 17 and the supports therefor are identical so that the discussion of FIG. 6 of the drawing pertains to each of the four curtains. Thus the curtains comprise contacting superposed layers 42 and 43 of strips 44 of flexible leaded vinyl plastic, each strip being 2 inches wide and abutting against the edge of adjacent strips to provide, in effect, a lead-shielded vinyl plastic film having spaced vertical slits which permit the flexible strips to part and separate under the pressure of an article moved thereagainst. As shown by FIG. 6, the layers 42 and 43 are positioned together so that the vinyl strips 44 of layer 42 overlap the vinyl strips of layer 43 whereby the slits separating the strips of one layer are offset from or out of registration with the slits of the other layer, and any radiation which might escape through the slits of layer 43 will be blocked by a strip 44 of layer 42 which overlies said slit.
+As shown by FIG. 6, the upper end of the strips 44 of layers 42 and 43 are sandwiched between 1 inch aluminum bars 45 and 46 which are united by means of a series of bolts 47 and nuts 48 which are spaced by 3 inches so that each bolt passes through one of the strips 44 of each of layers 42 and 43 whereby the strips and layers are held securely in place. Bar 46 is provided with angular end extensions 49 which are bolted to the inside frame of the entrance station 28 and exit section 29 of the inspection station 27.
+The novel inspection devices of the present invention are also provided with an air cooling system since the continuous operation of the X-ray tube generates a substantial amount of heat which will build up in the shielded tube section 12 unless air cooling and exhaust means are provided. Thus, a conventional room air conditioner unit 50 is mounted in the frame of the device in the television camera station 14 and an air duct 51 is provided up through the exposure station 13 and through the focal member 24 and opens into the tube station 12. The air conditioner 50 has a fan which circulates the air within the device past refrigerant coils which cool the air. The cool air is then forced by the fan up through the duct 51 into the tube section 12 where it cools the tube 20 and the control box 26. The warm air present in tube section 12 is forced out through the central opening 23 of member 24 into the exposure station 13 where it escapes through curtains 16 and 17 during passage of articles into and out of the inspection station.
+Control panel 41 also includes a manual control switch for adjusting the intensity of the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube in the event that the inspector may find it necessary to activate the X-ray tube with a higher level of X-rays, while articles being inspected are still present in the device, for penetration of denser articles that otherwise might not disclose their contents at the lower level of X-radiation. The lower level of X-rays equals less than 1 milliroentgen/hour and preferably about 0.5 milliroentgen/hour, which levels are harmless to photographic film. The control panel also includes an off-key switch for shutting down the entire device. This switch may be used to deactivate the entire device if the conveyor breaks down or if an article becomes jammed in the station or if the inspector wishes to stop the movement of the article and leave it within the inspection station out of reach by the passenger. Also the device is provided with indicator lights 52 mounted on the outside of the housing above the entrance and exit sections 28 and 29, which lights are associated with the X-ray control box 26 and are illuminated when the X-ray tube is on.
+It should be understood that the novel inspection devices of the present invention may be modified in size, shape and design to adapt the device to the inspection of articles of a variety of sizes and shapes, such as products conveyed along an assembly line, logs conveyed into a saw mill, packages conveyed into a prison or consulate, etc.
+Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.
+:
+I will be taking my longs home overnight in CERS, EXAS, SRPT, GH, and QDEL. In fact, GH is +10% since I started nibbling on it a little after 11:00 am Eastern. See my post from 11:18 am below.
+VIX is getting destroyed, I think today may have been last VIX spike before year end.
+Nope! You are to be proven wrong my grasshopper. Around the 17th of December will be another a spike higher to coincide with a spx print below 2603. Just enough to trap crash callers. Then massive Santa rally into Christmas.
+And you didn’t call for 180 pt drop this week.. all you do is guessing that’s all .. just say the market will be trading 200 pt range .. no rally and no crashing
+No OPEC deal today. Everyone is waiting for the Russians to show up and “bless” a production cut, giving the Saudi’s some cover.
+agree
+the “crude protection team” is Saudi and Russia
+Many within OPEC (as well as outside of OPEC) believe that the Saudi’s are the one’s that should bear the brunt of a production cut, given that they were the one’s that created this mess in the first place, by producing above and beyond the 2016 Agreement of 10.3 mm bpd over the last several months. – – – The Russians in particular don’t want to cut, because they can enjoy a balanced budget at as low as $40 crude. This is why everyone is waiting to see what they “agree” to do when they show up tomorrow. The Saudi’s need their “blessing”. 🙂
+they have to overthrow the crowned prince before they can cut production. He owes.
+I believe non-OPEC countries are meeting tomorrow to discuss production cuts.
+If you are going to hold TVIX overnight … DON’T.
+On the Nasdaq from today’s lows,it looks like a wave 1 0r a then a wave 2 or b flat,then starting wave 3 or c.
+Don’t know if this means anything but ill share.Last time when we hit the high of 2877 there was a gap left at 2875 we dropped 345 pts to 2532 before returning to fill gap and make new highs at 2941 if and I say if that was to play out the gap at 2816- 345= 2471 and that’s the full C that everyone is talking about funny how these numbers coincide, if it plays out like that then the bounce we get is 409 and that brings it to 2880(84) the other number I said and others have called spook. So if 2471 becomes a large A and B 2880 then C is 2410 if it’s ganna be a ABC, I think tony is calling for a ABC
+anyway I’m still short and will try to trade it here and there add on spike ups so now I still have resistance 1 at 2688 and rising and 2700 support should be 2647-44. Question can this down move be a 5 waver if so then we go lower OR if we are to go lower like others have called just means that we’ll have larger ABC. Happy hunting
+Lunker, You should have not questioned fiona. Now he is posting his trades cluttering the forum 😉
+Sold SPX 2972
+Updated pic. Notice that today’s decline began at the bottom white. Just as Tuesday’s decline was between two green’s exactly. The question is how long until we get to the dotted white?
+This wave 4 we’ve been in since September 21st is proving to be even more complex that I had initially thought. Minute wave b subdivided into 3 waves that made a perfect flat. A minute degree wave b flat within a minor w-b flat, can’t get more complex than that, well except for a triangle within a flat…
+If this count is correct, expecting an upswing to complete the bigger flat up. That should be the last counter trend rally before the final rollover and then we should start the series of mostly down waves to complete wave 4. Attached my previous medium term chart for reference.
+SPX takes out 2603 and then it’s back to the drawing board. There’s no more leeway now, imho this is the last opportunity SPX has to go over 2800 again.
+2665-70 is proved to be quite a resistance, tested 3 times today. Went short 2665, measured move target – 2602. With all the volatility, will not be surprised it to be hit before end of close. Unless of course markets have a long setup in mind. Stops r us.
+Love hwb – long from lows was just front run. Let’s see if bear below 2659 holds.
+ES, long set up is in play
+Getting chopped up here.
+55 was the exit for longs unless you want to hold to break even to see if the c wave extends to targets.
+once price reached the next short setup juncture (38-61%) it stopped and pulled back as shown on chart above, the red at 2690 is the breach line for that short setup.. the setups usually show you the smaller degree wave pivots and sometimes they don’t hold to the fib levels exactly, but thats what rules are for. keep you safe or go ROGUE! Right Phil.
+hey gary
+i saw you had 2639 as a line on your chart… what was that for ???
+that was my cover short point earlier
+and guess what ?
+is is now the bull above line ….. cool eh ?
+only 90 more down for good odds
+Mr. Caldaro, may I just float my 2cents of this count:
+2940-2603 int a
+2603-2815 minor a of int b
+2815-2631-2800-2621 minor b of int b (flat)
+2621- minor c of int b (target >2815)
+Is this still a remote possibility or this is not being considered at present?
+Yours sincerely,
+Ninja, that’s basically my current EW count, only I’m using one degree lower waves than you. Check my first chart in above post.
+You have a sharp eye, thumbs up.
+Guys they might be annoying but they’re great fades .
+Let the shot callers call their shots
+They’re givers
+Very True.
+Depends on monthly close bellow Oct lows mid 2300s possible above Nov highs back up we go.
+The question is how high ?
+We have seen the low at least short term, SPX 2700 is next … one step at a time 😀
+Been nibbling on CERS, EXAS, SRPT, GH, and QDEL this morning.
+They are acting very well.
+🙂
+I bought TQQQ @ 45.59 and 46.16…..probably jinxed now….x
+….sold and went back into TVIX….
+Lunker, You should have not questioned fiona. Now he is posting his trades cluttering the forum 😉
+Sorry…think washout…girls rule…x
+Question:Is this a H&S top getting ready to fall through 2625?If it is,2400 the PO.
+Now a Christmas poem:
+Twas 3 weeks before Christmas
+and all through the land
+Not a bull there was stirring
+Stocks,stuck in quicksand
+And as we ask why
+stocks fell through the floor
+The reason is clear
+for those who implore
+Santa Yellen is gone–
+Grinch Powell runs the store.
+NO CRASH IN DECEMBER! You got that?
+I got that–does the market got that–is the question.
+courtesy @hks45
+What happens if there is a crash ? I can’t even block you …🤣
+LOL! Outstanding entertainment. Loving it. Keep it coming 🙂 🙂
+allen, no need for name calling
+you seem like a decent guy, lets keep it civil
+No time to post charts to explain my reasoning, but had a long order to be triggered at 2622 with 2600 SL, which have just filled.
+Regarding my previous 2634 long, I had a SL at 2685 that was triggered yesterday at the Asian opened. 51 points profit plus another 37 from an earlier hedge short was my reward for my previous position. Let a lot on the table but can’t complain too much about a profit however small in this trading environment.
+Some people are trading the downswings and making money, others are playing the upswings and making money as well. Kudos to the few ones in here capable of playing both sides and making a killing. For me right now it’s mostly about capital preservation until wave 4 is done mid 2019, making a few $$ is good too but not my main focus as of now.
+TTYL
+Allen you need a detox ! If you respond to this with more garbage you need a serious detox – may be start with a coffe enema and then deal with your upper story
+Allen, I acknowledge that you exist and that you are in this blog; however I also acknowledge that you are a prick that just wants to pick a fight with anyone who doesn’t agree with whatever is your view at the moment. So while I acknowledge your post to me I’m not going to bother to explain my position to you, not worth it. And from now on any post addressed to me won’t even get a reply from me. You’re just a troll and nothing more, and such people is not worth of engagement.
+es
+straight down below 2639
+ie cover shorts there
+good luck and see ya tomorrow
+Remember, the charts have a “full bore-bullish” look.
+2632 pivot lost. This is getting ugly. How come nobody talks about inverted yield curve?
+Because, it’s “different this time” something, something.
+2656, 2598, 2450 then 2340
+DWT (short oil) up to 24
+TVIX
+Stops
+SAME X
+TVIX is in a sequence to 100…try not to break it this time….
+DJIA down to 21000.
+Hey Tony SPX went under 2631 whacha got up your sleeve for this curveball? Thx
+Combo Bearflag + 3BR nice short setup waiting for Trigger entry tmrw
+large traders taking profits from this 2 day drubbing…..?
+Thanks phil
+blast down thru 33 target and swoosh
+Moment of truth now. Watching the tick 000
+Not good. Bought and sold for a few cents profit. No reaction so far.
+SPX is getting close to Tony’s 2nd pivot 2632, get ready to buy buy buy ….. 😀
+RUT has already taken out its 11/20 and 10/29 lows, and NYA has already taken out its 11/20 lows.
+it is extremely oversold and the strong bounce is imminent.
+The biggest market declines occur when the market is already extremely oversold.
+Yes, I hear this phrase a lot … 😀
++1. Also agree with XCT – daily chart – last ES/SPX low stochastics were oversold, now not even close, also look at the BB – not close to the lower band. It appears that 2520 is where it is headed now.
+The Daily charts aren’t even close to oversold yet, and then of course can stay oversold for a while once they even get there. Doesn’t mean a strong bounce can’t happen here from the 2632 pivot and a 2628 ES Globex gap fill, but oversold on intraday time frames can be a sketchy reason by itself, FWIW.
+Is the paint dry yet?
+I don’t know about you, but anyone that “trades” for a living would call a 150 point collapse in the S&P in 2 days a CRASH. – – – Never mind that the – 800 point day in the Dow Jones was the #4 biggest point decline in history.
+In this business, it’s about percentages, not point totals. So, it’s not even close to a crash…yet.
+Yup.
+China is calling the arrest of the Chinese national as an Act of War.
+Of course the backstory is that her company is skirting sanctions levied on Iran, regarding nuclear weapons.
+This is serious “adult talk”.
+is that an official comment?
+or just some hawk mouthing off?
+Sounds like neither
+I presume it’s about components for NUKEs,
+Nobody would care if it was about smartphones.
+I think Trump has way too much visibility on this to miss the mark.
+Also, heard some buy on CNBC today say this is police business, not White House business. I think that is absurd. Trump had to know last Saturday, and specifically sign off on the arrest. It’s international, and very provocative.
+What’s your source for the act of war statement?
+China did say it was going AHEAD with trade agreement ATFER the arrest.
+Who knows.
+Maybe they have been in negotiations to free her since the miinute it happened.
+Trump didn’t budge, here we are.
+***
+By the way I posted once on this blog that there are already several Chinese nationals i U..S Federal Prison for STEALING classified info on U.S Defense (Navy ships, etc.)
+There are layers in this story.
+Tom,
+your source for your war statement in BOLD letters is “who knows?”
+Nobody knows anything for certain. Everybody is guessing to some extent.
+BTW, I posted a major top configuration on this blog Saturday morning 10/8, early in the day.
+I went had gone to cash a few days before and urged caution to everyone.
+I didn’t know that for a fact, but my guess is working out very well.
+Thank you for your interest.
+Joe Terranova just called the arrest of this Chinese national CFO
+“not a tariff issue, but a a National Security Issue”
+CNBC 12:50 EST
+Joe Terranova is very far from being a Chinese government official
+Tom that’s very irresponsible to post about War as if it was fact but then not have any source. and also to act nonchalantly about it?
+#FakeNews
+#YoureFired
+Somebody on CNBC reported that a Chinese spokesperson is calling it an act of war.
+Google it.
+Something like that would be all over Google and the wires and there is
+#nothing
+Somebody on CNBC said it. FACT
+you need to understand that the WH doesn’t want to start a panic,
+If this devolves into something more serious, the WH will want to control the flow of info.
+that came from Hu Xijin, the editor in chief of the Global Times, state run newspaper
+So, that’s how it got on CNBC.
+Hear that lunker????
+I disagree.
+If your a trader, its all about points.
+Percentages are for investment managers.
+What matters the most is the % of collateral capital that a trader (or investment manager) is risking on a trade–however many points that may be.
+What business would that be?
+Not trading.
+Hi Tony
+Any thoughts on the count?
+Still just a B wave?
+Thanks
+I think it will end up being an ongoing of int a.
+Tony may disagree of course.
+fotis2 says:
+November 22, 2018 at 10:58 pm
+Gold today close above 1233 will mark a weekly 3BR possibility of bullflag paying out at target gets another nod.
+Gold Bullflag setup oficially at play with the taking out of that little R of the 26/10 looks like a big CH a pullback to the low 1200s could give a decent 100 buck move lets see.
+Perhaps a bullish stick sandwich candlestick pattern on the spx weekly. Have to wait and see how tomorrow trades.
+Oil traders are looking for a 1.3 mm bpd cut. But crude tumbling another $2.09 to 50.80 as market participants worry that an OPEC cut will only be 1.0 mm bpd.
+ISM Non-Manufacturing Index 60.7 vs 69 estimate
+Factory Orders – 2.1% vs -2.0% estimate
+Typo 60.7 vs 59.0 estimate
+Market is moving too fast , just going long little by little until 2632 ..
+careful schizo
+44 target hit
+now bounce or collapse ?
+Well… going long until 1pm and then short for collapse ..
+Phil, how did you come up with 44?
+please advice. Thank you
+Collapse? You guys are 100% amateurs. Crash callers out in full force which means we go higher very soon.
+it bounced
+thru 44 needed for collapse
+you dont want above 2660 if it is to collapse
+risk is up to 94 es until 33 target is hit
+good luck
+phil…give it some wiggle room…call it at 2670.61…LOL
+i am giving it room
+i dont want it above 59.5
+im giving it 2 ticks or i am out
+can always go back in
+watch CL for spike down to 48.48 target on number at 11 am
+44 gone
+What trading platform are you using?
+Are your quotes lagging or freezing up?
+on /ES…CTT to 2667
+next CTT coming up soon? ……
+…..to 56 then 59 then 67 which one will defend?
+Guys…I don’t like what I am seeing in “SSO” trading this morning…they are selling into strength. Someone is ramping it up .10 and someone is selling ..down .20…wash rinse repeat.
+I repeat, There will be NO CRASH in December. The markets will flush out all who want to get today. The ES has an open gap @ 2716. This gap will fill this week folks. BUY today to capture this move to that level.
+And yes news does matter here. Any fool can see this.
+SPX is down over 5% since Monday’s open…. First 3 days of trading in Dec.
+HD, I’ve asked last week and here again. What are you seeing in your housing biz? I THINK you were in that biz… 🤔
+I replied to you a few days ago.
+Sorry missed it
+Found it. Sorry thought you were a home builder.
+That was blackjack Tommy
+Oh thx Leeeeeeee….
+Correct H D.
+And yet the “seasonal” average return for the month of December is 1.5% from 1961 – 2011 and +2.6% from 1999 – 2012.
+Money back guarantee if there is a crash ? LOL
+Down 150 SPX points in 2 days isn’t a Crash? LOL!
+…and you were saying about following the expert?
+nasdaq looks impulsive. and gap down, if price retake yesterday’s low correction is about to finish right now in my opinion. here the chart:
+Now that’s just crazy and alittle unrealistic. Come on now.
+why crazy?
+he posted a chart with a legit count
+He’s being sarcastic. Come on man…
+You go Allen…👊🏽
+Legit? LMAO…Lunkerhead LOL
+ES Morning Update December 6th 2018 –
+ES projection
+follow the waves – news will follow 🙂
+Great to see your count jobjas
+Today is the Feast of Saint Nicholas so if we are going to have that rally it better start today.
+asa
+SPXU has almost 2 points of profit from tuesday
+too much to give back with risk up to 2695 and
+still no break of spike low on es
+have you done anything yet ?
+bonds at an interesting juncture
+small extension long meets big extension short
+thx for the ZB chart. …waiting.
+would you mind posting a GC chart. …the futures contract is interesting to watch trade.
+thx
+Floyd…DH has this set-up /GC testing a 38% long but I think it will test the 50% long at 1239.50. Let’s see what Phil comes up with.
+asa,
+….been watching GC trade, …very small, …quick positions: it trades well.
+interesting.
+thx for chart
+floyd
+snaggy not working …chart later
+gc up towards 1265 target and 1268 resistance
+phil
+You don’t want to be short bonds for the foreseeable future
+Cheers
+only took initial short
+if big ext short breaks
+i will be buying bond pullbacks
+i respect your call on bonds theo … you hit the low to the day a while ago
+KUDOS !
+Nope…still sitting on my hands. I am tempted to play a counter trend rally, if one developes but I don’t like the idea of trying to catch a falling knife. Let’s s ee what happens at the open…especially at 10:00 AM…I have plenty of patients for this market…excuse the pun on words!
+but you said you are retired asa
+ergo… you dont have ANY patients 😉
+Retired, yep and loving it. My neighbors know that I owned a couple of physical therapy clinics and suddenly doing some “ pro- bono” work…LOL
+Should have added earlier…. I caught my wife’s cold and not in the mood to concentrate on 38 specials….LOL
+yeah
+my wife gets lots of requests for free physical therapy advice at her gym
+if she would just start charging a small fee
+then i could retire from trading ….;)
+but not yet…………
+es targets 44 then 33
+dont want to see it above 2672 till targets are hit
+Stop with arrest as an excuse! She was arrested Dec 1st, last Saturday. The Chinese govt was well aware of the arrest that day. Reality check, the market sucks and the price doesn’t lie!
+…. when it reaches the masses do you 100% honestly believe there isn’t a single fund manager, let alone a bunch of idiot retail investors, who will not be selling on that news? I truly do not get how so many people believe news has zero effect on the market. if one were to be a conspiracy theorist you could even say people in the know knew this and began selling as a result Tuesday. thats neither here nor there, but geez its a bit ridiculous. that trade meeting on saturday didnt cause that gap up? come on.
+also, I want to mention that this news just so happened to be released about 20 minutes before futures started trading. coincidence?
+What I find odd is how they were able to keep the news from being published for 4 days. In this day and age, that rarely is possible.
+Ahm….I thought it wasn’t until yesterday or Tuesday that the DOJ formally asked Canada to hold her pending a formal extradition request was filed. Maybe the smart money saw this coming on Tuesday?
+The reports I read said that she was detained on 12/1. Here’s an interesting take on this:
+The Chinese government has been aware of the news, but traders didn’t know about it until last night. Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that the SPX/DOW bear market began at the 10/3 high.
+no it does not at all. and this type of news flow imo only confirms it to me. news good or bad often happens in the direction of the market trend. “The trend has been established before the news is published, and in bull markets bear items are ignored and bull news exaggerated, and vice versa.” – Reminiscences Of A Stock Operator
+Let’s see if anyone is still insulting me over seasonality for my warnings after next Tuesday. Respecting the elliot waves and technicals is respecting the market. It’s possible that Tony’s count is incorrect but at least he gave the warning to be prudent weeks ago. That’s a nice attempt QuickRick, but I say there is no point trying to count the little waves during a wave 3 bear market drop until it is done. You never know how any subdivisions there will be. Good luck to those who were actually humble enough to listen to Tony and others who saw this possibility.
+Well at least that’s seasonality as a trading tool put to bed. ‘There has never been a market crash in December. It’s just not possible.’ Lol.
+Was also going to say, after reading the comments here before anything else this morning, why are people pinning this move on the arrest of a Chinese national? Seems completely irrelevant to me. Then I saw that the financial news outlets are reporting that as a reason. Its like they have to see what newsflow is out that day so they can attribute why it’s moving.
+This move is about fundamentals, and nothing else. Economy is going to turn here globally led by China. So earnings have peaked and may even begin to contract as margins are at record highs. Compressed risk premia will expand so valuations will come down. Market is going down. It wouldn’t have mattered what happened at the China dinner last weekend, because it’s a sideshow. But too many think this is a simple as trade war bad, no trade war good. Which is why they’ve been caught out this week and no doubt their panicking is exasperating the selling
+And FTSE and Dax have made fresh 2018 lows under the March and October ones on heavy volume, straight line selling and no bid. Highly unlikely they turn higher now the range has been lost. Expecting SPX to follow later and break 2600 soon
+trend line fast approaching on the FTSE from 2009 lows (log scale) do you think it’ll crush through it or is a bounce pretty much expected?
+and while I agree with you on the news, for the most part, I think ignoring headlines and placing it all on fundamentals is incredibly biased from someone who has a fundamental background I can see where the bias would come from. Yesterday Putin came out bringing up cold war rhetoric with the promise of retaliation if we back out of the arms treaty, the chinese national arrested is the CFO of the company, daughter of the founder, with HUGE ties to the communist party, and to top it off Apple is lowering the price of the XR (fundamentals, but still news) clearly showing weak sales and giving credence to all of their suppliers cutting revenue projections. I do agree that the fundamentalists and smart money are a majority of the selling, but to completely throw out the news and act like any of the above isn’t causing people to sell is incredibly obtuse thinking.
+stockop – Good post thnx.
+FTSE I have 6620 and 6500 as next levels of support. Kind of thinking one of those holds and it bounces back to 7000 for Xmas with more selling in Jan. But momentum is strong here so it has the feel of a sell and hold all day kind of move.
+With those 3 news events, the Apple one is something stock specific. The Putin one is irrelevant to markets unless you were to try and price an escalation in geopolitical tensions. If we were trending up because of good fundamentals it wouldn’t matter, a bit like with the NK rocket tests last year. The market went up despite them.
+And on the China news, I still struggle to see how that’s relevant to markets. They are clearly arguing that it’s relevant to trade negotiations but I can’t see that really.
+The markets are going down because of the earnings outlook and risk premia expansion. Unless there’s some news out that can change either of those, it probably carries on. So thinking central bank news, fiscal stimulus, better economic data etc. The rest is irrelevant.
+Would also say, before any of that news came out, US markets were down big on Tuesday, closing at the lows. Then yesterday European markets were unable to close their gaps to Tuesdays close, and closed at the lows at the bottom of their trading ranges too. The markets were likely heading down today with or without newsflow.
+I completely agree with everything you are saying. But it sounds like you are honestly trying to say that increased geopolitcal tension between Russia and China (yes, the arrest is a big deal. this is her dad: , this arrest alone could completely shatter any shot of a trade deal, China has already demanded her return) has no impact. Also, I have no doubt people sold on the NK rocket news. It was a bull market so they were wrong. I am just trying to get across that these type of news events increase the selling pressure. it is not just ALL fundamentals causing this sell off right now. it is being exacerbated by the news.
+trend line looks to tag around 6650 so a little undershoot fits in perfectly with your targets. thanks for sharing.
+MCG – Good post and agree.
+Ditto that. 2600 is certainly within the range for this drop.
+Bear in mind, these short term wave counts are tricky…but here’s what I’ve got so far.
+Sorry, I missed labeling wave ‘4’
+right before your iii, it can also count iii-iv-v, with your current 3 completing 5 down. basing this a little off the Nikkei whose followed us pretty well recently. the count on that index is a little scary
+Yeh, stockop, I just took a flying shot for the fun of it. 🙂
+its a good one. I don’t know if I subconsciously remembered your count from a few weeks ago, but I came to the same conclusion this weekend and so far so good. keep it up I enjoy reading your posts/counts
+rick
+” bear” in mind ? 😉
+Not saying we crash but just continue to grind
+Lower with increased volitility. We should be
+happy with this opportunity to make trades
+but it is somewhat a no brainer that we get a recession and things go south for 2-3 quarters but then it’s happy times again 😃
+Retiree247- normally you’d be Ok but please
+if you have a short term time horizon as in less
+Than a year don’t play around here. I could give a lot of reasons why we are late in this credit cycle… yes it’s credit cycles that influence business cycles now but this is not appropriate here. Sometimes the fundamentals outweigh technicals and here we are. I’m sure in 6-9 months we will all have great buying opportunities.
+Hi Qball, nice to meet you. Just to let you know….I’m not here to play. I am a retiree who has relieved my PNC wealth manager from his duties as of Jan. 2, 2018.
+I am very flexible, my trades via SPY shares vary from 1 day to month’s depending on the trend. I try to keep it simple, using TC’s pivots. I’m in today long from 2632 and 2655. Cashed out 1/2 at 2690 before todays close. I’m keeping some for tomorrow and have a stop at 2650 just in case it goes rotten tomorrow. With the help of guys like Tony, Phil, Asa ,KV, and Lunker my IRA is 12% on the good side. Keeping that in mind, I don’t trade blindly on other peoples opinions. Bottom line… Its my money…I MAKE THE RULES!!!!
+Take care and God Bless!
+To is that it marked thirty years since Julie Moss’ iconic finish at Kona. At the time, Moss was a 23-year-old graduate student in exercise physiology who decided to compete in the Ironman as part of her thesis research. She led much of the race, all the way until she was about two miles from the finish line, when her body started refusing to cooperate. She was just a few hundred yards from the finish when her glycogen stores ran out and she bonked.
+What happened next is the stuff of legend:
+There is so much to marvel over in this video, but perhaps what I find most interesting about it is not what is happening inside the frame but rather the context in which this is all taking place. All of this happened in 1982, a full two years before women would be able to run the marathon in the Olympics for the first time. In fact, the world’s governing athletic bodies were reluctant to encourage women to run long distances – or even middle distances – for decades. Women were not allowed to run anything over 200 meters until 1960, and even then it wasn’t until 1980s that an event longer than 1,500 meters was established for women.
+That reluctance is commonly attributed to the public reaction to the 1928 Olympics, when several media reports about the 800 meters race indicated that many of the racers had collapsed after the race. From Go Feet, an excerpt from an Australian news report at the time:.
+Compare that to the reaction to Moss’ glycogen-depleted finish fifty-four years later. I’m sure many people watched her and were concerned – and understandably so, as bonking is usually a sign that something went terribly wrong and is not something anyone should seek to emulate – but many people also watched her and were inspired. I imagine their thoughts are similar to mine: Could I do that? Do I have it in me? Could my will ever be strong enough? Would I have given up, even with victory in sight? And I imagine that, like me, they got into endurance sports because they wanted to find out.
+As far as I know, there were no calls to ban women from Ironman distance triathlon. (How could they, considering that the same clip shows the eventual victor, Kathleen McCartney, crossing the finish line looking as fresh and energetic as if she’d just taken a quick jog down the street?) If anyone was wringing their hands over the state of Moss’ future as a childbearer, the record doesn’t show it.
+What the record does show, however, is that she inspired thousands of people to get into triathlon, and in the process she expanded what it means to be a female athlete. She showed that it’s okay for women to suffer in visible and ugly ways, to collapse gracelessly, to do awkward things with our bodies and to make people feel uncomfortable and tense just by looking at us. In fact, she not only showed that it was okay to do these things, but that it could actually be incredible to behold. Otherwise why would so many cite her as their inspiration for wanting to take on an endurance event that still seems outrageously difficult?
+United States endurance swimmer Diana Nyad is greeted by a crowd as she walks on to the Key West, Fla., shore today. (J Pat Carter/AP)
+Moss’ moment happened over thirty years ago, but today we had the chance to see that expansion of what it means to be a female athlete once again, when Diana Nyad finally swam across the Florida Straits, plunging into the water in Havana and emerging in Key West, 110 miles and 53 hours later, clutching the accomplishment she’d obsessed over for longer than I’ve been alive. Photos of her showed her smeared with white goo, her face strapped beneath a mask meant to protect her from jellyfish stings. We’d seen those jellyfish stings after her previous attempts, thick ropes of fiery red lashed across her skin, and they were ugly. And when she came out of the water, her mouth was swollen from being immersed in salt water for more than two days. No room for vanity in the sport of open-water swimming.
+And not only that, but this was her fifth attempt at the crossing. She’d allowed the world to see that she was a woman obsessed, that she had a drive that concerned even people who were close to her. That kind of naked ambition is confusing in a woman even when it is applied in pursuit of goals commonly considered acceptable – money, fame, belongings – never mind an endurance feat doing something like open-water swimming in shark-infested waters, which understandably terrifies large swaths of the public.
+Perhaps even more fascinating is that she did all of this at the age of sixty-four. We live in a society that wants women to always be pretty and well-groomed, to have manageable ambitions that are socially acceptable, and to finds ways to defeat biology so we always remain twenty-six years old. And yet here Nyad is, upending all of those expectations about what it means to be a woman and in the process showing the world that D.L. Stewart of the Dayton Daily News was right, that “the toughest athlete in the world is a 62-year-old woman.” (And he said that two years ago. It’s even truer today.) She showed that athleticism is not the sole provenance of the young, and that experience can count just as much as energy.
+While watching Nyad’s last few miles on a live feed earlier today, I had the same sort of goosebumps-and-tears feeling I get whenever I watch that clip of Julie Moss. Part of it is the thrill that always comes when you are witness to the creation of history, and part of it is also the way superhuman feats can give us glimpses into the shared humanity that supersedes all other divisions, but deep inside, I also know that part of it is seeing that those superhuman feats are being performed by women. It feels like a thumb to the nose against all of the forces that still, even at this late stage of history, insist that the story of women is one in which they play supporting roles in service of others’ pursuits of greatness.
+None of us may ever lead an Ironman or swim a hundred miles, but the desire to pursue our own greatness – to be the best possible versions of ourselves – is something we can all emulate in our own lives.
+Amazing post. Great work. Just shared on my FB page:
+Keep up your inspirational fit and feminist blogging. Brava!
+Thank you!
+What’s also amazing about Diana Nyad emerging from the water after this incredible success: she looks like an older woman, exhausted and beat down after this feat. There’s nothing romantic about the effort she put into this. She looks real.
+Yep. Just like the rest of us mature and amazing women 🙂
+I noticed that too, and I appreciated it. I always love seeing people when they actually look like people, and not the highly stylized and mediated versions we normally see. It was particularly poignant with Nyad because she was also at this moment of vulnerability after performing this incredible feat. Superhuman and yet human at the same time.
+I LOVE seeing all of this. In watching the 2012 Ironman at Kona did you see “Iron Grammie” finish? She won the US national championship for Ironman in her age group in NYC the same week she started to collect Social Security. And went on to Kona. She is an amazing friend and an inspiration to me!
+I did! What a remarkable lady! You’re lucky to have her as a friend and inspiration.
+I have to admit that I’d never heard of Julie Moss until now. That was incredible to watch (and scary!).
+I just saw this video and thought of you. I don’t know your opinion on the whole Blurred Lines controversy, but I thought this was funny nonetheless (sorry for the massive link!).
+I saw this! I loved it. Sometimes I think attempts at feminist satire fall flat (often because it’s too earnest and grad-school-y) but this had me cracking up. Brava to those ladies.
+(I am conflicted over the song itself. The lyrics really bother me and I was horrified when I saw the uncensored video, but damn if it is not a catchy song.)
+I think I’m on the only person on the planet who hated this song from the first moment I heard it! What can I say, I’m not hip with the cool kids 😉
+I love that clip of Julie Moss. Did you know that according to Iron War (a book I just read about the rivalry between Dave Scott and Mark Allen in the 80s), it was that clip of Julie Moss that inspired Mark Allen to get into Ironman. Great post!
+I DID NOT KNOW THAT. (Also how was the book? I want to read it!) That makes the fact that Julie Moss and Mark Allen were married for several years even more romantic.
+Pingback: Monday Runday 9/2 | tongue in chic·
+I saw brief footage this morning of Diana Nyad reaching the shore at the end of her swim, and I loved her words. Such an amazing, powerful inspiration to women of all ages!
+Most definitely. And not just for us women, but I think a lot of men are inspired by her as well. At least, my husband is. Don’t tell anyone but I totally caught him tearing up as he watched her get out of the water.
+Agreed. She is an inspiration to everyone. And that’s awesome about your husband’s reaction. 🙂
+Reblogged this on Ned Hamson Second Line View of the News and commented:
+An inspiration to everyone!
+There is a fantastic TedMed talk she gave — after her last failed attempt — about her planning and how she still completely defines herself as an athlete. Very few women 60+ are visible in the culture/media as active, powerful, determined, indomitable! As we age, we need women like these as our role models — not just size 00s Botoxed into fixed grins. Not everyone wants to compete as fiercely as she does at that age, but women 50 and beyond sink into invisibility when we really need to see them being cool, interesting and achieving whatever crazy goals still appeal.
+A friend of mine in her 70s (I’m guessing,..maybe 80s?) just published her book about abortion and the “bad old days” when it was mostly illegal…where we’re headed again. I love knowing cool, kickass women who are a bit further down life’s road.
+Women over 50 aren’t the only ones who are invisible. We are ALL pretty much invisible:
+(with a few notable exceptions of course)
+Not those of us who keep blogging, writing and fighting for visibility. Half the battle is reminding women to speak UP.
+Is that the one about jellyfish? I need to go dig it up and watch it now. I’ve been meaning to watch it for ages.
+I agree completely, by the way, about the need to see older women like Diana Nyad in the public eye. The fixation on youth to the exclusion of all else is really one of the more distressing trends in our culture, because it erases so much of what is good and righteous about growing older: mental toughness, wisdom, maturity, the power that comes with not giving a fuck. There are so many women like that in the world but if you went based solely on what you see reflected back at us from the media, you’d never know it.
+I’ve actually been thinking a lot about how the mainstream media was basically set to ignore what she was doing, but that they were unable to do so a) after she actually did it and b) when they realized just how many people really cared. I may write about this today, in fact.
+Not giving a fuck is exactly why women like her are so scary! We can’t be controlled or mediated or Botoxed into skinny/polite conformity.
+I want to write a lot more stories about amazing women 40+…but there is often a big yawn from the 25 yr old editors (female) and male I work with. Who wants to read about your parents? It drives me nuts.
+The boyfriend of a friend of mine — who posts on FB INCESSANTLY (pix and deets) about his effing cycling (and now hers as well) actually asked on FB today if Nyad’s determination was narcissistic. WTF? What the fucking fuck? (sorry but really…..)
+The rush to demonize/erase/deride female ambition — esp. when we use our bodies for OUR exclusive use (not saving or helping others) — is appalling. While we all gawk at guys who do this routinely.
+The culture is so toxic.
+The Nyad video is also really interesting because she recorded her talk after a bunch of failed attempts — and was proud of having done them anyway. The applause was weak…Americans want ONLY winners. But we often fail repeatedly before we are able to win.
+Oh man co-sign every friggin’ word of your comment. Every fucking word.
+And your friend’s boyfriend is touching on a sore nerve of mine, which is that narcissism is a pejorative that is usually only applied to women. You see it all the time with women who write about themselves, how they are narcissistic navel-gazers while men who write about themselves are using the particular to examine the universal and blah blah blah. UGH it makes me mental.
+And about your last point – I had heard and seen a lot of people kind of rolling their eyes at her most recent attempts, which I found really annoying. There’s no tolerance for failure, no understanding of the fact that everyone who ever achieved anything has probably failed a hundred times over in the process. I personally think the fact that she kept going is admirable and awesome, and that a lot of people – myself included – can learn a lot from her in this regard.
+Bad. Ass.
+Thank you for writing about this. When I saw the news article on the BBC, I clicked over here to see what you had to say, now I have to go and watch that Julie Moss video.
+Diana Nyad is truly inspirational.
+Thank you! The Julie Moss video is something else, as is this one:
+I’m liking what I’ve been reading so far in your blog, Caitlin! I really appreciate your view and hope I and others can emulate your attitude towards female athletes. I’ve been exploring inequality on my blog with a very neutral tone…reading this is like a breath of fresh air– a reminder that I am a woman, here and now, and I can aspire to do that kind of stuff!
+By the way, I’d love it if you’d check out my blog and tell me your reaction. I’m not getting much feedback and I’d appreciate hearing other people’s perspectives.
+Pingback: Lovely Links: 9/6/13·
+I’ve seen the Welch & Ingraham crawl before, but never the Ellen Ross one. Chilling. I’ve been in glycogen depletion before but never to that extreme.
+A small part of me kept yelling at her to stop trying to run. She’d get up, start walking, be reasonably ok, then try to run again only to fall. I wonder if she just kept walking, would she have crossed the line first?
+As for Nyad, I love reading about older athletes doing things I can’t even image. It gives me hope. Too many people use age as an excuse. These athletes prove them wrong.
+Pingback: Bean Bytes 54·
+KPIs or key performance indicators are often quantifiable in the field of finance. They help a financial institution to design its strategic roadmap and push the company towards a direction it would like to move towards through giving it goals which can be achieved with the present resources- while at the same time planning towards acquiring the resources the company would like to utilize and invest in. According to CFO Key Performance Indicators (KPI) survey, done by PWC
+“28% of the companies which responded, track more than 20 or fewer than 5 KPIs.
+Less than half of the respondents believed that KPIs help in monitoring the long-term
+strategic goal of the company.
+More than 1/3rd of the respondents reviewed their KPIs quarterly or more frequently.”
+KPIs should be connected to a long-term strategy, and are essential to drive down a data-driven approach when it comes to decision making. Some business aspects can be difficult to quantify, but it is important to consider quantifiable indicators so that you can monitor and track your performance easily. The finance department has a significant influence over the growth and fall of the institution and can determine things like risk-taking capability, sustainability quotient only if he has some standard KPIs to follow through.
+The four quarters of finance that need to be measured and monitored since they define the general health of a company are- profitability, activity, solvency, and liquidity. They need to be tracked at least quarterly so that you can avoid making decisions based on guts and uncertainties.
+This article seeks to educate about the top 10 Key performance indicators in finance - namely, return on equity, return on assets, Net Interest Margin, Efficiency Ratio, Non-performing Loans Ratio, Net charge-off ratio, Loan to Deposit Ratio, Tier 1 Common Capital Ratio, Churn Rate and Cost of funds.
+Every institution has a different reality, and you should be able to determine the indicators that will adapt to your business strategy so that it is possible to track, monitor and perform effectively.
+1. Return on equity
+If you want to monitor the profitability of your institution, calculating and tracking return on equity is what helps to ensure and justify whether you will able to honor your shareholders or not. Return on equity is the ratio of net income to shareholders equity, and hence it determines the profits which can be made from shareholder investments and also indicates how efficient is your institution in utilizing investments of shareholders in growth and operations and most importantly it attracts investors by acting as a reliability factor.
+A high return on equity ratio is preferable as it means that the institution can use the invested funds wisely and is able to generate more returns. It also helps in the interpretation of the annual income statement. Tracking the change of equity, by calculating once at the beginning of the year and then once at the end of the year.
+2. Loan to Deposit Ratio
+Loan to deposit ratio, as the name indicates is the ratio of investment of a bank to its depositors. It indicates the ability of a bank to cover the withdrawals made by its depositors. It is a liquidity ratio which helps the investors to analyze the short time viability of the lending functions i.e. to ensure that if they need immediate money, it is readily available. A low loan to deposit ratio is not as preferable to a high loan to deposit ratio since it indicates that the bank is not viable in the short run.
+3. Non-performing Loans Ratio
+A non-performing loan is the sum of money on which the debtor has not made any return on the payment within 90-180 days. It is the ratio of the bank’s non-performing loan to the total loans. The more the ratio of non-performing loans, the more they will hurt the standing of a bank as a borrower. Ideally, a non-performing ratio should be less than 1% in one credit cycle.
+4. Net charge-off Ratio
+To understand the general financial health of the institution, you should be calculating and monitoring net charge-off ratio monthly/quarterly. Net charge-off ratio indicates the ratio of debt that a bank believes that it will never get back when compared to the average receivables. Net charge-off ratio should preferably be smaller than the net performing loans ratio. A lower net charge-off ratio will indicate that the bank needs to focus more on account receivables.
+5. Efficiency Ratio
+Efficiency ratio indicates the ability of a bank/institution to utilize its assets and liabilities to generate revenue. For any institution which wants to stay sustainable keeping a weekly/monthly track of efficiency ratio is the best way to compare growth and move towards the desired results. When institutions can maintain efficiency in their operations, that is when they gradually become profitable too.
+Efficiency ratios include accounts receivable ratio, total asset turnover ratio, inventory turnover, working capital ratio. It is the ratio of these non-interest expenses to net revenue. A ratio below 60% is the desired efficiency ratio for most institutions.
+6. Net Interest Margin
+A profitability ratio which helps to analyze how efficiently a company or bank is investing by calculating profits on investment operations. Hence a favorable ratio will indicate that the investment decisions are efficient and contributing to profitability, and a negative ratio will indicate areas of improvement. It is the ratio of net interest to the average earnings on assets.
+Since banks make profits by borrowing funds at a low-interest rate and then investing the funds at higher rates, these decisions need comparisons and calculated processes. The Margin can always be affected by charging higher return from debtors or paying low returns to creditors, but this decision can reach only if the net interest margin ratio is interpreted effectively.
+7.Capital Ratio
+A ratio to determine the general efficiency and profitability for your institution. It compares the bank’s equity capital to the total risk-weighted assets. The size of capital it has assesses a bank. This ratio determines the solvency of the bank. To be regarded as a well-capitalized institution, a bank should have a capital ratio of 7% or more. The minimum regulatory requirement is 4.5 %.
+8. Return on Assets
+To measure the performance of banks, return on assets is a significant factor. Return on assets is the ratio which determines an institution’s profitability at the most basic level since it explains the relativity of the institution with respect to its total assets. The ratio indicates the efficiency of management in utilizing the assets; hence it is the ratio of net income to the total assets.
+A higher return on asset ratio will be preferable as it will indicate a better utilization of assets. Financial institutions can thrive only when at the end of the fiscal year they have enough funds remaining as profits to invest back in the institution or further expand their commercial market. This ratio not only shows the profitability but also indicates the feasibility of the institution in the long run.
+9. Churn Rate
+Churn rate is used to determine the rate at which members or employees are leaving the institution. It is calculated by comparing the numbers of members who left in a particular period to the total number of active members in that duration.
+The growth rate i.e. the rate at which new members are joining the institution should always be higher than its churn rate. It helps to analyze the hiring and retention patterns of the institution, the factors which lead to the same, and on what factors the institution needs to focus so that the employees can be retained and a low ratio can be maintained.
+10. Cost of Funds
+It is the rate at which the financial institutions pay the interest for the assets that are utilized in the business. A low cost of funds indicates that better returns are being generated since lesser costs are incurred for long-term loans, and funds are getting used for short-term expenses. It is the ratio of annual interest to the total of interest-bearing deposits.
+CONCLUSION
+As mentioned earlier, every business has its reality, and you need to determine what indicator is suitable for your institution, according to the sector of finance you wish to prioritize. For example- if you want to focus and monitor profitability more - then you should be tracking gross and net profit ratios frequently. Having the right information at the right time will help you in making a more calculated decision.
+Let me add a few "tip of the spear" or leading indicators that are important to the finance function. 1) Weighted average rate on loan originations (measured monthly or weekly). If it is higher than the current yield, then loan yield will increase in the future, and vice-versa. 2) Weighted average cost on new time deposits (measured monthly or weekly). If higher than the current cost of time funds, then overall cost of time funds will increase in the future and vice-versa. 3) Weighted average loan to value on new loan originations (measured monthly). Leading indicator of risk in portfolio on balance sheet. 4) Weighted average FICO on new loan originations (measured monthly). Leading indicator of quality of portfolio on balance sheet. 5) Weighted average duration of new loan originations. Leading indicator of interest rate risk in loan portfolio. Lastly, on the Cost of Funds measure in the article, my preference is to include noninterest bearing funds as part of the calculation; they have an interest rate of zero and are arguably of the highest strategic value to any financial institution.
+Hi Mike,
+Thanks for your comments. I agree that the Weighted Average on loan originations, LTV, FICO, duration makes a lot of sense.
+Can you please elaborate on Cost of New Time Deposits?
+Thanks,
+-Naveen
+The Cost on New/Renewal Time Deposits is used to montior that aspect of funding cost. It might have looked out of place among the other "lending related" metrics. As quick aside, the Top 10 measures include a lot of duplication ... for example: Non-performings are in Margin, Efficiency and ROA/E. Margin in is Efficiency and ROA/E. I tend to prefer more balance sheet mix measures; the composition, and therefore, strength (or lack of) on the balance sheet. I did not see anything for non-interest (capital independent) income. Most of the measures are profit driven, when the objective of credit unions are more member focused (optimal profit, not maximizing profit). Just my two cents here. I've been in the KPI business for over 20 years now. Don't ever hesitate to reach out if you want to expand on this topic a bit.
+Good observations Mike. I am setting some time to discuss this further.
+Part One of this article received so little response I’m doubtful there’s reason to post the second, but for the one or two people who might be interested, here you go. As promised, I’ll tell you why I had doubts about two of the e-book lending sites I found. In a word … money.
+I won’t name these two sites, or link to them, because I don’t want to publicize sites I have reservations about. If you search out e-book lending sites, I suggest you read their policies carefully and make up your own mind.
+One site uses a credit system: each book you lend entitles you to borrow one book. BUT, if you don’t want to lend your e-books, you can buy a credit for $2.99. Wait! Isn’t that an illegal resale? What about the licensing agreement you make with Amazon and Barnes & Noble when you purchase an e-book? Well, you see, the site owners didn’t buy the book, they didn’t “sign” that agreement. They’re just acting as the middleman.
+And never mind that thousands of authors, myself included, have e-books priced at $2.99, and by the reader paying the owners of the site for the book instead of Amazon or B&N, the author gets cheated out of a royalty. Hush, silly author. Quit being petty. Just consider the word of mouth potential.
+The other site I have bigger doubts about. I’m not concerned about the way they operate the actual book loan, which uses the lending features of the Kindle and Nook, but I have questions about their policy of asking the lender to request the borrower pay for this loan—not pay the lender, but the site owners. The borrower has the option to pay the requested amount, or more, or less, or nothing at all.
+The homepage blurb states that “100% of profits in 2011 go to charities promoting childhood literacy” and in one section of their Guide it tells the lender to enter “the amount you’d like to see a borrower contribute to charity for this book.” However, I could find no statement of what percentage of the money they collect is considered profit. What if you pay $3 for the book and only 3 cents of that goes to charity? Would you feel deceived?
+Sprinkled throughout this site’s user guide and FAQ are statements that are somewhat misleading, such as these (emphasis mine): “We hope that you’ll be willing to pay something to support our cause, support the authors who bring us such great books, and do some social good!” And, in answer to the question why they don’t set a price for borrowing, they say, “Because it would likely lead to market fragmentation as other markets arose to compete on price, decreasing the benefit of secondary markets to consumers searching for a specific book and authors who deserve compensation for the content they create.
+Am I wrong, or does that sound like they are sending the deceptive subliminal message that authors receive a portion of the fees borrowers pay?
+If you read their FAQ, you’ll see that their aim is to see Amazon and B&N change their policies to allow reselling of Kindle and Nook books. They say (emphasis mine): “By contributing to eBook Exchange when you borrow a book, you’re helping us work to change that.” My question—how? How would my paying eBook Exchange any amount of money to borrow a book change the licensing agreements?
+Again in their FAQ, they state: “Ultimately, by opening up the ebook licensing restrictions that publishers currently impose, we’ll be able to make ebooks available to an expanded number of markets. We’ll be able to reduce ebook prices to many while helping authors earn more.” Truly, helping authors earn more sounds good to me, but I find it hard to believe a third party is interested in helping me earn more. Helping themselves earn money off my work … yeah, I believe that.
+Am I missing something? Please, if I’m too dense to see how this is in my best interests as an author, help me understand.
+To be clear, I am NOT identifying the above sites as bit torrent piracy sites. For now, they only exchange books through the authorized lending features at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. But the whole issue of e-book lending or selling makes me nervous for one good reason—abuse. How so?
+E-books are intangible.
+If you buy a print book, you have the right to loan it out. You buy one book, you loan one book. Of course, assuming it’s returned, you can loan it out more than once, but look at the most popular print book you own and tell me how many times you’ve loaned it out over the years. Three, four, ten times? Fair enough. An author would consider that word of mouth.
+Now, consider the forums where, via email attachments, people trade files copied directly from their e-readers. Disregarding the licensing statement they agreed to when they purchased those e-books, they say, “I have the right to loan out my print books to as many people as I want, so what’s the difference?”
+Let me tell you the difference. If you share your “e-book shelf” on one of these unscrupulous trade sites, how many times do you think you’ll be “loaning” each of those books? Not three or four. Not even thirty, forty. A hundred times? A thousand? Where’s the limit?
+Bit torrent (peer-to-peer) sites essentially force e-books into public domain—meaning the authors receive not another penny for their hard work after that initial sale. And yes, people do that with music files too, but most musicians make the bulk of their income from live performances and merchandising. Only the big-time authors make real money from public speaking engagements.
+As for reselling books, that’s a bit different. Reselling a print book is still within the realm of word of mouth. Books deteriorate after awhile, so its resale can continue for only a limited time. BUT e-books don’t deteriorate. If sites spring up to resell ebooks with no licensing limits, they could duplicate and sell as many copies as they want.
+How is that fair to the author? That goes beyond “word of mouth”. That’s theft.
+I perused one of these bit torrent book sites once and read an author’s plea after finding her e-book available for unlimited free download. She asked that it be removed and tried to explain that writing was her career and unlimited “sharing” deprived her of income. The response? They told her to go f**k herself!
+What say ye?
+24 thoughts on “Should authors have concerns about e-book lending?”
+They can think up a fix on just about everything these days. My gripe is inheritance tax. You can’t even leave your kids stuff without getting ripped off even though you paid taxes all along the way you earned it.
+I understand how that could inflame you, Carl.
+Interesting post! I’ll admit this is something I knew very little about. It is interesting to see the opportunity that e-books have given small time authors but also the additional concerns it raises.
+Certainly, Taurean, “small time authors” will lose the most if their books are mass-produced and given away freely on bit torrent sites.
+Thanks for following this up. I had no idea.
+So, when I fill out my page on Amazon to upload, I should check off “do not lend”. But doens’t that mean you can’t get the 70% royalty? No matter what, I think we’re screwed.
+That’s right, Anne, if you choose the 70% royalty option, you can’t opt out of lending. I don’t mind the “each book, one time” lending through Amazon and B&N, but it’s the Free-for-All proposal, which cuts the author out of any profit, that bothers me. Not that my book, or probably any of my future books, would be “hot” on these sites, but I have to stand against the ethics of it in general.
+Pingback: E-book lending libraries—the good? « Linda Cassidy Lewis
+I think I would show my middle finger right back.
+I know nothing at all about ebooks. I’m a thirty something year old dinnosaur stuck reading paperback (Seriously, the only ebooks I’ve ever bought are yours and Cathryns), but as a reader, I wouldn’t feel very comfortable giving away my ebooks, especially since they seem to be so cheap anyway. I think the only way I can see myself doing this is if I had them loaded on a kindle and I loaned my device to soemone, and this limits who reads it and how many times that one purchase is passed on. As a writer, it pisses me off that people go out of their way to rip us off, but I also think it’s inevitable. And if it lands in the hands of someone who would neber have read it otherwise, great – but most likely that’s not the case most of the time.
+As I said in the first part, Jennifer, I don’t mind giving away a fair amount of copies to possibly make new fans of my writing. But that’s my choice. I definitely don’t like having the choice taken out of my hands.
+I say ye has done her homework. Yay ye. Question everything. If in doubt, ask Victoria at Writer’s Beware.
+Well, you know me, Tricia, a little bit paranoid — or a lot — so I question most things. ;-)
+From what you said above, it does seem as if that site is suggesting that authors are somehow going to be making some money from the lending, but I can’t find myself believing that would actually be the case!!
+I like loaning from libraries, I think that’s good. I like the idea of the one time lends from Amazon, though I haven’t used it myself and don’t really know how! I kind of feel like e-books are so cheap that if someone wants to read it, it’s not really that expensive to pick up a copy. That said, in NZ the price of print books is huge in comparison, where as I have seen that in the US Kindle prices are sometimes higher than print, so that probably weighs on my thinking. For a typical paperback, we’d pay around $24 mark and upwards, so you can see why a $9.90 e-book, even after exchanging between US and NZ currencies, is a much better deal for me.
+I don’t believe it either, Cassie. There’s no incentive for them to pay the author.
+If I hadn’t used libraries all my life, I’d not been able to read a tenth of the books I have — probably even less than that. And I don’t mind someone lending a copy of my book to a friend they think might enjoy it.
+I had no idea books were more expensive there. I’m too sheltered, I guess.
+Hi Linda. I had never given any thought to lending e-books. I have bought several (Roses being one of course) but have never even considered lending them to friends. One friend always reads a chapter or two when she is here but we have never discussed my sending it on to her.
+The whole thing seems to be a rip off as far as the author is concerned – but here I hear myself asking what is the difference if I lend a hard copy book to a friend or take one out from the library?
+In this technological age this is just one more question that needs to be sorted out, buy by whom?
+Enjoying a book when you can only read it in spurts is hard, Judith. You have my permission to lend your copy to your friend. :-)
+It’s not the limited lending that bothers me, it’s the call to lend it wholesale that I feel rips off the authors.
+Thanks Linda. Hey I may even get a copy for her for Christmas – that’s a good idea. We only buy small gifts for friends and so this would be great.
+This gets back to how file sharing has changed the role of copyright in the internet age. RIAA sought to crackdown when it came to protected media (CD/DVD recordings, etc.). e-book lending certainly collides with end-user agreements a reader must agree with before proceeding with the purchase/download. Unfortunately, it will eventually be decided in a court.
+I suppose you’re right, fivecats. I saw this morning that Amazon now has over 5,000 Kindle books in a lending library free to Prime members. Something to watch.
+It appears the Amazon Kindle lending library has created a potential breach of contract problem:
+It’s now to the lawyers.
+Thanks for the link, fivecats. Someone else sent me another link about this today. It doesn’t concern me personally, but I’ll be interested to see how this works out with the big publishers and authors.
+You’ve made some excellent points. As an author, it’s a concern to me too. I just noticed a thread on the Amazon readers’ forum tonight called the “Loan Me….Thread” where readers are calling for books they want others to loan to them via the Kindle. It’s one thing to share a book with a close friend or relative but quite another to share with the world at large. To me it reeks of redistribution.
+Thank you for reading and commenting, Bobette. The Kindle does allow you to lend a book you bought, but only ONCE. I have no problem with that. Nor do I mind the Prime Lending Library because the author is paid for those loans. But I waffle on the other “lending” arrangements. I’m guilty of sharing music files in the early days of Napster, so I guess if my books are being “pirated” it’s my karma, and I understand now how those artists felt. I don’t like the idea that someone is making money off these lending sites. Why should THEY profit off my hard work?
+However, another side to consider is that I want people to read my work. I’ve given away about 25,000 copies of my book hoping to gain some new fans. I doubt all the book lending sites together have given that many copies of mine.
+Besides, I’m not sure we can do anything about these sites. I believe Amazon could because when you buy a Kindle book from them, you don’t really own it, and you agree to abide by their terms, which say you can only lend it once, and you have to do that their way. So, if Amazon ever takes up the fight, the sites will disappear. We’ll see.
+The internet virtually guarantees anything digital can be obtained for free. And why is that such a bad thing? Why is it all about money and you owe me this much because it was my work you read/listened to/saw. Why can’t we just share knowledge and creativity for everyone to joy because it’s better for everyone?
+Thank you for your comment, Ken, but I don’t agree with your viewpoint. Do you have a job? Do you get paid for doing that job? I work full-time as a writer, do I not deserve to be paid for that work? No one gives me food, clothing, and housing or pays my bills because I entertain them with my stories.
+Best Breakfasts
+Wake up hungry? You’re in luck. Port City chefs serve the best meal of the day in many delicious ways. From basic bacon and eggs to triple chili cheeseburgers, there’s a breakfast or brunch to serve every taste in town. Here are some of our favorites.
+By Liz Biro
+White Front Breakfast House
+1518 Market St., Wilmington NC
+910-762-5672
+Welcome to the past. This little white rectangle of a diner with its signature green awning is as no-frills as old-school gets. Booths stripe the long, horizontal window on one side of the dining room, and a counter lines the other side. Frank-yet-friendly waitresses serve just what the slogan on the menu says: “Delicious comfort food at its best for less.” Warm, fluffy biscuits are perfect with sausage gravy, but they’re pretty darn good as sausage sandwiches, too. Smoked sausage, corned beef hash and a N.Y. strip are among choices with eggs cooked-to-order. Insider tip: Waitresses don’t mind special orders; they’ll put peanut butter on your French toast and lemonade in your iced tea. Did you know? Anthony Hopkins ate here. Sometimes celebrities filming in and around Wilmington pop in for bite. Don't miss: A bag of biscuits to go. Call ahead, or sip a coffee while you wait.
+Dixie Grill
+116 Market St., Wilmington NC
+910-762-7280
+thedixiegrillwilmington.wordpress.com
+The open kitchen sings at breakfast. Sizzle! Ping! Pop! Ding! Order up! Cooks dance from griddle to grill. Customers wait at the door and on the sidewalk for turns with eggs, bacon, pancakes, shrimp and grits, a sausage burger all the way. Booths tend to stay full. Counter stools spin on one diner after another. Yet, cooks still take time to mix and bake fresh biscuits: big, golden rounds begging for butter and jam. What to drink: Beer, mimosas, Blood Marys. All are available at the full bar. Don't miss: A booth seat by the kitchen. Watching short-order cooks in action is fun! While you wait: Check out Jacob’s Run, an underground tunnel that crosses beneath Dixie. Legend says Patriot soldiers and the Underground Railroad may have used this hidden pathway.
+Sweet & Savory Café
+1611 Pavilion Pl., Wilmington NC
+910-256-0115
+sweetnsavorycafe.com
+This lively restaurant is close to Wrightsville Beach. Maybe that’s why the menu lists so many easy grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches—16 of them in all. Flanagan’s Surprise stacks sausage, sautéed onions, mushrooms, scrambled eggs and Swiss cheese on toasted, three-cheese semolina bread. Skinny Morning brings turkey sausage, scrambled egg whites, avocado, tomato and spinach together on multi-grain toast. Benedicts, omelets, and classic egg breakfasts round out the menu. The bakery, in full view of the dining room, sends out croissants, cobblers, apple tarts, cookies, fresh bread and more. What to drink: Consider some bubbly. The restaurant also has an impressive wine list. Did you know? Sweet & Savory changes its menu regularly. Keep a lookout for new dishes each quarter. Don’t miss: The Pub at Sweet & Savory is right next door and features a weekend breakfast buffet.
+Jimbo’s
+1529 S. College Road, Wilmington NC
+910-799-2211
+Since opening this diner in 1977, the Patsalos family has served from-scratch, home-style meals made by devoted cooks like Vicki and Barbara. The women have been in the kitchen almost since the beginning. Décor may change as time wears the floor, but the menu remains delightfully the same. Eggs any way you like, biscuits and gravy, and the Greek omelet are just a few favorites. Quick, happy waitresses maneuver trays full of steaming plates between chatty patrons filling nearly every seat. What to drink: Coffee in heavy ceramic vintage cups on saucers. Save room for: Homemade pie and cake. Who says you can’t have dessert at breakfast? While you wait: Say hello to the Patsalos family. They’re usually working the counter and cash register.
+Bon Appetit
+3704 Carolina Beach Rd., Wilmington NC
+910-796-0520
+bonappetitwilmington.com
+Chef/owner Gene Costa’s kitchen skills are well known. In fact, Bon Appetit supplied the food for actor Robert DeNiro’s 50th birthday party. Despite having friends in high places, you can still find a $1.99 breakfast sandwich special here, where breakfast platters provide all-day fuel. Grilled garlic-infused chicken sausage, crispy turkey bacon, half an avocado, sautéed fresh spinach, caramelized onions, mozzarella and parmesan fatten the three-egg Frisco Bay Chicken Omelet. Or try a giant, Belgian waffle with pecans, bananas, chocolate chips, peanut butter and whipped cream. After that, two eggs with bacon, hash browns and toast might seem like a snack. Did you know? Bon Appetit is a full-service catering company that will bring its breakfast and other menu items to you. Insider tip: Double-check your GPS. Bon Appetit is in the northwestern section of Carolina Beach Rd., between College Road and Shipyard Boulevard. While you wait: Costa was a third-generation owner of a landmark Big Apple restaurant that New York City leaders recognized with a special proclamation. The document hangs in the Bon Appetit dining room.
+Causeway Café
+114 Causeway Dr., Wrightsville Beach NC
+910-256-3730
+causewaycafewb.com
+Yes, there’s a line on the weekends, but breakfast is worth the wait. Giant malted Belgian waffles, thick Texas toast French toast, and a blue crab omelet with hollandaise and mozzarella cheese keep hungry crowds returning. They also come for the friendly atmosphere. Causeway has been a local institution for more than two decades; tourists and locals alike love the place. As the Causeway website says of the restaurant, “Long-term customers consider it ‘home.’” While you wait: Ask for coffee. Servers are happy to fill your cup while you wait for a table. Did you know? During World War II, Wilmington’s waterfront was dominated with “Liberty” ship construction. The cargo vessels carried wartime gear to Europe. A ship’s telegraph and binnacle are on display here. Don’t miss: Fried, grilled, or barbecued pork chops, available alongside eggs, grits or hash browns and fresh tomatoes.
+Our Crepes and More
+3810 Oleander Dr., Wilmington NC
+910-395-0077
+ourcrepesandmore.com
+Jacqueline Rey and her family turn out authentic French crepes at this fuss-free shop far from Paris. No matter the distance, the thin pancakes are très bon. Sweet crepe fillings range from nothing but honey to Nutella and fresh strawberries. The signature New Orleans crepe enrobes cinnamon apple pie filling, glazed walnuts and caramel sauce, all topped with vanilla ice cream. The Morning Crepe holds eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, tomatoes and remoulade. Save room for: What else? Croissants. The flaky, buttery delights come filled with chocolate; raspberry; ham, bacon or sausage with cheese; or ham, Brie, strawberries and walnuts. While you wait: Watch the crepe maker at work. Cooks work in a semi-open kitchen. You’ll marvel at how quick their hands work the paper-thin batter. Did you know? Vegan and dairy- and gluten-free crepes are available.
+Jester’s Café
+607 Castle St., Wilmington NC
+910-763-6555
+jesterscafe.com
+Breakfast and brunch are the dominant meals of the day at this cozy little cottage. The kitchen is famous for quiche, but diners may also choose lox and bagels; French toast casserole with berries and maple syrup; and a breakfast strata layered with eggs, sausage, cheese, and hash browns. Seven different breakfast sandwiches include the basic egg and cheese on a choice of bread, and tomato, avocado and provolone on a bagel. Try to score a porch seat, a delightful place to sip coffee and read the paper. Did you know? Jester’s serves brunch all day on Saturday and Sunday. Insider tip: The vegetarian Black Bean Benedict features baked eggs atop housemade black bean patties instead of Canadian bacon. Avocado, diced tomatoes, and chipotle hollandaise finish the dish. When to go: Early on weekends. Jester’s fills up quickly.
+Nick's Diner
+127 N. Front St., Wilmington NC
+910-341-7655
+Vegans and vegetarians, rejoice! The classic, diner-style bacon-and-eggs breakfast goes meatless here – and it tastes really good. Order the scrambled tofu, hash browns, and meatless bacon or sausage on a platter, or in a wrap or skillet with sautéed peppers, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. Omelets suit vegetarians who eat eggs and cheese. And don’t worry, meat lovers. This hip, artsy diner has plenty of options for you, too. The morning list includes many omelets, skillets, pancakes, French toast, and biscuits. Breakfast is served all day, and a full bar means you can sip a Screwdriver with your sunny-side-ups. Insider tip: Nick’s Diner has a front and back patio. People watching is fun out front, while coffee can be enjoyed quietly out back. While you wait: Check out art covering exposed brick walls and tabletops. Much of it depicts comic heroes and cartoon characters that were painted by the diner’s owner, Harry Pallas. Don't miss: The Ohio City Burger at brunch. The hand-pattied burger is topped with ham, bacon, sausage, and a fried egg.
+The Basics
+319 N. Front St., Wilmington NC
+910-343-1050
+thebasicswilmington.com
+A little Southern, a little gourmet, and a little rock and roll season this off-the-beaten-path restaurant on downtown’s north end. Lettuce, tomato, and homemade mayonnaise come on the fried chicken biscuit. Blueberry oatmeal pancakes get maple syrup and walnut butter. Sunday brunch specialties feature crab cakes Eggs Benedict and shrimp and grits with green tomato bacon gravy. Rock and roll show posters decorate exposed brick walls in two dining rooms, one with a full bar and the other with a view of the open kitchen. Insider tip: Listen closely to the soundtrack. The Basics owners spend a lot of time selecting cool tunes. If you hear something unfamiliar that you like, ask about the artist. Did you know? The Basics is in the Cotton Exchange, which in the early 1900s hosted one of the largest and busiest cotton export companies in the world. What to drink: A Blueberry Fizz, which blends vodka, champagne and blueberry/lavender simple syrup and is served over ice.
+Hot Pink Cake Stand
+5543 Carolina Beach Rd. Suite 140, Wilmington NC
+910-799-9119
+hotpinkcakestand.com
+Cupcakes are the signature treats at this bakery’s downtown location. Brunch takes center stage on Sunday at the shop’s mid-town address at the Monkey Junction crossroads of College and Carolina Beach Roads. A creative menu debuts each week and features local foods. Hometown sausage might join eggs in a taco with cucumber pico. Apple, bacon and Brussels sprout hash comes with a sunny-side up egg. Toast is as stylish as the polished, urbanesque atmosphere. Butter is available, but there’s also crushed avocado and real boudin. What to drink: The michelada, a Mexican chili- and lime-spiked beer cocktail served on the rocks. Save room for: A French Toast Cupcake when it’s on the menu. Twice-baked, buttery, vanilla cake is topped with silky, maple Swiss meringue frosting and two slices of crisp bacon. Did you know? Hot Pink crafts custom cakes, including the cake that appeared in the wedding reception scene on the premiere episode of the ABC television show “Revenge.”
+Boca Bay
+2025 Eastwood Rd., Wilmington NC
+910-256-1887
+bocabayrestaurant.com
+Sunday brunch is a local institution. Doors open at 9 a.m., but savvy diners know to arrive early or nearer to the 2 p.m. end-time, otherwise the wait may be long (especially when summer visitors are in town). Hordes can’t resist housemade pastries, made-to-order omelets, lox and bagels, biscuits and gravy, and Belgian waffles. All the classics are served buffet-style in a beachy-chic atmosphere. Big windows, slow-turning ceiling fans and a palm-lined patio take you away. Don't miss: Cheese blintzes, thin pancakes wrapped around a rich, cream cheese filling. Save room for: So many sweet things. If you like dessert for breakfast, Boca Bay brunch is the place to go for pastries. While you wait: Ask to see the Sunday-Thursday prixe fixe dinner menu. The salad/entrée/dessert special is just $24.95. Selections include crab cakes and hanger steak in shallot port wine sauce.
+The Original Salt Works
+6301 Oleander Dr., Wilmington NC
+910-350-0018
+The dining room is nothing fancy, and breakfast is the usual: bacon and eggs to order, grits, hash browns, pancakes, French toast. Still, this little spot has been in business for more than 40 years. Everyone stops here: cops, construction workers, grandmothers, candidates, kids. Perhaps the wood paneling reminds them of home. Combine reliable food (always cooked just right) and the everyone-is-family atmosphere, and Salt Works truly is home. Did you know? Producing salt from ocean water was a multi-million dollar business in the mid-1800s in New Hanover County. The process inspired the restaurant’s name. Don’t miss: The fried bologna sandwich. Salt Works is famous for this simple stack. Best bargain: Everything on the menu. Expect to get out for $10 or less.
+Rx Restaurant
+421 Castle St., Wilmington NC
+910-399-3080
+rxwilmington.com
+Since arriving on the scene just two years ago, Rx has become a Wilmington hot-spot, and Sunday brunch is a big reason why. Chefs apply the restaurant’s local foods, Southern-favorites philosophy to the likes of crispy pork belly and a poached egg atop stone-ground cheddar grits; corn, chevre, fresh herbs and caramelized onion inside a plump omelet; and apple cinnamon pancakes with fig butter. The menu changes each Sunday, but you can get an idea of what might be on the list at Rx’s website, which catalogs each day’s offerings. Did you know? Rx’s sister restaurant, Pembroke’s (The Forum shopping center, 1125 Military Cutoff Rd.) also serves Sunday brunch. What to drink: The Crab Apple with Bulleit bourbon, Rx honey syrup, ginger beer and a splash of bitters. Don't miss: The Southern staple: biscuits. Rx makes them from scratch and serves them in a small cast-iron kettle.
+The Olive Café & Wine Bar
+The Forum shopping center, 1125 Military Cutoff Rd., Wilmington NC
+910-679-4772
+olivecafenc.com
+A slice of the pastry chef’s four-layer pistachio cardamom cake with oh-so-creamy frosting is a decadent brunch, for sure. The pastry case is full of delicious things, some homey, some elegant. The trend carries to the Sunday brunch menu served with live jazz. You might find spinach, tomato and pancetta quiche; cheddar chive biscuits with bacon gravy; or a Croque Madame sandwich with ham, an egg and gruyere cheese on an English muffin, all under warm Mornay sauce. The café with Paris flair is famous for its huge selection of cheese and cured meats, which are lovely on a platter with fresh fruit or tucked inside a very grown-up grilled cheese. What to drink: The wine bar has huge list of prime labels. Bubbly is especially popular at brunch. While you wait: Step over to Taste the Olive, the attached gourmet emporium where you may sample numerous olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Insider tip: Ask about special events. The café and store host classes and special tastings, including a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Friday.
+Adressing Urgent Global Issues
+As Europe experiences continuing challenges to its social and economic security, the Paris Center is a hub of discussion and debate of today’s most critical issues.
+As Europe experiences continuing challenges to its social and economic security – from refugee movements to terrorist attacks to Brexit – Columbia University’s Paris Global Center is a hub of discussion and debate of today’s most critical issues.
+“We bring together global scholars, policy-makers, journalists, writers, artists, scientists, and NGOs to explore in depth – and to seek solutions to – the issues that are tearing our world apart,” says Paul LeClerc, Director of the Columbia Global Center | Paris.
+Paris is part of Columbia’s network of eight Global Centers, which span across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. “Through innovative programming, local and global engagement, and open channels of dialogue and debate, Columbia’s Global Centers foster the cross-cultural dialogue essential to tackling issues that threaten the world’s safety and freedom,” says Safwan Masri, Columbia University’s Executive Vice President for Global Centers and Global Development.
+Bringing together a broad cross-section of scholars and practitioners
+Recent programs at the Paris Global Center have addressed gender-based violence, the impact of immigration on Europe, the effect of climate change on food systems and health, and the moral and legal questions around the use of torture. With speakers from the academic, public, and private sectors, the programs feature global experts – both faculty from Columbia as well as French, European, and global scholars, activists, and leaders – who explore topics from multiple perspectives. “Building on its long history in French-American exchange, our Center allies the resources of Columbia University with those of the French university, Parisian cultural partners, and other European institutions to create programs at the cutting edge of critical thought and artistic expression,” says Brunhilde Biebuyck, Administrative Director.
+Experts recently appearing at the Center include Ludovic Zahed, imam and founder of a LGBTQ-inclusive mosque in Marseille; Rémi Féraud, mayor of the 10th arrondissement, who spoke on the integration of migrants into Parisian society; Ghada Hatem, obstetrician and founder of “La Maison des femmes” at Saint Denis, who spoke about challenges women face, such as genital excision, rape, and body image; and Maxime de Rostolan, Founder of Fermes d’Avenir (Farms of the Future), who participated in a panel about the impact of climate change on food systems and possible solutions for adapting agricultural practices.
+The Paris Center is based at Reid Hall, which has been a hub for academic study and cultural events for more than a century. The Center provides an extensive range of programs not only for Columbia students studying and faculty researching in Paris, but also for the broader public, encouraging participation by the local community. “We not only represent Columbia University in Paris, but also seek to be an important part of the intellectual leadership of the city and country,” says LeClerc, a scholar of French literature and the former president and CEO of the New York Public Library. Hundreds of visitors move through the Center every week, attending one of the 70-80 public programs each year.
+Programming reflecting Paris as a cultural and geopolitical crossroads
+At the center of major global shifts in people and power, Columbia’s Paris Center has an interdisciplinary and transcultural approach to its programs befitting its unique location, resources, and access to top minds around the world. Recent programs include:
+- “The Migratory Crisis: European, French, and Parisian Perspectives.” This seminar brought together multiple perspectives on the social, health, safety, and economic concerns faced by migrants today. The program featured Rémi Féraud, mayor of the 10th arrondissement of Paris; Marion Gaillard, Maître de conférence at Sciences-Po and a specialist in European issues; and Nayla Ajamane, a Syrian Paris-based language teacher who works with migrants.
+- “From the Inquisition to Guantanamo: Confession, Torture, and the Power of Truth.” This day-long workshop, led by Columbia Professors Jesús R. Velasco and Bernard E. Harcourt, examined the history of torture, from its definitions to the legal considerations to how governments assign an economic value to life. They were joined by colleagues from French universities in exploring torture in literature, political science, law, and philosophy, and its polarizing use as a confessional tool.
+- “Tell This to My Mother: Femicide in Congo.” The widespread rape and torture of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo has put a horrifying spotlight on the state of the embattled country. As part of the Columbia Global Centers network-wide thematic programming related to gender-based violence, this roundtable discussion focused on the experiences of one survivor, Coco Ramanzani, as recounted by Professor Joseph E. Mwantuali, a writer, literary critic, and historian at Hamilton College. In this session, Professor Mwantuali and other experts used this woman’s story as a jumping-off point to explore the cultural underpinnings of crimes against women in a region beset by war. This event has led to ongoing collaboration between the Paris Center and women’s rights and human rights activists, who will work with students around Paris to raise awareness of the issue.
+- “Forms of Pluralism and Democratic Constitutionalism.” This two-day conference, organized by Columbia’s Nell and Herbert Singer Professor of Political Thought, Jean Cohen, in partnership with Sciences Po, examined the challenges created from rising pluralism around the world, including balancing the ideals of democratic equality and liberty with growing concerns about ethnic and religious minorities. The interdisciplinary program featured academic experts discussing issues ranging from religious and secular freedom in Israel to the treatment of indigenous peoples of Canada.
+Upcoming events at the Paris Center include:
+- “Can Science Save the World?” In this new speaker series – in partnership with “De vive voix,” an association with ties to top researchers from the French Academy of Sciences and other institutions – leading scientists from both sides of the Atlantic will choose a “global challenge” and discuss the scientific methodology used to approach the problem, the complications, and the possible solutions. Topics range from superbugs to food scarcity to nuclear waste to aging. The first event on September 28 will feature Jean Claude Ameisen, author, researcher, and professor of immunology at the University of Paris-Diderot who will speak about global health challenges. As a lead-up to a conference in mid-December on power in the age of big data, Gérard Berry will tackle the global challenges posed by digitalization. Michael Tuts, a Columbia Professor of Physics, and Marc Lachièze-Rey, an astrophysicist at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) will also be participating in this series that will extend into the spring. Subsequent lectures will take place November 9 and December 7.
+- “Race and Racism: Global Perspectives.” In partnership with the Columbia Masters Program in History and Literature in Paris, and in celebration of the launch of the exhibition “The Color Line” at le Musée Quai Branly, the Center will dedicate the first week of October to themes of race and racism, with programs including:
+- “Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War” (October 3): Linda Hervieux will present her recently published account of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only black combat unit to take part in the D-Day landings.
+- “Writing Race: Black Expatriates in France” (October 4):.
+- “Violence, Racisme et Religions: Les échos des expériences américaines dans le monde” (October 7): This roundtable will discuss the new biography, Cornel West: Une pensée rebelle, written by Mahamadou Lamine Sagna, a Senegalese sociologist and researcher at the Laboratoire de changement social and politique at the University of Paris-Diderot. Patrice Vermeren (Director of the Department of Philosophy at University Paris VIIII) and Stephane Douailler (Professor of Philosophy at Paris VIII) will be on the panel.
+- “Cinema and Engagement” (October 8): Co-sponsored by Les éditions Noir sur Blanc, this event will feature documentary filmmaker Rita Coburn Whack speaking about her new film “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise,” which premiered at Sundance this year. Her lecture will be followed by a conversation with Françoise Zamour, specialist on film and race and professor at the Ecole Normale Supérieure. This event is a lead-up to an evening tribute to Maya Angelou on October 10 at L’Odéon Théâtre de l’Europe.
+- State of Grace. Organized in partnership with architect Robert Grace (‘84, Columbia School of Architecture), this architectural rencontres series profiles top architects from around the world:
+- “Collaboration and Resistance” (September 20) will feature the architectural duo Linna Choi and Tarik Oualalou, whose firm is based in Paris and Casablanca.
+- Mark Lyon in his role as the official photographer for the Maison de verre, one of Paris’s hidden architectural gems, will be in conversation with Robert Rubin, the owner and curator of the “Glass House” on December 1.
+- Robert Grace himself will round out the series on December 12.
+“As part of a global university like Columbia, it is our mission, and our responsibility to the world, to bring together and then unleash the best and most diverse minds on the problems we are facing as a society,” says LeClerc. “Our role at the Paris Center is to mobilize these minds across cultures to create a community focused on understanding and problem-solving across politics, arts, culture, sciences, and more.”
+For more information or to request media credentials to attend a public program, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks Brownstein of Temin and Company at news@teminandco.com or +1-212-588-8788 or Joelle Theubet, Communications Officer, Columbia Global Centers | Paris at jmt2103:
+Another week, another hurricane! No doubt the WaPo will be describing this one as another ‘one in a thousand year event’. The probability of two one-in-a-thousand-year events occurring in a fortnight isn’t one in two-thousand, boys, it’s about one in a million.
+I suppose if a tornado were to hit Washington and take the roof off the WaPo building, the journalists would simply congregate outside and say, ‘Well, that’s something you don’t see every day’.
+Boys, there are more inquiring minds on the Xinhua News Agency. If Charles Manson is ever let out on parole, I can see WaPo journalists asking him round to baby-sit for them.
+Irma looks like another SHEWS-boosted storm. The chances of two Cat 5 storms (I appreciate that Harvey was ‘only’ a Cat 4 when it crossed the Texas coast) occurring naturally this close together and hitting two key American states are statistically very low indeed.
+We know that the DVD has a storm-boosting weapon system (SHEWS, or Scalar High Energy Weapon System). We know that the Federal Republic of Germany has been engaged in a quasi-war with the United States of America since 9/11. We also know that Germany was opposed to the decision of the American people to elect President Trump and that German assets in Washington have been instrumental in the outrageous smearing of the President with the baseless Russian allegation.
+We also know that German penetration assets in US agencies and the federal bureaucracy have been successful so far in blocking intelligence about SHEWS from reaching the President, although they may have failed to prevent the Vice-President from being briefed in. Interestingly, Vice-President Pence traveled to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland this week. I don’t think he went there for a cup of tea, not that you’ve got much chance of getting a decent cuppa at the NSA (sorry, guys). (I expect they gave him Pepsi – if I remember rightly the CIA do Coke and the NSA do Pepsi.)
+With the President in the dark and operating blind, not least as everyone in a position to get a copy of Spyhunter to him has so far sat on it, we also know that the Germans understood that they would get another free hit against their hated American enemy.
+We also know that the German DVD is the world’s most powerful and ruthless intelligence agency, far more ruthless than the Nazis ever were, indeed they make the Nazis look like pussies.
+Hurricanes don’t normally follow coastlines, at least not for hundreds of miles. They usually cross inland and downgrade to tropical storms. Yet Irma at one point was predicted to track up the Florida coast, multiplying the economic damage.
+No hurricane this powerful has ever before been observed over the open Atlantic. You can forget man-made global warming – it’s a hoax, propagated mainly by German assets, fellow-travelers and scientifically-illiterate idiots. There was a significant and sudden increase in ocean surface temperatures in Irma’s path, consistent with SHEWS energy being poured in.
+Interestingly, Irma’s strength also fluctuated, consistent with the jamming by the NSA of SHEWS transmissions. I am calling Irma as another German SHEWS attack, with the Atlantic coastal belt of the State of Florida as the primary target and the British and US Virgin Islands as the secondary.
+The ‘where is your evidence’ boys
+People with no understanding of how intelligence agencies operate often ask, or shout at, intelligence commentators, asking, or screaming, ‘where is your evidence?’ Intelligence agencies HARDLY EVER hand out sensitive raw data. They just give out product.
+You’ve got to work out which intelligence commentators are real and have serious agency contacts and distinguish them from the wannabes and the fakes. Not always easy, although I’ll give you a clue: only serious intelligence commentators are targeted with malicious bomb hoax prosecutions!
+You can forget Bad Guy agencies fessing up and handing over evidence of their crimes. Our community partner Adolf Hitler was probably the most open and honest Chancellor Germany has ever had. He was certainly the most charming, as long you weren’t Jewish, although he appointed people who partly Jewish to his cabinet. I’m NOT saying that he was all that open and honest, of course – it’s just that the opposition wasn’t all that stiff.
+Even Hitler never admitted to his crimes, however. What chance is there of his successor Merkel admitting to a crime against peace? It would be like expecting Charles Manson, a German asset BTW, to say where all the bodies are buried.
+No Bad Guy bureaucracy in history has ever owned up to what it has done, unless it had to. Yet still, some 1,700 years after the first modern bureaucracy was created at the Vatican, people expect Bad Guys to hand over secrets, just like that. (There are Good Guys in the Vatican as well, of course, including that nice man Pope Benedict, who’s rather nicer than the other pope.) The ‘where is your evidence’ brigade are simply naïve.
+The legal consequences of boosting Harvey and Irma
+The boosting of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and their direction towards the continental United States, were Acts of War by the Federal Republic of Germany upon the United States.
+If so advised, President Trump would be entitled to seek a War Powers Resolution from Congress and follow President Wilson in declaring war on Germany. (President Roosevelt didn’t need to – Hitler declared war on America first.)
+Since high-energy weather weapons have yet to be declared to be Weapons of Mass Destruction, I do not say that strategic nuclear retaliation would be justified.
+A total conventional war, including the bombing of key German strategic targets such as Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich by the USAF’s powerful B-52 and B-1B force would however be justified. If the Krauts don’t want to be bombed they shouldn’t have attacked America.
+As a matter of public international law, it is irrelevant that the decision to attack America was taken by the Director of the DVD, not the German Federal Chancellor, nor the German federal government. Germany is and always has been an intelligence state, where the visible organs of the state are only nominally in control.
+The decision to invade Luxembourg and Belgium in 1914 was taken by the German General Staff, not our community partner the Kaiser, nor the Chancellor, von Bethmann-Hollweg, who, like Merkel, was a mere figurehead.
+It is also irrelevant that there are nice Germans. There’s no point in posting a comment saying that you met a nice German called Hermann in a bar in Hamburg last week, and he gave you a wonderful shag. I too have met nice Germans, several in fact. The problem with Germany however has always been that nice Germans never get to make the decisions.
+Germany’s not a democracy, unlike Britain, Russia and America. It’s also irrelevant that Germany’s armed forces are weak and that the German Army’s last major combat engagement against American ground forces was the Battle of the Bulge. I doubt that any large combat formation of the Bundeswehr or the Luftwaffe would remain operational after 30 days of war-fighting against America.
+The same could be said of the Iraqi armed forces in 2003. It didn’t make the war illegal. In effect German intelligence has been writing cheques that the German military cannot cash. They made the same mistake in 1914 and 1939. They can’t stop themselves, but it’s not our problem.
+*
+The position of Great Britain.
+The German decision to attack Barbuda and the British Virgin Islands would justify a British Declaration of War on the Federal Republic of Germany and the implementation of our War Plan for Total Germany. The sensible thing, if you guys did not join in, would to be invite Russia to declare war as well and attack Germany from the east. They key to defeating Germany has always been to engage her in a two-front war.
+It is an utter irrelevance that Barbuda and the BVI lay between the storm’s formation point and the primary target. Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg in 1914 in order to outflank the French army and capture Paris. The fact that Belgium wasn’t the primary target mattered not. You may as well say that the decision of German military commanders in Belgium to permit their troops to rape Belgian nuns and bayonet Belgian babies to death wasn’t a war crime because the atrocities had the ulterior motive of frightening the civilian population into submission and freeing up troops for the attack on Paris.
+Obviously if we do decide to go to war, which would in practice require the resignation of our Chamberlain-like Prime Minister Theresa May, who would rather sacrifice British and West Indian lives than stand up to Germany, no offense intended, the Royal Navy would blockade German ports. Blockade was vital in both world wars. That would include mining the Rhine and the Danube, of course. There is little point in sinking the German merchant fleet, or bottling it up in her North Sea ports, and leaving the back door open!
+War with Germany would be popular and provide a great boost to the British economy, as well as morale. Of course there would be lots of dead Germans, but that’s the price you pay if you attack the British Commonwealth and murder innocent British subjects. It’s sad, but there it is. As that nice man Bomber Harris used to say, you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
+Capture of the DVD’s HQ in Dachau would be a key war aim. We must not repeat the strategic mistake we made in 1918 and again in 1945 of leaving German intelligence intact. All we got after the first lot was World War II. After the second lot we got the European Union.
+We’ve also got to break up Germany. It’s the key to a lasting peace in Europe. Our community partner Harry Hun is an aggressive beast and needs to be tamed.
+The LA fires
+In this case, direct evidence of al Qaeda’s strategy of starting bushfires exists and is in the public domain – it was seized by Seal Team Six in the 2011 raid on the former Osama bin Laden compound in Pakistan. As with hurricanes nothing has been done to warn communities of the dangers, or make preparations to protect the civilian population.
+I happen to know La Tuna Canyon. It’s a pleasant part of the world. I also happen to know that there are some very important CIA-sourced records in a non-fire-hardened facility in a neighboring canyon.
+If anyone on the LAPD SWAT team reads this they may recall a plan to protect that facility which involved sortieing a U-2 from Beale. (I still remember the bemused call in the early hours of the morning from the U-2 squadron’s intelligence officer wanting to know why he was getting calls from Meade, why the Bad Guys were headed to this particular canyon, what the hell did I need with a U-2 doing a racetrack pattern at FL600 over the Pasadena Freeway and how the hell did a Limey civilian become involved.)
+The chances of these particular fires having started by themselves seem to me to be pretty low. No doubt the LA Times will be favouring its readers with fairy tales involving careless smokers and cigarette butts. They need their own butts smoking, no offense intended.
+Please don’t try this at home, but it is harder to start a bushfire in open country with a single discarded cigarette than you may imagine. It won’t be al Qaeda, but it’ll be ISIS, or a bunch of Mexicans. Cans of accelerant are likely to be involved.
+Some years ago, having cottoned on to al Qaeda’s plan to wage war on the West by starting bush fires, I put forward a plan to upgrade the Western world’s firefighting capability. You don’t put out a bush or forest fire with buckets of water, or even fire hoses. You put out a fire in open country from the air, not the ground.
+For that you need water-bombers, although they don’t just drop water. As it happens piston-engined airplanes are more efficient at lower altitudes than jets. They also suffer less performance degradation from superheated air than jets. Try watching a jet take off in hot conditions and you’ll see what I mean. (I once sat on the flight-deck of an RAF VC-10 and watched a PIA Boeing trying to get airborne from Luqa on a hot day. The crew weren’t convinced that she was actually going to make it – I’ve never seen an airliner so close to crashing.)
+There happen to be rather a large number of suitable airframes lying around. They tend to be long-range 4-engined jobs, and could easily fly the Pacific. The summer in Oz happens at a different time of year to the northern hemisphere.
+Since the West is facing a major fire threat, defense budgets could be used to help, and countries could help each other. Water-bombers could position to the appropriate hemisphere at the time of maximum danger, with heavy maintenance being done in the fall/spring.
+You would be surprised how long piston-engined airliners can be kept in the air. Just ask the boys and girls at Everts Air Cargo in Alaska. They’re still flying Douglas DC-6Bs! When not needed to fight fires they could put in crowd-pleasing appearances at air shows. Fighting terrorism can be fun!
+We are getting nowhere near enough water and retardant on bushfires. I’m sure the good people of La Tuna Canyon would have loved to see, and hear the roar of, a DC-7C coming in low to bomb the hell of that naughty old fire with thousands of gallons of retardant. For all the good the politicians are doing they may as well be standing by the fire and pissing on it.
+I’m all for pissing on ISIS instead and getting our act together. And if that means a new lease of life for some wonderful old aircraft, some quality flight time for retired airline pilots and introducing awe-struck young apprentices to the intricacies and power of a Wright R-3350-988TC18EA1 Turbo-Compound, great. That’s 3,350 turbocharged cubic inches by the way, folks – it’s a lot of engine. Put it in your Camarro and it would blow the wheels off.
+Before anyone asks what do I know about firefighting and have I ever handled a fire hose, I have actually. In a different life, a long time ago, when the planet was young, I was on the firefighting team of a nickel plant in North Queensland, where I learned how to handle a fire hose. It’s not quite like directing a garden hose. Two hands please, and body weight over the hose. One hand under and one hand over is what I was taught. And if you lose control, hang on for dear life!
+*
+My reading this week
+Aside from hurricane tracking reports, I have been reading Graham Simons’s splendid tribute to the Boeing B-29, B-29 Superfortress: Giant Bomber of World War Two and Korea (Pen and Sword, 2012). This well-written and balanced account tells the stirring story of how the boys at Boeing created the most advanced bomber of World War II.
+The intelligence angle – Abwehr sabotage of the B-29 program and theft of the blueprints, including the role of Barack Obama’s nominal mother-in-law down in Wichita, Kansas – is not covered, but I would not expect it to be. Getting the giant new plane into combat by 1944 was a major achievement.
+Simons covers the great fire raid on Tokyo on March 9th/10th 1945 very fairly. Unlike whingeing liberal weanies, who cover the fact up, Simons is objective enough to point out that much of Japan’s war production was contracted out to small facilities, which very often were located near major war plants.
+The March 9th raid, and its follow-ups, therefore legitimately targeted Japanese war production. I know some liberal historians have inflated the casualty figure for propaganda purposes, but I go with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s estimate of 124,711 killed and seriously injured. That was a shame, but if the Japs didn’t want Tokyo razed to the ground they shouldn’t have bombed Pearl Harbor. I’m sure their intelligence knew from the Abwehr that America was developing a massive new superbomber.
+Simons explains and justifies Curtis LeMay’s decision to switch from precision high-altitude daylight bombing to low level night bombing. General LeMay was undoubtedly correct.
+The targets were usually obscured by cloud, there were serious icing problems at 30,000 ft and the jetstream induced large bombing errors. General LeMay, sadly long dead, was a friend of a friend, who flew recon missions for him, and a fine air commander.
+He benefited from his time in England of course, adopting RAF Bomber Command tactics to win the war in the Pacific and obviate the need to invade Japan. The boys of XXIst Air Force Bomber Command did great work.
+The great fire raids on Japan demonstrated an enduring truth: the democracies are not weak. When we wage war, we wage it to win. We don’t start wars, but we sure as hell finish ‘em.
+*
+Today more and more businesses are up to exist digitally. From retailers to restaurants, consumers give great value to interactions they have with a brand. The way users interact with your mobile and web apps is a make or break opportunity to drive lasting customer loyalty. So improving the customer’s experience on your web and mobile apps are something that acts as a bridge between your brand and revenue.
+Difference Between the Web and Mobile Apps
+Typically, people think that web and mobile apps are mostly the same but there’s a very big difference between a mobile application and a web app. Web apps are designed to be used in a browser and they can be fairly complex depending on the needs of the client. When it comes to mobile apps, they have a specific reason such as the functionality that you want your clients to be able to use quickly and effectively.
+Key differences between Mobile and Web Apps
+Development
+They are differentiated in terms of designing and functionality as web apps are built by using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the front end while mobile apps are specifically constrained by the features on mobile devices and the best part is they can use native components as well.
+Connectivity and Speed
+Generally, web apps cannot work without the internet connection and they’re a bit slow as compared to mobile apps. Mobile apps are approximately x1.5 times faster than web applications. Certain mobile apps allow use even without the internet connection such as offline games.
+Security
+Security can be a big issue as no one is immune to cyber-attacks. Since web apps are loaded and accessed from browsers, so safety and security are not fully guaranteed as in the case of mobile apps. Security is guaranteed by Google and Apple’s stores for smartphones.
+Cost
+The cost of both technologies is different because web apps are more cost-effective and typically start from $2500 whereas mobile apps are quite technical to build and based on the features, they start around $10,000.
+Mobile App vs Web App
+When it comes to developing an app, most people are not sure about developing a mobile or web application. It depends on many factors such as speed, connection, cost, and functionality.
+Since mobile apps are usually fast and more advanced to implement and people can access them from anywhere, they are prime in reaching new audiences quickly.
+Both have pros and cons, so deciding whether to build a mobile app or web app depends on multiple factors.
+If you’re going to be utilizing some functionality on a more regular basis such as banking apps, then a mobile app is the right option for you because your customers don’t want to go into a web browser environment every single time. Also, security is more strong in the case of mobile apps.
+Mobile apps can also provide some of the benefits to your customers like native functionality, accessing the camera more efficiently, push notifications, and offline access.
+The Necessity of CX in Mobile & Web Apps
+Let’s face reality. Developing a web or mobile app for your business is all about meeting challenges and dealing with the unexpected because even though you get downloads or users on your applications, most will don’t continue to use them. According to Alligatortek, even e-commerce apps are shown up in the most delete app category.
+It does not mean that you should leave apps and focus only on your websites. But you need to know that more than 55% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. So mobile app development is still the best bet that can guarantee brand growth.
+To keep people visiting or utilizing your mobile and web apps, you need to focus more on customer experience because it simply matters! If you take time to figure out the best possible CX within your app, you can overcome the odds.
+Here’s a comprehensive guide about how to improve mobile and web app customer experience.
+It’s not just about designing but improving CX generally means, enhancing people processes, product, and delivery to customers in a manner that it contributes to user’s satisfaction and loyalty. As a result, it helps you achieve the overall business goals.
+Recognize your Supporters
+Businesses can enhance their mobile consumer experience by pinpointing their fans. For example, Amazon has determined how to recognize that their followers are actually– Prime members as well as Mirror proprietors– and also they additionally recognize that their enthusiasts spend more than the average customer.
+Usually, Echo owners devote $1,700 a year on Amazon and when it comes to prime members, they invest $1,300 a year. That’s compared to the $1,000 spent on average through Amazon customers.
+Your supporters are the customers. So once you know your fans, you may collect invaluable comments on certain moments in their customer journey by making use of micro-surveys, deliver them suggestions to use their soon-to-expire vouchers along with Notes, and more.
+Your fans are your very most beneficial customers, therefore recognizing what they like is the key. You may ensure they know you love them as a client, keep all of them invested in your company, and also make innovative new offerings to keep them engaged.
+Style for the Platform
+For discussion’s benefit, we simply consider Android and iOS as the two operating systems you need to have to develop your company’s application. For web apps, the rule is the same.
+The practical dimensions and resolutions vary, as to carry out the sense as well as aesthetic appeal of UI components like datepicker, checkboxes, and on/off changes.
+Then, Android is made to sustain gadgets that have a committed back button.
+Android provides buttons at the top of the web page, and also iOS performs that on top of the monitor. Right now these are merely a few of the OS level differences; the effects on completion customer experience, nonetheless, are astounding. To be sure your organization’s application does not stumble over this downfall, ensure your web creators and designers understand that they create the application gladly married to the operating system.
+The truth that matters is your consumers are highly engaged with their smartphones, and also the OS style possesses a sizable contribution in there.
+Any type of company app that doesn’t sync effectively along with the fundamental mechanics of making use of the system stands to feed cynicism and rage among users. Include the simple fact that applications shed 77% of their users within the first 3 times, and also it is very clear just how crucial it is actually to make business application gel properly with the platform it is produced, to lay the foundation for great consumer knowledge.
+Acquire the Onboarding Process Straight
+Invariably, mobile interactions between labels and consumers are backed through intention, whether it’s opening your business site, installing your label app. This brings up the risks of your first impression on the customer. That is actually where the value of a properly figured onboarding process creates its worth recognized.
+Consider it the matching of the very first time; impressions matter.
+Whereas advertising and marketing knowledge has focused on taking advantage of the very first mobile phone communication to take the customer as near as possible to the business objective (for instance, signing in for a newsletter), the client expertise method differs.
+The concept right here is to create the onboarding method as smooth, valuable, and endearing as possible for the consumer. Some guidelines to observe are actually:
+- Deal a very easy user interface excursion upfront to take the uncertainty and uncertainty away from the activity.
+- Take out every excessive piece of relevant information away from the first display screen.
+- Consist of layout factors that motivate good emotional states.
+- Bring in the onboarding process quick and easy to miss, if the customer so wishes.
+- If profile development is vital, do not request for just about anything that can wait later.
+- Make the onboarding process as seamless as achievable.
+Understand the Circumstance of Mobile Interactions
+The most significant mistake that a lot of companies fall for, when it relates to making the most of consumer experiences in mobile phone communications, is the overdependence on concept devices. Keep in mind, the circumstance precedes, regularly.
+Companies that recognize consumer accounts, interaction contexts and purchaser characters manage to provide unforgettable client adventures.
+Now is a good time to see if you possess the solution to these vital questions:
+- What are the target consumers for whom the mobile interaction is being created?
+- Are these customers experienced mobile phone individuals or even only newbies?
+- What is the demand that induces this mobile phone communication for the client?
+- What details are needed for all of them to complete their goal of utilizing the mobile phone communication system?
+The solution to these questions will assist you to make the consumer adventure on mobile phone web sites and applications. This experience must be the input for the wireframe of the mobile phone application, observed by the concept.
+Make the Expertise Active
+A sense of management boosts the high quality of the adventure a consumer has to engage along with your business’ mobile phone website or use. Folks love brands due to the technique they communicate with all of them, and also the modifications the company wants to create in its handling based on attributes that are necessary for the client.
+One way to equate this in mobile interactions is actually through creating the customer expertise more interactive.
+Terrific client experiences on mobile applications can easily be supplied through leveraging the concepts of really good interaction for creating the individual journey. MailChimp’s mobile application utilizes pictures of higher fives to represent the fulfillment of beneficial activities from the user’s side.
+Accessibility, Don’t Forget It
+Nothing at all quite matches the frustration of by accident tapping ‘Cancel’ when you want to tap ‘Save’. Help make the buttons close good enough on your business application, as well as you’ve obtained a could wreck to clean up.
+Make sure you recognize essential access aspects applicable to the target audience you want to involve on smartphones. Most individuals utilize their thumb to use the mobile screen. Those who favor two-handed utilization of cellphones use one or the various other fingers for use. Thus, comprehend the accessibility zones that these two types create, their overlaps and also ensure the action buttons, as well as options, are in these overlaps places.
+Browse– The Game Changer
+The real property you are dealing with on mobile communications is marginal as compared to a desktop computer or a laptop computer screen. The content you have to offer remains the same, so navigation is a possible complication region that can easily hinder consumer adventures on mobile phones.
+To stay clear of that, and also to provide satisfying client adventures around information search, ensure there is a search package or image noticeable or even accessible in any way times during the mobile communication.
+Certainly, its positioning is going to depend on the standards of the system for which the mobile phone treatment or website is being created.
+A couple of beneficial attributes that make the search even more favorable and also highly effective for the final user are:
+- Represent misspellings to create that customers can locate what they’re seeking
+- Feature intelligent auto-fill as well as tips on alternate search inquiries
+Filters additionally help a lot, making it possible for consumers to come down to the information of their passion, detailed. Search as well as filter, all together, take a considerable amount of management into the fingers of the individuals, particularly when they are confronted with significant amounts of items, articles, short articles, and choices during their mobile interactions with brand names.
+Regular Evaluating
+It is one thing inquiring customers what they wish, another point reading what pros presume an individual wants, and then, completely another trait understanding what individuals prefer exclusively while socializing along with your brand on their cellphones.
+Mobile customer screening aids a lot to alter your mobile phone websites and also applications for making the most of consumer adventure premium. Is the customer form experience uncommonly high amounts of bounce rate? What percent of clients utilize your very most beneficial and expensive-to-develop performances? Sessions learned from analytics and also A/B testing confirm indispensable in aiding you to pinpoint parts of client adventure that matter the
+Final words
+As you read this, your rivals are upping their mobile customer experience game. It is an opportunity you put in initiatives as well as resources in strengthening customer expertise on smartphones to achieve your company targets. Visit Deventor app development services to make a difference.
+Abnormal fetal presentation. was radiographers and higher proportion 48 (15.7%) of them was
+Buy Seroquel with a mastercardwas radiographers and higher proportion 48 (15.7%) of them was.
+The genotypic and allelic frequencies of SCARB1 rs5888 SNP are presented in Table 2. The genotype distribution was concordant with the Hardy-Weinberg proportions in both patients and controls (P = 0.114 for CAD, P = 0.339 for IS, and P = 0.210 for controls). There was significant difference in the genotypic frequencies between controls and CAD patients (P < 0.05), but not between controls and IS patients (P > 0.05).. Ampicillin/sulbactam (ABPC/SBT) is a beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination (dose ratio of 2:1) with broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against Gram-positive buy Seroquel on line without a rx Gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria [5]. It is used for treatment of lower respiratory tract infections and aspiration pneumonia, gynaecological/obstertrical infections, intra-abdominal infections, pediatric infections, diabetic foot infections and skin and soft tissue infections [5]. According to several international guidelines for the treatment of CAP published in 2007 to 2012 [6-8], ABPC/SBT (9 g/day at 3 g every 8 hr) is recommended for hospitalized patients with non-severe pneumonia [9]. The approved maximal daily dose of ABPC/SBT is 12 g (3 g every 6hr) in many countries. However, in Japan, it was recently shown that 12 g/day is well tolerated and provides excellent clinical and bacteriological responses [10]; this dose was approved in 2012.. possesses a characteristic 12, 13-epoxytrichothecene-9-ene ring. 8 cases) no compensatory therapy was prescribed and measured. The development in pregnancy of. Chromatin insulators separate active transcriptional domains in the genome to allow differential regulation of genes and prevent the spread of heterochromatin towards active transcriptional units [20, 21]. The role of insulator DNAs is to isolate genetic loci by blocking interactions between cis regulatory elements and inappropriate target promoters in neighboring transcription units [22, 23]. Insulators disrupt the communication between a regulatory sequence such as an enhancer or a silencer, and a promoter [24]. Such a function has been employed to potentially promote transgene expression in cell-line-based recombinant protein production systems. For example, the full-length chicken hypersensitive site-4 (cHS4) insulator element was previously shown to protect viral vectors against chromosomal position effects [25-28] and augment foreign gene expression in viral vectors-transduced cells [29-31]. Other studies demonstrated that 250-bp “core” element from within 5′HS4 is sufficient to protect against silencing of transgenes caused by chromosomal position effect (CPE). Two or more copies of the cHS4 core should have the similar protection activity as the full-length cHS4 in plasmid transfections [32, 33] , but they are unstable in lentiviral vectors. The full activity of insulator can be restored when the 250-bp core is combined with the 3' 400bp cHS4 sequence, which also has an unique and significant insulator activity [34] In the current study, the HS4 insulator did not impact GFP expression level or stability as compared to 293T cells transduced with the lentiviral vector FIN-EF1α-GFP-2A-mCherH-WPRE that contains two copies of the cHS4 5' 250-bp core, or the TYF-EF1α-EGFP vector that does not have an insulator. These negative outcomes suggest the limitation of cHS4 5' 250-bp core in the lentiviral vector on improving foreign gene expression in transduced 293T cells. On the other hand, the '650 bp' cHS4 sequence consists of a 3' 400 bp core combined with the 5' 250 bp core may provide a workable solution because the 3' 400 bp is supposedly to interact with the 5' 250 bp to provide effective insulation and improve the lentiviral vector-mediated foreign gene expression in 293T cells. This aspect warrants new investigations [37].. and discover ways to manage. Data sources used for this report were the LSS buy Seroquel on line without a rx 2 test and Fisher test were used to evaluate differences between the groups in categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test, and a value of P < .05 was accepted as statistically significant.. that buy Seroquel on line without a rx beyond the stable terminal SL1 structure, psoralen crosslinking also detected dsRNA within the SL2-SL3 region. The inability to detect.
+dominant hand/wrist associated with their tasks as a result of forceful or. Demographic and medical data including age, gender, history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, smoking and chronic heart failure and body mass index were obtained from medical records or interviews with patients. Body mass index was calculated as the ratio of weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Laboratory data including total cholesterol and triglyceride were also collected. The value of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the 4-variable equation in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study [21]. In addition, information regarding patient medications including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and diuretics during the study period was obtained from medical records.. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical and radiographic repercussions of surgically assisted maxillary expansion on the septum buy Seroquel on line without a rx.. All experimental procedures and protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Gyeongsang National University. All experimental procedures were performed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research.. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating malignant tumors with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 5% and increasing incidence rate buy Seroquel on line without a rx which is the seventh leading cause of cancer related death in both men and women worldwide [1-3]. In 2015, about 48,960 new cases are expected to occur and about 40,560 people are expected to die from pancreatic cancer in USA [4]. In China, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has reached 14-17 per 100,000 people in some area [5]. What's worse, the annual mortality of pancreatic cancer almost equals to the morbidity. The poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer is mainly associated with delayed diagnosis, deep anatomic location and non-specific symptoms. At present, surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, only 15%-20% of patients are candidates for pancreatectomy at the time of diagnosis [2]. Tissue biopsy is the golden standard for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer for those patients without surgery or before neoadjuvant therapy administration. However, there are many obstacles for tissue biopsy, including potential surgical complications, tumor dissemination, and false negative results [6, 7]. In addition, sufficient material from primary tumors in pancreatic cancer is scarce as the majority of patients present with advanced disease and only biopsy material is available and thus CTC and ctDNA can help fill this gap in order to perform the genomic analysis.. Some of the hematologic and immunologic parameters under investigation were similar in both groups. Although T lymphocyte surface antigens buy Seroquel on line without a rx such as levels of CD4 and CD8, were found to be lower in the welders than in the control subjects (p <0.001, p <0.05), the hematocrit levels of the welders were found to be higher than those of the control subjects (p <0.05). However, the differences observed were not clinically significant. ELF electromagnetic field intensities in the welding areas varied between 0.10 and 0.25 mT.. the designated region of the chart upon counting would be 24. They are.
+by p38 and MAPK protein kinase pathway was the effect by which.]. Pain may not develop for years after. Therefore, the detector will obtain the lighter ions first as they will reach.
+The significant correlation of the UCI to fetal weight, the volume of amniotic fluid, the diameter of umbilical cord, and the umbilical artery resistant index was not observed. This is in agreement with the studies reported by Predanic et al. that the UCI is not associated with the thickness of umbilical cord or fetal weight [16]. Also this is in agreement with the study reported by Degani et al. that the UCI was not associated with the umbilical arterial Doppler index [5]. This implies that the cause of the association of the UCI with perinatal outcomes is another factor than hemodynamic factors such as the thickness of umbilical cord or blood Doppler waveforms.. for visualisation.. 2c and 3c). In addition, it was noted that the radiolucent areas were. Blood samples for both markers were withdrawn in fasting state, early in the morning. CTX was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). BAP was measured by the chemiluminescence immunoassay (DiaSorin LIAISON® BAP OSTASE® assay). Serum fasting glucose and the levels of hemoglobin and creatinine were also assessed. The general data of the different groups and healthy controls are listed in Table 1. A higher proportion of older women were noted in the osteopenia and osteoporosis groups. The patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis had significantly lower BMD and T-scores or Z-scores in the lumbar spine and hip compared with the healthy control group. The osteoporosis group had more severe bone loss. There were no siginificant differences including serum fasting glucose, creatinine, hemoglobulin in each group.
+- Homeopathy Today
+Today, organic-food stores are thriving. They claim to sell food that is grown in conditions that could be more healthy for consumers. Thus, organic foods may be grown without using pesticides, and animals such as chickens may be “free-range” or “cage-free.” In addition, these establishments have an emphasis on providing “natural products.”
+Those products are likely to include “homeopathic medicines.” Our own local food co-op has a shelf full of homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic remedies tend to be particularly popular at organic-food stores, because of their claims to be “natural products” that are “gentle and safe.”
+Here is a photo from a company that produces homeopathic “remedies.” Note the herbs; the plants; the pestle, all emphasizing the “natural” aspects.
+Trendy grocery chains such as Whole Foods stock up on homeopathic remedies. For example, go here to see a Whole Foods podcast about homeopathy. This features a Q&A with an executive from the Boiron corportation, one of the leading manufacturers of homeopathic products.
+You can also purchase both books and homeopathic products on Amazon.com. Some sample comments from readers on these sites: “Homeopathy works!” and “This is my homeopathic Bible!”
+As an example of a homeopathic product, you can purchase a “32 unit, Homeopathy Family Kit” from Boiron for a list price of $123.40. This consists of 32 “preparations,” each of which corresponds to a different “active ingredient” at 30C dilution.
+As we will discuss in Sect. 3 below, the homeopathic community uses a logarithmic scale to describe the very high dilutions in their products. A product described as “NC” means that the active ingredient is diluted to one part per hundred (generally with distilled water), and this dilution process is repeated N times. Thus a “6C” dilution will consist of 1 part active ingredient to 100^6 = 10^12 parts water. That is 1 molecule of active ingredient for every 1 trillion molecules of water.
+A pharmacist in our area owns a “health and wellness” store. He takes out ads on the radio to recommend various products. During flu season, he stated (correctly) that there were some questions regarding the effectiveness of flu vaccines for seniors. He recommended that seniors consider a “homeopathic flu vaccine” as a “safe and effective” alternative to a flu shot.
+Homeopathic medicines are a booming business. In 2007, the last year for which they reported numbers, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) estimated annual over-the-counter (OTC) sales of “homeopathic remedies” at $2.9 billion. There are many reasons for the popularity of such products. One is the emphasis on these remedies as “natural.” Another is the claim that these products are “gentle.”
+Are homeopathic products really “safe and effective,” as claimed by their adherents? In a word, NO. Steven Salzberg, the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University had this to say about homeopathy. “Homeopathy is the most obviously fake alternative medicine you’re likely to see in your local pharmacy.”
+Our article is organized as follows. In Sect. 2, we will review the scientific and medical basis of homeopathy. The field of homeopathy was developed in 1796, before either the germ theory of disease or the atomic theory of matter were understood. As a result, we can clearly demonstrate that the “laws” of homeopathy completely contradict the principles of modern science and medicine.
+In Sect. 3 we discuss the extreme dilutions that characterize homeopathy. In Sect. 4 we review the practice of homeopathy today. Sect. 5 reviews adverse effects of homeopathy.
+Although we demonstrate that the “principles” of homeopathy are in contradiction with modern science and medicine, the homeopathic community attempts to provide “scientific justification” for their remedies. In Sect. 6, we discuss some phenomena alleged to justify homeopathy, and we show why these claims are not credible.
+Section 6 will conclude part I of our review of homeopathy. In part II, we will review some “New Age” variants on homeopathy. These will include methods such as “electrohomeopathy” and “paper products.” We will summarize the responses of medical associations and various governments on homeopathy and homeopathic medicine.
+We then review the Web site of the American Institute of Homeopathy. How do they justify the “effectiveness” of their products, and what are their claims regarding the “scientific” basis of homeopathy? At the end of part II, we will draw conclusions and make recommendations for dealing with the pseudo-science of homeopathy.
+2. The Historical Scientific/Medical Basis for Homeopathy
+Homeopathy was developed in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann, who is pictured below.
+Homeopathy was based on three general principles:
+- Like cures like (similia similibus curentur), or “law of similars.” This is the notion that a substance that causes symptoms of disease in healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people. Supporters of homeopathy claim that this idea may have originated with Hippocrates. He is reputed to have prescribed small doses of mandrake root to treat mania, knowing that in large doses this produces mania. Also, in the 16th century Paracelsus declared that small doses of “what makes a man ill also cures him.”
+- Law of Infinitesimal Doses: This is the notion that as the “curative” substance is diluted, it becomes progressively more effective in combating disease. Thus, homeopathic medicines are created by taking an “active ingredient” (generally one that is toxic in large doses) and progressively diluting it with distilled water or some other substance. Hahnemann’s idea was that the more dilute the substance, the more potent it becomes. In addition, Hahnemann developed the notion that vigorous shaking of the diluted substance increased its potency.
+- The Single Remedy: The notion is that the homeopathic physician reviews many aspects of a patient, including their symptoms, but also their habits, spiritual beliefs, and other details. Based on a detailed workup, the homeopath supposedly chooses the single “remedy” that is most appropriate for the patient. First, the physician consults a “repository” listing preparations that are supposed to be effective in certain circumstances. In addition, the physician uses his/her personal experience in order to pick the ideal “remedy” to fit the condition.
+Below is a photo of some pills used as homeopathic remedies. You can see that some of the bottles have as active ingredient “Belladonna,” another name for the poisonous “deadly nightshade.” This is an example of some of the toxic materials used in homeopathic preparations.
+It should be stressed that Hahnemann’s theory was developed before either the germ theory of disease or the atomic theory were understood. Thus, nothing in Hahnemann’s theory of homeopathy is consistent with our current understanding of the cause and treatment of disease.
+Furthermore, Hahnemann imputed a spiritual character to disease. Homeopaths believe that “all disease can be traced to some latent, deep-seated, underlying chronic, or inherited tendency.” They also believe that direct treatment of the symptoms of disease does not remove the “infectious principles” or “miasms.” Hahnemann believed that he had identified three miasms that together are responsible for all human diseases. The theory is that these miasms can only be effectively treated by homeopathic methods, which correct disturbances of the “vital forces.”
+Hahnemann was apparently inspired to develop his theory of homeopathy when he investigated the use of cinchona bark to treat malaria. Hahnemann ingested some bark, and experienced a number of symptoms that were typical for victims of malaria, namely fever, shivering and joint pain. This led him to his “law of similars.”
+However, we now know why cinchona bark is effective against malaria: it contains quinine, which kills the Plasmodium falciparum parasite that causes malaria. The effectiveness of this substance against malaria has nothing to do with Hahnemann’s theories. So, Hahnemann’s supposedly big insight, that led him to the “principles” on which homeopathy is based, was totally incorrect.
+Homeopaths try to justify the “law of similars” by comparing it to the effectiveness of vaccines, which involve giving small doses of an infectious pathogen to prevent a later infection. However, this is a seriously flawed analogy. Vaccines involve measurable doses of attenuated or killed organisms or their proteins, and operate by a known medical mechanism — they trigger an immune response. There is no analogy to homeopathy, for which there is no known physical mechanism (see Sect. 6 for “justifications” of homeopathy).
+The “law of infinitesimal doses” is decidedly strange. Since Hahnemann’s idea was to “treat” an illness using a toxic substance as “active ingredient,” it would be foolish to ingest the substance at full strength – clearly, it would harm you. So the active ingredient would have to be diluted. But what is the correct degree of dilution? Hahnemann came up with the idea that the more the ingredient was diluted, the more powerful it would be as a remedy.
+This argument completely contradicts the well-known “dose-response reaction.” That is, in general one finds that the response to a dose of medication monotonically increases with the dose. The idea that the effectiveness of a potion keeps increasing as it is successively diluted can be carried to absurd limits – one could argue that a powerful remedy would be one that was diluted until no molecules of the “active ingredient” remained. As we will see, this is precisely the case with modern homeopathic “medications.”
+3. Homeopathic Dilutions
+Homeopaths use a logarithmic scale to denote the amount of dilution. The notation “X” denotes dilution by a factor of 10. So, a homeopathic solution designated “5X” contains 1 part active ingredient to 10^5 parts distilled water. Hahnemann preferred to use dilutions in parts per hundred. Thus a homeopathic solution denoted “5C” would contain 1 part active ingredient to (100)^5 = 10^10 parts distilled water; that is, 10 billion molecules of water to every molecule of active ingredient.
+Hahnemann’s preferred dilution for his potions was 30C. That is, 1 molecule of active ingredient to 10^60 molecules of distilled water. Now that we understand the atomic theory, we can calculate how many molecules of the “active ingredient” remain after dilutions of this magnitude.
+A 2-ounce container of homeopathic medicine diluted to 30C will never contain a single molecule of the active ingredient. Obviously, such a liquid would be incapable of producing any actual therapeutic effect, over and above the placebo effect.
+The placebo effect is a well-known medical phenomenon, whereby patients experience an improvement in their medical condition when given something like a sugar pill. The improvement is a result of the patient’s expectation of a beneficial effect.
+For a normal-sized containment vessel, the greatest dilution likely to contain even one molecule of the original substance is 12C. To give an analogy, a 12C dilution is equivalent to “placing a pinch of salt in the Atlantic Ocean.” A drop of original substance diluted with all the water on Earth would correspond to a 13C solution.
+A popular homeopathic remedy recommended to “treat” the flu is a 200C dilution of duck liver, which is marketed under the name Oscillococcinum. Note that a dilution of 1 molecule of duck liver in all the molecules in the known Universe would produce a 40C mixture.
+Now that we understand the relationship between extreme dilutions and molecules of the “active ingredient,” a more honest representation of high-dilution “homeopathic remedies” is shown below.
+By the mid-19th century, the degree of dilution of homeopathic medicines could be understood from the atomic theory of matter. James Young Simpson said that there was “No poison, however, strong or powerful, the billionth or decillionth of which would in the least degree affect a man or harm a fly.” In 1842, American physician Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. published a critical essay titled Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions.
+A couple of years ago, when I felt a cold coming on, my wife urged me to try a “homeopathic zinc” over-the-counter tablet called Zicam. She assured me that Zicam had helped her stave off a cold on several occasions. I then launched into a critique of homeopathy; I reviewed the history of this field, discussed various dilutions, and assured her that a “20C” dilution would contain nothing but distilled water.
+I eventually examined her bottle of Zicam. To my surprise, Zicam is a “1X” dilution; that is, it is a 10% solution of some zinc compound. Of course, at that strength Zicam might well be effective; at the same time, it seems dubious and misleading to call it “homeopathic,” since it totally contradicts the “law of infinitesimal doses.”
+Note: in 2009, the FDA advised consumers to stop using three discontinued Zicam products (in particular, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel [2X]), as they could cause permanent damage to the user’s sense of smell.
+Let us review: at any dilution of the order of “12C” or above, a homeopathic medicine is essentially distilled water. One can guarantee that it will have no therapeutic value, save for the placebo effect. However, if one takes a homeopathic treatment rather than conventional medical treatment (say, to treat a tumor, or in place of vaccination), then one is forsaking the benefits that would accrue from modern medicine.
+Occasionally, products promoted as “homeopathic” have low degrees of dilution – e.g., the Zicam “1X” tablets discussed earlier. Since these products violate the “law of infinitesimal doses,” in the remainder of this article we confine our discussion to products involving high degrees of dilution, “10C” or greater.
+4. The Practice of Homeopathy
+From Sect. 3, we see that any highly-diluted “homeopathic medicine” is in fact pure distilled water.
+Scientific tests run by both the BBC‘s Horizon and ABC’s 20/20 programs were unable to differentiate homeopathic dilutions from water, even when using tests suggested by homeopaths themselves.
+On the one hand, ingesting such a “medicine” will be completely ineffective in treating any disease or ailment, aside from the placebo effect. On the other hand, drinking distilled water is unlikely to produce adverse effects (unless the toxic materials in the preparation greatly exceed the specified amounts – see Sect. 5).
+The failure of homeopathic remedies has been verified experimentally.
+A review conducted in 2010 of all the pertinent studies of “best evidence” produced by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that “the most reliable evidence – that produced by Cochrane reviews – fails to demonstrate that homeopathic medicines have effects beyond placebo.”
+We can understand why homeopathic medicine became popular in its early days. In those times, medical practices such as bloodletting frequently aggravated health problems. In addition, the lack of sterile conditions at hospitals could accelerate the spread of infectious diseases. Thus, in the 18th and early 19th century, people treated with homeopathic remedies might fare better than those admitted to unsanitary hospitals and subjected to procedures that could aggravate their illness.
+Another reason for the acceptance of homeopathic medicine was that its early practitioners carried out quasi-scientific tests of the efficacy of their potions. For example, Hahnemann administered medications to groups of volunteers for periods of months. The volunteers were required to keep journals of their experiences, and forbidden to partake of substances such as coffee, tea, spices and wine (for some reason, beer was acceptable).
+Hahnemann called his tests “provings.” These were the predecessors to modern clinical trials. They utilized control groups, quantitative procedures, and statistical methods. However, the provings also differ significantly from clinical trials. In particular, they were highly subjective and they were not blinded. In his essay on homeopathy, Oliver Holmes argued that the provings were impossibly vague, and their results were not repeatable.
+Practitioners of homeopathy rely on “repertories” to compile their “medicines.” A homeopathic repertory is an index of disease symptoms that list preparations supposed to be effective against those diseases. Homeopathic medicines may be prepared from animal, plant, mineral or synthetic substances. They are generally referred to using Latin names – when Latin names are not available, “faux-Latin” names may be generated.
+Examples are natrum muriaticum (sodium chloride = table salt), or Lachesis muta (venom of the bushmaster snake). Preparations made from healthy specimens are called “sarcodes,” whereas preparations made from diseased or pathological specimens (e.g., blood, tissue, fecal or urinary or respiratory discharges) are called “nosodes.”
+5. Adverse Effects From Homeopathy
+As we have stressed, in high dilutions homeopathic remedies are indistinguishable from distilled water. However, there are instances that have resulted in seizures or deaths. These generally occur in two cases. The first is when toxic substances are not sufficiently diluted; the second is where toxic substances appear at detectable levels due to improper preparation.
+A recent case involved homeopathic teething gels.
+On September 30, 2016 the FDA issued a safety alert to consumers warning against the use of homeopathic teething gels and tablets following reports of adverse events after their use … On October 12, Buzzfeed reported that the regulator had “examined more than 400 reports of seizures, fever and vomiting, as well as 10 deaths” over a six-year period. The investigation (including analyses of the products) is still ongoing …”.
+Other adverse reactions can occur if patients are convinced to substitute homeopathic alternatives for conventional medication. Homeopaths believe that conventional medications do not cure disease but merely “push it deeper,” a condition they call “suppression.” Because of this, some practitioners advise travelers to use homeopathic preparations instead of anti-malarial drugs. Obviously, it is dangerous to forego meds that actually protect against malaria, in favor of a preparation of distilled water.
+In another case, in 2004 a homeopath advised her patient to stop taking all medications, in particular her prescribed heart medication, stating “I feel confident if she follows the advice [to replace her heart meds with homeopathic remedies] she will regain her health.” The patient was admitted to hospital the following day and subsequently died from “acute heart failure due to treatment discontinuation.”
+In 2013, a young boy died in Calgary, Canada from a Group A streptococcus infection. Although his condition would easily have been treated with an antibiotic such as penicillin, the parent instead treated him with homeopathic herbal remedies. The sergeant investigating the death said, “It was a belief system in homeopathic medicine that contributed to this death … The message is simple: if your child is sick, take them to the doctor.”
+6. Bogus “Scientific” Justifications for Homeopathy
+Modern science tells us that the original justifications for homeopathy — “like cures like” and “law of infinitesimal doses” – are false. The mainstream scientific community is adamant that homeopathy is pseudoscience. It violates fundamental principles of physics and chemistry. There is no plausible physical mechanism that could justify homeopathy. Furthermore, no convincing experiments have detected positive results from homeopathy that exceed the placebo effect.
+The notion that higher dilutions of active ingredients produce stronger medicinal effects is completely contrary to the “dose-response relationship.” That relationship has been confirmed in a host of experiments on different organisms.
+Various New Age hucksters have tried to invoke mechanisms to explain why homeopathy “works.” In this Section we review a few of those claims.
+a. Water Memory
+In this theory, the structure of water is supposedly transformed by the diluted substance, so that it “remembers” the active ingredient, despite the fact that no molecules of the active ingredient remain. When the liquid is ingested, these lingering effects of the active ingredient are somehow transmitted to the patient. This notion is not supported by our understanding of modern chemistry.
+There is no experimentally detectable effect that could be ascribed to “water memory.” An experiment that claimed to show such an effect was shown to be false; the supposed effect arose because the experiment was not double-blind.
+Here are other arguments against “water memory.”
+No evidence of stable clusters of water molecules was found when homeopathic preparations were studied using nuclear magnetic resonance, and many other physical experiments in homeopathy have been found to be of low methodological quality, which precludes any meaningful conclusion. Existence of a pharmacological effect in the absence of any true active ingredient is inconsistent with the law of mass action and the observed dose-response relationships characteristic of therapeutic drugs.
+b. Nanoparticles
+Another “explanation” of how biological effects could arise from ultradilute remedies invokes the effects of nanoparticles that were supposedly detected in homeopathic solutions. However, the experiments purporting to identify these particles have been poorly conducted, and were subject to contamination and other sources of error. A telling fact is that only proponents of homeopathy believe this theory. We know of no experiments outside the homeopathic community that observe nanoparticles in homeopathic remedies.
+If nanoparticles were found in homeopathic liquids, one should ask how they got there. They might have been introduced in the dilution and shaking processes. The nanoparticles could have been present in vessels used in manufacturing homeopathic liquids, and could have leached into the liquids.
+Even if we assume that such nanoparticles appear in a homeopathic remedy, they would be present in infinitesimal quantities that cannot possibly have a therapeutic effect.
+c. Quantum Non-Locality
+A number of experiments have demonstrated that quantum physics is inherently non-local. In certain special quantum systems, events that occur at one space-time point place restrictions on results occurring at a distant point. These restrictions are inconsistent with simple “local” assumptions regarding space and time.
+What does this have to do with homeopathy? Simply put, nothing. “Applications” of quantum non-locality to homeopathy are generally made by non-specialists. Essentially, they amount to the assumption that the existence of non-intuitive events in certain physical systems justifies the assumption of completely unrelated weird possibilities in totally different physical, chemical, or biological systems.
+“Applications” of quantum non-locality to other fields generally involve using terms and definitions from quantum physics in unrelated areas, where those terms are not applicable.
+A related area is that of “quantum entanglement.” In modern terminology, physicists describe systems that experience non-local behavior as being “entangled.” The notion of entanglement is sometimes mis-applied to homeopathic “solutions.” The claim is that the “effectiveness” of homeopathy is explained by quantum entanglement.
+However, legitimate quantum entanglement is observed only in highly unique systems, where stability and isolation are achieved with the most sophisticated electronic equipment. And even in these systems, entanglement can only be maintained for a fraction of a second.
+— To be continued in Part II —
+Once cool, remove to a cooling rack. At last I present to you the long-promised (and maybe or maybe not long-awaited) Repeat with the remaining donuts and glaze. Hello, do you have to make the donuts with the wheat flour? Fill each of the 24 mini donut molds with batter. Dip doughnuts into … And another thing that makes these healthy homemade donuts so low calorie? Apple donuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. . Standard donuts are typically loaded with sugar and trans fats and are often fried, which racks up both calories and points in the “unhealthy” category. Good for breakfast, or dessert, or even as a healthy post-workout snack. I have always loved chocolate. The second theory says that an American gentleman named Hanson Gregory claimed to have invented the ring-shaped doughnut in 1847 aboard a lime-trading ship when he was 16 years old. Just remember to scrape the purée off of the bottom side of the sieve — it tends to cling! Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until donuts spring back when touched. White whole wheat flour also has a lighter taste and texture, which lets the moist and tender texture of your healthy homemade vanilla donuts really shine! I was after that ideal texture: not so dry that it’s like protective armour, and not so wet that it absorbs right into the donut. To prepare the donuts, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. If you're storing them for later use, I recommend mixing up the glaze and keeping it on the side until you're ready to serve. (If you want to leave them a little bit warm, you can! Healthy pumpkin donuts with pumpkin spice maple glaze are made with eight simple ingredients, and baked to perfection! Then smoosh (yes, a very technical term!) Nov 1, 2020 - Explore Christina Spurlock's board "Healthy Doughnuts ", followed by 115 people on Pinterest. (For best results, add the flour mixture in 3 equal parts.). Now, on the first Friday of June, we honor the Donut Dollies with donuts. Try baking, instead of frying, to cut out the fat and calories. Cake donuts come in many unique flavors, so you will not need to sacrifice taste at all. The women who did this work became known by the servicemen as “Doughnut Dollies”. To make a healthier choice, you can use this recipe to make a gluten free, grain free, dairy free option – otherwise known as paleo donuts. Allow donuts to cool completely before removing from pan.’. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Beautiful and healthy, wow I can not wait to try these. It also gives your healthy homemade vanilla donuts a protein boost! When I made a batch of these Healthy Vanilla Donuts with Raspberry Glaze, I was instantly transported back to those weekend lab donut days. However, my preference was to warm them up in the oven unglazed, then add the glaze to the warm donut and serve immediately. { Read More }, The Healthier Chocolate Treats cookbook is perfect for any and all chocolate lovers. View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points I made these for the family and they devoured these. Make a simple glaze by microwaving peanut butter and coconut oil for 30-second intervals, mixing until smooth. If you’re feeling lazy (that’s normally me! It took me a long time to perfect this glaze. And no oil for frying either! These paleo donuts can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container or tightly covered for up to one week. I used my recipe for Paleo Powdered Sugar to make this glaze. Let cool slightly before turning out onto wire rack to cool completely. I experimented with some having glaze, and some not. ♡ Healthy Blueberry Almond Donut Holes. I promise it’s worth taking the few extra moments to measure correctly! Donuts can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. This healthy donut recipe is perfect for breakfast, an afternoon treat or even dessert. The sieve should catch all of the raspberry seeds. When ready to eat, defrost a slice in the fridge overnight or microwave for about 30 seconds. Keep the donut recipes coming please, they are so fun to make and impress my company when they come for a visit. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, vanilla extract, and vanilla stevia. ), this healthy raspberry glaze still tastes delicious, even if you don’t strain out the seeds! Even with no eggs, butter, dairy, refined flour or sugar! Despite what it sounds like, white whole wheat flour is not a combination of white (aka all-purpose) flour and regular whole wheat flour! The glaze typically hardens when refrigerated in a bowl by itself. Boil beet, cook till soft; use a fork to check its tenderness. Add dry ingredients and mix again until combined. Burburbur donut didn’t have quite the same ring to it, though. I really appreciate your interest in my recipe Victoria! If you're storing them for later use, I recommend mixing up the glaze and keeping it on the side until you're ready to serve. bakers how to make healthy + yummy treats! Donuts … 2. The tahini maple glaze is the perfect topping for these donuts. 1/2 c (or more) powdered sugar ), there are plenty of goodies inside for you! See more ideas about healthy donuts, donut recipes, food. Stir together the confectioners’ style erythritol and 7 teaspoons of raspberry purée (or use less purée for a thicker glaze, or use more purée for a thinner glaze). Last year, we started the tradition of going with Ben to the apple orchard (I made slow cooker apple butter after returning home). Y’all really went crazy for our healthy chocolate chip cookies, so we couldn’t resist creating another delicious healthy hack. Dip each donut into the glaze and allow to harden on the cooling rack. It's ok to glaze and refrigerate, just know that the donuts will soak up some of the glaze. I always checked for a plain, unglazed old-fashioned donut first (I loved its dense cakey texture and iconic flavor! For the smoothest glaze, gently press the purée through a fine mesh strainer or sieve with the back of a spoon to remove the seeds. Since many stevia brands and products have a slightly different sweetness level, I highly recommend using the same one I do for the best results. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. I’m going to go out on a limb and say… donuts can be healthy! Remember, it’s really important to measure the flour correctly, using this method or a kitchen scale. Devour ASAP! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bake 15 minutes or until done, then remove from oven and allow to cool. These healthy chocolate donuts are the answer to your dreams. We’re just looking for them not to be so hot the glaze melts right off.). I bought donut pans online here! Last but not least, a third theory arose in 2013 – a recipe for “dow nuts” was found in a book of recipes and domestic tips written around 1800 by the wife of Baron Thomas Dimsdale. Allow to cool, then peel. If you are missing donuts on a ketogenic diet try this substitute. Greek yogurt is one of my favorite ingredients in healthy baking! They are also freezer friendly, so any that you don’t eat the first day I recommend popping them in the freezer! (And your healthy homemade baked vanilla donuts are sugar-free too!). It’s … )… You name it! how to make homemade clean eating donuts. Nearly all of the organic chemistry professors, including the one in charge of my lab, expected their graduate students to come into work at least one day each weekend. Add all the dry ingredients (whole wheat & almond flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt) in a bowl, mix well with a spatula. Grain-free, paleo-friendly, dairy-free, gluten-free with keto sweetener options. Yes, that’s it! Applesauce! Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time. Your healthy homemade donuts have no eggs! Double or triple, or halve (beat the egg and then divide in half) the recipe as desired. Eating a lot of sugar (natural or not) isn’t a healthy habit, but having an occasional treat made with healthy ingredients is perfectly okay. Something about its rich nuttiness mimics both the flavor of the old-fashioned donut dough and the flavor of the oil the donuts are fried in. It’s also really concentrated. It worked beautifully! That’s right, keep … Because these homemade donuts are baked (not fried! When my son was little, he couldn’t say “blueberry.” He would call them “bur bur bur.” We still to this day call blueberries in our house burburburs. It makes removing the donuts easy, as you can gently pull it away and down from the donuts, and push them off. If you want to make then last a little longer without glaze dissolving can you make the glaze and set aside by itself in the fridge and dip them right before you want to eat them? Because they’re silicone and a bit flimsy, I set them on top of light-colored metal baking sheets to make it easier to slide them in and out of the oven. What they are full of is chocolatey goodness and enrobed in a delicious glaze. It’s a total standout on a donut, but you can use it on lots of other goodies. ♡ Healthy Gingerbread Donuts with Maple Glaze In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. In a small bowl, combine the sweetened condensed coconut milk with the vanilla and whisk. National Donut Day is celebrated America on the first Friday of June each year. Keep in mind that if you put the glaze on the donuts while they are warm, it may melt and/or soak into the donuts. 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+Attack From Within
+The sound of the radio was not loud enough to drown out the cries from upstairs. Sophie continued with her routine, putting the shopping away, unloading the dishes; making sure everything was in its rightful place. She paused, just briefly, to adjust the old radio, which seemed to be getting quieter and quieter these days. She still had the whole of the downstairs to vacuum before she could even start dinner and, with a small sigh, crossed into the dimly lit corridor towards the cupboard under the stairs. It took a while for her eyes to adjust to the dark, and while she was scrabbling to find the door handle, the abrasive noise from upstairs registered again. Realising she could no longer put off going to see her, and with no small measure of trepidation, she ascended the staircase and gently knocked on the door at the end of the landing.
+“Can I come in?” muttered Sophie, not really wanting to be heard. A moment or two passed in silence before Sophie could gain the courage to enter. The room was even darker than downstairs; with only a faint corona of light penetrating past the thick curtains.
+Quietly, she crossed the room towards the window and slowly drew open the curtains, just a small amount, to allow the now overcast day to filter through. Though the room brightened only a fraction, it was enough to disturb the hunched figure resting beneath the covers on the bed. The figure coiled tighter, and let out a quiet murmur of disapproval, or possibly pain.
+Sophie felt annoyed and, although she instantly regretted the feeling, that small surge of adrenaline racing down her spine could not be subdued. It had been this way for almost a year now. She sat herself down at the end of the old, iron bed, which juddered noticeably as she did so. A hand was protruding out slightly from beneath the sheets. Sophie had an overwhelming urge to grab the hand, to shake it violently even, to do anything to get her to react. What use would it be really, she thought. She couldn’t change anything, and neither could the doctors.
+Reaching out anyway, she delicately touched her mother’s hand, which was as icy cold as it always was. She hoped for even the smallest sign that her mother acknowledged her presence, but none came. Was the numbness getting worse, Sophie wondered, or was she retreating even more into her slowly crumbling shell.
+There really wasn’t any point wondering about such matters again, seeing as she probably would never get the actual answer, not while her mother was in this condition. She had spent too much time sitting here anyway; she had more pressing things to do. Sophie collected the used plates and mugs from the bedside table, and slipped out of the room. As she closed the door behind her, she could hear her mother stirring once more. She had been going through another relapse for the past few weeks, and obviously, the pain was once again getting too much for her.
+As she rushed down the dark staircase, hands laden with the remnants of yesterday’s meal, she somehow lost her footing – stumbling down the last three or four steps – collapsing on the floor at the bottom. How foolish she must look, Sophie thought, her school clothes covered in the half eaten stew she had prepared yesterday. Really, she was lucky not to have broken her neck, never mind the dishes, which had miraculously survived, although her ankle felt less than lucky. Sophie had seen her mother have similar falls many times over the years; it had been a normal occurrence, that is, until she had resigned herself to her bed. Sophie had no disease to blame for this accident, however, and no mother to console her. And so, with a determined grimace, she picked herself up, gathered the scattered debris and hobbled back into the kitchen.
+Returning to the corridor to clean up the mess, she reached for the light switch – for now it was almost completely dark – and, as she flicked the switch, the light bulb above her head flickered violently for a second and then extinguished. The wiring in this old house was in tatters; every other day there was something short circuiting on Sophie, or at least it seemed that way.
+The ceilings in their Victorian house were unusually high, and Sophie was quite short for her age. Normally, changing a light bulb would have been in the realms of dad-territory, just like mowing the lawn or accompanying mum to the hospital had been. Circumstances, however, have the frustrating ability to change on you with very little notice. Dad was no longer here and so, once again, the burden would have to fall on her. There were no spare bulbs in the house and she couldn’t really be bothered to run to the shops to get more. She had already replaced two bulbs this week, and money was pretty tight these days anyway. Her father’s cheques might come as regular as clockwork, but they were small, and could barely meet the household’s monthly obligations, certainly could not any frivolous expenses like reliable artificial illumination.
+Wandering into the kitchen, she walked over to the windowsill and turned the radio up again. Sophie liked the radio, it was comforting; a character always ready to entertain her when she was bored, a presence to accompany her when she was lonely. Her father, many years ago now, had explained how it worked. How electromagnetic waves could, invisibly, carry a voice, uttered hundreds of miles away, through the air to be decoded by this small box on the window sill. It was fascinating. And, moreover, how these radio waves were made of the same thing as light, so even in the darkest room one might be illuminated by the soft, comforting voice of a stranger.
+She looked up from the radio, staring outside at the deserted road. The streetlamps had begun to light now; the sodium glow turning the landscape monotonous and flat, like an old sepia photograph. Standing on her toes and straining her neck, she could just see the entrance to the dusty strip of land, supposedly a garden, shared by the estate. She could see, very faintly, a young child with its mother on the swing set, a rusting monument to the slow passage of time. It was barely useable these days, but despite its dilapidated frame, the two looked happy, together.
+Sophie turned away, and collapsed into one of the rickety kitchen chairs. With her head in her hands, she closed her eyes and tried to imagine what it was like before she had been reduced to this state of simple servitude. Was there even a time when she was happy, she couldn’t be sure, it had been so long. Looking after her mother was all Sophie did now, whether it was fetching prescriptions from the chemists, walking her to the bathroom, or changing the sheets if she couldn’t help her in time. There was hardly any time for herself anymore. Of course she knew she had to be there, no one else was going to do the hard work. And on a good day, she was happy to do it; after all, her mother had done pretty much the same things for her. But today – Sophie exhaled – today she just didn’t have the energy. A bit ironic, she thought, as this was exactly what mum had been fighting for decades. She had first gone to the doctors over 20 years ago, complaining that she felt like she had just ran a marathon, only this feeling would not go away. Sophie found it hard to imagine what it must feel like to find out that lethargy, something everyone feels from time to time, could be a portent of such a devastating future.
+Later on, when Sophie had accompanied her mother on one of her frequent hospital visits, a doctor had tried to explain exactly what was happening, and what was going to happen. The doctors said they didn’t quite know what caused the condition, only that it was partly genetic, and that because her mum had it, she was quite likely to get it. And if she did – God forbid – it probably wouldn’t start to show for a fair few years. Something to look forward to, she thought cynically; the slow, painful transformation into the relic that now inhabited the small bedroom upstairs. It had taken 23 years for her mother to self destruct into her current state; for her own body to slowly destroy her very essence, her personality, her very being. How long would Sophie last?
+Enough time to start a family perhaps? She didn’t even have time enough for a boyfriend as it was, if you could call Adam that. When was the last time they had seen each other? She couldn’t remember. All she knew was that it wasn’t fair, so many opportunities missed, so many chances taken away.
+How much time she had passed in that solitary doze, Sophie didn’t know, but by the time she had come to her senses, it was completely dark. The radio in the corner was softly murmuring to itself once again, a voice content to be heard, but never truly listened to. Sophie sympathised: whenever she would explain her problems to someone they would give all the signs of real human concern, but she knew they would forget just as soon as Sophie was out of sight. It was a tragic situation, certainly, but not life threatening quite yet. She was sure that, when the time came, she would be inundated by offers of support, but at present she was stuck in a torturous state of limbo; and Sophie was at once dreading and desiring the end to come.
+There wasn’t much point starting dinner now, her mother wouldn’t eat this late, and besides Sophie wasn’t that hungry any more. She picked up the radio, extinguished the remaining lights in the house and climbed the stairs for bed. Passing her mother’s door, she paused – just to listen. No cries could be heard now, just her slightly laboured breathing.
+She carried on to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Placing the radio on her bedside table, she undressed and got into bed. Without looking, she reached out and detuned the radio to static, the white noise between stations that was not one thing or the other, and could drown out all other sensations. With an empty mind, she drifted into a dreamless sleep, a care free expression descending on her features – one that would never be seen.
+« Judging a book by its sexy cover | Neural clues to anxiety disorders »
+Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page: Cipro and ZithromaxDate: 6/21/2006Hello I have taken Cipro and Zithromax the night before a piss test, I don’t smoke marijauna but it came back with a high level of THC, could the meds cause false positive for that? TRA AskDocWeb: Cipro and Zithromax are not listed as causing false positives, sorry. Subj: IbuprofenDate: 6/21/2006Hello, I have read that it depends on which method taken the test it could be positive on marijuana because of ibuprofen, I got a friend who did him 2 test and he turned positive on one and negative on another one. He told me that he got 2 ibuprofen the night before the test (1000mg) could you tell me if this it can be true or which method it can cause false positive and which doesn’t…thank you very much. Rafa AskDocWeb: Ibuprofen can cause a false positive for marijuana if they use the EMIT test. Subj: Albuterol?Date: 6/26/2006I was told by a couple of friends that albuterol in its liquid and inhaler form can screw up your drug screen, is that true or was I doing illegal activities when I’m sleeping? R AskDocWeb: We haven’t heard that it will cause a false positive, but we are still collecting information on false positive testing. Subj: NexiumDate: 6/28/2006Can Nexium cause a false positive for THC Pbilliar AskDocWeb: No, Nexium has not been reported to cause false positives. Subj: Positive for cocaineDate: 6/28/2006I have a friend that is coming up for cocaine. He just had eye surgery 16 days before the UA. We are not sure what could cause the false positive in the medications that they gave him. First is there anything that can cause a false positive 15 days later (426 ng), because we know cocaine is gone after 72 hours. And is there anything we can look for in the eye drops that would lead to the faults positive? was and is taking FML, zymar, quixin, percocet, ambien, mepergan fortis, alcaine (in eye drops), ibuprofen, xanax, and todradex. If you have any information that could help please let me know. Thank you, Jason Jason AskDocWeb: Percocet may test positive (not false) for opiates. Subj: Questions about drug screenDate: 6/28/2006Hello, I had 2 questions. Does dilantin have false positives results in a urine drug screen? If so what is the minimum dose that shows up. Secondly, does lamictal show up and if so as what? Evan AskDocWeb: (answer revised 6/30/2011) Any dose can show up in a urine test for drugs. Dilantin is on the list as being able to cause a false positive. Lamictal may show up as a false positive for PCP. Subj: Tested positive for THCDate: 6/30/2006I have given up marjania recently but I have been taking hydrocodone and nabumetone for a knee injury that I received and my tests came back positive for THC in it could these drugs cause that to be false positive. Peki AskDocWeb: Yes. Subj: Tested positive for THCDate: 7/1/2006My husband was hurt at work and they did a drug test. It came back positive for THC. How can that be cause he doesn’t do any drugs. He has Hepatitis C and takes lots of herbs and he had a bad knee and took 800mg 4 times a day. He also takes a B complex. Do you know of any herbs that would make it read a false positive? Thank you Deb AskDocWeb: We suggest your husband take a complete list of the herbs (and medications he takes) to his doctor. Explain the situation to the doctor and ask for his help. If your husband’s job is in jeopardy, find out what kind of test the employer used along with the name of the laboratory that did the testing. You may be able to contact the laboratory directly and inquire about their accuracy. Subj: Terrible shockDate: 7/2/2006I got a terrible shock when I was tested positive for amphetamines. All I did was took some medication for flu, and allergy. 1. Respolin 2p PRN x 1, Amoxycillin 500mg tds, Zyrtec, prednisolone and later another round of Erethromycin 400mg, Benadryl exp. Would this always lend me in positive drug test? I need these medications periodically. Thanks. Ian AskDocWeb: The medication you took for the flu could have caused false positive, depending on what it was. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) has been reported to show up as false positives for Benzodiazepines, PCP, and Tricyclic Antidepressants 2-4 days after a single use. (Reference 45). If you are being drug tested, make sure to tell your doctor about the drug tests and that you do not want to take any drug that could cost you your job due to a false positive result. Subj: Albuterol inhalerDate: 7/4/2006I was using an albuterol inhaler, nyquil and “sudafed,” all together 2-3 times daily. My inhaler, was more often. My baby’s marcomium test was positive for methamphetamines. Yet I was not at the same time or within 24 hours. How is this possible? And how do I prove this is not a result of street drug use? Before I loose my parental rights and my baby? K. AskDocWeb: It sounds like you were overdosing on Nyquil and Sudafed. We suggest you take a list of the drugs you are taking to your doctor and ask for his help, both for your situation and for the proper use of these products. Subj: False positiveDate: 7/4/2006I had a drug test come back for amphetamines and I am not taking anything on the list that they said could cause a false positive. I am pregnant and on vitamins, zantac and an albuterol inhaler twice a day – and I used it the morning of the test. I have not taken any cold meds… please advise! thanks Maureen AskDocWeb: The Zantac could be a problem. Ask if you could be re-tested for a confirmation that the results were actually yours and not someone else. You need to find out if they are relying on the cheap EMIT test process, which is far from accurate and a confirmation is needed from a GC/MS to prove your innocence. This test is more expensive but it’s virtually error free. Subj: Ovarian cystDate: 7/6/2006Can ovary cyst cause false result for genital herpes. If not can anything else? Nikki AskDocWeb: No an ovarian cyst cannot cause a false result for genital herpes. Sexual contact causes genital herpes. Go to your doctor and have an examination, test and bloodwork done. Subj: AlbuterolDate: 7/6/2006Could the medicine albuterol cause a false reading showing meth on a drug test? Abby AskDocWeb: No, Albuterol shouldn’t cause a false positive. Subj: Tested positive for cocaineDate: 7/11/2006I am a mother of two, and a non drug user. I was recently turned in to DHS for drugs. The police raided my house, and found nothing; DHS did a hair sample on me and my kids. I came back positive for using cocaine, and one of my sons came back for exposure to cocaine. I heard that Amoxicillin can cause a false positive hair test. Is this true, as my son was on it at the time he was tested? Also I had oral surgery 3 months prior to this whole mess, and was on pain pills and antibiotics for 2 to 3 weeks, as well as was given Novocain. Could this be why I tested positive? I would really like some answers as DHS has taken my kids, and I feel no one really knows why we tested positive. Sara AskDocWeb: It is possible that they used the EMIT test which is known to produce false positives. And yes, Amoxicillin can cause a false positive on that cheap EMIT test. Subj: Tested positive for cocaineDate: 7/16/2006I tested positive for cocaine, but had been recently treated for a kidney infection and take prozac daily. Did this cause the false positive? Marie AskDocWeb: Prozac is not on the list for causing a false positive but if you took an antibiotic that could cause a false positive. Subj: Way to prove a negative?Date: 7/18/2006I came up positive for cocaine, though I have not used the drug in years. I have been taking amoxicillin and my drink of choice is Gin and Tonic. Is there any way to prove I did NOT do cocaine? John AskDocWeb: There is no way to prove a negative. You need to turn things around and realize that they have to prove that you did use cocaine. Find out where their proof came from what test they used. If it’s from a cheap EMIT test then you can contest it. Ask for a confirmation test using GC/MS. It’s more expensive but far more accurate. Subj: Tested positive for cocaineDate: 7/27/2006I recently tested positive for cocaine. I have never used it. Could any of the following cause a false positive – chocolate, mocha drinks, iced tea, any fruits like peaches, blueberries, grapes or could methadone cause you to test positive for cocaine? I am really confused. Carol AskDocWeb: Methadone could have tested positive but not for cocaine. Subj: False positive for cocaineDate: 7/29/2006From the site here I see that amoxicillian can cause a false positive for cocaine. Why am I being told by pharmacist and doctors amoxicillin can not cause a false positive. Is there any documented writings on this? I am facing being fired due to me taking amoxicillin before a drug screening and coming up positive. Fred AskDocWeb: The pharmacist and doctors that you talked to may not be aware that the old EMIT test is still being used. If a GC/MS test is used it would not of come up false positive. If you insist on a GC/MS test you may be able to prove your innocence. Subj: Bronch-ezeDate: 8/2/2006I was taking bronch-eze for my asthma and I failed a drug test for methamphetamine now my probation officer is trying to violate me. What can I do to stay out of jail? I have 4 kids that need me. Rachel AskDocWeb: Your doctor may be able to help you with this. Subj: Energy drinks?Date: 8/3/2006I actually have a question. How do I find info on how I received a positive hair follicle test for cocaine when I haven’t used in almost five months? I have also had weekly u.a.’s since March 23rd, 2006 and everyone of them has been negative since I quit my cocaine usage? I paid for another hair follicle test at another location and another lab(Quest) since the false positive I got was from the lab that is also owned by the Counseling center that I attended for treatment. Is it possible that I drink energy drinks constantly could be the reason? Christopher AskDocWeb: You would need to take a close look at the ingredients in the energy drinks to find out if they could cause a false positive. Subj: Amox and drug testDate: 8/7/2006Recently got a DUI don’t know test results yet but had taken amox for a boil on my side for a least 2 days prior was told that when they took my blood sample it could come back positive for cocaine is this true. Chris AskDocWeb: Amox may test positive for cocaine, sorry. Subj: BaclofenDate: 8/30/2006My husband hurt his back and I take baclofen and gave him a couple and now he has to take a urine test in the morning for odot and can’t have anything in his system that he don’t have a prescription for so I was wondering how long baclofen stays in your system, thank you. Corrina AskDocWeb: It will still be in his system in the morning. It can stay in his system for 48 hours. Read more feedback about false positives: Read Previous – This is page 3 – Next – Last Page 300If you find this page useful share it with others. All new questions will be answered by Doctors online.
+SEO affiliate programs are such a natural fit for affiliate marketers.
+If you do affiliate marketing, there’s a good chance you’ve built and optimized a website. You likely used a few SEO tools along the way.
+That means you’re perfectly positioned to put your digital marketing experience into practice (and make lots of juicy passive income) by recommending your favorite tools.
+And there’s definitely a lot of money to be made here. The SEO industry is expected to be worth more than $50 billion by the end of 2021 and reach $103 billion by 2025, at a compound annual growth rate of 20%.
+But there are a lot of SEO affiliate programs out there, promoting everything from keyword research tools to link building and rank tracking services. Choosing the right one isn’t easy.
+Don’t panic — your buddies at Authority Hacker are here to help! We’ve done the research and picked the 13 best SEO affiliate programs out there right now.
+😎 Why You Should Trust Us
+We don’t pretend to know much about rocket science or brain surgery, but we definitely understand affiliate marketing.
+We’ve been building and monetizing authority sites across multiple niches for more than a decade now.
+Along the way, we’ve shared countless best practices and case studies to help thousands more affiliate marketers make money through the authority site system.
+Some of our affiliate dashboards earnings
+Ready to achieve affiliate SEO mastery? We’ve found 13 of the best SEO affiliate marketing programs by reviewing dozens of SEO services and digital marketing tools.
+And because the SEO niche moves fast, we regularly monitor changes and update this article whenever a new SEO affiliate program is worth shouting about.
+SEO Affiliate Programs
+- SEMRush (BeRush) Affiliate Program
+- KWFinder by Mangools Affiliate Program
+- AccuRanker Affiliate Program
+- Surfer SEO Affiliate Program
+- SEO PowerSuite Affiliate Program
+- Hunter.io Affiliate Program
+- Link Whisper Affiliate Program
+- NitroPack Affiliate Program
+- Serpstat Affiliate Program
+- Cloudways Affiliate Program
+- GeneratePress Affiliate Program
+- RankMath Affiliate Program
+- Authority Hacker Affiliate Program
+Enough preamble — you want to know which SEO services to promote, right? Let’s get into it by looking at the 13 best SEO affiliate programs:
+SEMRush
+SEMrush is one of the world’s biggest digital marketing brands, with a database of 20 billion keywords and 310 million ads informed by 17 billion URL crawls a day.
+That database powers more than 40 individual SEO tools, which help users with everything from running backlink analysis to building better Google Ads.
+Think of it as a powerful keyword research tool, Moz, Google Trends, and Hootsuite all rolled into one.
+With such an impressive feature set, it’s no wonder SEMrush is used by more than seven million SEO agencies and in-house marketers worldwide, including household-name brands like Apple, Nike, and Tesla.
+Of course, that vast toolkit doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting at $119.95 a month.
+That means there’s plenty of commission to be made through its affiliate program, with affiliates earning:
+- $200 for every new subscription sale
+- $10 for every new lead
+- $0.01 for each new signup
+Those commissions are paid 27 days after the end of each month.
+URL: SEMrush affiliate program
+Commission rate: Up to $200
+Cookie duration: 120 days
+KWFinder by Mangools
+Like SEMrush, Mangools offers a vast range of SEO tools that help users perform SERP analysis, complete site auditing, and much more.
+But its most popular feature is definitely KWFinder, which makes it easy for customers to track down low-difficulty long-tail keywords.
+Mangools may not have quite the brand strength of some of the bigger players in the search engine optimization space, but it’s also a whole lot cheaper, with prices starting at $29.90 a month.
+Better still, it offers a 10-day free trial, which is a fantastic tool for affiliates. Importantly, you still earn a commission if someone upgrades to a paid account after clicking your affiliate link and registering for the trial.
+The Mangools affiliate program pays an average of $487 a month to its affiliates. And because it offers a recurring commission, it’s a great way to start building a job replacement income.
+URL: Mangools affiliate program
+Commission rate: 30% lifetime commission
+Cookie duration: 30 days
+AccuRanker
+AccuRanker describes itself as the world’s fastest keyword rank checker.
+It’s used by more than 25,000 SEO agencies, consultants, and brands, including big names like Havas, iProspect, and WPP.
+Customer service is a big deal at AccuRanker. Far from just being a rank tracking tool, it offers free one-on-one best practice sessions and extensive self-help guides.
+As with several of the other affiliate programs on this list, AccuRanker pays recurring commissions.
+That means once someone hits your affiliate link and signs up, you earn 20% of their monthly payments for as long as they stick with AccuRanker.
+It also offers a generous 120-day cookie window, plus a 14-day free trial to help you close the deal. What’s not to like?
+URL: AccuRanker affiliate program
+Commission rate: 20% lifetime recurring commission
+Cookie duration: 120 days
+Surfer SEO
+Want to drive more organic traffic from your content marketing efforts? Surfer SEO is the tool for you.
+It identifies target keywords to help you create content that Google loves. It works, and it’s so simple to work with — trust me, I’m using it right now!
+And I’m not the only one, with its customer base comprising more than 4,500 search engine optimization specialists and digital marketers.
+Surfer’s monthly prices start at just $29 and climb as high as $649, so there’s something here for small business owners, huge enterprises, and everyone in between. That gives you a huge target audience to drive affiliate sales.
+The Surfer SEO affiliate program pays a recurring commission of 25%, while affiliates also get the chance to win a monthly cash prize.
+URL: Surfer SEO affiliate program
+Commission rate: 25% recurring
+Cookie duration: 60 days
+SEO PowerSuite
+SEO PowerSuite is an all-in-one search engine optimization platform used by over two million customers, including Amazon, IBM, and Nestle.
+It includes a rank tracker, backlink analysis, a website auditor, and much more, making it a powerful SEO and outreach tool. Many of its key tasks can be fully automated through a simple two-minute setup.
+So far so good, but how about the SEO PowerSuite affiliate program?
+With an average order value of $197 and the chance to earn up to $230 in commission from a single sale, there’s plenty to like about it.
+The commission rate of 33% is higher than most other SEO affiliate programs we’ve looked at, plus you earn commission on renewals too, which is always nice.
+To help you drive affiliate sales, you also get access to high-converting promotional materials and dedicated affiliate program management.
+URL: SEO PowerSuite affiliate program
+Commission rate: 33%
+Cookie duration: 120 days
+Hunter.io
+Hunter is a simple but smart email marketing tool that allows users to find professional email addresses in seconds.
+You can get up to 25 email searches a month without paying a single cent, but after that you’ll need to sign up for a subscription, priced from €34 – €279 per month.
+The Hunter affiliate program pays recurring commissions of 30% — but unfortunately, unlike some of the other affiliate programs here, those payments only last for 12 months rather than the full life of the customer account.
+Still, it has a lot of high-profile customers — including Adobe, Google, and Microsoft — and has been featured by publications like Entrepreneur, Forbes, and the Guardian, so it’s not short on brand awareness.
+Coupled with the “freemium” model, that makes Hunter a comparatively easy sell.
+URL: Hunter.io affiliate program
+Commission rate: 30% recurring commissions for 12 months
+Cookie duration: 45 days
+Link Whisper
+If you know anything about SEO, you’ll know how important internal links can be to driving search traffic.
+That’s where Link Whisper comes in, using AI to make intelligent internal linking suggestions while you write blogs or landing page copy within the WordPress editor. Just tick a box, hit “save”, and the arduous task of internal linking is done for you!
+Prices range from $77 – $167 for a full year, which makes Link Whisper one of the most affordable SEO services on this list.
+While that means a single sale won’t earn you as much as a lot of the other SEO affiliate programs in this article, recurring commissions of 30% mean there’s still a lot of earning potential here — especially because the Link Whisper affiliate program also pays out on renewals.
+URL: Link Whisper affiliate program
+Commission rate: 30% recurring commissions
+Cookie duration: Undisclosed
+NitroPack
+PageSpeed is one of the most important SEO metrics. Search engines hate slow websites (and so do users), so site owners are happy to invest time and money in boosting their speeds.
+NitroPack helps them do it. Its PageSpeed tool has helped reduce load times for more than 72,000 websites, with its customers seeing an average 69% increase in Speed Scores and a 383% upturn in their Speed Index. Impressive stuff!
+The NitroPack SEO affiliate program pays a healthy recurring commission of 20% for the first 18 months after a customer clicks your affiliate link and makes a purchase.
+As an added incentive, users who buy a monthly or yearly plan through an affiliate program get a 5% discount on their first payment, worth up to $88.
+URL: NitroPack affiliate program
+Commission rate: 20%
+Cookie duration: 30 days
+Serpstat
+Serpstat is a pretty big deal in search engine optimization land. It’s another of those SEO tools that do pretty much everything, from SERP analysis to keyword research and link building insight.
+But it’s not just the feature set that makes the Serpstat affiliate program such an attractive prospect — the brand also has an impeccable reputation as the most-upvoted tool on G2, with more than 400 reviews.
+As if that wasn’t enough, it’s the bestselling product in its category on Appsumo.
+You really can’t put a price on trust factors like those.
+The Serpstat affiliate program is based on the volume of new business you send its way, as defined by the number of “first payments” you drive. Commissions start at a flat rate of 5% and climb to:
+- 10% from 1st to 5th payment
+- 20% from 5th to 20th payment
+- 30% from 22nd first payment
+URL: Serpstat affiliate program
+Commission rate: Up to 30% recurring lifetime commission
+Cookie duration: 30 days
+Cloudways
+As all affiliate marketers know, web hosting platforms are a fantastic earner.
+So while hosting might not be directly related to SEO, it’s at least adjacent, which makes the Cloudways affiliate program well worth mentioning.
+Cloudways targets individuals, small business owners, and agencies, and has a portfolio of over 250,000 successfully managed websites with a customer satisfaction score of 94.7%.
+As a cloud hosting platform, it offers customers a choice of hosting infrastructures, including Google Cloud Engine and Amazon Web Services.
+Now to the good stuff. The Cloudways affiliate program offers two different commission models:
+- The bounty payment model pays at a rate of up to $125 for 46 – 80 sales a month
+- The lifetime commission model offers an upfront payment of $30 per sale, plus 7% of the subscription for every month a customer keeps using Cloudways
+URL: Cloudways affiliate program
+Commission rate: Up to $125 per sale
+Cookie duration: 90 days
+GeneratePress
+GeneratePress is one of the leading WordPress plugins that makes it quick and easy for users to build WordPress websites.
+It’s certainly popular, with almost 3.5 million downloads, over 80,000 happy customers, and more than 1,000 five-star reviews.
+And with the GeneratePress affiliate program paying commissions of up to 30%, it’s safe to assume it also has plenty of happy affiliates.
+You don’t necessarily need to be a GeneratePress customer to be part of its affiliate program, but the more familiar you are with its features, the easier it’ll be for you to recommend it.
+To make your affiliate application, just fill out a simple on-site form in the GeneratePress affiliate area.
+URL: GeneratePress affiliate program
+Commission rate: Up to 30%
+Cookie duration: 30 days
+Rank Math
+On the subject of WordPress plugins, Rank Math describes itself as the Swiss army knife of SEO tools for WordPress sites.
+It gives users total control over their site’s on-page SEO, helping them to earn more search traffic.
+With recommendations from the likes of Ahrefs, Moz, and SEMrush, and an average rating of 4.9/5 from over 3,000 reviews, Rank Math is clearly good at what it does.
+It’s also pretty cheap, with prices starting at just $59 per year, which makes it an easier sell than some of the more expensive tools on this list.
+The Rank Math affiliate program offers a 30% commission and a pretty generous 60-day cookie window.
+What’s more, you don’t even need to have your own site to make an affiliate application — if you do paid search, email marketing, or guest blogging, you’re welcome to join too.
+URL: Rank Math affiliate program
+Commission rate: 30%
+Cookie duration: 60 days
+Authority Hacker Affiliate Program
+Well, we had to mention ourselves didn’t we?
+Authority Hacker might not be an SEO tool, but we offer tons of valuable information on how to grow your traffic from search engines through Authority Hacker Pro.
+We definitely know our stuff when it comes to search engine optimization, because we’ve helped more than 6,000 people build and grow their own authority sites.
+There’s plenty to like about our affiliate program, too. You can earn up to $990 per sale by promoting our premium courses, with many of our affiliates seeing EPCs of more than $10.
+And we have tons of high-quality marketing materials to help you drive sales.
+However, we don’t just work with anyone, so you should definitely read our affiliate requirements before applying.
+URL: Authority Hacker affiliate program
+Commission rate: Up to $990 per sale
+Cookie duration: 60 days
+🎯 Conclusion
+There’s obviously no shortage of high-value SEO affiliate programs offering bags of passive income potential.
+But if you think it’s easy making money as an SEO affiliate, you’re wrong.
+With big commissions at stake, competition in the SEO niche is fierce. To stand a chance, you need to:
+- Launch your affiliate site
+- Do effective keyword research
+- Write quality content
+- Grow your authority through link building
+- Choose the top SEO affiliate programs
+It’s tough. You definitely won’t start making a ton of affiliate income overnight. But with us in your corner, it’s a whole lot easier!
+Learn about the five simple steps to building a high-performing affiliate site in 2021 by registering for our free webinar.
+A fever-dream double feature.
+Channel 4, home of the cut-price movie matinee, has been showing afternoon films all week starring that AXIOM OF CINEMA, Joan Collins. Two of them had solid auteur credentials, if we can allow the use of the a-word, so I checked them out. That’s Shadowplay — faithfully watching Joan Collins movies, so you don’t have to.
+ESTHER AND THE KING has the double-whammy of being directed (and produced, and co-written) by mighty eye-patch wearing wild man Raoul Walsh, and photographed by Mario Bava. I’d caught glimpses of this movie and I’m a sucker for Bava’s trademark Disneyland Blue, which is on display in nearly all this movie’s interiors. Word has it that Walsh liked Bava’swork so much he delegated most of of E&TK to him. It’s certainly a film that has more in common with Bava’s KNIVES OF THE AVENGER or HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD than it does with WHITE HEAT or GENTLEMAN JIM. Since Bava’s primary focus is the visual, when given his head as a cinematographer he can really subsume a film into his style, becoming its auteur by default (I still don’t like that word, but you know what I mean — the person with the unifying vision). And since energy was always a big part of the Walsh approach, and there’s far less of that in his later work, there is a void to be filled.
+(Late-period Walsh is unlikely to win the consideration lately awarded to late Hawks, Ford or Lang. Persons hoping to admire Walsh in his Mature Phase are recommended to sit through THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW, a Western of Damaged Brain uniting Kenneth More [British cinema's perennial "decent bloke"] with Jayne Mansfield [I.Q. of a genius but she kept it off the screen] and then give the whole thing up as a bad job.)
+Bava fills the void with mind-frazzling candy colours, seen to best advantage in the film’s numerous palace entertainments, starring dancing girls in revealing tunics, or unconvincingly miming Nubian singers — the voice is THAT WOMAN who does all the Ennio Morricone wailing. While it doesn’t quite slide into the autistic trance-state of Howard Hughes’ SON OF SINBAD, which stops the “plot” for a belly-dance every 3 frames (David Bordwell would break his clicker trying to keep score), giving new meaning to the phrase “navel-gazing”, this is still a film more interested in bringing on the next dance number than in sorting out Judeo-Persian politics — and who can blame it? Even in Channel 4’s lamentably cropped 16:9 version, these scenes have a wondrous lustre and pop, as fleshy Italian chorines writhe and stagger.
+A classic Bava shot: symmetrical framing, asymmetrical and unmotivated coloured lighting on the lions.
+Of course, Bava wasn’t hugely interested in performance, and I know you’ll shudder in terror as you read this, but Joan Collins is the best actor in ESTHER AND THE KING. There, I’ve said it. Such a thing exists — a film where Joan stands supreme, talent-wise, if only because she’s surrounded by an unbeatable selection of human planks, lugs, stiffs and dolts. The camp harem commandant is the closest thing to a characterisation on offer (eunuch = homosexual in E&TK’s schema).
+Joan’s scenes in the harem are among the most amusing. She starts the film in fine form, attempting random bursts of American accent and doing truly extraordinary things with her face while everybody around her is trying to act. In closeup she’s more subdued, having presumably been fed the Hedy Lamarr dictum on how to look beautiful: “Just stand still and look stupid.” This, Joan can do.
+The Persian shagging-palace is depicted herein as a less austere version of the famous Rank Charm School, where the real-life Joan, along with Barbara Steele and Julie Christie, was educated in deportment, enunciation and, well, charm. This fine institution is satirised in Lauder and Gilliat’s LADY GODIVA RIDES AGAIN, a film in which Joan has an uncredited cameo, along with half the British film industry (“Laughable term!” says Alistair Sim). The school’s graduates were trained in disguising any traces of a working class accent (the late Stratford Johns took great satisfaction in telling me how “common” the Collins sisters were back in the early ’50s), walking with a book balanced atop their heads, and getting out of cars without revealing their underwear to the photographers (not yet known as paparazzi) — would that today’s celebs boasted such a skill-set!
+Gorgeous lifelike colour by Deluxe!
+Joan gets sent to finishing school all over again in THE GIRL ON THE RED VELVET SWING, a true-crime story directed by Richard Fleischer. Fleischer did a stupendous job with (working backwards) 10 RILLINGTON PLACE (the Christie murders, very accurate), THE BOSTON STRANGLER (heavily fictionalised) and a very decent job on COMPULSION (Leopold & Loeb, quasi-accurate as far as it goes). This movie climaxes act 2 with a scandalous homicide, but it isn’t primarily a crime film, more of a woman’s picture (red drapes behind the credit sequence) and Joan is the woman whose picture it is.
+Ray Milland is Stanford White, America’s greatest architect of the gilded age. Farley Granger is the spoiled and possibly psychotic Harry Thaw. Joan is Floradora Girl Evelyn Nesbitt, who throws herself at the married Milland (“She’s a stupid slut,” pronounced Fiona, and I believe there was a hint of disapproval in her tone) before allowing herself to be wooed by Granger.
+Things the movie omits to tell us: White was carrying on with lots of other chorus girls too; he may have drugged their champagne in order to date-rape them; Thaw was a coke fiend; he had a fondness for beating women with a dog whip; Nesbitt became impregnated by John Barrymore; her abortion was procured at a finishing school run by the mother of Cecil B DeMille.
+In the movie, Joan’s abortion is instead a nervous breakdown (I guess the logic is, “We need something shameful but not sexual”), presented in a series of lap dissolves as she tosses in her delirium: montage=mental illness. Producer and co-screenwriter Charles Brackett (working with Walter Reisch, previously his collaborator on NINOTCHKA) struggles to get any dramatic fire going. Joan is remarkably good-ish in this — she must have devolved a bit between GIRL and ESTHER. 20th Century Fox had planned to cast Marilyn Monroe, but she was on suspension. Ray Milland is always reliable, but can’t really be outstanding in the part as written. Granger has the flashiest role but he can’t quite make a show-stopper out of it, he’s not really that kind of actor. Brad Dourif had the role in RAGTIME, and he’s a much better idea.
+At the film’s “climax”, Joan must sway a jury single-handedly, with a testimony so powerful that they are forced to acquit a man arrested for publicly shooting an old guy in the face, in the crowded theatre of Madison Square Garden, while shouting “He ruined my wife!” (In the real-life case, nobody could say for sure whether it was “wife” or “life”. A minor point — the guy was still dead.)
+DIGRESSION: Now, I’ve seen Joan in the witness box FOR REAL, and I have to say, she wasn’t thatcompelling. This was when she attempted to follow her sister Jacqui into the world of best-selling bonkbuster novels, and was sued by her publisher for the return of her six-figure advance after she failed to provide them with sufficiently publishable dross (a sample:“‘Don’t call me your little cabbage,’ she said savagely. ‘I’m nobody’s cabbage.'”). Joan, her head inserted into wig styled like freshly whipped soufflé, made a poor witness, mainly because she seemed too profoundly THICK to understand when she was being asked a question, of that she was expected to answer. But in fairness to her, this may have been a deliberate strategy — her best chance of winning the case (she won) was in proving that the publishers got exactly what they deserved when they asked her to knock up a couple of novels. Skeptics may wonder whether Joan is a good enough actress to fool an entire courtroom, but I remind you: she was playing the part of a dumb actress. “Stand still and look stupid” may be equally good advice for the witness box.
+DIGRESSION ON DIGRESSION: The best movie star courtroom scene played for real was that of Lana Turner, defending her daughter for knifing well-endowed gangster Johnny Stompanato to death. She gave a real Lana Turner performance, completely artificial from beginning to end and completely convincing to everybody concerned.
+END OF DIGRESSIONS: Fleischer’s direction only takes off during the scene when Millandfinally gets Collins on his swing. With dizzying, nauseating POV shots, Fleischer shows her ascending to the ceiling and attempting to kick holes in the skylight. We get a glimpse of the campy wallow in bad taste this film could have been if Fleischer had been allowed to report the true story and play to Joan’s strengths. The Fleischer of MANDINGO could have had a ball with that.
+The movie needs more SUBTLE FORESHADOWING, like the skulls, screen right.
+
+WALL et al v. BIL-JIM CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. et al
+›
+Filing 47
+WALL et al v. BIL-JIM CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. et al, No. 3:2015cv08982 - Document 47 (D.N.J. 2017)
+Court Description:
+MEMORANDUM OPINION filed. Signed by Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni on 8/16/2017. (km)
+Download PDF
+WALL et al v. BIL-JIM CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. et al Doc. 47 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY SEAN WALL, et al., Civil Action No. 15-8982 (PGS) Plaintiffs, v. MEMORANDUM OPINION BIL-JIM CONSTRUCTION CO., INC., et al. Defendants. BONGIOAVNNI, Magistrate Judge Currently pending before the Court is Plaintiffs Sean Wall, Tammy Bollinger, Walter Everett and John Horaneck’s (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) motion to file a Second Amended Complaint. [Docket Entry No. 43]. Defendant Bil-Jim Construction Co., Inc. (“Bil-Jim”) opposes Plaintiffs’ motion. The Court has fully reviewed the arguments made in support of and in opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion. The Court considers Plaintiffs’ motion without oral argument pursuant to L.Civ.R. 78.1(b). For the reasons set forth more fully below, Plaintiffs’ motion to amend is GRANTED. I. Background and Procedural History On December 30, 2015, Bil-Jim removed this matter to this Court. (Notice of Removal; Docket Entry No. 1). At that time, Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) was the operative pleading. Through the FAC, Plaintiffs asserted claims against Bil-Jim for violations of: (1) New Jersey’s Prevailing Wage Act (“PWA”), N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.; (2) the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), as amended, 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.; and (3) New Jersey’s Wage and Hour Law (“WHL”), N.J.S.A. 34:11-56a et seq. (See, generally, FAC; Docket Entry No. Dockets.Justia.com 1). 1 Plaintiffs argue that their PWA claims are connected with “several remediation projects in the aftermath of the weather event commonly referred to as Superstorm Sandy (“Sandy”)”; whereas their FLSA and WHL claims are “for overtime pay on projects almost entirely unrelated to Sandy.” (Pl. Br. at 1; Docket Entry No. 43-1). Plaintiffs argue that since filing the FAC new information has come to light regarding “the identity and nature of the various post-Sandy projects.” (Id.) In particular, Plaintiffs focus on projects under taken by two construction companies that “contracted with the State of New Jersey to perform two of the major post-Sandy recovery efforts[:]” (1) AshBritt, Inc. and/or AsshBritt Environmental (collectively “Ash Britt”), the “Ash Britt Project”; and (2) CrowderGulf, Inc. (“Crowder Gulf”), the “Crowder Gulf Project.” Plaintiffs argue that these two projects differed in several significant ways. For example, Plaintiffs contend that the Ash Britt Project “involved the repair, restoration, and/or remediation of dry land on the barrier island in and around . . . the eastern terminus of the Mantoloking Bridge[,]” while the Crowder Gulf Project “involved, among other things: (i) repairing/altering Barnegat Bay by restoring it to preSandy [d]epths, and making it navigable again, through the removal of debris and sand washed over land and deposited in the bay by Sandy; and (ii) the retrieval (through dredging) of that over-washed sand, then screening/cleaning it, and using it to replenish/reconstruct/repair the nearby beaches, sand dunes and sand bars.” (Id. 2-3). Plaintiffs note that the Ash Britt project began in November 2012 and ended in May 2013, while the Crowder Gulf Project began in May 2013 and ended in January 2014. (Id.) They further note that the bidding on the Crowder Gulf Project, unlike the Ash Britt Project, involved an electronic Q&A session regarding the Plaintiffs’ FAC also asserted claims against individual defendants who were dismissed from this matter by the District Court’s Order of March 8, 2016. (Docket Entry No. 22). 1 2 applicability of the PWA to that project, which implicates additional discovery not relevant to the Ash Britt Project. Plaintiffs argue that given the differences in the projects, including differences between “the associated subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, workers, trades/crafts, PWA legal analysis and rate determinations[,] [a]ny actions involving these projects would be unrelated.” (Id. at 3). In this regard, Plaintiffs note that while the four named Plaintiffs happened to work on both the Ash Britt and Crowder Gulf Projects, many new putative class members who have been identified only worked on one. Plaintiffs further note that many of the identified new putative class members were not employees of Bil-Jim and, consequently, would not be properly named parties as this suit currently stands. In light of the above, Plaintiffs contend that claims arising from the Ash Britt Project do not belong in the same case as claims arising from the Crowder Gulf Project. (Id. at 4). They similarly maintain that the FLSA/WHL overtime claims, which pertain to Bil-Jim alone, do not belong in any lawsuit arising from either of the aforementioned projects. Indeed, they claim that the only common thread among the foregoing is Bil-Jim, which was just one of many subcontractors on each project and which supplied only a fraction of the sub-subcontractors working on same. Plaintiffs argue that this largely insignificant similarity should not prevent them from being the master of their own claims. As a result, Plaintiffs seek to file a Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”). In same, they seek to make the following substantive changes: (1) add the Ash Britt entities as defendants; (2) set forth allegations that only relate to the Ash Britt Project; (3) assert a cause of action for PWA violations only (remove the FSLA and WHL claims); (4) include in the putative class similarly situated employees of subcontractors and sub-subcontractors on the Ash Britt Project only; (5) 3 remove the individual defendants from the caption and factual allegations based on the District Court’s March 8, 2016 Order (Docket Entry No. 22); and (6) add Maple Lake, Inc. (“Maple Lake”) as a defendant. (Id. at 4-5). Plaintiffs argue that their motion should be granted because Plaintiffs are the master of their Complaint and their proposed amendments will neither prejudice Bil-Jim nor unreasonably delay these proceedings, and are neither made in bad faith nor are they futile. Bil-Jim, “[i]n principal . . does not oppose litigation of the two contracts in separate actions provided, however that the two actions are commonly managed with coordinated discovery.” (Def. Opp. at 1). It does, however, oppose Plaintiffs’ motion to the extent such a change “leads to duplicative and wasteful discovery in the absence of coordination or, even worse, if it is simply an excuse by Plaintiffs to shop for what they perceive to be a more favorable judge or court for some of their claims.” (Id.) In this regard, Bil-Jim is confident that, if Plaintiffs’ motion to amend is granted, Plaintiffs “intend to file a separate action alleging PWA claims against CrowderGulf, Bil-Jim, and other CrowderGulf subcontractors arising out of the CrowderGulf Contract.” (Id. at 3). Given the “substantial overlap” between the two cases: (1) both involve contracts issued by the State of New Jersey to clean up the damage caused by Sandy; (2) Bil-Jim and likely other subcontractors will be common to both actions; (3) many of the named plaintiffs will be common to both actions; (4) both actions will likely be pled as putative class actions, involving similar class certification issues; and (5) both will involve similar issues of fact and law regarding the PWA, Bil-Jim asks that certain conditions be set if Plaintiffs are permitted to amend. (Id. at 3-4). Specifically, Bil-Jim requests that the Court require: (1) the new action is filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey . . . and designated as a “related 4 case” to the present action so the same district and magistrate judge are assigned; (2) the court schedules an early case management conference for both actions, to address consolidation and coordination of the two actions for discovery and pretrial purposes; and (3) further discovery in the existing action be held in abeyance until the second case management conference, so that any further discovery can be coordinated between the two actions. (Id. at 2). Bil-Jim argues that justice would not be served by any other result. (See Id. at 5-7). II. Analysis Pursuant to Rule 15(a)(2), leave to amend the pleadings is generally granted freely “when justice so requires.”). Bil-Jim’s “opposition” centers around its argument that justice requires any future action filed regarding the Crowder Gulf Project be marked “related” and coordinated with this matter if Plaintiff’s motion to amend is granted. The Court finds that Bil-Jim’s argument is not a reason to deny Plaintiffs’ motion. While the Court agrees that the economies and efficiencies of litigation are best served when matters involving common sets of operative facts, common questions of law, overlapping parties and overlapping witnesses are coordinated for discovery purposes, the Court shall not at this juncture impose the conditions requested by Bil-Jim. At this time, it is unclear whether and when a separate suit involving the Crowder Gulf Project will be filed. It is equally unclear whether this Court will ultimately have jurisdiction over same. If 5 such a suit is filed and if the Court has jurisdiction over same, then it may be appropriate based on the allegations contained in the anticipated Crowder Gulf case for that case and this to be marked related. The Court notes that pursuant to L.Civ.R. 40.1 counsel is obligated to inform the Clerk of the Court at the time of filing if the matter being filed relates to a pending cause of action. If the anticipated Crowder Gulf matter is filed in federal court and the plaintiffs do not mark it as related, believing it is not, then Bil-Jim, assuming it is a defendant, may make a request that it be deemed so and assigned to the appropriate District and Magistrate Judges. The Court shall rule on the propriety of such a request at that time. If the matter is filed in state court and the defendants remove it, they can request that it be treated as a related case at the time of removal. This is sufficient to protect Bil-Jim’s concerns. As a result, Plaintiffs shall be permitted to file their proposed SAC. They are directed to do so no later than August 25, 2017. III. Conclusion For the reasons state above, Plaintiffs’ motion seeking leave to file a SAC is GRANTED. An appropriate Order follows. Dated: August 16, 2017 s/ Tonianne J. Bongiovanni HONORABLE TONIANNE J. BONGIOVANNI UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE
+Illinois takes aim at prescription drug waivers in an effort to save state’s taxpayers money
+For years, the hard-to-prove conventional wisdom has been that money spent on wellness, preventive services, and medications ultimately benefits the health care system by reducing the cost of expensive hospitalizations, nursing home care, and other high-end treatments.
+The state of Illinois has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to test that theory by giving senior citizens a comprehensive prescription drug benefit to be paid for through Medicaid savings.
+The waiver allows Illinois to extend comprehensive prescription drug coverage to seniors with income up to 200% of the poverty line using federal Medicaid matching funds. The coverage replaces a significant portion of a state-funded pharmacy program that helped some 50,000 seniors pay for prescription drugs needed to treat selected conditions in fiscal year 2001.
+Gov. George Ryan says the new program should be seen as a national model for providing assistance for all prescription medications to low-income senior citizens. The waiver program is modeled on the state’s Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Assistance program administered by the Department of Revenue. Once enrolled, individuals would remain eligible for 12 months and have cost-sharing responsibilities. The Circuit Breaker program will continue to serve those who earn between 200% and 250% of the poverty level and disabled citizens.
+Participants will pay a nominal copay averaging $3 per prescription. When an individual’s pharmaceutical costs exceed $1,750, the new program will pay 80% of the cost of additional prescriptions, with participants paying the other 20%. Included will be a full range of drugs such as antibiotics, gastrointestinal, anti-anxiety, antihistamine, and antidepressant therapies. The program also will make diabetic testing supplies, hypodermic syringes, ostomy supplies, and selected over-the-counter medications available to eligible seniors.
+Andy Kane, rate development and analysis chief for the Department of Public Aid, tells State Health Watch the waiver request was developed because "we believe that this approach will be good for the population we are trying to serve. Nationally, pharmaceutical coverage for seniors is a very big issue. Our program with a limited formulary is growing extensively, and we wanted to expand it."
+While a lot of attention has been paid to the notion of expanding pharmaceutical coverage for seniors at a time when most states are struggling with the burden of drug costs in their Medicaid program, equally interesting is the fundamental change that Illinois is promoting in the financing of its Medicaid program.
+To pay for the new prescription drug program, Illinois has proposed dropping the federal government guarantee that it will match, as needed, the amount the state spends on its elderly Medicaid population. Rather, this demonstration project establishes an upper limit or cap on the amount the federal government will match of Illinois’ spending on its elderly Medicaid population over the next five years.
+The cap is based on the amount the state anticipated it would need to cover its elderly Medicaid population without the new demonstration project. Illinois is betting that it can pay for the cost of the elderly Medicaid population and the new prescription drug program out of the capped amount of federal funding.
+According to Washington, DC-based Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured analysis of the waiver, the state’s theory is that its demonstration project will prevent a significant number of seniors from becoming sick and/or poor enough to qualify for full Medicaid coverage, and that the savings generated by diverting seniors from Medicaid eligibility will be enough to pay for the new prescription drug program.
+While the Kaiser analysis raises some questions about the validity of the assumptions and the state’s ability to make it work, Mr. Kane says the state is very confident about what it is doing.
+"People tend to think of Medicaid as having a set number of people who derive benefits. But we have a large inflow and outflow of people over the course of a year. They spend down their income to cover some out-of-pocket expenses and become eligible for Medicaid support for their health care bills. We think that when we provide this prescription drug benefit, we will have savings from people who would otherwise be applying for Medicaid through a spend-down. But that’s a relatively small savings. The big savings will come from allowing individuals to access the medical care they need and stay in community settings, being diverted from nursing facilities."
+Mr. Kane says the Illinois Medicaid program currently pays for two-thirds of the people in nursing facilities in the state. "There are limited studies indicating that any type of drug benefit produces an outstanding rate of diversion from institutional care. We’ve projected what we think is a conservative rate of 5%. Given that every Medicaid person in a nursing home costs us $30,000 a year, we think there is opportunity to save a lot of money and also have better health outcomes for the individuals."
+Illinois could be on the hook
+Kaiser senior policy analyst Jocelyn Guyer says that if the state’s spending for the two programs exceeds the capped amount, it will have to pay for the extra costs on its own, without the benefit of federal matching funds, creating a potentially strong incentive for the state to do whatever is necessary to avoid hitting the cap.
+Noting that it’s not possible at the outset to assess whether Illinois’ bet is a safe one, Ms. Guyer reports that, "If it appears that the state’s need for federal funds might outstrip what is available under the cap for any reason, it will face competing pressure to cut back prescription drug coverage for low-income seniors and/or to cut back comprehensive services for low-income elderly beneficiaries. This could occur if costs are higher than expected for the new prescription drug program or if the cost of serving elderly beneficiaries under Medicaid is higher than anticipated.
+"Even if Illinois’ experiment succeeds, it is notable that Illinois’ demonstration project sets a precedent by replacing open-ended federal matching funds for a state’s elderly Medicaid population with an overall cap on federal funding in order to generate resources that can be spent on prescription drugs for a different group of seniors," she says.
+The state projected that it would spent a total of $14.6 billion on its elderly Medicaid population from FY 2003 through FY 2007 without the new prescription drug program. The federal government would be expected to provide 50% of that amount through its match. To arrive at the $14.6 billion, state officials assumed that the number of elderly people on its Medicaid program would increase 5% a year, while the per-capita cost of serving them would increase by 5.5% a year.
+Taken together, these assumptions result in an average annual rate of increase in spending on the state’s elderly Medicaid population of 10.8% a year. By comparison, according to Guyer, the Congressional Budget Office assumes that national spending on elderly Medicaid beneficiaries will increase at an average annual rate of 8.7% in the same five-year period.
+Large numbers must be diverted
+To make its waiver work, Illinois is assuming that its new prescription drug program will deter 7,500 elderly people from becoming sick and/or poor enough to qualify for Medicaid in the demonstration project’s first year. Those 7,500 people represent 5% of the 162,000 elderly individuals the state anticipates would have enrolled in Medicaid without the demonstration. By the fifth year of the project, the state assumes that 41,400 elderly people will be deterred from enrolling in Medicaid because of the prescription drug program. Those 41,400 represent 21% of the 197,000 individuals who would have enrolled in Medicaid in the absence of the drug program. As seen in the chart below, Illinois expects that the demonstration project will be budget neutral over its five-year life, as required by CMS, but not in the early years.
+In the first, second, and third years, the state expects it will spend more on the prescription drug program and the elderly Medicaid population than is allowed under the cap. But by the fourth and fifth years, it expects to spend less than allowed.
+Ms. Guyer says there are any number of reasons why Illinois could find that the cost of operating either the drug program or the Medicaid benefit for the elderly could exceed the budgeted amount it anticipated needing. For instance, the number of elderly individuals eligible for Medicaid or the cost of serving them could go up more rapidly than expected.
+"If it appears that Illinois’ need for federal funds might exceed the amount available under the cap, the implications for elderly Medicaid beneficiaries could be significant," Guyer writes in her analysis.
+"The state would likely need to choose between cutting spending on elderly Medicaid beneficiaries, cutting spending on its prescription drug program, or reaching the federal funding cap and paying for any unanticipated program costs entirely with state funds. Given that the prescription drug program provides a low-income population with a popular benefit and is expected eventually to serve nearly twice as many elderly people as Medicaid, it appears likely that the state may face particular pressure to reduce spending on elderly Medicaid beneficiaries," she continues.
+"The state could do so by rolling back eligibility for optional elderly Medicaid beneficiaries, making it more difficult for eligible individuals to apply for and retain coverage, cutting provider reimbursement rates, eliminating selected benefits, increasing the cost-sharing obligations that these beneficiaries face, or taking other steps, such as increasing the efficiency with which it provides prescription drugs to elderly Medicaid beneficiaries that would reduce Medicaid expenditures," Guyer writes.
+Ms. Guyer says it’s possible the federal government would decide not to enforce the cap if it looks like Illinois is running into trouble, but it would be risky for the state to rely on that as a fallback position.
+Support from stakeholders
+But Mr. Kane says state officials are going into the program with their eyes open and have support from key stakeholders.
+"We’ve worked with [the American Association of Retired Persons] in developing the demonstration, and they’re very glad to see us doing it," he points out.
+"They’re helping with outreach and being very supportive. I’m not aware of any challenges to the program design or structure. We honestly believe we can make this work and not jeopardize our programs or the people who depend on us," Mr. Kane adds.
+[Contact Mr. Kane at (217) 785-0710 and Ms. Guyer at (202) 347-5270.]
+Criteria
+Text:
+Affiliation:
+Results
+2015-04-14
+Technical Paper
+2015-01-1636
+Recently, an important policy for automobile manufactures is to develop vehicles with high fuel efficiency and clean emissions to prevent global warming. Engine efficiency has the greatest potential for fuel economy improvement, and there are various methods for improving. One engine technology used to improve fuel efficiency is downsizing engine displacement and adding a turbocharger. Toyota Motor Corporation has developed a turbocharged engine for the Lexus NX200t. A turbocharger for downsized engines reduces engine displacement without changing a vehicles rank. To countermeasure the reduction of engine torque resulting from downsizing a gasoline engine, torque is recovered by use of a turbocharger. Although both improvement of fuel efficiency and power performance can be achieved by turbocharging, driveability might decrease seen as non-linear acceleration characterized as a lag followed by a sudden and large increase of engine output torque.
+2015-04-14
+Technical Paper
+2015-01-0788
+Small bore diesel engine often adopt two valves cylinder head and non-central injector layout in order to expand port flow passage area. This non-central injector layout causes non-symmetrical gas flow and fuel distribution leading to worse heat loss and fuel-air mixture compared to an equivalent 4 valves cylinder head layout with central injector . Also small bore engine tends to have higher cooling losses due to its higher surface-to-volume ratio and fuel-air mixture ratio in the vicinity of the walls. This paper presents how Toyota succeeded to improve fuel consumption by reducing cooling losses without aggravation of pollutant emission. At first Toyota adopted a shallow bowl geometry to restrict the flow velocity which could reduce the heat-transfer coefficient. Secondly, Toyota applied a new concept bowl which was characterized by eccentric tapered shape design on the upper portion of the piston to achieve more homogeneous gas flow and fuel-air mixture.
+Experimental Demonstration of Smart Charging and Demand Response for Plug-in Electric Vehicles Based on SAE Standards
+2015-04-14
+Technical Paper
+2015-01-0301
+In this paper, we present an implementation of smart charging systems for plug-in electric vehicles based on SAE J2836/2847/J2931..
+2015-04-14
+Technical Paper
+2015-01-1168
+Since 1992, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has actively been pursuing the development of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) to respond to global environmental concerns and demands for clean energy. In June 2008, TMC released the FCHV-adv which demonstrated a significant advancement in FCV stack durability, driving range, and cold start capability. This time, TMC released a new “FCV” with improved vehicle performance and fuel efficiency, while simplifying the FC system and decreasing component size to reduce cost for product commercialization. Cold weather operation has been a key challenge for FCVs. The FCHV-adv was able to achieve -30C cold start capability by utilizing a drying control for the FC stack during the winter season. A major improvement for the new “FCV” was to achieve similar cold start capability without the use of a FC stack drying control.
+2015-04-14
+Technical Paper
+2015-01-1447
+Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) is spreading in many countries．ACN provides notification in the event of a traffic accident automatically when an automobile's air bags are deployed or when the occupant restraint system is activated. ACN also serves as a diagnostic tool to determine the potential extent of injuries to those involved in motor vehicle incidents. Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can utilize this information to determine how quickly their services are needed and it can minimize the number of victims who might be transferred to medical facilities mistakenly by the initial triage group. Various Electronic Control Units (ECUs) are equipped in vehicles. Air bag ECUs control the deployment of the air bag system and record various information on an event data recorder (EDR) during collisions. Data on the occupants, vehicles, and collisions recorded in EDR could be used as a parameter for estimating the occupant injury severity in an accident.
+The Possibility of an Improvement in Vehicle Motion Performance due to the Suppression of Fluctuating Aerodynamic Loads
+2015-04-14
+Technical Paper
+2015-01-1537
+Unsteady aerodynamic loads acting on a passenger car in a fluid at rest include transient loads associated with vehicle motions, and also fluctuating loads arising from its unsteady wake that are to be found even under steady, straight-ahead driving conditions. The former have been of increased interest in the automotive industry, whereas the latter have not been addressed sufficiently from the viewpoint of vehicle stability and maneuverability. Although identification of the unsteady near-wake structure of bluff bodies in ground proximity has been subjected to studies for many years, most of the studies are related to the longitudinal load fluctuations with the aim of a drag reduction in part. This study focuses on fluctuating aerodynamic loads, in particular lateral loads acting on a hatchback car model under steady state condition which can lead to degenerate vehicle motion performance via excitation of vehicle vibration.
+2013-10-14
+Journal Article
+2013-01-2515.
+2013-04-08
+Technical Paper
+2013-01-1447
+Recently, automakers have launched various types of electric vehicles (EVs) to help reduce global CO₂ emissions and reduce dependency on fossil fuel energy. Because the lithium-ion batteries that are currently under development are restricted by energy density, the physical size and mass of the battery must be significantly increased to extend the cruising range of the EV. Furthermore, dedicated charging infrastructure is required to charge the battery in a short time. At SAE in 2012, Toyota Motor Corporation proposed a concept that described the EV as suitable mainly for short-distance transportation now and in the near future. Later in the same year, Toyota launched a new EV that embodies this concept in the American and Japanese markets. This new EV is light-weight and has a compact body size, and its battery capacity is designed to sufficiently cover distances traveled in daily life. Charging is assumed to take place mainly at home.
+2013-04-08
+Technical Paper
+2013-01-0483
+The.
+Universal Diesel Engine Simulator (UniDES) 2nd Report: Prediction of Engine Performance in Transient Driving Cycle Using One Dimensional Engine Model
+2013-04-08
+Technical Paper
+2013-01-0881
+The aim of this research is to develop the diesel combustion simulation (UniDES: Universal Diesel Engine Simulator) that incorporates multiple-injection strategies and in-cylinder composition changes due to exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and that is capable of high speed calculation. The model is based on a zero-dimensional (0D) cycle simulation, and represents a multiple-injection strategy using a multi-zone model and inhomogeneity using a probability density function (PDF) model. Therefore, the 0D cycle simulation also enables both high accuracy and high speed. This research considers application to actual development. To expand the applicability of the simulation, a model that accurately estimates nozzle sac pressure with various injection quantities and common rail pressures, a model that accounts for the effects of adjacent spray interaction, and a model that considers the NOx reduction phenomenon under high load conditions were added.
+Emissions Measurement System for Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Using Intermittent Sampling Strategy
+2013-04-08
+Technical Paper
+2013-01-1047
+Conventional constant volume sampling (CVS) is well known as a precision emissions measurement method, even though the concentrations of THC, NOX, CO and CH₄ emitted from vehicles are getting lower by improvement of emissions control devices. Recently, fuel economy requirements have increased in many regions. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is one of the solutions for fuel economy improvement. HEVs and PHEVs have an all-electric range in which the internal combustion engines (ICEs) are completely shut down. This operation results in a high dilution factor (DF) and low concentrations of gaseous components, including CO₂, in the CVS system. Such dilution conditions directly cause an increase of numerical error for DF and an analysis error for gaseous components. Furthermore, a small amount of air flow across exhaust catalysts, drawn by slightly negative tailpipe pressure generated by the CVS during ICE shutdown may influence emission results.
+2013-04-08
+Journal Article.
+Application of Reference Governor Using Soft Constraints and Steepest Descent Method to Diesel Engine Aftertreatment Temperature Control
+2013-04-08
+Journal Article
+2013-01-0350
+This paper considers an application of reference governor (RG) to automotive diesel aftertreatment temperature control. Recently, regulations on vehicle emissions have become more stringent, and engine hardware and software are expected to be more complicated. It is getting more difficult to guarantee constraints in control systems as well as good control performance. Among model-based control methods that can directly treat constraints, this paper focuses on the RG, which has recently attracted a lot of attention as one method of model prediction-based control. In the RG, references in tracking control are modified based on future prediction so that the predicted outputs in a closed-loop system satisfy the constraints. This paper proposes an online RG algorithm, taking account of the real-time implementation on engine embedded controllers.
+2013-04-08
+Journal Article
+2013-01-0367
+Toyota has developed a new belt-type continuously variable transmission (CVT) for 1.5-liter compact vehicles. To improve both driveability and fuel economy over previous CVTs, pressure management was adopted as the shift control method. The new shift control system was designed using a model-based control method which uses a two-degree-of-freedom system composed of feedback and feedforward controls. Smooth shifting in all the target shift speed regions was realized by combining a feedback loop that considers the output limit of the pulley thrust into the feedforward controller. Furthermore, shift response was improved while maintaining or even improving stability. This paper describes the details of this shift control system.
+2013-04-08
+Journal Article
+2013-01-0430
+The application of Model-Based Development (MBD) techniques for automotive control system and software development have become standard processes due to the potential for reduced development time and improved specification quality. In order to improve development productivity even further, it is imperative to introduce a systematic Verification and Validation (V&V) process to further minimize development time and human resources while ensuring control specification quality when developing large complex systems. Traditional methods for validating control specifications have been limited by control specification scale, structure and complexity as well as computational limitations restricting their application within a systematic model-based V&V process. In order to address these issues, Toyota developed Hierarchical Accumulative Validation (HAV) for systematically validating functionally structured executable control specifications.
+2013-04-08
+Journal Article
+2013-01-0366
+This report proposes a rheological model and a thermal analysis model for oil films, which transmit power through a variator, as a prediction method for the maximum traction coefficient, and then describes the application and verification of this method. The rheological model expresses the conditions inside the contact ellipse using a combination of viscosity and plasticity. The thermal analysis model for oil films was confirmed by comparison of previously obtained temperatures directly measured from the traction contact area of the four-roller experimental apparatus [1]. The measurement used a thin-film temperature sensor and the consistency between the calculated and measured values was verified in the estimation model by reflecting the precise thermal properties of the thin film. Most values were consistent with the calculated values for the middle plane local shear heating model inside the oil film.
+2013-04-08
+Journal Article).
+2013-04-08
+Technical Paper
+2013-01-0310.
+2012-09-17
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-1825
+Brake squeal is a phenomenon of self-induced vibration of the brake components during braking. There are many kinds of brake squeal cases whose mechanisms require acting on a various number of potential root causes. Brake squeal phenomena can be generally separated into 2 main mode types related to the direction of disc vibration involved: in-plane mode and out-of-plane mode. For out-of-plane mode, a number of existing countermeasures can be potentially applied after characterization of the squeal occurrence condition by direct experiment or simulation analysis[1,2,3,4]. However, as there are many possible mechanisms and root causes for the in-plane modes[5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13], it is generally necessary to perform a detailed analysis of the vibration mechanism before implementing a countermeasure..
+2012-09-10
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-1614
+We report in this paper our newly developed technology applied to ILSAC GF-5 0W-20 engine oil that offers great fuel economy improvement over GF-4 counterpart, which is a key performance requirement of modern engine oil to reduce CO2 emissions from a vehicle. Our development strategy of the oil consisted of two elements: (1) further friction reduction under mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication conditions considering use of roller rocker arm type valve train system and (2) lowering viscosity at low temperature conditions to improve fuel economy under cold cycles. Use of roller rocker arm type valve train system has been spreading, because of its advantage of reducing mechanical friction. Unlike engine with conventional direct-acting type valve train system, lubrication condition of engine with the roller rocker arm type valve train system has higher contribution of mixed or hydrodynamic lubrication conditions rather than boundary lubrication condition.
+Investigation of Engine Oil Effect on Abnormal Combustion in Turbocharged Direct Injection - Spark Ignition Engines
+2012-09-10
+Journal Article
+2012-01-1615-04-16
+Technical Paper.
+Development of New Concept Catalyst for Low CO2 Emission Diesel Engine Using NOx Adsorption at Low Temperatures
+2012-04-16
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-0370
+In this study, instead of investigating NOx storage reaction improvements, the NOx adsorption phenomenon was focused on and analyzed to improve NOx trapping performance at lower temperatures. As a NOx adsorbing material, "Ag" was expected to enhance NOx adsorption and reduce the sulfur regeneration temperature due to the abundance of adsorbed oxygen and moderate basicity. However, when using this material in an actual system, we had to reduce the sulfur regeneration temperature, increase NOx adsorption capacity and improve NOx desorption further. Addition of TiO₂, working as an acidic material, was found to decrease sulfur regeneration temperature. Additionally, it increased the NOx adsorption capacity through improved Ag dispersion which plays an important role in NOx adsorbing. Consequently, a greater NOx trapping performance than NSR catalyst was achieved at lower temperatures.
+Development of Closed-Loop Robust Control System for Diesel Engines - Combustion Monitoring by Crank Angular Velocity Analysis and its Applications -
+2012-04-16
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-1157
+Closed-loop robust control system that can monitor combustion state and control it into optimal state using crank angular velocity analysis was established. The system can be constructed without any change of the current hardware. It can avoid engine stall, deterioration of drivability and white smoke emission by misfire after filling low cetane fuels. This study was attempted to grasp the frequency characteristics of crank angular velocity both normal combustion and misfire with FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) and Wavelet Transform. FFT used for frequency analysis is generic method to acquire the frequency characteristics of steady oscillation, however is unsuitable for acquiring the frequency characteristics of transient oscillation. Therefore authors adopted Wavelet Transform and succeeded in grasping the phenomenon in misfiring in time sequential.
+2012-04-16
+Technical Paper.
+2012-04-16
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-1312
+The ignition delay and combustion characteristics of hydrogen jets in an argon-oxygen atmosphere were investigated to provide fundamental data for operating an argon-circulated hydrogen internal combustion engine. Experiments were conducted in a constant-volume combustion vessel to study the effects of ambient temperature, ambient pressure, oxygen concentration and injection pressure on a pre-burning system. The hydrogen-jet penetration and flame were also investigated based on high-speed shadowgraph images. The experimental results indicated that the ignition delay (τ) increases as the ambient temperature (Ti) decreases, similar to the results obtained in an air atmosphere. The heat-release rate results also exhibited similar trends.
+2012-04-16
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-0091
+This.
+2012-04-16
+Technical Paper
+2012-01-0377
+In recent years, improving the engine thermal efficiency is strongly required. To enhance the engine thermal efficiency, it is important to improve the engine anti-knock quality. Technologies for modifying engine cooling have been developed to improve anti-knocking quality of engines. However, excessive improvement of engine cooling leads to an increase in cooling heat loss. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the effects of the temperature of each part of the engine such as engine head-cylinder, cylinder-liner, and piston on knocking and cooling heat loss. In this paper, computer aided engineering (CAE) is used to predict the effects of each part of the engine on engine knocking and cooling heat loss. Firstly, the amount of heat energy that air-fuel mixture receives from engine cylinder-head, cylinder-liner, and piston is calculated during the intake stroke. The result shows that the cylinder-liner contributes largest heat energy to air-fuel mixture, especially the exhaust side.
+Filter
+- Aerospace1
+- Automotive316
+- Commercial Vehicle1
+- Power and Propulsion162
+- Engines131
+- Fuels and Energy Sources90
+- Environment87
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+- Design Engineering and Styling74
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+- Electrical, Electronics and Avionics53
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+- Parts6
+- Automatic transmissions6
+- Continuously variable transmissions6
+- Combustion chambers6
+- Collision avoidance systems6
+- Safety Testing and Procedures6
+- Fuel cell vehicles (FCV)6
+- Telecommunications5
+- Ichiro Sakata11
+- Koji Kitano8
+- Masanori Okada7
+- Toshiaki Tanaka7
+- Kazuhisa Inagaki6
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+- Yukihiro Tsukasaki6
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+- Minoru Yamashita5
+- Takashi Kikuchi5
+- Takayoshi Yoshioka5
+- Akira Ohata4
+- Hiroo Yamaoka4
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+- Shinya Hirota4
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+- Yukihiro Sonoda4
+- Akio Yasuda3
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+Source: Did Gucci Rip Off Dapper Dan?
+Monthly Archives: May 2017
+Gucci Cruise 2018 fashion show at Palatina Gallery in Florence, Italy
+There are a lot of trends that come and go and some that last for ever. Gucci presents their cruise collection with nothing but the classics that makes us remember why we love Gucci.
+Amongst having their cruise collection, it wouldn’t be extraordinary if it wasn’t in a unique place and Palatina Gallery at Pitti Palace could not have been more appropriate.
+The attendees were not only given the fashion show, but also a tour of the gallery..
+This slideshow requires JavaScript..”
+Although the the show was a hit, there was a striking outfit that had many people outraged. Did Gucci Rip Off Dapper Dan?
+Did Gucci Rip Off Dapper Dan?
+Luxury Brands did not want anything to do with rap culture thus, closing its doors on the now multi billion dollar market just to turn around decades later and copy the same style from the so called undesirables.
+Dapper Dan was the hero to go to if you were P. Diddy and other influential 90’s rapers that wanted custom luxury items because Louis Vuitton and Gucci wouldn’t work with you. Dapper Dan mastered the screen printing art and would make Louis button and other monographic designs in order too cater to his clients. Unfortunately he was shut down due to a few major luxury brand came after him for copyright infringement.
+But look how the tables have turned!
+This Monday Gucci held their fashion show for their cruise collection and it featured monogram shirts and bags and this tribute to Dapper Dan. Gucci Cruise 2018 fashion show at Palatina Gallery in Florence, Italy
+The sad irony is that he was shut down for copyright infringement and then decades later the same people come right back behind him and steal his designs without crediting him.
+Essence writer Julee Wilson put it like this: “Beyond plagiarizing—which is huge issue by itself—there is also the problem of cultural appropriation. Black culture (along with other ethnic cultures) is continually pillaged by the fashion and beauty industries without receiving its proper recognition.”
+The fact that brands are now copying his work hasn’t been lost on Dapper Dan himself, who told Vice in 2014: “The real impact hasn’t hit yet until all the young people know. When all the young people know, then I’ll feel like, “OK, y’all thought we couldn’t do this, and now y’all are copying me…” I pick up the paper and I think, Oh, God, if I was white…”
+#whatguccigottosay
+Do you think they should have credited Dapper Dan? Could this be a possible collaboration in the works?
+How To Look Like Money Without Breaking The Bank!
+Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m going to be brutally honest with you, Michael Kors is so overrated. Everybody and their mom’s mom walk around with those things and Louis Vuitton is right along with them. In today’s society, you have to look like money, without trying. If your caught trying, your look like a wannabe and could be potentially embarrassed. Im talking about those people that walk around with “high quality replicas.” Thats the most disrespectful thing you can do to not only the designer, but your integrity. Your basically saying that your not worth such luxurious things.
+There are three things I say are needed to make you look like money and that is quality, the usage of the product, and the way it make you feel. You can buy an expensive hand bag and it can be of low quality. And you can find something for a lower price and the quality is really nice. Its all about bargain shopping. As for the usage of the product, you do not want to be wearing something that everyone in your friends circle have. There are a few exceptions to this rule but if you catch your self shopping at the grove, and you see more than three people wearing that same monogram Louis Vuitton that you have on your shoulder, you have to ditch that one and find another bag. Last but not least is the way the product make you feel. If your going to spend your hard worked money on something, make sure that it make you feel like a million bucks. When I wear my makeup, I feel like I can conquer the day.
+My Unrequited Love
+I have never seen a Birkin in real life but ever since Charles Gross introduced it to me, I have been in love.
+Have you ever had that feeling when ever you go to a luxury boutique store and you feel like you need to walk right out because you cant afford a damn thing in there? Thats me every time I walk into Cartier, Loubiton, or Barney’s. Sometimes the sales associates are rude to you as well and I end up getting really nervous and my anxiety begins to come and I just have to run out of the store immediately.
+I have yet to walk inside an Hermes Boutique. I decided not to go inside until I am of stature. I do not want to spoil it. But My love for the birkin is real I cant even explain it. Well, I can explain it because Im a blogger.
+The Birkin is like the golden ticket into a better life style. An exclusive entrance to any and everything you ever wanted. The detail and the time that people take to make this wonderful bag is just so inspiring and it make me love it more. The real reason why I really love this type of handbag is because you do not see everyone wearing the bag. I hate a bag that I see everyone wearing. Id rather wear a trash bag.
+When I am able to afford a Birkin I would love to get it in Red, Orange, and Taupe. Maybe brown too. Of course I’m not sure If I would love it as much when I eventually go and see its in person. I went to go see one of Louis Vutton Cupercine bags that he only made three of and I was disappointed. I was looking at it online and in person it looked like a grand ma purse to me and that turned me off.
+Charles Gross, you are the one to blame for my Birkin Addiction and I thank you so much. Cant wait to get my hands on one of those!
+Do you have a handbag that you are in love with? Let me know in the comments!
+Three Essential Steps Needed for Great Skin
+Nice and healthy skin can be hard to accomplish but when it is done, the hard work and dedication is something that you would be glad you put yourself through.
+No matter if you have oily, normal or a dry skin type, these are the most universal tips in the beauty industry that it should be a sin for being this simple.
+1. Cleanser
+Your face can get really dirty after a long day of being outside and the last thing you want to do is go to sleep. You need to wash your face off. A good cleanser will clean out them pours so they’re ready to take on the next day. Without cleaning your face, that can cause your pours to hold oil and dirt and then create break outs and unwanted pimples. and NOBODY wants that! Here are some cleansers I recommend at an affordable range.
+Shea Moisture Black Soap
+This soap is more for oily skin because it strips your skin quite vigorously. But, it also gives you an abundance of antioxidants and vitamins A and E .It’s also good for thinning fine lines, evening out dark spots, eczema, razor bumps and eliminating blemishes. It is also used to lightly exfoliate and give you healthier looking skin
+Clinique Liquid Soap Cleanser
+I swear by this cleanser. I first tried this out at bloomingdales and I instantly fell in love with it. It is more for normal to dry skin and it literally feels like velvet on your face. Its a simple cleanser and it helps moisturize your face.
+2. Toner
+Toner is very important because it goes back behind the cleanser and get all the left over dirt that the cleanser had got to come out to the surface. I typically have not found a toner that I truly love but there are many at the local drug store that you can pick up. It is an important step but I have found that you can use any brand and will still get you “ok” results. I use the Clean and Clear toner and it works pretty well.
+3. Moisturizer
+This is my favorite part when it comes to simple skin care. This is also the part in the routine where I think you should spend a little money for great quality. I do not recommend going to the drug store and getting a moisturizer. And please do not use regular body lotion. I used to do that and my face is still recovering. I suggest using Clinique basic moisturizer. Its not explensive but at the same time, I can get Terrance and I a meal from Chick-Fil-A or something.
+So now that you have the three essential steps to skin care, you should be ready to take your skin to the next level. There are so many other things that you can do to your face to make it the best that it should be, but we can talk about that another time.
+Half Year’s Resolution: Let’s Turn 2017 Around!!!
+As always, I will be honest with you. I thought that 2017 was going to be my year, and I’m not totally wrong. I got to do one of the major things I wanted to do this year and that was to move out of Atlanta. So now Im out of Atlanta and trying to build myself here in Los Angeles.
+But wait, Its already April!
+Who gives a shit. The second half of 2017 is about to start and I say if you have not yet been true to your resolutions, then heres a second chance to make it better. Since I’ve moved from Atlanta, I have lost all sort of discipline. I don’t exercise any more and I eat the most horrible things. But thats going to change soon.
+Are you looking forward for the next half of 2017?? What are your Half Year’s Resolution?
+Shopping On A Budget: Groceries
+Ter.
+The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
+Bantam Spectra, 2006, $23.00
+Locke Lamora is not your typical epic fantasy protagonist. He's not broad of chest. He does
+not wield astounding magical abilities. He's not good with a sword, or particularly heroic.
+In fact, he doesn't excel at most of what one might consider typical heroic activities. What
+he does excel at is the art of the con. He's a conman extraordinaire, and along with his
+gang of Gentleman Bastards, he robs from the rich, but before you go comparing him to
+Robin Hood, note that instead of giving the loot to the poor, he keeps it for himself.
+(Though if you do want to compare him to Robin Hood, it's fair to say that Locke does have
+his roguish charm.)
+Although Locke was naturally drawn to thieving as a youth, his thieving was too much even
+for Camorr's thiefmaker, so Locke is sold to Father Chains, the Eyeless Priest of Perelandro;
+the thiefmaker says it was either that, or slit the boys throat and throw him in the bay.
+Thankfully for Locke (and the reader), Chains takes the boy in, and teaches him to steal in a
+more productive way: by conning people. If that might seem an odd thing for a priest to
+do, consider first that Chains is not really eyeless at all. The Temple of Perelandro is really
+nothing more than a front for criminal activities. The god is real enough to Camorr's
+citizens, though he is a sort of outsider godthe thirteenth member of a pantheon of
+twelveand he is the patron of thieves and beggars.
+The city of Camorr, which is said to have been built of "Elderglass" by a long forgotten race,
+is a vast, sprawling metropolis, riddled with canals and crime, quite reminiscent of ancient
+Venice, if ancient Venice were overrun by gangs and run by royalty, merchants, and
+criminals (actually, perhaps it's not so different). On the surface, Camorr appears to be
+ruled by a Duke, but in reality it is run by the crime boss, Capa Barsavi. But there's
+someone stalking the citya man calling himself The Gray Kingwho thinks it's time for a
+regime change. Through a series of events, Locke finds himself matched against this man,
+who has been murdering Barsavi's garristas (or captains, if you're familiar with mob-parlance). And if Locke has any hope of coming out of his encounter with the Gray King
+alive, he's going to have make the most out of all his wits and cunning, for the Gray King is
+no easy mark.
+Above I mentioned how Locke Lamora is not your typical epic fantasy protagonist. Well, in
+many ways, the novel itself is not your typical epic fantasy. The entire story takes place
+within the city of Camorr, and the entire world is not threatened by some evil malefactor.
+Also, there is very little in the novel, aside from its secondary world setting, that is actually
+fantastic. In fact, the first third of the novel or so is almost entirely devoid of fantasy
+elements, leaving aside mention of gods (which the people believe in, but don't manifest
+themselves in any way) and the use of various medicinal tinctures. The first third is also
+almost entirely character-driven, and it isn't until then that the plot truly gets moving. Once
+the plot begins in earnest, fantasy elements enter the storya wicked Bondsmage in the
+employ of the Gray King wields some magicbut even then, the fantasy elements mostly
+stay in the background. Which is not to say that any of this is a flaw, quite the contrary;
+the minimal use of fantasy elements allows Lynch to focus on making his world seem like a
+very real place, and allows him to make his characters remain at the forefront of the novel,
+rather than relegating them as subservient to showy pyrotechnics (though of those, there
+are some).
+The book starts with Locke as a young boy, still learning the ropes from Father Chains, and
+once Lynch shifts to Locke as an adult, he continues to weave in a series of interludes in
+which the reader gets to see more of Locke's past. And here's why the fact that the plot
+doesn't really get started until a third of the way through is not a flaw; I found most
+enjoyable the parts of the book detailing Locke's youth, and relished getting to each
+interlude to continue reading about him. Adult Locke is a lot of fun too, and he continues to
+be a compelling character, but there's something special about Locke's younger days. I can
+only hope that we continue to see more of these interludes in future installments in this
+series.
+But that's not the only element of the book that can be further explored. Lynch's
+worldbuilding is truly outstanding, and even though he paints quite a vivid picture, there
+remain enough subtle hints and mentions throughout the book that leave him room to
+explore the world more fully as the series continues. For instance, the fact that Camorr is
+said to have been built of "Elderglass" by a long forgotten race is interesting, but who they
+are or where they've gone is never really covered. It's touches like this that lends the world
+an air of mystique, and fills the reader with curiosity for what will come next.
+And speaking of future installments, it's worth pointing out that although The Lies of Locke
+Lamora is book one in a projected seven-book cycle, the novel stands alone remarkably
+well. There is a definite and complete story arc from first page to last. But here's where
+Lynch pulls off a extraordinary feat: although the book came to a satisfying conclusion, I
+found myself wanting to pick up book two immediately. Alas, I'll have to wait until June
+2007
+Many of Lynch's influences are clearthe first and obvious debt Locke Lamora owes is to Fritz
+Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser storiesbut despite the fact that much of the style and
+tone of the novel is reminiscent of prior works, Lynch borrows (or perhaps pilfers would be a
+better term, considering the protagonist) with deft skill, taking inspirational bits from a
+variety of sources and melding them together into something that feels wholly original.
+The Lies of Locke Lamora is a vibrant, engaging epic fantasy of the highest order. And to
+hear that coming from me is really saying something, because of all of the subgenres I read
+in, epic fantasy is perhaps the hardest to sell me on. Move over Robert Jordan and Terry
+Goodkindhere's a big fat fantasy that'll actually make you glad it's epic-length.
+For excerpts, maps, and more information about the series, visit Lynch's website.
+A Small and Remarkable Life by Nick DiChario
+Robert J. Sawyer Books, 2006, $23.95
+In the mid-to-late 19th Century, a trio of alien visitors came to our planet. Being of a
+malleable physical form, they did their best to mimic human features. One of the three, a
+newborn child, is orphaned shortly after his birth, when a passing hunter's dog savagely
+attacks the aliens. The orphan, who we come to know as Tink Puddah, manages a
+humanoid appearance, though he looks far from normal; his most glaring oddity is the
+bluish hue of his skin. Yet despite this, the hunter takes Tink into his home, and adopts him
+as a son. But Tink's life will not be an easy one; no, although the hunter at first seems
+compassionate, we soon learn that he has more in common with his bloodthirsty dogs than
+he does any saint, and it's not long before Tink again finds himself on his own.
+The novel unfolds via two narrative threads: one, starting in 1845, in which we see Tink
+grow up, and struggle to find a place for himself in this strange-to-him world despite the
+hatred and fear around him; and in the other, starting in 1860, we learn of Tink's impending
+deathit was murder, it seems, by what the town assumes to be a passing stranger.
+Eventually, as Tink grows older, the two narrative threads catch up to each other, and when
+DiChario's done telling his story, the result is like the tapestry of a master weaver.
+After Tink leaves his adoptive family, he finds himself exploring the rural region of Upstate
+New York in which he finds himself. For a while, he makes himself a hermit, living in the
+wilderness away from all humans, communiing instead with nature and her animal progeny.
+One day during his wanderings, he discovers some boys playing baseball. There, he
+experiences both more rejection, and for the first time true acceptance, but like most things
+in Tink's short life, it doesn't last, and it isn't long before he finds himself moving on once
+again.
+When the story moves away from Tink, we have as point-of-view character the Preacher
+Jacob Piersol, the local religious type in the small town in which Tink eventually settles.
+Piersol never did get along with Tink, mainly due to his refusal to be converted to
+Christianity, and his insistence on debating the merits of Piersol's religion. After working
+hard all his life to make himself a home, however, Tink had won over the hearts and minds
+of nearly all the townsfolk. Sure, they still thought of him as strangeso they never do
+manage to fully get over their inherent distrust of outsidersbut he, in a sense, becomes
+one of them, and his death is a blow to their small community.
+It's a shame that a major publisher didn't snap this book up and publish it for a larger
+audience, but.
+For an excerpt and more information about the novel, visit DiChario's website.
+Infoquake by David Louis Edelman
+Pyr, 2006, $15.00
+Imagine you could do to your body what you can do to a browser like Firefoxyou can
+install plug-ins to make it do a variety of tasks that you (but not everyone) would find
+useful, and if there's something about the standard operating procedures that irritates you,
+you can just go in and tweak the code to make the offending annoyance stop. Tired? Don't
+down caffeine; just run a program to wake you up. Need to tell something private to your
+friend while in a room full of people? Don't leave the room; just use the
+ConfidentialWhisper program, which is essentially technological telepathy.
+Natch is a entrepreneur working in bio/logics, which is what the above-mentioned
+technology is called, and what the novel defines as "the science of using programming code
+to extend the capabilities of the human body and mind." And if that isn't enough to make
+you want to read this book, then you might be reading in the wrong genre.
+Infoquake follows Natch's career, starting with his gamble to win the top spot on Primo's (a
+sort of bio/logic stock index) and concluding with his venture into the bold new field of
+MultiReal. In between, we see Natch's childhood, and get to a look at how he came to be
+the ruthless, coldhearted, yet brilliant businessman he is in the present.
+If.
+David Louis Edelman's bio says that he's a web designer, programmer, and journalist. Well,
+if he can design and program as well as he can write, then I'd hire him to manage my
+company's website in a heartbeat. Few first novelists manage as assured a debut as
+Infoquake; almost all new authors stumble around a bit in their first novel, but Edelman
+comes off as a seasoned professional.
+One detail that seemed off-kilter to me, however, is the fact that one of the primary
+charactersHorvilis obese. In a society in where people are full of nanomachines which
+cure their ills and heal their wounds, wouldn't those same OCHRES also easily keep a person
+trim and fit? I'd think that would be one of the coolest things about the OCHRES and
+bio/logicsyou could either run a program to ignore your hunger if you don't have time (or
+don't want) to eat; or conversely, if you want to pig out and stuff your face full of the most
+delectable but highly caloric desserts known to man, you'd be able to do so without paying
+the penalty.
+Included with the novel are several appendices, which include a glossary, an historical
+timeline, and four essays which further explain bio/logics and some other aspects of
+Edelman's richly-imagined future. These are great, if, like me, you wanted to know more
+about the novel's cool concepts
+"Hack the body, and the mind will follow." A simple statement with profound implications,
+and the perfect tagline for a novel that promisesand deliversso many inventive and cool
+technological advances. So what are you waiting for? Download Infoquake into your brain.
+It's better than a bio/logics cure for boredom.
+For excerpts, podcasts, supplementary material, and more information about the novel, visit
+Edelman's website.
+.
+28 June 2012
+Gospel Reflections
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Thursday, June 28, 2012 6 comments
+Contend for the Faith
+In his TGC breakout talk last year C.J. Mahaney pointed out something in Jude 3, which reads:?
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Thursday, June 28, 2012 4 comments
+27 June 2012
+26 June 2012
+Why Must We Keep Saying the Gospel is for Christians?
+One answer I don't hear articulated.
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Tuesday, June 26, 2012 5 comments
+Trusting God in the Dark
+'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love . . .'
+--Genesis 22:2
+- answer.'
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Tuesday, June 26, 2012 0 comments
+25 June 2012
+The Secret to Imitating Christ: Know You Can't
+Oscar Cullmann (1902-1999), German New Testament scholar who helped a generation read the whole Bible as telling an objective history of what God has done in our real time and space (as opposed to the de-historicized existentialism of Bultmann)--
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Monday, June 25, 2012 1 comments
+23 June 2012
+Light and High Beauty
+HT: Wade Urig
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Saturday, June 23, 2012 0 comments
+22 June 2012
+The Drama of Ephesians
+I recently reviewed for Themelios the book by our brother Tim Gombis, The Drama of Ephesians: Participating in the Triumph of God. It was a longer review than normal, substantively engaging with the main thrusts of the book, because I believe the book exhibits weaknesses that are representative of larger movements in New Testament scholarship. Below is the concluding part of the review, which identifies strengths and weaknesses. I post this on my blog because I think what I say here applies to large swaths of NT work being done.
+The.
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Friday, June 22, 2012 0 comments
+21 June 2012
+Requiem
+Turn it up, close your eyes, and consider the inevitability of Revelation 21.
+True Soul's Rest
+Evangelista, the wise, gospel-sane Christian in the great Puritan work The Marrow of Modern Divinity:
+'Come unto me,' says Christ, 'all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matt. 11:28).
+Truly, my neighbors and friends, believe it, we shall never find a heart's happiness, and true soul's rest, until we find it here.
+For howsoever a man may think, if he had this man's wit, and that man's wealth, this man's honor and that man's pleasure, this wife, or that husband, such children, his heart would be satisfied, and his soul would be contented; yet which of us hath not, by our own experience, found the contrary?
+For, not long after that we have obtained the thing we did so much desire, and wherein we promised ourselves so much happiness, rest, and content, we have found nothing but vanity and emptiness in it. Let a man deal plainly with his own heart, and he shall find that, notwithstanding he hath many things, yet there is ever one thing wanting: for indeed man's soul cannot be satgisfied with any creature, no, not with a world of creatures.
+And the reason is, because the desires of a man's soul are infinite, according to that infinite goodness which it once lost in losing God.The healing alternative:
+But when a man once comes to believe, that all his sins both past, present, and to come, are freely and fully pardoned, and God in Christ graciously reconciled unto him, the Lord doth thereupon so reveal his fatherly face unto him in Christ, and so make known that incredible union betwixt him and the believing soul, that his heart becomes quietly contented in God.--Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity (Christian Focus, 2009), 261
+20 June 2012
+Mourning for Sins Begins at Home
+Jonathan Edwards:.--p. 200 of this volume of sermons
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Wednesday, June 20, 2012 0 comments
+19 June 2012
+Gifts of the Spirit, Fruit of the Spirit, and Shipwrecking Your Ministry
+Tim Keller, via Resurgence:
+You may mistake the operation of spiritual gifts for the operation of spiritual grace in your life. . . .I can imagine this little article, and the larger one from which it is adapted, saving a Christian leader's ministry..
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Tuesday, June 19, 2012 1 comments 0 comments
+15 June 2012
+Stress Is the Modern Word for Law
+Paul Zahl:
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Friday, June 15, 2012 0 comments
+14 June 2012
+The Battle, the Prophecies
+The first is as Bilbo Baggins goes down the tunnel in the Lonely Mountain, approaching the dragon Smaug.. (p. 193)The second is at the end of the story, when Balin and Gandalf come and visit Bilbo. Bilbo remarks that the prophecies appear to be coming!” (last page of book)I am reminded that there is a real battle, a real journey, a real Smaug, a real demise of Smaug, a real Home, a real prophecy, a real fulfillment of prophecy, a real role in that fulfillment. Real providence; real hope.
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Thursday, June 14, 2012 0 comments
+13 June 2012
+To Break Thy Schemes of Earthly Joy
+John Newton, 'I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow', Dane Ortlund at Wednesday, June 13, 2012 0 comments
+12 June 2012
+The Battle
+We must fight the Lord’s battles with the Lord’s weapons in faith – sitting in the chair of belief. Only then can we have any part in the real battle.
+If we fight the Lord’s battles merely by duplicating the way the world does its work, we are like little boys playing with wooden swords pretending they are in the battle while their big brothers are away at war in some distant and bloody land.--Francis Schaeffer, 'The Universe and Two Chairs'
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Tuesday, June 12, 2012 0 comments
+09 June 2012
+Go, then, earthly fame and treasure
+This is rich. Sanity-restoring. Lets me breathe again.
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Saturday, June 09, 2012 0 comments). . . .--Luther's Works, 22:87-89?' . . ..
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Friday, June 08, 2012 0 comments
+07 June 2012
+Living Supernaturally
+Francis Schaeffer:
+HT: Lane Dennis
+Once I was flying at night over the North Atlantic. It was in 1947, and I was coming back from my first visit to Europe. Our plane, one of those old DC4’s with two engines on each wing, was within two or three minutes of the middle of the Atlantic. Suddenly two engines on one wing stopped. I had already flown a lot, and so I could feel the engines going wrong. I remember thinking, if I’m going to go down into the ocean, I’d better get my coat. When I did, I said to the hostess, "There’s something wrong with the engines." She was a bit snappy and said, "You people always think there’s something wrong with the engines." So I shrugged my shoulders, but I took my coat. I had no sooner sat down, than the lights came on and a very agitated co-pilot came out. "We’re in trouble," he said. "Hurry and put on your life jackets."Schaeffer then makes his point:
+So down we went, and we fell and fell, until in the middle of the night with no moon we could actually see the water breaking under us in the darkness. And as we were coming down, I prayed. Interestingly enough, a radio message had gone out, an SOS that was picked up and broadcast immediately all over the United States in a flash news announcement: "There is a plane falling in the middle of the Atlantic." My wife heard about this and at once she gathered our three little girls together and they knelt down and began to pray. They were praying in St Louis, Missouri, and I was praying on the plane. And we were going down and down.
+Then, while we could see the waves breaking beneath us and everybody was ready for the crash, suddenly the two motors started, and we went on into Gander. When we got down I found the pilot and asked what happened. "Well," he said, "it’s a strange thing, something we can’t explain. Only rarely do two motors stop on one wing, but you can make an absolute rule that when they do, they don’t start again. We don’t understand it." So I turned to him and I said, "I can explain it." He looked at me: "How?" And I said, "My Father in heaven started it because I was praying." That man had the strangest look on his face and he turned away.
+. . . What one must realize is that seeing the world as a Christian does not mean just saying, "I am a Christian. I believe in the supernatural world," and then stopping. It is possible to be saved through faith in Christ and then spend much of our lives in [unbelief]. We can say we believe in a supernatural world, and yet live as though there were no supernatural in the universe at all. It is not enough merely to say, "I believe in a supernatural world."--Francis Schaeffer, 'The Universe and Two Chairs'
+Christianity is not just a mental assent that certain [in unbelief].
+HT: Lane Dennis
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Thursday, June 07, 2012 4 comments
+No Works
+To those who believe in Christ there are no works so bad as to accuse and condemn us, but again, there are no works so good that they could save and defend us.--Martin Luther, 'Judgment on Monastic Vows,' in Luther's Works, 44:301
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Thursday, June 07, 2012 0 comments
+06 June 2012
+Pastoral Apologetics
+From Tim Lane at CCEF. This is wise.
+"You're trying to convince the Christian that the amazing grace of the gospel really is exactly what they need for growth in grace."
+"You're trying to convince the Christian that the amazing grace of the gospel really is exactly what they need for growth in grace."
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Wednesday, June 06, 2012 1 comments
+If Christ Is our Treasure, What Do We Make of Food, Sex, and Seeing the Heat Lose in the NBA Playoffs (i.e. the good things of life)?
+Nom.
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Wednesday, June 06, 2012 0 comments
+04 June 2012
+Power
+Lloyd-Jones:
+What is the gospel?Well, you remember the answer of the Apostle Paul, 'It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Rom 1:16).How easy it is to forget that. How easy to preach it as a system, to preach it as a collection of ideas, or just to preach it as a truth. Ah, but you can do that without power. There are people, says the Apostle Paul, who 'have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof' (2 Tim 3:5).
+Christianity is primarily a life. It is a power. It is a manifestation of energy.
+Psalm 42
+01 June 2012
+What Must God Be Like?
+'Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
+and spreads his wings toward the south?'
+--Job 39:26
+Click to enlarge.
+Source.
+and spreads his wings toward the south?'
+--Job 39:26
+Click to enlarge.
+Source.
+Posted by Dane Ortlund at Friday, June 01, 2012 0 comments
+
+Leviticus
+Home A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Abbreviations Glossary
+Contents
+- 1 Introduction
+- 2 Summary and Comment of Leviticus
+- 2.1 Part I Rituals for God’s Presence 1:1–15:33
+- 2.2 Part II A Hinge 16:1–17:16
+- 2.3 Part III Living in Light of God’s Presence 18:1–27:34
+- 3 Conclusion
+- 4 Recommended Essays in the Commentary
+- 5 Bibliography
+- 6 Invitation to Comment
+Introduction
+Leviticus is the third book of Moses in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The second book, Exodus, ends with a cloud covering the tent of meeting that prevents Moses from approaching it. Leviticus then begins with God calling to Moses from this shrine and commanding him to relay God’s words to the people. These speeches of God make up the book of Leviticus, except for two short narratives (Lev 10:1-2 and 24:10-12). Numbers, the book that follows, begins with a census of the people, marking a clear break from the material in Leviticus.
+Relevance
+The initial speeches in *Leviticus describe rituals focused on the tabernacle, which was located at the center of the camp, and it also gives the rules for the ritual purity needed to approach the tabernacle, or sometimes even to live in the camp (on ritual, see Yoder, 27–30). The people also need to know how they can live with a holy God in the days and years ahead. Beginning in chapter 18 are the laws concerning morality that must be maintained by individuals and by the nation as a whole. Given the context of Leviticus in the Pentateuch, we see that these speeches address people who were slaves only recently delivered from bondage. Leviticus gives them a “national” charter for worship and daily life.
+But of what relevance is Leviticus today, especially for those in Western societies where the sense of the holy has been greatly diminished? From Leviticus we learn above all that God is gracious. God freely forgives even unknown and unaccounted wrongs. This is particularly evident during a special annual event, the Day of Atonement or Day of Cleansing (Lev 16). Further, God is not an angry God in Leviticus, and the instructed sacrifices are not motivated by an angry or hostile God. In fact, the first three chapters of the book answer the question, What should a person do who simply wants to thank God for all God’s goodness and generosity? These rituals were given to help people express their gratitude.
+Although a God of grace, God is also holy. The holy God is now in Israel’s midst, and they are to make themselves holy in order to be in proper relationship with this God. Although God makes Israel holy (Lev 20:8), the Israelites are responsible to maintain their holiness (20:7). God’s holiness necessitates a holy way of life on the part of the people (19:2). Ethics matter (see Yoder, “Worship and Ethics” [320–21]). Israel is to become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod 19:6 NRSV)? But How? The answer is the purpose of Leviticus 18–27. Becoming and being holy is still relevant for God’s people today.
+God is a present God. Israel has a history with God. They were delivered from Egypt and guided and cared for through the wilderness. Now, in Leviticus, God’s presence is found in their very midst (ch. 9). This presence is both a boon and a hazard (10:1-2). In Western society, having largely lost the sense of awe for God’s holiness, Leviticus can prod us to think about a holy God who is present and how to recover a sense of God’s holy presence (see Yoder, “Holy and Holiness” [302–4]).
+Leviticus is also valuable for those who wish to better understand the New Testament. It gives us the plain sense of items, expressions, and practices that are referred to symbolically and metaphorically. For example, to say that Jesus was tabernacled among us (John 1:14) recalls the presence of God that in Leviticus came to earth and dwelt in the tabernacle. It can also help us look below the surface of certain texts, such as the proclamation of John the Baptist about Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NIV). Note that in Leviticus it was a living goat who carried off Israel’s sins, and this goat remained alive. Missing this point has led to a misunderstanding of Leviticus and perhaps of the reference in John.
+Date, Setting, Author
+The date of Leviticus is unclear. No events or persons outside the Israelite camp in the desert at Mount Sinai are mentioned; therefore, traditionally it has been dated to the presumed time of Moses, the thirteenth century BCE. Most scholars, however, are divided between dating its material to the time of Hezekiah (early seventh century) or to the time of exile and return from captivity (sixth century), or later. These datings are based on presumptions concerning literary and intellectual development within Israel, historical aptness, and notions about the genre of law and its relationship to practice (see Grabbe 1993; Hartley 1992, Introduction [xxxv–xliii]; Levine 1989, Conclusion [xxi–xxxix]). On scholarly approaches, see Yoder, “The Traditional Western Method of Exegesis” (318–20) and “Plain Sense Interpretation” (307–9).
+Form and Rhetoric
+Leviticus may be divided into two parts connected by a hinge. The first part, chapters 1–15, describes rituals to be performed. These regulations—though not all the details necessary to perform the rituals are included—often follow a pattern found in legal texts. First, a general proposition is given, followed by individual cases and their solutions. For example, chapter 1 begins with a general heading, “when a person wishes to bring a sacrifice, then . . .” (v. 2 AT). The specific case then follows: “if it is a burnt offering of cattle, then . . .” (v. 3 AT). Verse 10 stipulates the regulations if it comes from the flock. Verse 14 does the same, this time offering a bird.
+In many outlines of the book, only two parts are indicated: chapter 16 is included with chapters 1–15, and chapter 17 is included with the final section. However, these two chapters do not align well with this understanding. It seems best to consider chapters 16 and 17 as forming a “hinge” between the two main parts of the book. The Day of Cleansing, chapter 16, with its rituals of purification, illustrates the cleansing power of blood while chapter 17 explains why blood has this cleansing power. In chapter 18 we begin the ethical part of the book marking a break in content from previous material.
+The last part, Leviticus 18–27, consists of moral commands. These may follow the pattern of apodictic laws, in which a single case and the punishment for disobedience is given. For example, Leviticus 20:2: “Anyone who [does this] will be put to death” (AT). Compare with Exodus 21:15: “Anyone striking a parent will be put to death” (AT; for apodictic law, see Yoder, “Law” [304–6]). A list of prohibitions for which the entire community is punished is found in chapter 18. There are also positive and negative commands that have no punishment for noncompliance (e.g., Lev 19:17-18).
+The structure of Leviticus and its literary style have been well studied (see Yoder, “Literary Style” [306–7]). For the structure of the book as whole, see the diagram in Milgrom 2004, 7, and its surrounding discussion.
+Summary and Comment of Leviticus
+Part I Rituals for God’s Presence 1:1–15:33
+Rituals for Sacrifice at the Sanctuary 1:1–7:38
+The rituals in this beginning section of Leviticus may be divided into two classes: voluntary rituals and obligatory ones. Significantly, Leviticus begins with the voluntary rituals, describing three different types: 1) an offering in which the animal or bird is entirely burnt up on the altar (ch. 1, the burnt [up] or whole offering). The person bringing the offering gains nothing from it. 2) An offering comprised of meal, either raw or cooked, which is “enriched” by oil and partly sprinkled with frankincense (ch. 2, the grain offering). The priest retains most of the offering, burning the part with frankincense. Again, the lay person gets nothing. 3) An offering of which part is burnt on the altar, part is retained by the priests, and part by the laypersons (ch. 3, the peace or well-being offering). The aim of all these rituals is to provide “a pleasing odor” to God (e.g., 1:9). Practically, the last two offerings provide flour and meat for the priests and their families. The peace offering, which provides meat for the laity, is used at celebrations and feasts (see ch. 23).
+The obligatory rituals begin in chapter 4 and continue to 6:7. The goal of these rituals is forgiveness. These rituals are necessary due to an unintentional trespassing of a negative command (ch. 4) or to not doing something one should have done (5:1-4). The cause may also be the result of an error (5:14–6:7).
+In these forgiveness rituals, what happens between bringing the offering and God’s granting of forgiveness? The best understanding is that these are purification offerings that “cleanse” the altar rather than the supplicant. Once the sinner provides cleansing for the altar by means of the animal’s blood, God forgives (see Yoder [288–94]: “Atonement,” “Atonement as Transfer,” and “Atonement in Christian Thinking and Leviticus”; also “Cleansing Offering” [297–98]).
+The placing of a hand on the head of the animal is an identification gesture—“this is my sacrifice”—rather than a gesture that transfers the sin of an individual to an animal that is then killed in place of the sinner. We find this gesture first in Leviticus 1:4 where the offering is voluntary; there is no forgiveness of sin and so no transfer of sin to the animal, as is done in Leviticus 16:21-22, where the high priest places both hands on the goat as he confesses the sins of the people and thus transfers them to the goat. The goat that now bears the sin is not sacrificed, and none of its blood is shed. Instead, it is taken out of the camp and is alive when it is released (Yoder, “Scapegoat” [316–17]). This is an elimination ritual, not a forgiveness ritual.
+Further, the name of the sacrifice has been mistranslated as sin offering. In chapter 12, a ritual following childbirth uses the same offering to obtain purification. Birthing is not a sin, of course. This is a cleansing ritual, not a sin ritual. In Leviticus 8:15 (cf. 9:15; 14:49, 52), Moses takes the blood of a bull (brought as a “sin”/purification offering) and daubs its blood on the horns of the courtyard altar, thus purifying the altar. Moses then pours out the remaining blood at the base of the altar, hallowing and cleansing the altar. (The Hebrew term in 8:15 is translated make atonement in the NIV, which clearly does not fit the context. What has the altar done that it needs atonement? It does, however, need cleansing to serve its holy function).
+In chapter 4, the transgressor’s inadvertent sin has affected the altar. After becoming aware of their sin, they offer a purification sacrifice that expunges the altar from the effects of their sin. Having made expiation, wiping away the results of their sin, they receive forgiveness.
+Chapter 5 introduces a new type of cleansing sacrifice for the nonperformance of a positive obligation (see 5:1-5). This offering is often translated as a guilt offering. Later in the chapter restitution or compensation is also required (5:14–6:7). This is a graded offering, the offerers bringing what they can afford. The grain offering is the least expensive offering. As a purification offering, it has neither frankincense nor oil added to it (5:11) as is the case with the regular grain offering (see ch. 2).
+A focus on priestly participation in the preceding rituals runs from 6:8 (Heb. 6:1) until the close of this section at 7:38. However, a new ritual begins this unit: keeping the fire alive on the courtyard altar (6:8-13). The offering to sustain the fire before the first sacrifice of the day is called the tamid offering (“perpetual fire,” NRSV). After 6:19-23—instructions for the priestly offerings to be given at their ordination (ch. 8)—the remainder of this unit is devoted to priestly instructions concerning the offerings described in 1:1–6:7. The entire section giving instructions for worship at the sanctuary closes with their summary and a statement of their importance (7:37-38).
+Inauguration of Worship at the Sanctuary 8:1–10:20
+The first step is the ordination of priests (ch. 8). First Moses washes them and then dresses the high priest with all his regalia. He then anoints the tabernacle and its contents (v. 10) as well as the altar and the basin in the courtyard outside the tabernacle. He next anoints Aaron, consecrating him. After ordination to office, the priests are commanded to stay in the tabernacle for seven days (v. 33). They are in a liminal state, no longer ordinary Israelites but not yet serving as priests.
+When the seven days are over, the inauguration of worship at the tabernacle proceeds (ch. 9). Purification offerings for the priests and for all the lay Israelites are made. Aaron blesses the people and offers three sacrifices: the purification offering, the whole offering, and the peace offerings. (Note the order – the cleansing offering comes first, then the freewill offerings.) Along with Moses he now enters the tabernacle. Upon their exiting the tabernacle, the “glory of the LORD” appears to all the people and fire comes forth and burns the whole offering and fat pieces on the altar. In response the people worship God, their faces to the ground.
+A brief narrative begins chapter 10. Two of Aaron’s sons took their own fire pans, which had inappropriate material in them, and attempted an offering. As a result, a fire burst forth and killed them. This led to a discussion between Moses and Aaron that was resolved when Moses explains why this happened, and Aaron asks whether, if he had eaten the meat of the sacrifice, that would that have been satisfactory. Moses answers yes, that is what should have been done.
+Purity for Worship 11:1–15:33
+An Israelite must be ritually pure before entering the courtyard of the sanctuary. It is important to recognize that sin does not make a person ritually impure. Nor is ritual impurity a sin. The rituals for the forgiveness of sin in chapter 4 could not occur if sin made a person ritually impure: the sinner would not be able to enter the sacred precinct. On the other hand, if ritual impurity comes from food eaten, no sacrifice is required. There is no sin, so forgiveness is unnecessary.
+The pure and impure animals, chapter 12, are grouped according to their kind, with mammals coming first. In the case of mammals, the distinctions between pure and impure are clear, and examples of both are given. This is not the case with birds. Instead we find a list of prohibited birds (vv. 13-19). The criteria for this and other lists are not entirely clear. For birds, many of the forbidden are birds of prey. Also, animals are classed by appearance. For example, the bat is a mammal, but it has wings and flies like a bird so it is in the list of birds.
+Other causes of ritual impurity are found in chapters 12 ?15, which form a unit. The rituals made necessary by birthing in chapter 12 mark the beginning of human life. Chapter 15 contains rituals concerning procreation—intercourse and menstruation. The remedy for the latter is like those for eating meat from impure animals (ch. 11)—no ritual sacrifice needed.
+Chapters 13–14 give the regulations concerning blemishes. The identification of blemishes causing impurity is found in chapter 13. Those bearing such blemishes become unclean and must live outside the camp (13:45-46). The ritual for those so diagnosed and who have been expelled from the camp follows in chapter14. Next follows the diagnosis of houses and their purification rituals (14:33-53). The discussion of blemishes is concluded by 14:54-57 and indicates that chapters 13 and 14 form a unit within the outer shell of chapters 12 and 15.
+Part I of Leviticus ends with a warning against uncleanness/defilement in the camp (15:31; vv. 32 and 33 refer back to the previous case and form its conclusion, not the conclusion of this section). The impurity of the people impacts the tabernacle.
+Part II A Hinge 16:1–17:16
+The great Day of Cleansing (or expiation), chapter 16, is linked to the narrative in chapter 10. The two sons of Aaron have died in the tabernacle, and their corpses have defiled it. A ceremony is now needed to restore the tabernacle to the pristine purity it had at the end of chapter 9. This restoration ceremony must clean the sacred area and its furnishings from all the sins and impurities of the people. Although instigated by an event, this ceremony becomes an annual ceremony of cleansing.
+This ceremony is prefaced by a warning against entering the most holy spaces at will. When the high priest does enter, he must wear special clothes (v. 4). When he completes the ceremony, he will then remove these special garments and leave them in the tabernacle, wash himself, and put on his regular garments (vv. 23-24). These two rituals envelop the ceremony itself.
+The ceremony proper begins with several purification sacrifices and the setting aside of a live goat (vv. 5-11). Before Aaron can cleanse the most holy, he must first create a protective screen of smoke between himself and the most holy (vv. 12-13).
+Now Aaron can take the blood of the sacrifices, the purifying element, and enter the tabernacle shrouded by smoke (v. 12). Aaron now proceeds to purify the tabernacle, beginning in the inner chamber with the ark of the covenant, working backward to the courtyard altar. This sprinkling of blood cleanses the holy place and objects from the effects of the people’s impurities and transgressions.
+The final movement of the ceremony is an elimination ritual. The sins and impurities that were cleansed away are transferred to the living goat who now bears them. He is led away by the person available for this task, never to be seen again (vv. 21-22). This goat, now impure, is left alive in the wilderness. He is not a sacrifice. Since the one leading this goat is impure by contact, he must launder his clothes and bathe before he can enter the camp (v. 26).
+Chapter 17 is about blood. What is to be done with the blood of slaughtered animals and why must their blood be applied to the altars? Animals that can be sacrificed must be slaughtered at the tabernacle so that their blood and fat parts can be offered upon the altar. Otherwise the slaughter is regarded as murder (vv. 1-8), and the person doing this will be cut off from his people. The blood of game animals is to be drained and covered with earth (v. 13).
+Blood contains the life force of animals. This force empowers it to expiate, or cleanse (v. 11). This is also the reason that sacrificial animals must be slaughtered at the altar and their blood applied to it.
+Part III Living in Light of God’s Presence 18:1–27:34
+In the foregoing chapters, holiness is granted not gained. In chapters 8 and 9 we find that holiness is granted through ordination. The tabernacle becomes holy by being anointed. In chapters 18–27, however, holiness is something gained through obedience. Israel becomes a holy nation and retains its holiness through keeping the rules for holiness now set forth.
+The material in chapters 18–27 is more diverse than that of 1–17. In spite of this diversity, the key theme in these chapters is holiness. God is holy (19:2) and thus demands that Israel must also be holy (20:26). God makes Israel holy (21:23). Nevertheless, the maintenance of holiness demands obedience (20:7-8). Holiness is both a national matter and an individual matter.
+Holy Living 18:1–22:33
+Chapters 18–20 instruct Israel how to live a holy life. Chapter 18 concerns sexual behavior as does chapter 20. Sandwiched between them is chapter 19 with instructions for living a holy life in relationship to others. Holy people do not gossip (v. 16); they love their fellow (v. 18); they treat immigrant and citizen alike (v. 34); they use honest weights and measures (v. 36). We also find rules on grooming (v. 27), animal husbandry (v. 19), and so forth.
+Chapters 21 and 22 describe priestly relationships. Leviticus 21:1-15 discusses whose funerals priests may attend and whom they may marry. The restrictions for the high priest are more stringent than those for a regular priest (vv. 10-15). Only a purified priest may touch the meat of offerings or come near the altar. Otherwise he would profane God’s presence and be cut off (22:1-3). If priests are ritually unclean, they will die in the sanctuary (vv. 4-9). Not all priests may serve at the altar. Those with certain handicaps are prohibited from doing so, although they get the same allotment of food as do the other priests (vv. 16-24). As for the laity, they must never eat grain or meat from an offering to God. To do so would profane the offering (22:10-16). Further instructions about the offerings brought to the sanctuary are given in 22:17-30. In the end it is God who sanctifies the people whom God delivered from Egypt. The exodus, an example of God’s grace, is followed by obedience on the part of the people so that God will not be profaned.
+Holy Time 23:1–25:55
+In Israel’s year, the months are numbered from the spring, but years are completed in the fall due to a holdover from another calendar. The structure for Israel’s annual festivals is given in chapter 23. The sabbath heads this list and is termed a holy convocation as are the annual festivals (vv. 2-3). The first festival is Passover, which is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month (Aviv = Nisan) and comes in the spring. The festival of unleavened bread occurs on the next day, the fifteenth, and lasts for seven days (23:4-8). The raising of the first sheaf of harvest comes next (vv. 9-14). Following the raising of the first sheaf, they were to count seven sabbaths. On the day after the seventh sabbath, the festival of weeks (Pentecost), a harvest festival, begins (vv. 15-21).
+Instructions to leave part of the harvest for the poor and immigrant are found in 23:22. Following these harvest festivals is New Years, set by the calendar on the first day of the seventh month (vv. 23-32). The day of expiation, the purification of the sanctuary, is observed on the tenth day of the seventh month (vv. 26-32; the ceremony is described in ch. 16). The last festival is again a harvest festival. Following the ingathering of grain on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the people are to live in booths for seven days, celebrating the time they spent in booths after God saved them from Egypt (vv. 39-44; see Yoder, “Calendar” [295–97]).
+Various objects kept in the sanctuary and instructions about how to maintain them seems like an afterthought (24:1-9). So far Leviticus has not mentioned the lamp, the lampstand for several lights, the gold table, or the offering of bread placed on it. One might think that this paragraph about an “eternal light” would fit with the “eternal” fire on the altar that the priests are to keep (Lev 6:8-13). The construction of these objects is described in Exodus 23:25-37.
+A second narrative begins with 24:10, which recounts a charge of blasphemy brought against a man whose father was Egyptian but whose mother was Israelite. He was placed in prison until Moses understood how to handle such a case (v. 12). God tells Moses to bring the man outside the camp (a nonholy place), the accusers are to place their hands on his head, and the whole congregation will then stone him. In addition, God states the rule: anyone who blasphemes, Israelite or non-Israelite, should be put to death (vv. 13-16). Appended to this rule is the more general principle of lex talionis—an eye for an eye. See also Exodus 21:23-24 where the next law rules on striking a slave. It does not carry the same penalty as striking a fellow Israelite. In Leviticus the same law applies to everyone—Israelite and foreigner alike (vv. 17-22). The sentence is carried out in verse 23.
+The Jubilee Year law occupies almost the entirety of chapter 25. But before discussing the Jubilee year, the regulations for the sabbatical year must be given (25:1-7). After seven sabbatical years, forty-nine years, the Jubilee, or year of release (v. 10), is announced by the blowing of the trumpet. The name Jubilee comes from the Hebrew word yobel, the term for a ram’s horn that was used as a trumpet.
+The basis of the release year was God’s ownership of the land. Israel was God’s tenant on the land, not its owner. Thus, the land could not be sold permanently to another because the one using the land did not have a title to it (25:23-24). Note the differentiation between open land, land in a walled city (vv. 29-31), and Levitical cities and land (vv. 32-34).
+The release of indentured servants and slaves is also part of the Jubilee law. Israelites are God’s indentured servants, and their release is covered in verses 34-43. An Israelite may not be enslaved by another Israelite because they all belong to God (v. 42). However, a non-Israelite may be bought and held permanently, and their children will also belong to their owner (vv. 45-46). Israelites who have become the possession of non-Israelites are also to go free at the time of Jubilee (vv. 47-55). The chapter ends with the reminder that all Israelites are God’s servants, “bought” by God through their freedom from slavery in Egypt.
+The Promise and Danger of Covenant 26:1-46
+The book proper ends with blessings and curses that will accrue to Israel depending on their obedience to God with whom they have a covenant (ch. 26). Blessings and curses, which are also found toward the end of Deuteronomy in chapters 27–28, seem to be part of covenant making—detailing what will happen to someone who breaks covenant with another (see Yoder, 268, for bibliography). While judgment will fall on Israel for disobedience, God’s punishment does not break the covenant (26:45-46). Rather, God will remain in a covenanted relationship with Israel. The final verse, 26:46, is a summation of what has gone before and marks a completion.
+Addendum: Vows, Dedications, and Tithes 27:1-34
+Leviticus concludes with an addendum regulating pledges, dedications, and the tithe (ch. 27). The cost of redeeming a vowed pledge depends upon its worth. A “chart” of redemption prices is given in verses 2-13. Then the dedication, or consecration, of houses or land and their redemption is described (vv. 14-25). However, animals or things already belonging to God obviously cannot be dedicated to God (vv. 26-29). The chapter and book end with tithes and their redemption (vv. 30-33). The final verse, verse 34, repeats the summary ending already given in 26:46.
+Conclusion
+Leviticus is a book about human relationships with God. The first part describes the worship of God and the maintenance of spiritual relationships with God. The last part instructs how to live a holy life in harmony with a holy God. It was given to be the foundation for liturgy and ethics for a people in formation.
+Recommended Essays in the Commentary
+Atonement (kipper)
+Atonement as Transfer
+Atonement in Christian Thinking and Leviticus
+Calendar
+Cleansing Offering (in Leviticus)
+Covenant
+Hebrews and Leviticus
+Holy and Holiness
+Jubilee Year
+Plain-Sense Interpretation
+Pure
+Radical Reformation and Mennonite Use of Leviticus
+Ransom
+Scapegoat (in Leviticus)
+Bibliography
+- Altman, Amnon. The Historical Prologue of the Hittite Vassal Treaties: An Inquiry into the Concepts of Hittite Interstate Law. Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 2004.
+- Anderson, Gary A. “Sacrifice and Sacrificial Offerings: Old Testament.” In Anchor Bible Dictionary 5:870–86. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
+- Bergen, Wesley J. Reading Ritual: Leviticus in Postmodern Culture. JSOTSup 417. London: T&T Clark, 2005.
+- Bockmuehl, Markus. 1995 “The Noachide Commandments and New Testament Ethics, with special reference to Acts 15 and Pauline Halakhah.” Revue Biblique (1995) 102:72–101.
+- Dawson, David. Flesh Becomes a Word: A Lexicography of the Scapegoat, or the History of an Idea. Studies in Violence, Mimesis, and Culture. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2013.
+- Eberhart, Christian A. “Sacrifice? Holy Smokes! Reflections on Cult Terminology in the Hebrew Bible.” In Ritual and Metaphor: Sacrifice in the Bible, edited by Christian A. Eberhart, 17–32. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2011.
+- Gane, Roy E., and Ada Taggar-Cohen, eds. Current Issues in Priestly and Related Literature: The Legacy of Jacob Milgrom and Beyond. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2015.
+- Gilders, William K. Blood Ritual in the Hebrew Bible: Meaning and Power. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004.
+- Goldstein, Elizabeth W. “Women and the Purification Offering: What Jacob Milgrom Contributed to the Intersection of Women’s Studies and Biblical Studies.” In Current Issues in Priestly and Related Literature: The Legacy of Jacob Milgrom and Beyond, edited by Roy E. Gane and Ada Taggar-Cohen, 47–65. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2015.
+- Grabbe, Lester L. Leviticus. Old Testament Guides. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993.
+- Hartley, John E. Leviticus. Word Biblical Commentary 4. Dallas: Word, 1992.
+- Klawans, Jonathan. “Methodology and Ideology in the Study of Priestly Ritual.” In Perspectives on Purity and Purification in the Bible, edited by Baruch J. Schwartz et al., 84–95. London: T&T Clark, 2008.
+- Levine, Baruch A. Leviticus. JPS Torah Commentary. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989.
+- Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus: A Book of Ritual and Ethics. Continental Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004.
+- Müller, Klaus. Tora für die Völker: Die noachidischen Gebote und Ansätze zu ihrer Rezeption im Christentum. 2nd ed. Berlin: Institut Kirche und Judentum, 1998.
+- Nihan, Christophe. “Forms and Functions of Purity in Leviticus.” In Purity and the Forming of Religious Traditions in the Ancient Mediterranean World and Ancient Judaism, edited by Christian Frevel and Christophe Nihan, 311–67. Leiden: Brill, 2013.
+- Warning, Wilfried. Literary Artistry in Leviticus. Biblical Interpretation 35. Leiden: Brill, 1999.
+- Wehnert, Jürgen. Die Reinheit des “christlichen Gottesvolkes” aus Juden und Heiden: Studien zum historischen und theologischen Hintergrund des sogenannten Aposteldekrets. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1997.
+- Yoder, Perry. Leviticus. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Harrisonburg, VA: Herald, 2017.
+- Zenger, Eric. “Das Buch Levitikus als Teiltext der Tora/des Pentateuch: Eine synchrone Lektüre mit kanonischer Perspektive.” In Levitikus als Buch, edited by Heinz-Josef Fabry and Jans-Winfied Jüngling, 47–83. Berlin: Philo, 1999.
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+May.
+Industry friend and former colleague Patrick DiCaprio (@pdicaprioFP911) posted something on Facebook recently that spurred an interesting discussion I wanted to share with you today:
+24 comments have been left for this article.
+BP Comment Quick Links
+Really interesting discussion- I agree with you Derek, that data with partial accuracy is better than no data at all. And I'm guessing you'd be hard pressed to find even a scout who would call scouting a "hard science".
+When you go on Pat's show, I'd be interested to hear what he thinks about defensive metrics... Is there any defensive metric (advanced or not) that does NOT have some subjective element? Is not, does that make them all worthless?
+It's just so easy and so convenient to approach this conversation as though scouting and sabermetrics are diametrically opposed to one another. Patrick seems to argue under the assumption (genuine or affected, I'm uncertain) that all scouts' opinions always stand in direct opposition to what scientific data say.
+The most telling moment of the conversation was when Derek said, "Let's say that same hitter is hitting more fly balls this year, and my scout notes that he's altered his swing plane so as to get more loft on the ball." And this was essentially dismissed out of hand for the sake of adhering to a strict, if not entirely realistic, dogma.
+And, of course, defense.
+Check out Pecota predictions for Jose Bautista for the past four years and compare those to scouting reports. The stats may be scientific, but they don't know to look for something like a changed batting stance.
+This is an important point. Statistics right now are not that great at predicting success. This might be because we don't measure enough factors/well enough. It might also be that there are inherently unmeasurable factors, contingency, and path dependency that render future performance of players inherently UNpredictable.
+It is very, very easy to be wrong. You'd think that the whole "defense doesn't matter just play sluggers" debacle would have taught the only-stats crowd some humility.
+I’m not sure that anyone suggested defense doesn’t matter. I believe that scoring more runs than your opponent should be the only thing that matters; and if you win 12-8 or 3-1 it’s still a ‘W’. For a small window of time it appeared that offense-first beer-league-looking guys were cheaper to acquire than athletic guys who could field. That may not be the style of baseball that you like, but that doesn’t mean it was a debacle.
+And there are jerks on both sides of the stats versus scouting fence that need humility.
+For every one player that changed their batting stance and became Jose Bautista there are hundreds that have changed their batting stance and haven’t. I believe that you will rarely be able to point to a changed batting stance and say “that’ll work” ahead of time.
+I wonder how many “sweet swing” guys never make it because their out-of-the-zone swing percentage is 35%. One of these things is measurable, the other is not.
+One point that isn't being made in the dicussion above is with regard to allocation of resources. If a team has a specific budget for player projection, how much of that is being spent on accumulating enough scouting opinions to distill out meaningful conclusions. Is there a more optimal allocation that moves some of those resources into longer term technology development, even if it means less scouting data today?
+On the other hand, scouting can be done at 1000's of amateur ballparks around the world. How many of the tools used to generate precisely "measured" data are available at all of those parks? I think your points about precision vs accuracy are spot on here... a skilled scout should be able to deliver accurate, if imprecise, information from any place on earth that a player throws a ball, swings a bat, etc. Is improving the precision of those data worth what it would cost?
+A human being needs to interpret the data. That human being may be a scout or an analyst. If Pat is interested in the predictive value of the information, you'll still need a human to develop/adjust the formulas (regression analysis, etc.) that turn data into useful, predictive insights. Maybe that's a scout; maybe that's an analyst. But it's a human either way.
+Pat's example of 10% better contact outside the zone is helpful. Is that information predictive of anything? Is it small sample size? That requires judgment. Who provides that judgment is to be determined, but it won't be a computer.
+The dismissive attitude of scouting is what I find most troubling. Pat still sees it as an us vs. them debate. I think it's the condescension and superiority of "stats guys" that rubs those who are on the fence or not yet in the stats camp the wrong way.
+I love stats, but you need to watch games and observe the players, too. There's no way simply one or the other will do.
+Whether he is right or wrong, God help us if that is a prevailing view in more than the ultra-minority. Baseball would die out otherwise.
+The biggest problem with using only numbers - at the expense of actually watching games - is that numbers are only probabilities. You could refine and refine to the 50th decimal, but how would that really help? The player being analyzed does not play within a vacuum and the opposing pitcher/hitter also would have detailed tendencies.
+Furthermore, the percentages are on a broad level and will never let us know how a player will perform in a specific at bat. Baseball is played (scouted) with whole numbers and analyzed (statistics) in partial numbers. No matter how you look at it, you get an incomplete picture. The best method can only be to discuss both the whole and the partial.
+It does not seem like Patrick is interested in having a discussion. He wants to tell you why he is right and you are wrong. I wouldn't waste any more time with this.
+I couldn't agree more. Very well said.
+Clearly the "it takes both" view is the one most of us share.
+What occurs to me here though, is that the distinction between "good scout" and an "eh-scout" will matter more and more. As the game relies more on objective measures, the number of scouts whose eyes, instincts and ability-to-predict allow them to keep pace will necessarily grow scarcer ---and more valuable.
+Totally agreed, but which tools will be employed to measure the accuracy of the scouts?!
+Makes me wonder how umps are going to be judged going forward as well...
+While I understand the horseplayer's analogy, it also comes with it's baggage. There are numerous stats collected in racing, and multitudes of ways to use those stats to predict the future. Early data collectors thought they had found the road to enlightenment (and early on, view of the goal must have seemed clear), but that road has become congested with fellow travellers blocking the view.
+OK, last time I was at a track, one of the races had only six horses. I know nothing whatever about horses. But I could see that 5 of the horses were standing around before the race, basically looking bored. And once horse was racing around like crazy, looking eager to get started. I put $10 down on the only frisky horse -- the longshot in the field -- and won about $200. It may be a fluke. But I think I was seeing that one one of the horses was really ready to race. In my inept, uneducated way I was scouting the horses. It worked.
+Back in the 70's, I was in graduate school and remember reading an monograph entitled something like "The Art of Muddling Through". As this was before computers were readily available, the study took quantifiable business decisions that experienced business managers had made by feel/intuition because the data was not readilty available. After the decision was made, the data was then collected and the correctness of the decisions made on intution/feel was relatively high - I think around 80%. Sure you want to improve your accuracy, but until that data is readily available, subjectivity is better than nothing.
+Most decisions are trivially easy. Once the decisions cease to be trivial, people are generally no better than chance (and frequently worse due to bias). If you're in a position to leverage analytics, you'll crush people basing decisions on that same data every time. Do you remember how terrible the original Yahoo web directory was?
+This seems like a discussion about the means of collecting data. Scouts are in many ways attempting to codify behavior for analysis, in the same way pitchFX does. Currently, using human collection is much more feasible for most data collection, especially at lower levels. As the infrastructure of digital data collection grows, perhaps scouting will become irrelevant in some ways. There is also a question of proprietary data collection that enters into play, ie a team doesn't want to just share a collective infrastructure of data- there is no competitive advantage. SO, in "near future" when we can quantify everything about all players, then Patrick will be correct.
+It reminds me a of an old economics joke [shortened here]: Three people, one an economist, are stranded on a desert island with a bunch of canned food and no can opener. The two cannot open the cans, so they turn to the economist who says "Let's start by imagining a perfect can opener..."
+All I really want to say is this: anyone who actually does statistical analysis for a living--like I do--knows that DiCaprio is way, way, way out of line in his lauding of quantitative over qualitative data. Real researchers use all data--for example, using qualitative data at the beginning of a project to help identify potential hypotheses for testing, numbers for statistical testing, and back to qualitative sources for a reality check of results. Throwing out a huge source of information--scout reports--simply because it does not hew to a comically narrow notion of "data" is just ridiculous.
+That's not what he's saying at all.
+"Anything that is so bad at predicting how players will do is, at best, marginally useful."
+Yes, it is what he is saying.
+Also:
+"But when you say "scouting data," what do you mean? I take it to mean info generated by technological measurement of skill/performance and not the subjective opinions of people watching."
+In other words, he is denying that scouting reports are data at all. But the fact that something is subjective doesn't make it not data.
+I wouldn't believe in ghosts unless one slapped me in the face. That said, I've been beaten senseless by scouting ghosts for the past eight years, so I choose to believe in them.
+Overconfidence in either objective or subjective data alone will fuel a limited view, and baseball epiphany lies in the intersection of what we see and what we measure. Much like scouting, performance stats rely on input variables that are imperfect, which will be true as long as a bunt-single is weighted equally with a laser off the Monsta' in the box score.
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+Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
+July 2008
+Beat
+Beat_1<<
+Beat
+Beat’s
+Beat the Streak Report: Friday, July 25
+Weekend Picks
+Friday
+Jermaine Dye, OF, White Sox
+- 13-for-35 (.371) vs. DET LHP Nate Robertson
+- .519 AVG (14-for-27) over last 7 G
+- 4-for-7 (.571) vs. MIL LHP Manny Parra
+- .417 AVG during 9-game hit streak
+Saturday
+- 5-for-11 (.455) vs. HOU RHP Brandon Backe
+- .469 AVG (15-for-32) since ASB
+Sunday
+- 8-for-19 (.421) vs. ARI LHP Randy Johnson
+- .358 AVG vs. LHP in ’08
+Yesterday’s picks
+Albert Pujols (STL): 0-for-2, BB, sac fly
+David Wright (NYM): 1-for-3, BB
+Top 5 current leaders
+(yesterday’s pick)
+1. bailtard, 29 games (David Wright)
+1. oldeguy, 29 games (David Wright)
+3. lupah99, 26 games (David Wright)
+4. northholly, 25 games (Alex Rios)
+4. sherbrookaz, 25 games (Mike Aviles)
+- BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
+- BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
+- MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
+Yesterday’s results
+For the first time this week, a BTS leader managed to hold onto the top spot for more than one day. Co-leaders bailtard and oldeguy extended their streaks to 29 games on the strength of David Wright, who delivered an RBI single in the third inning of New York’s victory over Philadelphia.
+The co-leaders were among 7.7% of BTS competitors, including third-place fan lupah99, who chose Wright, making him the day’s second most-picked player. But not all fans were so lucky. Albert Pujols, the day’s most popular pick, went 0-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in the Cardinals’ loss to the Brewers. His hitless performance halted the streaks of 8.2% of BTS competitors, including yesterday’s third-place fan justablooper.
+Four competitors entered yesterday’s action tied for fifth place with 24-game streaks. The knot was quickly unraveled, though, when tom_cicini (Jermaine Dye) and blazin19 (Chase Utley) were the victims of hitless performances from their picks.
+Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
+1. Albert Pujols (STL): 8.2%, 0-for-2
+2. David Wright (NYM): 7.7%, 1-for-3
+3. Jose Reyes (NYM): 6.5%, 0-for-2
+4. Chase Utley (PHI): 5.1%, 0-for-4
+5. Ryan Braun (MIL): 5.0%, 4-for-4
+Beat
+Beat
+Beat the Streak Report: Tuesday, July 22
+Check out the Beat the Streak all-time leaderboard to see how your streak stacks up against the best in BTS history.
+Picks of the day
+Nick Markakis, OF, Orioles
+- 7-for-15 (.467) vs. TOR RHP Shaun Marcum
+- .323 July AVG
+Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
+- 7-for-20 (.350) vs. MIL RHP Jeff Suppan
+- .357 AVG over last 19 G
+Top 5 current leaders
+(yesterday’s pick)
+1. freebirdsince88, 32 games (V. Guerrero)
+1. garykittilsen, 32 games (D. Pedroia)
+3. bailtard, 26 games (A. Rodriguez)
+3. oldeguy, 26 games (D. DeJesus)
+5. justablooper, 24 games (P. Polanco)
+- BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
+- BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
+- MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
+Yesterday’s results
+For the second time in three weeks, a BTS leader was stripped of his crown after picking Lance Berkman against Pittsburgh. Last night, natale94 was felled when the slugger went hitless in four trips
+to the dish against John Van Benschoten and the Pittsburgh ‘pen. On July 9, dalmeetz048 saw his 34-game streak snapped when Berkman turned in an 0-for-1 effort with four walks against the Bucs.
+natale94 wasn’t the only member of the Top 5 to see his streak return to zero after choosing Berkman. A staggering 13.5% of BTS competitors, including yesterday’s fourth- and fifth-place competitors, ttamel and littled75, saw their streaks end with Berkman’s hitless performance.
+As a result of the Top 5 upheaval, three new competitors — bailtard, oldeguy, and justablooper — made their way onto the leaderboard. Meanwhile, garykittilsen jumped back into a first-place tie with freebirdsince88, who rode the bat of outfielder Vladimir Guerrero (1-for-4) to extend his streak to 32 games. garykittilsen was in first until his streak stalled on Sunday night after his pick, Placido Polanco, did not play.
+Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
+1. Lance Berkman (HOU): 13.5%, 0-for-3
+2. Chipper Jones (ATL): 4.1%, 1-for-4
+3. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): 3.8%, 1-for-3
+4. Derek Jeter (NYY): 3.7%, 2-for-5
+5. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 3.6%, 1-for-5
+Beat the Streak Report: Monday, July 21
+Picks of the day
+- 11-for-24 (.458) during 6-game hit streak
+- .433 AVG in July
+Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox
+- 5-for-10 vs. SEA LHP J. Washburn
+- .321 AVG in July
+Top 5 current leaders
+(yesterday’s pick)
+1. natale94, 32 games (Chipper Jones)
+2. freebirdsince88, 31 (Grady Sizemore)
+2. garykittilsen, 31 (Placido Polanco)
+4. ttamel, 30 (Grady Sizemore)
+5. littled75, 26 (Josh Hamilton)
+Season leader: spooky93, 48 games
+Yesterday’s results
+BTS competitors are quickly learning that, contrary to popular belief, weekends are not meant for sitting back and relaxing.
+For the second straight weekend, four of Friday’s Top 5 competitors fell off the leaderboard before Monday, with second-place contestant garykittilsen proving to be the lone survivor. garykittilsen entered Sunday tied for first place but lost his share of the lead when his pick, Placido Polanco, did not play in Detroit’s win over Baltimore. New leader natale94 seized the opportunity by taking sole possession of first after Chipper Jones hit an RBI double in the fourth inning of Atlanta’s loss to the Nationals.
+Fans on Sunday went crazy for Grady Sizemore, who entered the day’s action with a .488 lifetime average (21-for-43) against Seattle righty Carlos Silva. Sizemore couldn’t manage a hit in two trips to the dish against Silva, but he collected a pair of hits against the Mariners bullpen to validate his selection as the day’s most-picked player.
+Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
+1. Grady Sizemore (CLE): 7.2%, 2-for-4
+2. Chase Utley (PHI): 6.6%, 1-for-3
+3. Chipper Jones (ATL): 5.8%, 1-for-3
+4. Albert Pujols (STL): 5.3%, 0-for-0
+5. Aramis Ramirez (CHC): 4.2%, 0-for-5
+Beat the Streak Report: Friday, July 18
+For the first time ever, compete against your friends and co-workers in group play as you pursue the $1 million grand prize.
+Weekend Picks
+Friday
+Chipper Jones, OF, Braves
+- 5-for-7 (.714) vs. WSH RHP Tim Redding
+- .376 AVG leads Majors
+- .449 July AVG leads Majors
+- Hit safely in 20 of last 22 G
+Saturday
+Manny Ramirez, OF, Red Sox
+- 7-for-15 (.467) vs. LAA RHP Jon Garland
+- .342 AVG in July
+Sunday
+Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
+- 8-for-20 (.400) vs. PHI LHP Cole Hamels
+- .404 AVG in July
+Top 5 current leaders
+(yesterday’s pick)
+1. eazyeric, 36 games (Placido Polanco)
+2. stormrider1, 34 (Brian Roberts)
+3. anthony.tynan, 30 (Placido Polanco)
+3. yelmurb24, 30 (Albert Pujols)
+5. garykittilsen, 29 (Garrett Atkins)
+Season leader: spooky93, 48 games
+Yesterday’s results
+The All-Star break did little more than delay eazyeric’s march toward the record books, as the BTS leader extended his streak to 36 games last night thanks to Placido Polanco. The Tigers second baseman kept the BTS world on edge by going hitless in his first four at-bats before scratching out a single in the top of the ninth inning of Detroit’s win over Baltimore.
+Meanwhile, third-place competitors anthony.tynan and yelmurb24 kept their streaks alive to break into 30-game territory. Like the leader, anthony.tynan grinded it out with Polanco while yelmurb24 rode the bat of All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols (1-for-4).
+yelmurb24 wasn’t alone in trusting Prince Albert yesterday, as 14 percent of BTS contestants also chose the Cardinals slugger, making him the day’s most popular pick. The 12.3 percent of fans who made Jose Reyes the second-most-picked player weren’t so lucky, though, as Reyes was unable to manage a hit in five trips to the dish against Cincinnati last night.
+Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
+1. Albert Pujols (STL): 14.0%, 1-for-4
+2. Jose Reyes (NYM): 12.3%, 0-for-5
+3. Garrett Atkins (COL): 11.9%, 2-for-4
+4. Matt Holliday (COL): 8.4%, 0-for-4
+5. Placido Polanco (DET): 8.2%, 1-for-5
+Recent Comments
+.
+Transcript
+Voice Over Host 0:02
+This is the best or worst podcast. And now here are your hosts Koji, Steven Sakai and M Martin Mapoma.
+Koji Steven Sakai 0:13
+Welcome to best or worst podcasts. This is Koji. And this is my son, he, Martin, my usual host is unable to get to the studio because of the quarantine and the self distancing. And also, hopefully Martin doesn’t listen to us, but he’s old. And he is in the range of things, people who are in danger, so we don’t want him to come here and we don’t want to get him infected. So right now, this podcast will be me and my son and what we’ll be talking about the best or the worst, that guy heavy breathing is my son say, Hello.
+Koji’s Son 0:51
+Hello. Restart Restart
+Koji Steven Sakai 0:57
+No, we’re not restarting. We’re fine. We’re fine.
+Koji’s Son 0:59
+This is actually kind of weird. Ready? Go!
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:01
+Okay, ready? So I’m going to ask you, your best and worst moments, you’re in second grade or you were in second grade. Yeah.
+Koji’s Son 1:12
+You’re still in second grade.
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:15
+And so we’re going to, I’m going to ask you about your best and worst moments in the self distancing, being away from school. Alright, so what’s your best moment?
+Koji’s Son 1:24
+getting free computer time?
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:28
+What do you do on the computer?
+Koji’s Son 1:30
+Watch YouTube?
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:31
+What do you watch on YouTube?
+Koji’s Son 1:33
+Mincraft
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:33
+Do they let you watch Minecraft at school?
+Koji’s Son 1:36
+No,
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:36
+no. Do they let you go on YouTube at school? No, definitely not. So this is way better. Why are you talking funny?
+Koji’s Son 1:41
+I don’t know
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:44
+And you could get further away from the mic. You’re not to be that far either. Yeah, perfect.
+Koji’s Son 1:49
+Okay.
+Koji Steven Sakai 1:49
+Okay. And what is your favorite thing to do so far in the in the self distancing, social distancing, self quarantining thing,
+Koji’s Son 1:59
+Typing.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:00
+That’s your least favorite.
+Koji’s Son 2:01
+No, no my least favorite is lets see states.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:08
+What do you have to do with states?
+Koji’s Son 2:09
+A look up and do a test?
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:12
+What kind of test are you doing? Is your daddy making you doing?
+Koji’s Son 2:15
+Yeah.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:17
+What kind of test?
+Koji’s Son 2:19
+The test? Ah, is let’s see.. Well, you got to name the states that you know already and the new state five new states.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:28
+Yeah, we’re memorizing all the states and we’re where they are in the United States, right?
+Koji’s Son 2:32
+Yeah.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:33
+Why don’t you like that? You’re gonna you’re gonna know all the states.
+Koji’s Son 2:37
+it’s boring. Plus I know, more than most people people about the bombing of Pearl Habor.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:42
+You really want to talk about Pearl Harbor.
+Koji’s Son 2:43
+Yeah.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:44
+Okay. Let’s talk about Pearl Harbor. Tell me everything you know about Pearl Harbor.
+Koji’s Son 2:48
+Did you know that Pearl Harbor began in that 8:01.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:52
+What was the date? What was the date?
+Koji’s Son 2:54
+December 7 1941.
+Koji Steven Sakai 2:56
+That’s great.
+Koji’s Son 2:57
+And there were four waves But they’ll supposedly to be the know though those three waves and those supposedd to be four waves but the admiral called off if it’s the fourth waves happened the pacific fleet will be more decimated
+Koji Steven Sakai 3:14
+so he’s talking about there was a there are different waves that the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army did the first one was the first bombing then there’s a second and third one and then there was originally going to Admiral Yamamoto wanted a fourth bombing. But he but the person the Japanese commander called it off because they were by the fourth by the third one they’re really experiencing a lot of loss of life and loss of planes and stuff. But that not doing a fourth one was a big mistake because they could have wiped out not wiped out but they could have really hurt the American naval forces. They already did hurt him but they could hurt him even more. So yeah, you’re right. What else do you know, you know, do we visit Pearl harbor?
+Koji’s Son 3:55
+Yes, we did.
+Koji Steven Sakai 3:56
+Did you have fun there?
+Koji’s Son 3:57
+Yes.
+Koji Steven Sakai 3:58
+We spent a lot of time there. If you’ve been there recently the people listening but it’s totally changed when I was a kid, it was just like this one little floating thing and you went there and you came back. And that’s it. But now there’s like, four museums.
+Koji’s Son 4:10
+Oh, you can go on the battle that the Japanese surrendered to the US.
+Koji Steven Sakai 4:16
+Yeah, he got that you could go on the submarine. And there’s a bunch of others a bunch of museum
+Koji’s Son 4:21
+You can go tot he memorial.
+Koji Steven Sakai 4:23
+You can go to the memorial. We couldn’t go to the memorial because I think it was under construction.
+Koji’s Son 4:27
+Or closed
+Koji Steven Sakai 4:27
+It was closed. Yeah. But well, do you like getting back to kind of the best or worse do you think? Do at school you have recess and your friends? Do you miss your friends in recess?
+Koji’s Son 4:39
+No, not really.
+Koji Steven Sakai 4:40
+Why not?
+Koji’s Son 4:41
+I can take a break whenever I want.
+Koji Steven Sakai 4:44
+Yeah. And what else?
+Koji’s Son 4:46
+Oh, yeah, I know. I can watch YouTube. They don’t let us watch YouTube.
+Why are we coming back to YouTube with everything’s YouTube? Why are you whispering in my ear?
+I don’t know. Can we restart?
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:04
+We’re not restarting. This is it? This is what we’re doing.
+Koji’s Son 5:07
+For real?
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:07
+Yes. This is how we’re doing. Okay. Is there anything else you want to say?
+Koji’s Son 5:10
+Just
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:10
+what?
+Koji’s Son 5:11
+That… I like [in adubile]
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:20
+Do you like school?
+Koji’s Son 5:21
+No.
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:22
+Why don’t you like school?
+Koji’s Son 5:23
+It’s too boring
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:24
+Is it because it’s too easy?
+Koji’s Son 5:25
+Yeah.
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:26
+Should be harder.
+Koji’s Son 5:27
+No. Regular school.
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:29
+Regular school is too hard.
+Koji’s Son 5:31
+Easy
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:31
+too easy. So maybe we should move you to a harder grade.
+Koji’s Son 5:35
+No, I still gotta be in second grade. I’ll be too little to move on to third, fourth grade. I don’t know.
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:42
+What if we put you in 10th grade.
+Koji’s Son 5:46
+I’ll be dead
+Koji Steven Sakai 5:49
+Then you have to like girls. Do you like girls? No, he’s shaking his head. All right. Well, you want to ask me how about you ask me my best and worst things about the The Corona apocalypse as I’ve been calling it, you want to ask me
+Koji’s Son 6:04
+Yeah,
+Koji Steven Sakai 6:05
+okay ask me.
+Koji’s Son 6:06
+What’s your best at top of the Corona apocalypse?
+Koji Steven Sakai 6:11
+Corona apocalypse okay. To me the best thing about it is I get to spend a lot of time with you I think I’ve spent way more well that’s that’s probably best and worse spending so much time with you. Because we spent a lot of time which is fun because we get to I get to go running and we bike and scooter and we play sports. But negatively on that is that we spend so much how we end up fighting. You have meltdowns, but I do like spending time with you. It’s nice. Okay. You want to ask me what the worst
+Koji’s Son 6:42
+no but you said the worst aklready
+Koji Steven Sakai 6:43
+No, no. What another worst one. Let’s do another.
+Koji’s Son 6:46
+What’s your worst? Another worst?
+Koji Steven Sakai 6:48
+Another worst one? Okay. Wow, that was a trick question I didn’t know was coming to me.
+Koji’s Son 6:55
+I think you did.
+Koji Steven Sakai 6:57
+The worst is that I feel trapped at the House. Like I love leaving. I love going places and doing things. What? Why are you what are you whispering to me? I can’t hear you
+Koji’s Son 7:09
+Just do it.
+Koji Steven Sakai 7:10
+You should say if you’re gonna say. Well, so I hate being just kind of sitting around and doing nothing. I love being busy. And I love like, like, we spend so much time in the office now, in our studio, that this is like my new home in this place. I we’re here for like eight hours a day, and I’ve never used to spend this much time in the studio. And that’s what we do. So is there anything you want to say to our audience? No, you can’t. Nobody could see you. Why don’t you say something?
+Koji’s Son 7:46
+No.
+Koji Steven Sakai 7:46
+Okay,
+Koji’s Son 7:47
+How about you?
+Koji Steven Sakai 7:48
+and Well, one thing I want to ask you most important question. What do you want to be when you grow up?
+Koji’s Son 7:55
+I don’t know.
+Koji Steven Sakai 7:56
+How about a How about I pig farmer
+Koji’s Son 8:01
+No
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:02
+How about a monkey pooper picker uper
+Koji’s Son 8:07
+No I want to be an actor becvause I like Star War and so I can be in Star Wars
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:13
+you want to be in Star Wars? Oh man Don’t be an actor.
+Koji’s Son 8:16
+Why?
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:17
+No. actors are a lot of work. You’re gonna be a lot of work. You’re gonna live in my house for a while. You’re gonna pay rent rents not free here when you actually turn 18 you know that right?
+Koji’s Son 8:31
+Why?
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:31
+Nothing’s free in this world.
+Koji’s Son 8:33
+I’m living free now
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:34
+no, you pay me. All right.
+Koji’s Son 8:37
+When do I pay you?
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:39
+You pay me all the time. All right. Is there anything last thing you want to say?
+Koji’s Son 8:42
+No. How about you?
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:45
+Well, I hope everyone is doing well out there in this world. It’s crazy. I do believe there is something I wanted to talk to you about.
+Koji’s Son 8:52
+What is it?
+Koji Steven Sakai 8:54
+One is what do you think the or let me rephrase is how is The world gonna be different when you go back to school after all this for you.
+Koji’s Son 9:04
+For some people, they got a move because some, you know, some people be some of the people with a friend lives with his mom and his mom dies she, he got he got to go to Oklahoma to like to live with his dad and his parents and his grandparents.
+Koji Steven Sakai 9:26
+So you’re saying that some people are talking about you for you personally? How is the life? Is life gonna change after all this?
+Koji’s Son 9:33
+Yes. Because my teacher get infected.
+Koji Steven Sakai 9:38
+Outside of infections say pretend nobody gets affected. How is it gonna change anything? Is it gonna change the way you look at things? I mean, we’re not going to go to school for at least another month or two.
+Koji’s Son 9:48
+No,
+Koji Steven Sakai 9:49
+no. Okay. I remember when I was a kid, all not really a kid but in 2001
+Koji’s Son 9:56
+Yeah,
+Koji Steven Sakai 9:56
+there was a thing called 9/11.
+Koji’s Son 9:58
+I know
+Koji Steven Sakai 9:59
+you know about 9/11.
+Koji’s Son 10:00
+Yeah, and those four and 1 plane clashed becasue the occupants made it crashed. And one question to the one, one Twin Tower the building then did one crashed into the next other one rather than a third plane crashed into the Pentagon.
+Koji Steven Sakai 10:22
+Yeah. Okay, so I think there was a time for before like before 9/11 the world was a totally different place. Why? So Okay, so first of all, you know how like, when you get on planes, I had to take off my belt and my shoes, and they look through everything. And they make to make us get naked.
+Koji’s Son 10:41
+Not naked naked
+Koji Steven Sakai 10:44
+Not naked naked. But so before before 9/11. It wasn’t like that. Before 9/11. If you were going to go on a plane, I could walk you all the way to the gate and say goodbye to you. Now I can’t even walk past security if I want to have a ticket. So that’s one of the big changes So I think everything changed. The other thing that changed was before 9/11 or a bunch of things changed. Another thing that changed before 9/11 was if if there was going to be a hijacking of a plane, stop hitting the microphone. If there was a hijacking of a plane, they, before they told you to not do anything, because usually it would be okay. Nothing What happen to you? You’d be released.
+Koji’s Son 11:24
+Why?
+Koji Steven Sakai 11:25
+Why? Because that’s what happened before you would they would hijack a plane, he would hijack a plane, they would land somewhere, and then they’ll get money, and then they’ll release everybody. Or they get something and they release everybody. But now. Now they know that people know if there’s a hijacking, they’re going to try to bring the plane down because they don’t want it to crash into like a World Trade Center or the Pentagon or the White House or something. And then theother tip,
+Koji’s Son 11:48
+or the Statue of Liberty,
+Koji Steven Sakai 11:49
+or the Statue of Liberty, yeah. And then the third one and another big thing is that before world war before before, I keep saying world war two and pearl harbor before 9/11 we were There was like never and I like America wasn’t in war. But every year since 9/11, we’ve been in war, a war or two, you know. And so I think it’s been interesting that our entire country changed now we’re constantly at war and we’re constantly fighting people.
+Koji’s Son 12:13
+Why?
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:13
+I just…. something changed in
+Koji’s Son 12:18
+Since 1945.
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:19
+No since 9/11, we’re talking about 9/11 remember.
+Koji’s Son 12:22
+Oh. no, no, I’m saying the first time we had peace before 9/11
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:30
+No, no, they’re so they’re really mostly had peace, you know, like so there’s the Vietnam War or Korea, right.
+Koji’s Son 12:36
+Korean war. Vietnam. The Cold War?
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:39
+Well, Cold War was during before Korea. It was a cold war, but there wasn’t really a war, right.
+Koji’s Son 12:45
+We was still competing.
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:46
+We really didn’t have a war since the Vietnam War. I mean, there were small skirmishes
+Koji’s Son 12:50
+like what
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:51
+there was like the Persian Gulf first Persian Gulf.
+Koji’s Son 12:53
+What is that?
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:54
+That’s when iraq invaded Kuwait and then
+Koji’s Son 12:58
+What is that?
+Koji Steven Sakai 12:59
+Kuwait is a country in Iraq as a country in the Middle East. And then what happened was we we fought we kicked the Iranians out, stop hitting the microphone. What are you doing? We hit, we kicked them out. And then once we kick them out, we stopped. So that he’s demonstrating what kicking out means. Okay. Anyway, so the whole point, I want to think that next time we talk, I want you to think about some how some way your life has changed since this Corona apocalypse. Okay.
+Koji’s Son 13:32
+Okay.
+Koji Steven Sakai 13:33
+It was really great talking to you.
+Koji’s Son 13:35
+By
+Koji Steven Sakai 13:37
+you should at that point, you’re supposed to say it was really great talking to you to Daddy.
+Koji’s Son 13:43
+It was really great talking to you Daddy,
+Koji Steven Sakai 13:44
+all right. Thank you.
+Koji’s Son 13:45
+Bye.
+Koji Steven Sakai 13:45
+Have a great day. Please rate review subscribe to our podcast. Why are you still breathing really loud? You’re aloud breather dude. Okay, please rate review, subscribe to this podcast. It’s a labor of love and we Send Martin your wishes he’s fine, but you know we’re wrapping him saran wrap so he doesn’t get sick. All right, thank you.
+Koji’s Son 14:07
+Bye.
+Koji Steven Sakai 14:07
+Have a good day night. Whatever. Bye
+Transcribed by
+I do not own Miyuki-chan in Wonderland. It, as are all of the MiW original characters, is property of CLAMP and only the fictious characters and storyline I created in this random piece of fluff are mine.
+Author's Note: Ha ha ha…I recently got to read and watch Miyuki-chan in Wonderland at a friend's house and couldn't seem to stop grinning. The antics and situations that poor girl gets into are simply classic. I find the comic version to be much more enjoyable than the really short animated version, simply because it gives you a much broader scope on Miyuki herself and her odd aura of 'kawaii-ness'. So this one-shot story is my sad attempt to try and blend in with that multiverse!Miyuki-chan in Hospital Land
+One day would have been considered a fluke. Two days was just a bothersome twinge. Three days was pushing it a bit, but it had been five full days before Miyuki gave in and realized she needed to go see a doctor. Which wasn't a very exciting idea of course, since this whole predicament was the result of being too over-eager in gym class. Or was it from running for her life (and virginity?) all the time…hmmm… Either way, her sharp back pains were just not going away by themselves. So giving into having to call up her stuffy family doctor, and taking care to be extra cautious about brushing her hair in front of the mirror, the blonde school girl made her way to the office. Wincingly she rubbed her back as she walked down the sidewalk, feeling and looking like a tired old man.
+Thankfully the place wasn't too far…otherwise she would have had to struggled with riding her bike. Five blocks down from her house, the crisp clinical building came into view. Chewing her thumbnail thoughtfully, she paused outside the automatic doors. That's funny…I don't remember it being this big. Although it has been a while since my last physical. I guess the clinic had…renevations…and expanded?
+She stepped up to the doors, and they wooshed open to allow her entry. Walking up to the front desk, careful to mind her sore muscles, she signed in on the waiting sign-in sheet. The receptionist swiveled in her chair and picked up the clipboard took look at it thoughtfully. "Oh my! Miyuki…such a cute name!" Miyuki looked up at this, noticing with raising suspicion at how attractive the lady at the desk was. Her rich red hair styled into a neat bun and her uniform extremely low cut. The woman adjusted her square glasses and leaned forward to snatch up the startled girl's hand.
+"Oh my…and you have such lovely blue eyes…just what ails you, dear?"
+Miyuki's eye twitched dangerously as she yanked her hand from the woman's grasp.
+"A-ah…my back…hurts…" She was suddenly having a very bad feeling all of a sudden.
+The woman gave a pouting smile, leaned forward so that her generous breasts were now right in Miyuki's line of sight. "Mmmm…I just bet it does…Oh my…such a naughty girl!"
+Miyuki's eye twitching was going into overdrive as she took several fearful steps back towards the safety of the double doors. "A-ah you know what? I-I don't really need that appointment after all!" She turned to exit, only to find the doors were gone. Wildly darting her head around, she tried to locate where they had gone to, but it was as if they had disappeared into thin air. Frantically she darted back around, only to find herself in a long hallway filled with doors and medical equipment as far as she could see.
+"W-what? Now hold on a minute here…" She began walking slowly down the hall, looking for a way out or maybe someone who could help her. But as her shoes squeaked ever so slightly, a sudden cry from behind her rang out.
+"There you are Miyuki darling! We haven't finished your registration yet!" It was the buxom red hed…and she was packing heat. With the crack of her riding crop, several front desk assitants began to coo and murmur amongst themselves as they all gave chase.
+"Aiiiii! Why do these things always happen to me!" Teary eyed, Miyuki just barely managed to dodge a flying tackle from a blonde with short cropped hair, when her back gave a painful lurch. Crying out, she braced it with one hand while looking around for a means of escape. Hobbling as best she could, she ducked around a corner and dove into one of the rooms. Shutting the door and panting hard, she waited as she heard the stampede of crazed women run by. Once the cries of 'Miyuki-chan!' had faded she turned to get a better look at her surroundings…only to find her face stuffed into something firm, warm, and…well…round.
+"Oh ho ho ho! Well aren't we eager!"
+Gasping for breath, Miyuki reared back blushing furiously. She found herself being led over to a paper covered examination table, and was soon hopped up with her legs dangling off the side. The nurse, (because who else would wear that paper hat with the big red cross on it…ignoring the mini skirt and unbuttoned blouse?) checked her temperature and felt her forehead.
+"Oh my my my…you are a bit warm, aren't you?" She let the hand linger and slowly slide to cup the cute little blonde's chin. Sultrily the nurse leaned over the girl, making quite certain her breasts raked over Miyuki's own. "Why…I'm beginning to feel hot myself…" Terrified and about to faint from blushing so hard, Miyuki tried to scoot away only to hear a loud 'harrumph'.
+The nurse leapt back sheepishly and turned to bow at the doorway. "Ah! Forgive me Doctor Watanabe! She's all yours." Stepping aside with clip board in hand, the Nurse demurely waited for the tall doctor to come striding in. The doctor herself was very cool and professional looking. Long flowing black hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and a pair of thin rimmed spectacles was situated low on her nose. With the air of experience, she motioned for Miyuki to sit up forward. Gulping slightly, the blonde did so, unconsciously sitting straighter. The doctor pulled on a pair of gloves and began going over her vitals with her stethoscope. Not once did anything funny happen, and Miyuki began to relax a bit in the new clinical atmosphere. She went through the pains of having her reflexes checked with the little hammer, her blood pressure taken, her temperature taken (properly) all with the doctor woman merely giving short crisp instructions. Once the small physical was over, the doctor took the clipboard from the nurse, who was busy bustling at the counters of medicine and instruments. The doctor, who gave Miyuki a reassuring smile, took a seat in the chair in front of her table and began to go over the sheets. "Hmmm…so you are suffering from severe back pains then? Perhaps brought about by overexertion and strain at work or school? Yes I see, hmmm…alright then I'm going to need you to take off your shirt please." Miyuki blinked in confusion, so the bespectacled doctor continued, "I'd like to pin point exactly where the problem is, so we can diagnose a cure."
+That made sense, Miyuki thought to herself, even if she was a bit wary about undressing in front of that crazy nurse. But at least the doctor was here to supervise. She seemed nice enough. The doctor removed her glasses, revealing a pair of piercing blue eyes as she watched Miyuki hesitantly lift her shirt. Finally sighing, she motioned to the nurse, "Aki-chan? Please give Miyuki-chan a hand…I believe her back pains are making things difficult for her."
+"Why of course Watanabe-sensei! I'd be absolutely delighted to!"
+"W-wait a second, I really don't--!"
+"Oh stop squirming, you tasty little morsel! We'll have this off of you in a moment!" The nurse's hands were strangely more focused on what was underneath the shirt than in getting the shirt off.
+"Kyaa! Don't do that!" Miyuki fitfully tried to tug the shirt down again, and keep those searching hands from going any lower.
+"What, this? Oh my! Oh ho ho ho, are we a bit ticklish there? If you think you're squirming now…mmmm…wait till I visit you later."
+Sei Watanabe gave another sigh, "Aki-chan…" The nurse gave a nod of understanding and popped the shirt up and over her head, leaving the poor girl blushing and shivering slightly on the examination table. The doctor moved forward and began feeling her back and shoulders.
+"Hmmm…does this hurt? No? Okay then, try raising your right arm…oh my what a cute bra you have on…okay now cough please." The best Miyuki managed to do was a slight 'Eep!'. The doctor's latex hands were slipping low on her back making her shiver once more. Still blushing she said, "A-ah…the pain is a little higher there…not…so far low…?" The doctor tsked her in reply.
+"Several muscles can pull and cause strain on other muscles. I need to locate the point of strain, then we can prescribe you some muscle relaxants to help with the pain." The doctor's long fingers trailed along her shoulder blades, skimming heatedly across the edge of her bra. Miyuki's eye twitched again worriedly, but she tried to hold still.
+"Oh…oh okay then…"
+The doctor had now felt and massaged all across the skin of her back, making mild comments about certain muscles that the nurse grinned about and wrote down on her note pad. She watched the two of them with a darkly heated gaze, nibbling on her pen as her hand slipped from view. Miyuki was suddenly very very concerned. And that was putting it mildly.
+It didn't get any better when she felt her bra unclasp in the back and fall away. With a startled cry, she held the front of her bra tightly to her chest, her face as red as a tomato. "W-why are you--!" The doctor was now murmuring close into her ear, her voice lowered an octave and as smokey and sultry as any of the characters she had met on her 'adventures'.
+"Mmmm…Miyuki…it really is a cute name…I think I've found the problem, Miyuki…chan." She felt a larger pair of hands slip across her stomach and cup her breasts. Their hands were brushing against one another, and Miyuki suddenly knew she had a Code Red.
+"Why…with your delicious endowment…" a firm squeeze that turned into a massage as the doctor began to nuzzle her patient intimately, "It's no wonder your back hurts! Nurse Aki?"
+"Hai, sensei!" The nurse looking very much turned on came over with a frighteningly large needle. Miyuki couldn't move, pinned as she was by the older woman. She felt a prick in her arm, and an odd feeling of relaxation.
+"There now…doesn't that feel good? Sensei and I will show you just how good you can feel…."
+Miyuki felt the nurse sidled in front of her, grasping her shoulders and neck, and slowly the room blanked out.
+Waking up from her awkward position at the kitchen table, the blonde yawned and wiped her mouth to get the drool off. Had she fallen asleep after homework? Ugh…her back was stiff now from sleeping so oddly. Shaking her head to clear it of the faint fragments of her dream, she yawned again and headed for the fridge. A snack sounded good…why did she have such crazy dreams all the time? But just as she was putting back the milk, sipping from a glass…she sputtered it back out on the floor. There on the door was a cheerful hand written prescription, held on by a magnet shaped like a bunny.
+Good for one free check up.
+Come by any time!
+XOXO Aki-chan and Dr. Watanabe
+Endless
+If you’re anything like me, the one question I have every day is “what should I wear” for pretty much every situation. Going to work, catching up with friends, or drinks with the girls, I just never know what to wear for the occasion. Thankfully, oversized tees are here to save the day. An oversized tee is a staple in my wardrobe; and really should be a staple in ANY girl’s wardrobe! Why?
+Oversized tee’s are just the best. No matter what shape you are, if you’re tall or short, or what colour you are – an oversized tee will ALWAYS look good! They’re also the comfiest things to wear, and so easy to dress up or down for almost any occasion! I’ve been a huge fan of oversized tees for a long time, and my favourite thing to do is to steal my boyfriend’s tees because they were always oversized, and his are more comfy than mine!
+In the spirit of supporting local businesses, I’ve bought a few oversized tees from His Shirt is Mine – this is a New Zealand business that specialise in oversized tees! I reached out to Juliet, who started His Shirt is Mine around 18 months ago. She started the business because she, like myself, had a habit of stealing her partner’s tees, hoodies, singlets and even his boxers!
+She wanted to play on the habit of women wearing their man’s tees, and there came His Shirt. They currently have a range of tees that are all in mens sizes, for both guys and girls to enjoy – and they have some very exciting things coming for Winter very soon! All of her tees are made out of super soft, high quality material, and I have never worn a single tee more than I have worn my tees from His Shirt!
+You can check out their range at: and check out their instagram at
+Now onto styling; Juliet’s favourite way to style her oversized tee’s are either on their own to wear around the house, or styled with some heels for a night out! Here are some of my favourite ways to style an oversized tee for every occasion:
+Wear it On Its Own!
+The best thing about an oversized tee is the glory of wearing it on its own – no other clothes needed! Oversized tees are designed to cover all of the important bits, while giving you the freedom to go Bra-less all day and lounge around your house in nothing but a tee! Why put together an entire outfit, when the hardest outfit decision you have to make could be “what oversized tee do I wear today?” Throw your hair up in a bun, chuck on an oversized tee and a face mask, and just get cozy girl!
+The coolest thing with oversized tees, is there is so many different ways to style them without ANY other clothing pieces! I’d recommend getting your tee super oversized for these different tips.
+For a day out and about, a simple knot at the bottom instantly gives the tee some shape, and helps give your body a bit more shape as well. Plus, you have plenty of chance to show off those sexy legs your momma gave ya! Throw on a cute bag and chunky sneakers, and you’ve got a stunningly effortless day to day fit!
+A trend going around lately, that we all know, is the super classy Bum Bag. To add a bit of ‘hip’ to your fit, throw a bum bag over one shoulder or around your waist for a bit of shape and texture to your look!
+Of course, wearing it on its own with a cheeky handbag and heels is also a great way to stay comfy, while looking flawless for a night out with your girls.
+Comfy with Cycle Shorts!
+We all know of the infamous cycle shorts trend that took over the internet last year – and these paired with an oversized tee is super chíc as well as being super comfy. It’s the perfect outfit to look like you’ve put in heaps of effort, but really you just threw it on, and still look super cute. This is perfect for hanging at home, a day of errands, or chilling with your girls!
+I absolutely love wearing a tee with cycle shorts for a chill day. I paired this look with some sunnies from Cotton On and some white chunky sneakers from Boohoo. This is the best way to feel confident and comfy, as well as rocking a super cute outfit. Can’t get much better than that!
+But why stop there? Statement chunky boots and high socks are a totally grunge look that throws off some badass vibes, and are still super effortless and comfy. This would be perfect for those oversized tee’s with statement prints, or darker statement colours that you really want to accentuate!
+If you’ve got a statement pair of cycle shorts you want to show off, simply tie a knot in the front of the tee to really sinch in that waist, and show off your cute shorts!
+Side note: I realised I’ve been tying my tees all wrong and Tik Tok gave me the solution!
+Check out an even better way to tie your tee here:
+Cycle Shorts – the Dressier Version
+You could dress this up even further for cooler weather with a jacket over top! My favourite is throwing a denim jacket over my shoulders for a bit ore cover, or actually putting it on if its getting cold. You could also try a leather biker style jacket, or even a coat for those chilly mornings heading out to the office! Pop on your favourite chunky sneakers for a casual day out, or you could throw on some heels for a dressier look. If you’re feeling even more daring, why not try this with a pair of thigh high boots for an even edgier look!
+It was much too hot to put the jacket on fully, but you get the idea. I love contrasting the colour of my jacket with the colour of my tee – in this case I wore a light denim jacket on a darker grey tee. The contrast helps to make the outfit look a bit more put together; plus the denim jacket gives you pockets!
+This outfit would also look super cute with a full length coat in colder months – when you’re going from nicely heated rooms out into the cold outside. Similar to how you would with a dressy look – you’re just a lot more comfy!
+Worn as a Tee
+Oversized tees can also be worn as a normal top, especially in cooler months! My favourite thing to do with an oversized tee is pair it with my favourite high-waisted jeans (usually my super distressed ones from Glassons) and wear the tee tucked in. I’ll pull it out a little bit so it looks a little baggier, but still classy. This outfit could be paired with a pair of cute boots, chunky sneakers, vans, or some heels for an evening look. Don’t forget to throw on a jacket if it’s cold!
+If you’re feeling super comfy (like I currently am) you could throw your tee on over a comfy pair of joggers. While writing this I’m wearing some super soft RPM joggers with my His Shirt tee, and it is 10 out of 10 cozy! Its definitely perfect for a comfy day at home when it’s a bit colder, or out and about for a comfy casual look.
+For a day out and about – styling an oversized tee like this over jeans or leggings with some cute accessories is an effortless look that will have people staring. I love any kind of oversized tee with black jeans to really make the top stand out, but lately I have also been obsessed with this black on black look.
+Another thing I love to do is wear the tee tucked into jeans, or just tucking the front by the jeans button, and letting the rest sit loose. I think this style looks so classy and effortless, and helps to give your bod just that little bit more shape. Basically, why aren’t you wearing an oversized tee right now?
+The Oversized Tee: Event Ready!
+If you’re feeling super confident, possibly a bit daring, and your oversized tee is long enough, you could 100% wear it on its own as though it’s a dress, and completely dress it up for a night out. Pop on your favourite strappy heels, some statement jewellery, and a waist belt around the middle! The belt will help to give your body a bit more shape around the middle, and make the tee look super flattering!
+I love this idea of a super oversized tee, sinched in with a belt, and just killing it babe. It gives you the best of both worlds; comfort and class!
+We’ve all seen the corset trend that’s been going around (especially since Perrie from Little Mix started rocking it!) and I am really starting to love its vibe! A corset belt with an oversized tee just does wonders; sit it up just underneath your chest and really pull it in to give your body that shape and style – and it looks just so classy and stunning! Perfect for a night out with the girls, or even a date night if you’re other half is into it!
+I’ll definitely be having some fun with this trend, trying new tees and belts (maybe even a corset or two) and really finding out what works best for me!
+Comfy Active Wear
+Being comfy when you work out is so important; for me it helps me focus more on what I’m doing than worrying about being uncomfortable! When I’m out in public I always have an oversized tee or singlet on (mostly because it’s cold, but still working on that body confidence too…) simply because of the ultimate comfort I get from wearing one!
+I’ll mostly wear an oversized tee when I’m out for a walk or a run. With it being oversized, it’s not clinging to your body if you get hot and sweaty, and there’s room for the breeze to blow up and cool you down a bit. Plus, if you have somewhere to be after your workout, you don’t really have to change out of different layers!
+Oversized tees with activewear are perfect because they generally suit anything you wear. I either wear Nike Pro Cycle shorts, Nike 3″ running shorts, or a pair of leggings – an oversized tee thrown on works with all of these options.
+You really can’t beat having an oversized tee in your wardrobe – it’s the staple for absolutely every occasion! Whether you just want something to throw on around the house, or a comfy outfit to wear in town, all you need is an oversized tee and some accessories! I highly recommend picking up a few in various sizes and colours to see what works best for you, and feel the comfort! The true question; why AREN’T you wearing an oversized tee right now?
+Love this style! perfect for the casual cute look
+Love this !
+This. It’s hard to over-emphasize the importance of this but if you need a good case study read what happened to YouTube when they lightened their pages (summary: entire new territories opened up to them).
+The following 3 screen shots show the sample site with increasing levels of RESS optimization applied and the resulting overall page sizes., but the slight differences in the quality of the images tend to go unnoticed on phone screens.
+Traditionally, language issues aside, there have been two problems with making a website that is truly accessible world wide:
+- Device diversity. Remember what the first two W’s in WWW stand for? A truly global website should work on any device that your customer uses
+- Constrained connectivity. Many places are not well connected to the internet, whether in terms of capacity or other issues such as data plans. This issue is just as relevant to people living in modern well-connected cities as it is to rural areas in less developed nations.
+This article will help your website break through this glass ceiling (floor?) and allow anyone anywhere to reach your content with equal ease. Note that this article will use open source software in conjunction with a commercial offering (DeviceAtlas) to achieve this goal but other device detection solutions could be utilized in its place.
+Three levels of optimization are demonstrated here, each of which builds on the previous optimization, but which can be implemented separately also.
+- Image payload reduction (the biggest effect)
+- JavaScript & CSS payload reduction
+- Further optimizations based on bandwidth detection
+Before we begin it’s worth checking why this is necessary.
+Background to RWD and RESS
+Responsive web design (RWD) is fast becoming the preferred method for making a website mobile-friendly, and with good reason. For many sites it achieves a good balance between an acceptable level of mobile-friendliness and reasonable ease of implementation.
+But one of RWD’s great merits is also one of its fundamental flaws—the fact that all devices are sent the same payload means that devices with low resolution screens are sent the same images as those sent to high resolution devices, even though they can’t show them at their native resolution. This is inefficient at best and market-limiting at worse. The result is an “exclusive” web page rather than a world-wide web page, a page that really works well only on high end, well-connected devices with generous data plans.
+There have been many attempts to solve this problem, with varying levels of effectiveness. Probably the most promising of these approaches is to solve it in the browser itself by allowing it to make the determination of the most appropriate image version to fetch. There is an ongoing initiative to standardize an approach in the W3C but this is unlikely to be commonplace in browsers anytime soon. The candidate solutions (the new <picture> element and new srcset attribute for the <img> element) both have their own issues, particularly when it comes to site updates. Rather than discussing this here I suggest you read Jason Grigsby‘s post on the subject. In the meantime there are polyfills such as Boris Smus’ srcset-polyfill that mimics some of the proposed attribute’s behaviour.
+This article will describe a relatively straightforward approach to minimizing RWD page weight using a touch of server-side magic. We’ll be using device detection on the server to help optimize the images when they’re requested by the browsers by reducing their dimensions to the optimum size.
+Some solutions have suggested using Sencha.io Src (neé TinySRC) or other image resizing libraries but it is just as easy to do this yourself, and then you get total control over the result. Yes, this does exchange one external dependancy for another, but it also gives you the ability to make optimizations that go far beyond just images. We’ll be using mod_pagespeed for this purpose, an open source project from Google.
+This results in quite dramatic weight savings with very little work. If you follow the steps in this article you should be able to achieve a many-fold saving in image weight with 3 easy steps, only 4 lines of code and 1 line of configuration.
+This article assumes that you are using the Apache web server and are comfortable with some light PHP coding but the techniques described will work with NGINX also, and any programming language.
+The Site
+My sample “site” is based on Twitter’s open source Bootstrap web framework in order to save the world from my design skills. I created a single page site for a fictional mobile phone store. I’ve deliberately created a visually rich page with an industry-average breakdown of HTML, images and JS. This page is based on a lightly modified version of the Bootstrap carousel template. Here is the page in its entirety, as you would see it on a desktop browser:
+The site has an approximately industry-average payload breakdown as follows:
+Step-by-step Instructions
+Step 1
+Install PageSpeed. This is best done by reading Google’s instructions here. The installation process usually activates the module for the default website but you might need to ensure that it works with your virtual hosts, if configured. You can read how to do this here. Basically you just have to add a line to each one, or get them all to inherit from the default configuration server-wide.
+Next, restart your web server.
+Step 2
+Get a DeviceAtlas Cloud license (free trial available here, monthly cost $40) or other detection solution. If using DeviceAtlas you’ll need to enter your license key in the DeviceAtlasCloud/Client.php file after you unpack the ZIP file. DeviceAtlas will be used to decide the optimal size target for resizing images.
+Step 3
+Copy the DeviceAtlas PHP file to a directory where it is executable by the web server. In this case I’ve created a directory in the root of the site called DeviceAtlasCloud. Enter the following code at the top of your HTML file or site template to set up a couple of variables that we can use throughout the page. If you’re using a different solution the syntax will vary but the same properties should be available.
+Step 4
+The final step is to make sure that all of your images that may need resizing have a width attribute set to use the $width variable, as follows:
+The effect of this change is that images will now have their width attribute set from the $width variable, which is set automatically to the maximum display width for each device. Then, PageSpeed notices the width=”…” tag for each image and resizes it down if necessary, replacing the image source attribute with a reference to a resized version of the same thing. There is no need to set the height attribute because PageSpeed will automatically keep the aspect ratio intact. Resized images are cached so there isn’t really any significant impact on the server. Refer to the PageSpeed configuration notes below for more fine-grained control over this cache.
+Note that you should only add this variable width tag to images that require resizing for each device—you probably don’t want to add it to images that are already small enough e.g. bullet icons etc. Also, you should be aware that setting the width attribute for each image will need to play nicely with any CSS that you define for image display. Those using CMSes to manage their web sitesmay have to use a different technique for this depending on what access the CMS gives you to the underlying HTML.
+Background images may require a different approach, depending on how they are utilized on the site but PageSpeed will read inline style=”…” tags.
+Result 1
+With those changes made to the site it’s time to see how we’re doing. To measure the impact of this step I tested download speed of this test site for different devices and network speeds, using the ever-useful Charles Proxy and real devices forced into various network configurations to reduce available bandwidth.
+Before making the changes the overall page size was 1,027 KB, regardless of device i.e. a dynamic range of exactly 1.0. The breakdown is as follows:
+This is the over-the-network size of the page thanks to GZIP compression from Apache. The RWD design means that it looked OK on small screens, but wasn’t an efficient use of network resources because the original images are about five times wider (in pixel terms) than the average phone display and hence impossible to display at full resolution without panning. In fact, the sheer size of the page meant that it didn’t even finish loading on some devices.
+After following the above steps the payload breakdown for an iPhone is as follows:
+So the overall page size has dropped to 1/4 of its original size, with the reduction in image sizes accounting for the majority of this. On devices with lower resolutions screens further gains are possible—the same page on a Nokia feature phone (6230) now has a total image weight of just 89 KB, a large saving compared to the original. Importantly, there is no user-perceptible difference between the site before and after: the image data that was removed could not easily have been seen by person holding the phone.
+After following the 4 steps outlined the page weight now varies between 1,027 KB and about 164 KB. In other words, the page has gone from having a dynamic range factor of 1 to 6.8, with the image payload shrinking from 941 KB to just 80 KB. This has a huge impact on real world customers:
+- Much faster page load times → better engagement, fewer drop-offs
+- Lower data plan impact → more return visits
+- Wider device and network compatibility → improved reach
+Here’s the loading time effect on an retina iPhone using 3G and 2.5G networks:
+Results on Android devices are similar. On lower-end devices more dramatic improvements are experienced because the image resizing gains are larger.
+Going Further, Part #1: JavaScript & CSS
+So far we’ve looked only at the main source of bloat on pages: bitmap a low-end device we’ll jettison the CSS and JavaScript because low-end phones have issues with both the file size and the rendering of this CSS, and usually won’t run the JS:
+And now the JavaScript:
+This saves a further 72KB (quite a reduction from 253 KB!) and actually makes the page look better on low-end devices (see screen shot at end of article), in addition to being quicker to render. Now, when viewed on a low-end device the page weight is as follows:
+This means that our simple RWD page has now gone from a fixed size of about 1 MB to a highly varying one that goes as low as about 50 KB, 20x smaller than the initial page. Not a bad result for less than 10 lines of code. The net result is that our page is now viewable on almost anything, anywhere …quickly, from television to feature phone. You may not be targetting TVs and feature phones, but now they will come to you.
+Note: In testing this approach on real devices the HTML5 doctype tag did not cause problems—the page loaded on pretty much every device I tried.
+Going Further, Part #2: Connectivity Detection
+Most of the weight savings so far hinge on the fact that certain low-end mobile devices don’t need full resolution images, rich styling and JavaScript. This technique is highly effective, but we can do more to cater to our users and extend our reach. Desktop devices sometimes need help, too. Anybody who has used their laptop over airport Wi-Fi, conference Wi-Fi, or from a poorly connected country knows just how frustrating it is to use the web when pages are large.
+Connectivity detection can come to the rescue here. The idea is that, if you can detect the current connectivity available to the requesting browser, you can apply similar image compression techniques dynamically depending on the client’s available bandwidth. This can make a huge difference to the browsing experience, at some cost to page fidelity: if we detect a poor connection, images can be aggressively compressed without reducing their pixel size. The result is a page that loads much faster with only a slight impact on the experience—the page layout and overall appearance are preserved. Depending on the compression levels chosen many people won’t even notice.
+Making bandwidth information available to the browser is something that the W3C are working on but the Network Information API is still in draft status so it’s not going to be widely deployed in the near future.
+In the meantime we can utilize some server-side capabilities. DeviceAtlas incorporates a very useful feature to do exactly this, allowing the developer to make some useful choices about what to send the client when bandwidth is limited. For this example we’ll do something quite simple, yet very effective: if the detected bandwidth available to the device falls below a certain threshold we will redirect the browser to a different virtual host. This virtual host is served by the same web server and serves the exact same page, but triggers a different set of options for mod_pagespeed. In this case we’ll change the image compression level from its default to something much lower, say 20%. At this level images are still very much recognizable and will fit in the page’s layout, but will be many times smaller in bytes.
+What follows is a simple way to achieve this, shown here merely as a quick example of what is possible rather than a definitive technique. First, add a new vhost to your server config and configure PageSpeed to use different settings for this. Then restart your web server. In my case I am using site.com and lo.site.com as my vhosts. Note that the DocumentRoot is the same in each case—the exact same HTML is being served for both vhosts.
+ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
+ServerName site.com
+DocumentRoot /var/www/site.com
+ModPagespeed on
+ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
+ServerName lo.site.com
+DocumentRoot /var/www/site.com
+ModPagespeed on
+ModPagespeedImageRecompressionQuality 20
+Next you need to add the connectivity checking code to your site template. This switches virtual host if connectivity looks to be poor:
+Yes, the initial redirect to the lower bandwidth site does impact the load time, but this penalty is far outweighed by the net savings in doing so, particularly for those with constrained bandwidth; high bandwidth customers should be almost unaffected. The cost of this redirect step on a slow GPRS connection is approximately 1s, but the resulting savings can add up to minutes.
+Overall Results
+So let’s have a look at how it all comes together, with the various optimisations, device types and connectivity options. The following table sums it all up.
+These loading times are all worst-case scenarios tested with an empty cache. Subsequent page loads as you traverse the site will feel much faster.
+With all of these optimizations in place, we now have a page that scales dynamically in richness and size, from about 1 MB all the way down to 25 KB, all in. The page incorporates the best of RWD and server-side optimizations to yield a dynamic range factor of over 40.
+The website is now responsive to multiple factors, not just one: screen size, device capabilities and network performance. As a result, the “reach” of this page has been extended from desktop and smart devices in well-connected locations to almost anything, anywhere, regardless of connection type. Apart from making sure that your image size tags are populated dynamically there wasn’t much work to do to make this happen.
+Site before optimization on different devices
+Site after optimization on different devices
+Circling back to the page linked at the top of this article, Chris Zacharias, speaking of his experience optimizing YouTube’s page weight, said:
+…[Previously] entire populations of people simply could not use YouTube because it took too long to see anything.
+By keeping your code small and lightweight, you can literally open your product up to new markets.
+By using some of the techniques outlined in this article you may be able to achieve similar results for your website.
+Notes
+mod_pagespeed has a couple of other useful tricks up its sleeve. You can find some additional options that might be useful described here.
+Many thanks to @jonathanheron of McCannBlue for reviewing this article.
+"What is the item number or name for the bed frame this mattress is on? Can I purchase both together?"
+Slumber Solutions Choose-Your-Comfort 12-inch King-size Memory Foam Mattressby Slumber Solutions
+Details
+ITEM#: 15580411
+- King-size
+- 12-inches thick
+- Choose from 3 firmness options
+- Memory foam mattress
+- 3-inch top layer of comfort foam
+- 3-inch layer of supportive polyurethane foam
+- 6-inch base layer of base foam
+- Reduces pressure points
+- Disperses weight evenly
+- Eliminates motion transfer
+- Rejuvenate tired muscles and ease back pain
+- Improves circulation
+- Temperature-sensitive foam adjusts to body temperature and draws heat away from body
+- Suitable for platform beds, box springs, slatted bed frames, or adjustable bed frames
+- Meets all flammability standards
+- Spot clean only
+- Measures 12 inches high x 76 inches wide x 80 inches long
+- Weighs 98 pounds (approximately)
+- Soft: 3-inch layer of comfort foam, 3-inch layer of plush supportive polyurethane foam, 6-inch layer of base foam
+- Medium: 3-inch layer of comfort foam, 3-inch layer of medium supportive polyurethane foam, 6-inch layer of base foam
+- Firm: 3-inch layer of comfort foam, 3-inch layer of firm supportive polyurethane foam, 6
+Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch King Memory Foam Mattress
+Today: $424.99
+- Sale
+NuForm Quilted Pillow Top 11-inch King-size Foam Mattress
+Today: $379.99
+- Sale
+Select Luxury Medium Firm 14-inch King-Size Gel Memory Foam Mattress
+Today: $546.49
+- Sale
+Slumber Solutions Choose Your Comfort 12-inch Full-size Memory Foam Mattress
+Today: $358.49
+- Sale
+Serta Deluxe 12-inch King-size Memory Foam Mattress
+Today: $581.99
+- Sale
+Comfort Dreams Select-A-Firmness 11-inch King-size Memory Foam Mattress
+Today: $549.99
+- Sale
+Aloe Vera 8-inch Medium Support Memory Foam Mattress
+Today: $162.98 - $299.99
+Customer Reviews
+Most Recent
+Horrible mattress Amazing Great Mattress Slumber S. 12 inch King size memory foam mattress Great Bed!
+Most Helpful
+Excellant Mattress
+I have had my mattress now for nearly a month and I feel like I am in heaven. I haven't gotten up in the morning sore since the first night I slept on this mattress. It is so comfortable! My husband likes firm and I like soft. We compromised and got the medium comfort and we are both happy. It was perfect. We had been looking at the $4,000 + mattresses in the stores but decided we would try this one before putting out that kind of money. We are so happy we did. You cannot go wrong with this mattress.
+WOW!
+Ok, STOP your mattress search. This mattress makes me want to go to bed at like 6PM! I have had the mattress for 5 days. Prior to this mattress, I purchased a Sealy memory foam mattress from Overstock. It was firm and I loved it. But it was time for me to move to a king, so I got this one. It comes vaccum packed. It is 98 lbs and although my fiance probably could've gotten it upstairs himself, it comes in a nylon bag, and is awkward to carry because of it's cylindrical shape. But the two of us got it up there, no problem. We placed it on our box spring and let it expand for 28 hours. We opened the windows and left it alone. The smell was minimal and I don't smell anything at all now. I purchased the medium firm. Somehow, it is still firm and supportive, but your body sinks in just enough. It is absolutely the best sleep I've had and I'm already a great sleeper. I've researched for weeks and am relieved and thrilled that I bought this one because it is just THAT GREAT.
+Quality Mattress for a Reasonable Price
+We went from a very expensive pillow top to this and couldn't be happier with the decision. We were initially hesitant to order a mattress online without laying on it, but the reviews helped and we figured that for the price, we would be happy if it lasted only a few years. It is completely worth every penny and we probably will order another one someday. We ordered the soft and it is the perfect combination of firmness and softness. We look forward to going to bed every night and wake up with a lot less aches and pains. I definitely would recommend this mattress, and have already told all of our friends about it. Totally worth it!
+As comfortable as a nice hotel mattress
+My wife and I just moved cross country, so had tested out a couple dozen hotel mattresses on our journey, and this mattress is as nice as the best ones that we slept on during our trip. We got the "Very Firm" option, but the gel top layer is still very soft and gives you that "sinking in" feeling. The middle layer is very firm, but comfortable, and gives me the support that I really like for my back. I'm not a sleep or orthopedic expert, but this mattress has resulted in a significant reduction in my amount of daily back pain, and over three weeks I have not woken up once feeling like I "slept wrong" and have a kink in my neck or back. Definitely consider logistics when the mattress is delivered/unpacked, since it's just being dropped off by UPS, and very heavy. Only my wife was home to receive it, and thankfully, the UPS guy was very nice and helped her carry the 100lb package up to our second floor apartment. Two people are necessary to unpackage the mattress and put it in place since it is so compactly packaged and heavy. As other reviews point out, you need to wait for the mattress to expand, however ours took only a few hours... we were able to sleep on it that night. There was also a slight chemical odor that dissipated after the second day. Overall, phenomenal mattress that my wife and I look forward to sleeping on every night and the price was great. Completely satisfied.
+almost a year old
+Questions & Answers
+- Q:
+- A:
+A similar bed frame can be found under ITEM#: 17673886.
+- Q:
+"Will this work with item 14605435 (king bed)? How think of a box spring should I get? Thanks!"
+-.
+- A:
+This mattress is way too soft for being advertised as a medium! Regrets for me on the purchase
+- Q:
+"I see that one reviewer got the "very firm" option. Is there such an option, as I bought the medium firm based on positive reviews for its firmness, and it is so soft it's worse than the inner spring mattress we had and I wake up with back pain every day. As one reviewer noted, there is no tag on the mattress when it arrived so I have no idea if I even got a medium firm mattress, and I would be reluctant to get a firm one if the medium is as soft as mine."
+- A:
+I bought the firm mattress with the idea I could always add a nice 2" foam topper. The mattress was indeed quite firm so I added the topper. Worked out perfect. If I had ordered the med. I didn't see a way to go the other way. Topper compresses just enough to go down to the firm mattress. Also protects mattress and is easily replaced. This setup should last many years.
+- A:
+I bought the firm also and I didnt see a tag on it. I had an expensive memory foam matress that was firm and this one is as firm as that one was. I had a topper on it but took it off because I wasnt getting the cooling effect I desired. On a scale of 1 to 10 this would be a high 7 or low 8 for firmness.
+- A:
+We've got the firm and I wish it would be a bit firmer. I don't see a very form option for this mattress though, the reviewer might've gotten a different mattress.
+- A:
+I have to be bluntly honest with you, I purchased this mattress thinking it was the same firm and quality as the queen size I purchased by the same brand. The honest truth is that it is killing my back specially my neck. It isn't as firm as the queen one I purchased and still love. I have injuries caused by a car accident in 2006, so I'm always careful where I sleep and I rather sleep on the floor of f the bed isn't firmed enough. At this moment I reinitiated my physical therapy to deal with the pain. I don't know how to return this mattress because it is big and heavy, and overstock will make me pay for its return as well. So I can't afford that, I may end up giving it to someone and buying a firmer one for myself. Hope this can help:
+Hello, the Slumber Solutions Choose Your Comfort 12-inch King-size Memory Foam Mattress, has 2 inches of 3.5 pounds density foam and the middle layer is 4 inches of 36 ild. This is compared to medium of 3 inches 3.5 pounds density memory foam and then a 3 inch 25 ild middle. Have a great day.
+-:
+I choose this product based on reviews from other people. I think it is a good value. I have brought a bed and mattress before for my daughter and she was very satisfied. My only concern if its not a good fit you can't ship it back because you cannot compress the foam and send it back. So I hope the reviews were accurate.
+-:
+This is the best mattress ever! I rent out vacation condos and I've been upgrading all of my mattresses to Memory Foam. This is the best mattress I've found at the best price. I have had multiple guests ask me exactly what type of mattress I have and then they go home and order one for themselves too! I have 28 vacation condos so I've purchased many of these. They are holding up. I've never had one complaint from a guest. I've never had any odor emitting from the mattresses. I would highly recommend these to anyone.
+-<<
+Pasifika navigation
+- Widgets
+- Effective teaching
+- Engaging with parents
+- Tapasā
+- Pacific Education 2020-2030
+- LEAP
+- Pasifika languages
+- About this site
+- Resources
+Teaching and supporting students’ language development is like coaching a sport. The students are the ones running around with the ball – reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and presenting – "doing" language. The teacher, as "language coach", has the job of analysing and assessing what the students can do right now, establishing what they need to be able to do, and finding strategies for teaching them those skills. Students need plenty of practice with each skill, and they need to be able to put the skills together into a whole game – that of language use and interaction in relation to curriculum learning.
+Teaching and learning language involves moving in a cyclical progression through language that uses increasingly sophisticated vocabulary and increasingly complex text features and structures. Teachers need to ensure that their students notice these aspects of language and how they are used, and they need to provide feedback on students’ efforts to use the new language they are coming to grips with.
+All curriculum learning is expressed through language, and language learning is easily integrated with curriculum learning. Just as teachers develop ICT skills through all curriculum areas, they can plan to support language development throughout the school day. Planning in this way caters for the diversity of bilingual Pasifika students’ language achievements and needs.
+For teachers of bilingual Pasifika students, key overall teaching goals are:
+Language learning can be planned across the entire curriculum. And just as teachers can build on learners’ prior knowledge of language and concepts, they can help learners extend their existing language-learning strategies.
+It will take 7 or more years for bilingual Pasifika students who start school mainly speaking a Pasifika language to catch up with their cohort in terms of learning academic language. Throughout this time, bilingual Pasifika students’ English-language development will need careful monitoring and attention. It’s important to specify language-learning goals clearly, and to consult with the students and their families to jointly decide on each student’s priorities. It’s also important to ensure that ongoing assessment records students’ progress and clearly identifies the goals they have achieved.
+In the level 3 science exemplar Gears, one of the students’ intended outcomes is to explain, scientifically, how their model works. The word "explain" implies that students do this through the use of language – but how, exactly? If teachers are to make the language outcomes implied by curriculum objectives clear for students, they need to elaborate on words like "explain".
+On page 132 of Effective Literacy Strategies in Years 9 to 13 (Ministry of Education, 2004), the main purposes for academic writing are listed as: identify, describe, explain, discuss, argue, justify, apply, analyse, and evaluate. Beside each of these purposes is a definition of the processes involved in it. For example, "explain" is defined as: “Write a detailed account of how and why – procedures or methods; how things happen or work; reasons for action or event.”
+The conventions of an explanation, then, include giving details about how something happens or works and/or the reasons why it happens or works in that way. This means that an explanation is likely to include some language features that indicate the sequence in which something happens, and others that indicate cause and effect. It is useful to give EAL (and all) students explicit teaching about these conventions.
+Even though real texts are usually a mix of genres, students need to be able to recognise the conventions or patterns that will help them identify and analyse the genres in the mix. Knowing the conventions of a specific text type gives the students a peg on which to hang things as they gradually learn to organise the texts they hear, read, say, and write.
+Consider the language-learning requirements of a curriculum text or task that your students need to engage with. (You may like to consult with an ESOL-trained colleague to do this.) Write language-learning outcomes for each curriculum outcome, share both kinds of outcomes with your students, and agree on success criteria for each.
+Plan more than one way of teaching your students the language they need for this curriculum learning. For example, introduce the key language that relates to the new concept using word maps and then engage the students in purposeful discussions that involve using the language in appropriate oral text types and defining key terms, perhaps in both their languages. In the next lesson, begin with a brainstorm that revisits the key language and then model for the students how they are expected to use that language to meet a curriculum-based learning outcome.
+At the end of the unit of work, review the students’ learning in relation to both kinds of outcomes and, as a class or with individual students, identify what worked best for them and plan ways to build on this learning.
+Good language-learning activities develop students’ speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills as tools for curriculum learning.
+Effective teachers ensure that all their students learn the full range of language they need for:
+The language component of your programme should cover the language modes of speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting. Within each of these ways of using language, you will also focus on words (vocabulary), phrases, sentences, and whole texts.
+Different types of writing are recycled through the year, giving students many opportunities to achieve success in each of them. The reading programme links with the writing programme, enabling students to develop skills in reading different kinds of material on each subject. Teachers use their professional expertise to decide which texts their students can read or write independently and which they need guidance with, as a class, in pairs, or in groups.
+Teachers of students in the early years of schooling are generally familiar with developing oral language. However, oral language remains important for learning throughout a student’s schooling, and beyond. Many experts consider that conceptual thought and all knowledge emerge from and develop through language processes that are rooted in the spoken dialogue between people.
+Naiman, Frohlich, Stern, and Tedesco (1996) identify the following ways that effective language learners apply their learning strategies:
+In learning their two languages, bilingual Pasifika students will have developed specific strategies for learning an additional language as well as the literacy-learning and more general learning strategies that all students develop. To a greater or lesser extent, Pasifika students will be able to apply these learning strategies in two different language and cultural contexts: a Pasifika language context and an English-speaking context. Effective teachers help all their students to continue extending their learning strategies. Teachers need to be aware that they can also help their bilingual Pasifika students to use their existing language-learning strategies in curriculum learning.
+Observe two or three of your bilingual Pasifika students for a week to find out about the learning strategies they use.
+For the students you are observing, notice and record all examples of:
+Your bilingual students may use some bilingual strategies, for example when they speak in two or more languages while working cooperatively in groups. The bilingual skills they draw on may include translation, comparison, code switching, and using different languages for different purposes.
+Students discuss how they use bilingual and group strategies in the video Being bilingual
+Reciprocal teaching of reading is one approach that can be used very effectively with groups of Pasifika bilingual speakers.
+Write a set of outcomes for oral language for your class or one of your classes, covering all or part of one unit of work. If possible, work with a colleague so that you can discuss priorities and contribute to different aspects of the planning. You could follow these guidelines:
+Work with colleagues to brainstorm ways of making sure that your Pasifika students get some feedback on how they use their Pasifika language. Then try out some of these ideas and ask the students to give feedback on how useful they find them.
+As well as arranging for feedback from bilingual school staff and adults in their family and the wider community, students can reflect on their own first language development and give informal feedback to their L1 peers.
+Good assessment is one of the keys to achieving better teaching and learning for all students; it is one of the 10 characteristics of quality teaching for the diverse student groups identified in Quality Teaching for Diverse Students in Schooling: Best Evidence Synthesis (Ministry of Education, 2003a).
+This BES recommends that:
+Assessment for learning should:
+(Pages 51–52.)
+To know their bilingual Pasifika students as learners, teachers and schools need to:
+Providing opportunities for students to work with a group of bilingual peers can also help you find out more about each student’s understanding of the curriculum and their ability to apply their understandings.
+If bilingual Pasifika children have entered the New Zealand schooling system with limited knowledge of English in comparison with their English L1 peers, they may need assessment of their English proficiency from an ESOL point of view for at least 7 years. ESOL assessments are an important component of schools’ usual English-language assessments because they help to pinpoint the specific gaps that distinguish learning English as a second language from learning it as a first or only language.
+Mainstream teachers often need to participate in assessing ESOL students’ English in mainstream contexts for ESOL funding purposes. Your school may have a teacher who is responsible for ESOL funding applications and has particular expertise in helping mainstream teachers assess their EAL students’ English proficiency.
+The ESOL Funding Assessment Guidelines provide examples of assessments and suggest processes and tasks to use when assessing students against the ESOL criteria for listening, speaking, viewing, and presenting. Although some bilingual Pasifika students will no longer be eligible for ESOL funding, you can still use these guidelines to help you assess if their proficiency does not yet reach the national norms for their age.
+The Ministry of Education (2005) also provides The ESOL Progress Assessment Guidelines, which describe issues that affect the assessment of English-language learners and discuss a range of appropriate assessment tools and processes. The assessment tools and processes focus on aspects of language knowledge or proficiency and literacy skills, and not on specific content areas.
+See if some of your colleagues would like to work with you on this investigation.
+Assessment online is a comprehensive resource on all aspects of assessment.
+The National Education Monitoring Project includes examples of assessment tasks in its published reports and also makes previous assessment tasks available in packs for teachers to use.
+Most teachers understand the value of collaborative work in classrooms and plan for their students to work in pairs and groups. Students come to understand and extend the concepts they need for their curriculum learning as they interact with each other and negotiate new learning. Different learning activities have different purposes – for example, activities in which students are asked to share different points of view or to reach a consensus help them come to grips with a range of perspectives on a particular topic or concept. Such activities can also support students’ language learning.
+If you want your students to engage in negotiation and interaction that promotes language learning, there are particular ways that you can structure their learning tasks. In the context of language learning and teaching, the word "task" describes a learning activity in which learners use the language they are learning for real communication.
+In a learning languages context, a task is an activity that:
+Engaging learners in tasks that focus them on creating meaning for an authentic purpose enables them to acquire language. It also gives them opportunities to develop fluency and is intrinsically motivating.
+The types of language-learning tasks that result in the most negotiation and interaction among students include tasks that:
+Jigsaw activities offer one way of creating the conditions that lead to interactions that are helpful for language learning. Jigsaw activities can be short, discrete activities, or they can provide a way of structuring all the learning that is taking place around a particular topic or unit of work. Jigsaw Classroom describes ways jigsaw learning can be organised and some learning outcomes that can result from it.
+Although it is possible to learn a certain amount from input only, languages cannot be fully learned without interaction as well. This is because learners receive feedback on their own errors during the process of interaction. This feedback is focused, it is at an appropriate level for the speaker, and it is timed just after the speaker’s error. In the process of negotiating meaning, participants in interactions seek clarification from the people they are speaking with, and check their own comprehension.
+Reconstructing a strip story is a language-learning task. This is how to set it up:
+"A compound of sulphur that is easily recognised by its unpleasant smell is hydrogen sulphide (H2S).
+It is a gas that is found in thermal places such as Rotorua, in New Zealand.
+This gas is poisonous.
+Small quantities are enough to cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea."
+After this activity, you could build on it in the following ways.
+Listening and reading are not enough for full language development to take place. Students must also produce output through speaking and writing.
+There are three specific functions of output that help learning:
+One function is noticing. Learners notice something in the language they are learning because they need it to express what they want to say or write (their output).
+For example, Sione wants to talk about a picture, but he realises he does not know the language he needs to do this. He searches the page for a label, title, or description for the picture, and then he uses the words he finds to talk about the picture. Alternatively, he might listen carefully to other people talking about the picture and then use some of their words to say something himself.
+"… the activity of producing the target language may prompt second-language learners to recognise consciously some of their linguistic problems: It may bring to their attention something they need to discover about their second language (possibly directing their attention to relevant input). This may trigger cognitive processes that may generate linguistic knowledge that is new for the learner or consolidate the learner’s existing knowledge."
+Swain,1998, Page 67
+Hypothesis testing is the third function of output. Learners use output as a way of trying out new language forms to see if they are understood and accepted by other people, to see what does and doesn’t work. Learning through hypothesis testing depends on feedback on language usage from the teacher or peers.
+The language-related feedback can focus on the learner’s meaning. For example, a listener might say: “I don’t understand that. Do you mean that you can eat taro leaves and taro roots?”
+The feedback can also focus on the correctness of language forms. For example, “It’s not ‘leafs’, it’s ‘leaves’.”
+From a teacher’s point of view, it’s important to remember that students don’t receive feedback on all the language they use, and they don’t take up everything they do get feedback on. This means that at any one time, they learn only a small proportion of all the possible things they might learn. Although research shows that focused teaching can help increase the amount of information taken up, there also seems to be a natural limit to the rate of language learning.
+All of your students are learning new language. All of them are expanding their knowledge of English, and some of them are also expanding their use of a Pasifika or other language.
+As your students work with you and with each other, look out for and record examples of what they are using their language output for, and of the kinds of language-related feedback described above. It’s more interesting (and easier to record) if you can collaborate with another teacher and each observe in the other’s class.
+You can promote more use of these important learning functions of output by having your students work in pairs or groups where all students need to communicate information that other students don’t have.
+The simplest kind of split-information activity, which a teacher can use at any time with a small group, involves these easy steps:
+It’s easy to arrange for students to do this kind of activity in Pasifika languages, based on Pasifika texts. You can ask a bilingual staff member to write the questions or set the tasks, or two groups of students can set them for each other using different texts. Students will learn just as much from setting the tasks as from completing them..
+This activity is based on Figure it Out – Gala: Mathematics Curriculum Support Levels 2–3. Most of the material in this book and in the rest of the Figure it Out series can be split to create a context in which each student is required to speak about the curriculum material, and is supported to do so.
+In the two examples below, sharing the information is only the beginning. Students then have further tasks to do. For example:
+The students have to decide which is the best weekend in November for a school gala. They have to give their reasons. They have a calendar for November showing the days of the week and they have seven statements, such as:
+To make the split information activity, divide the material for two, three, or four students. Let all of them see the calendar, but ensure that each person has only some of the statements of information. The students then:
+The two graphs show how many people were at the food stall at each half-hour during the day, and how much money was taken. There are questions and activities based on the graphs.
+You can find more examples of these types of activities at English Online..
+In this example, sharing the information is only the beginning. The students then have three further tasks:
+Here is the simple text this activity is based on:
+Acid things have pH values between 1 and 7.
+These things are acid:
+Only a few kinds of bacteria like to live in acid places.
+Most bacteria like to live in alkaline places.
+Alkaline things have pH values between 7 and 14.
+These things are alkaline:
+These are the true/false statements, based on the above text and previous class work. Only three are false; most are true.
+To make the split information activity, divide the material so that each partner in a pair of students is given half the information. Each partner should have half of the original text, and half of each sentence. (Working in pairs gives each student the maximum possible amount of speaking time, but you could also divide the material into three or four for small groups of students.)
+Student A
+Acid things have pH values between 1 and 7.
+These things are acid:
+Only a few kinds of bacteria like to live in acid places.
+Complete the sentences below. Your partner has the other half of each sentence.
+Some sentences are not true. Correct them.
+Work by talking. Do not look at your partner's paper.
+The person with the X next to the number speaks first.
+_____________________________________________________________________
+Explain to your partner why it is not good for your skin to have its pH changed.
+Student B
+Most bacteria like to live in alkaline places.
+Alkaline things have pH values between 7 and 14.
+These things are alkaline:
+Complete the sentences below. Your partner has the other half of each sentence.
+Some sentences are not true. Correct them.
+Work by talking. Do not look at your partner's paper.
+The person with the X next to the number speaks first.
+Explain to your partner what happens to the pH of your skin when you wash your skin with soap and then rinse it with lemon juice.
+In these examples, the students communicate and evaluate information in pairs or small groups. The activities involve writing as well as speaking. To use this idea again, follow these models to construct an activity using your own curriculum material.
+How are students interacting?
+Observe how, as they communicate their information to each other, the students engage in noticing, metatalk, hypothesis testing, requesting and offering feedback on language usage, and demonstrating uptake of new language.
+Observe how the students use important vocabulary related to this curriculum topic.
+Do they:
+Languages are different from other school curriculum areas in that they can be learned without any direct teaching. All children learn their first languages this way. In the global context, most second languages are probably learned as a result of participating in a speech community, through the process known as language acquisition.
+The bilingual Pasifika learners in New Zealand schools are in a second-language environment for a large part of their time, and they will certainly learn English from hearing and reading it, especially as they have strong practical reasons to do so. In the same way, they will learn some, or a lot, of one or more Pasifika languages by hearing them. They may also learn from reading these languages, both within and outside of school.
+The more opportunities schools can provide for their bilingual Pasifika students to listen and read in a Pasifika language, the more the students’ knowledge of their Pasifika languages will be extended. Parents are not in a position to do exactly the same things schools can do in this area, because they don’t have direct access to the high-quality curriculum-related materials in Pasifika languages that are produced for schools.
+Student output and interaction are needed for them to reach the highest levels of language skill. However, most new language is learned from input – that is, understanding what we hear and read.
+Understanding learning materials
+The English Language Learning Progressions (2007) outlines the stages involved in learning to read English as an additional language, and some of the factors that affect comprehension.
+One way you can judge whether the input of a particular text is likely to be understood by your students is by looking at the number of words in the text that they know the meaning of. Paul Nation (2001) notes that:
+The easiest approach is to show your students a text and ask them to point out or underline all the words they are not sure they understand. If they are unsure of more than five words per 100, they will only be able to study from this text with support. They will not be able to read it independently, fluently, and easily, with enjoyment and good comprehension.
+Difficult input does not always need to be discarded or simplified. It may be suitable for instructional material used in a scaffolded way in the class. In fact, there is evidence that students make better progress:
+While students are working on a topic or task and using associated language to discuss it with others, they are going over and over the same language in many different ways. These processes of interconnecting and repetition are probably what result in language being learned permanently.
+There has been a lot of research into how long it takes to learn a new word and its meaning. A small proportion of words are permanently learned the first time they are encountered (perhaps 4–5 per cent). The rest take up to 20 encounters before they are permanently learned.
+Learners’ encounters with new words can be spaced in a particular way to be most effective. On the first day, there should be several encounters, not just one. There should be several more encounters spread over the week, then a few in each of the following two weeks, some during the next month, and then one or two in following months. This means that it’s likely to take half a year of regular encounters for all students to learn a particular set of words permanently.
+Because there’s a lot to learn for each language item, and because language items take many encounters to be permanently and fully learned, a great deal of recycling and repetition needs to be built into language learning.
+Second-language research tells us that a number of critical conditions must exist for students to learn language effectively. Crucially, students need a great deal of exposure to language input. You may have had the experience of learning a language in a formal setting, such as a classroom, and then travelling to the country where the language is spoken. The difference between these two situations often seems immense. Many people say that when they are in a situation in which they hear and see the language all around them, they feel that they learn much more.
+Classrooms in which there are learners of English should, then, provide those students with a lot of exposure to English – that is, a lot of input. For the best learning to take place from spoken or written input, the input should be at the right level: not too hard and not too easy. Teachers usually become very skilled at judging how to pitch their language at the appropriate level.
+Teachers can make language learning both more successful and more efficient by helping their students to notice language items and language patterns in the language they hear and read. This is best done in a way that does not interrupt the students’ attention to meaning. Here are some examples.
+The Ministry of Education’s Selections series, for teachers of English-language learners in Years 7–13, includes teachers’ notes which unpack the features of texts suitable for older readers who are at earlier stages of learning to read in English. The notes suggest ways of teaching students to notice and learn to use these features.
+Another way in which teachers can draw students’ attention to aspects of language is through enhanced input. This is when we take a text that students are reading and highlight a particular feature of grammar for attention.
+From one hand-out or text that you will give your students, select and highlight a feature that your assessment data shows a particular student (or group of students) needs to learn. Discuss the highlighted features with that student or group, and ask them to identify further examples in their reading and to use the feature in their writing.
+The following examples show how one teacher highlighted particular features their students needed help with – regular verb endings, irregular verb endings, the use of the definite article "the", and different kinds of possessive structures in English.
+"The shovel felt heavy in Stanley’s soft, fleshy hands. He tri ed to jam it into the earth, but the blade bang ed against the ground and bounc ed."
+(Excerpt taken from: Sachar, L, Holes, Chapter 7.)
+The term "feedback" has specific connotations when used in the context of language learning. To achieve the best outcomes for bilingual Pasifika students who are learning English as an additional language, teachers need to give specific language-learning feedback by responding to the language the students use. This encourages the students to notice the language form they are using.
+There are a number of ways teachers can provide such feedback on language use. Teachers can give students explicit feedback, using instructional strategies like telling, directing, and explaining by providing a correction (telling them what the correct language is and directing them to use it), or explaining the error.
+Teachers can give implicit feedback, using instructional strategies like modelling, questioning, and prompting by providing a recast (modelling correct language) and asking for clarification (by questioning or prompting).
+A "recast" is a reformulation of what the learner said, or of the part that contained an error. This reformulation serves as a model. Teachers (and others) frequently use recasts to give feedback. Examples of recasts focusing on grammar might be:
+Student: *I very like nature.
+Teacher: Yes, I like nature very much, too.
+Teacher: Did you see the pōhutukawa flowers today?
+Student: *I no see flowers.
+Teacher: You didn’t see the flowers?
+Student: *Didn't see the flowers.
+Teacher: They’re on the tree in the playground. You can see them out of the window.
+Student: *Where School Journal, please?
+Teacher: Where is the School Journal, Tina? It’s in the box on my table.
+Student: *On table.
+Hohepa, Hingaroa Smith, Tuhiwai Smith, and McNaughton give an example of recast use by the teacher during a Māori-medium lesson. This recast focuses on vocabulary, and the teacher gives two possible correct answers, using two different Māori words for church.
+Whaea (teacher): He aha teenei? [What is this?]
+Child: Um, um, he church. [Um, um, a church.]
+Whaea: He haahi teenei. He whare karakia. [ This is a church. A house of prayer.]
+Child: Ae. He whare karakia … [Yes. A house of prayer.]
+Oliver (2000) found that younger learners preferred recasts, while older learners preferred clarification requests and explicit feedback.
+The use of the interactional techniques described above does not necessarily mean that a student will learn. A problem with recasts is that students may not always notice them. For learning to occur, the student has to notice and use the correct form. This is called uptake. You can see that uptake appears to have occurred in the second example of recast use above, because the student repeated the teacher’s recast correctly.
+If the teacher stops speaking immediately after the recast, there is a greater likelihood that the student will repeat the last few words, correct their errors. However, even if they do correct the error at this time, they may make the same mistake again at another time. Learners need many experiences with new language before it becomes an easily accessible part of their language repertoire.
+You need to use your judgment in deciding how direct to make your feedback on language usage. If a student already knows what the correct form is, then implicit feedback may be enough. If, however, a student doesn’t know the correct form, it may be necessary to use more explicit feedback.
+It’s likely that the child in the second example of recast use already knew the correct form because they began speaking with ”Ae” (Yes) rather than the questioning tone that would be likely if the form was entirely new to them.
+Try this investigation with a colleague.
+Observations
+Note how many times the teacher interacted with individual students.
+Note each interaction and describe what type of feedback on language usage the teacher gave:
+Because of the relationship between output (speaking and writing) and the acquisition of new language, when students begin to produce (say and write) more complex sentences, they also begin to understand such sentences better in their reading.
+Some ways of scaffolding sentence complexity are: combining, substituting and repeating.
+Give your students sets of two or three simple sentences and ask them to combine each set into one sentence. (You may find it helpful to raise your own awareness of the structure of the language your students need, by rewriting some complex sentences into several simple sentences, and then putting them back together again.)
+Sentence combining is an activity that has more of a focus on language form than on meaning. However, as the students work (preferably in pairs or groups) to combine the sentences, they do need to focus on meaning to make sure the combined sentence means the same as the separate sentences and that nothing has been left out. Because they have produced the combined sentence themselves from parts they understand, students also understand the longer, more complex sentence.
+Combine these three sentences into one longer sentence. There are many possible sentences. Find as many as you can.
+If you draw your students' attention to a useful sentence pattern that is quite complex for them, they can use the same pattern many times just by changing one or two words. In this way, they create important sentences that are a little more complex than they would say or write on their own.
+It’s better to do this activity orally, because the repetition can be boring in writing but is a challenge when speaking. Two techniques for promoting fluency through repetition are described below.
+Students have a few seconds to prepare to speak about a topic (for example, fern leaves). Then they speak for about 60 seconds to the first partner. They move to another partner and give the same talk for 45 seconds, then move to a third partner and speak for 30 seconds. When students do this, what they say changes slightly each time and they speak more correctly and more fluently.
+If you and your students are interested in rhythms and beats, you can use this interest to support their language development. In this activity, you choose a complex sentence that is useful for your students’ curriculum learning and make them comfortable with it by using repetition and rhythm. You set the beat and then the students have to try not to lose the beat when they say the sentences. You can start off with the whole class together, then choose individuals or pairs of students to speak, and then another student, and so on around the class or group. You can go on to make small changes in the sentence, keeping the same rhythm.
+Example
+Ferns are usually very easy to identify from their leaves.
+This is an academic sentence. Although it is written for students working up to level 4 in the curriculum, students are not likely to use such a sentence in everyday conversation. However, they do need to be able to say sentences like this in learning contexts, and to feel easy and confident in doing so.
+Some students, whether English is their first language or not, will find it quite hard to say this sentence fluently. You should give them a chance to practise until they are quite confident with it. Then they can start changing some parts of the sentence.
+To begin with, you can supply the words:
+grasses: Grasses are usually very easy to identify from their leaves.
+flaxes: Flaxes are usually very easy to identify from their leaves.
+Next you can ask your students to change two items:
+flowers: Flowers are usually very easy to identify from their petals.
+conifers: Conifers are usually very easy to identify from their needles.
+trees: Trees are usually very easy to identify from their trunk and bark.
+Finally, the students may be able to supply their own words for the slots in the sentence pattern without losing the beat:
+spiders: spiders are usually very easy to identify from their eight legs.
+Activities like these can form part of an oral language programme.
+Try these three ways of helping students produce more complex sentences for an authentic, curriculum-related speaking or writing purpose:
+Observe your students and record some of the sentences they produce.
+Compare these sentences with sentences for similar purposes that they have previously produced.
+Develop an information-transfer activity based on a table or a diagram that helps your students to record and organise information, which they will then need to write or talk about using appropriately complex sentences.
+Think about how you can encourage the students to write or say longer sentences, based on the information transfer activity, that are interesting to hear or read, and present an achievable challenge for them.
+The concept of scaffolding comes from the work of Lev Vygotsky (1978 and 1986) and his notion that learners learn most productively with support in the zone of proximal development (ZPD). This zone is where learners cannot yet operate fully independently but can complete work if they have appropriate support. Vygotsky saw learning as an intrinsically social process, happening through the relationships between people. He observed that what people are able to do and learn with the support of others exceeds what they can do on their own.
+In their early language development, children begin by taking part in limited communications, in specific contexts, with the adults or children they are close to. Their language develops only through social interaction. Gradually, they add to these limited communications, internalise them, and widen them into a whole language system of inner speech that they draw on to express a wide range of concepts to themselves and to others.
+Scaffolding of learning also occurs in familiar, non-academic contexts, such as when:
+Scaffolding in language learning has specific focuses. The table below provides a framework to help you decide what aspect of language learning you want to focus on during a particular learning activity. To move from defining the focus to scaffolding language development, you also have to think about the purpose of your focus (for example, do your students need to develop more complex language for a real communicative purpose?), the methods that can be used to support and scaffold the students’ learning, and the students’ goals and associated success criteria.
+Focus: The four marks (X) in the table show that at a particular time, you have decided to focus on developing students’ skills in speaking sentences more accurately and fluently.
+Purpose: The purpose could be for students to learn to produce fluent spoken sentences in accurate English when contributing to class discussions.
+Method: You might scaffold this learning by modelling two or more sentences that comment on a specific subject, drawing students’ attention to their features. Then have students work in pairs to construct a similar sentence using their own comment, check the accuracy of the English they have used, and practise saying their sentences fluently to their partner before contributing them to a whole-class discussion.
+Criteria for success: The content criteria could be that the students produce a relevant, meaningful sentence. The criteria for fluency could be appropriate phrasing with no hesitation or unplanned repetition. The criteria for accuracy could be that the students produce a sentence with correct and clearly spoken words in an English sentence structure that is appropriate for the informal discussion context.
+The video Secondary curriculum and vocabulary shows teachers carefully scaffolding aspects of vocabulary learning.
+Communicative uses: reading, writing, speaking, listening, oral interaction
+Language analysis: sounds, words, sentences, texts
+Language production: fluency, accuracy, complexity
+Fluency: In productive language, this can be simply a measure of how many connected words a person can say or write in a given time. Fluency measures may also take into account the number of hesitations, self-corrections, repetitions, and space fillers like "um". A person may speak quite slowly but be very fluent because none of these "interruptions" occur.
+Fluency is often associated with speed, but speed in itself has no value. What is important is the ability to work with the rhythm, pace, and accuracy that is appropriate to the purpose for reading or writing. Being measured and deliberate may be right for one purpose, and reading or writing quickly, or expressively, may be best for another. Whatever the purpose, fluency should not be thought of as separate from comprehension.
+(Ministry of Education, 2006, page 24.)
+Accuracy: This relates to the number of mistakes a speaker (or writer) makes, and to whether they use the forms that are expected for the type of text being produced. For example, it would be inaccurate to use very formal language in a personal note to a friend, just as it is inaccurate to write *”he was falled down”.
+Complexity: This relates to aspects such as the number of different words a person uses (which reflects the size of their vocabulary), the variety and complexity of grammatical structures they use, and the complexity of their sentences and their texts.
+The table below draws on the research findings to date to suggest how to devise tasks that promote fluency, accuracy, or complexity in your students’ language.
+Example: Promoting fluency
+Read down the columns to see the task features that are required to promote particular aspects of language. For example, if you wish to help your students develop fluency in using the language they already know, you will design a task that has the features listed in column 2. This means you will provide contextual support, there will not be a large number of elements to the input, and the topic will be familiar or one that leads to debate. The task will have a single demand and the students will be able to plan in advance. The language-learning outcome will be closed, with a clear structure.
+Contextual support refers to material, such as pictures and diagrams, that supports the language of a learning task by providing some of the meaning. These reduce the learner’s reliance on the language itself to communicate the meaning.
+If the information is shared, all the learners have access to the same information. If it is split, the learners have different items of information and are not allowed to share it. Split information tasks force all learners to participate, but shared information promotes more complexity in the learners’ language, possibly because they each have to deal with a larger amount and diversity of information.
+The outcomes of a task can be closed or open. Closed outcomes to tasks are when there are only certain correct outcomes or solutions. Problem-solving tasks often have only one or two solutions and are tasks with closed outcomes. Role-play and interviews, on the other hand, are almost completely open.
+The degree of a language-learning outcome’s openness varies according to its inherent structure; for example, explaining to someone how to get to the ATM has an inherent structure in the form of a (mental) map of the route. Although an interview has an open outcome in the form of the answers received, the outcome may have an inherent structure if the information gained is to be reported in a number of fixed categories. If the students report back in any way they choose, then there is no inherent structure. They will probably report back in relation to the questions they asked.
+Some tasks ask learners to do several things at the same time. A single-task demand has been found to promote both fluency and complexity. It is probably better, then, to break complex tasks down into several tasks. These single-demand tasks can then be completed one after the other. However, it will be important to make sure learners integrate what they learn from the separate tasks and do not treat them as isolated events.
+This example of a "Say it" activity is based on “My Dad's Raw Fish” by Mata Mataio (School Journal 2.4.02).
+Rules
+A "Say it" can also be much simpler than this one, with only four cells and very simple instructions. For example: "You are Denise. Say who you are. Say what you did yesterday with your father."
+A "Say It" can also be much more difficult, based on senior secondary curriculum material and objectives. For example:
+The "Say it" activity provides three types of support for student output.
+1. Emotional support
+This is an important factor in language learning.
+2. Cognitive support
+3. Linguistic support and guidance
+This type of activity promotes noticing and hypothesis testing.
+Students notice new language items as they search for words and phrases they need in written material or in what other students say. They try out new language and test their hypotheses by observing whether the other students understand them or not.
+Work with a colleague to analyse some of your bilingual Pasifika students’ language production, so that you get a picture of their relative strengths in accuracy, fluency, and complexity. If you have a bilingual colleague who can help, you may be able to get a picture of their relative strengths in accuracy, fluency, and complexity in two languages and compare these. You might ask, for example:
+When you have collected your data, analyse the results and interpret them.
+Different input, conditions, and output requirements promote fluency, accuracy, or complexity in the language students produce as they carry out a language-learning task. If you want to help your students become more fluent in using the language they know, the task should:
+Characteristics of language-learning tasks has a table which shows the characteristics that best promote accuracy or complexity.
+Questions to ask yourself:
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+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+BUDAPEST 4 STAR HOTELS
+Group prices in 4 star BB are from 14 eur / pers / night in DBL in low season (suburb) from 18 eur / pers / night in DBL in low season (downtown)
+Boutique Hotel Bristol
+Address: H-1081 Budapest, Kenyérmező u. 4.
+Boutique Hotel Bristol, the new 4-star-hotel of Budapest is situated in a central, business area of the capital of Hungary and simultaneously in close neighborhood with numerous sights of the city. The hotel with its relaxing ambient and fine elegance has become a true pearl of downtown Budapest.
+The hotel is located next to the central artery of Budapest (Rákóczi út), close to the still stately building of the East Railway Station. Offering a gigantic selection of goods, Arena Plaza, the shopping centre with the largest floor area in Hungary and, at the same time, Central Europe, which houses 200 shops and nearly 30 restaurants, cafés and confectioneries, can also be accessed by a few-minute walk.
+Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget
+Address: H-1138 Budapest, Margitsziget
+The hotel was built in 1979 in calm surroundings, in the most beautiful park of Budapest, close to the inner city that determines its unique character. All the 267 non-smoking rooms have a balcony overlooking the Danube or the park. There are some rooms for disabled persons as well.. A walk along the alley of hundred-year old chestnut trees, the exotic Japanese garden or among the ruins of a romantic monastery is a true relaxation for the body and the soul The thermal hotels is known about its excellent medical services and wellness services.
+Golden Park Hotel
+Address: H-1087 Budapest, Baross tér 10.
+Located near to the downtown, few steps from the metro station (Keleti railway station). Our 179 rooms with ariconditioning and sound-proofed windows offer you a pleasant stay.
+For extra fee we offer: sauna, massage and fitness facilities
+Hotel Marmara
+Address: H-1055 Budapest, Nagy Ignác u. 21
+Hotel Marmara is located in the heart of the city, in the Nagy Ignac Street, nearby the Parliament, Grand Boulevard, river Danube, and it invites you to the breathtaking world of the Orient. Our hotel rooms amalgamate the harmony, comfort and elegance with the warmth of your home on the road. We offer you 93 single and double rooms, merge-able standard, and superior double rooms with balcony, as well as suites to accommodate your needs. We provide you the most appropriate atmosphere, not only for leisure, but also for undisturbed work purposes as well.
+Mercure Budapest Korona
+Address: H-1053 Budapest,Kecskeméti u. 14.
+The hotel is situated in the downtown, in the touristic, business and historical center of the Hungarian capital. Located at the entrance of the new Main pedestrian Street, 5 minutes walk from the river Danube. The hotel has total 421 rooms. Our 42 Privilege rooms are at the service of our guests with VIP treatment.
+Opera Garden Hotel & Apartments
+Address: H-1065 Budapest, Hajós u. 24..
+Soho Boutique Hotel
+Address: H-1074 Budapest, Dohány u. 64. 8
+68 standard rooms, 6 suite, the hotel was built in 2008
+The Soho Business Hotel is located in the heart of Budapest in a lively part of the city with several entertainment spots. with a unique and exclusive interior space. The hotel was developed following the newest furniture trend complimenting the very special style of the place.
+MORE HOTELS / FULL LIST OF 4 STAR HOTEL PARTNERS:
+MORE 4 STAR HOTELS
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+BUDAPEST 5 STAR HOTELS
+Group prices in 5 star BB are from 45 eur / pers / night in DBL in low season (downtown)
+Le Meridien Budapest
+Address: H-1051 Budapest, Erzsébet tér 9-10.
+Located in the city center, and minutes walk from the Danube, Le Méridien Budapest Hotel has already become a landmark of hospitality in the Hungarian capital. Housed in the former Adria Palace, a magnificently restored protected monument. The hotel otel features 218 rooms and suites combining elegance, comfort and state-of-the-art amenities
+Health club: indoor swimming pool with a glass roof. Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, massage rooms and a well equipped exercise room
+MORE HOTELS / FULL LIST OF 5 STAR HOTEL PARTNERS:
+MORE 5 STAR HOTELS
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+BUDAPEST: Budget hotels/hostels/apartments
+Group prices in budget accommodation are from 8EUR / pers / night in multi bedded rooms in low season (downtown)
+Agape Aparthotel (Guesthouse + Apartments)Address: H-1072 Budapest, Akácfa utca 12/14
+The apart hotel is located in the heart of Budapest, in the entertainment area, built in 2006. The hotel offers 50 studios and apartments. The studios are suitable for 1-2-3 persons, apartments for 4-5 persons. The hotel is ideal for couples, groups, or family vacations too.
+Fehér Páva Budget HotelAddress: H-1091 Budapest, Üllői út 7.
+The hostel was built in classic style and it is 173 years old now. Our hostel is located is the city center next to Kalvin square metro stop and Raday street, full of cafés and pubs. Major sights as Market hall, National Museum, Vaci street, Danube are accessible within 5-7 minutes walk. We offer 15 non-smoking rooms for altogether for 55 person. The rooms are clean, simply furnished with private bathrooms. We can offer single, double, three, four, five and six beds rooms.
+MORE HOTELS / FULL LIST OF BUDGET HOTEL/HOSTEL PARTNERS:
+MORE BUDGET HOTELS
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+ACCOMMODATION AT LAKE BALATON AREA
+BALATON (Plattensee) is the largest lake not only in Hungary, but also in Central-Europe, it is shallow, without dangerous animals and perfect choice for beach holidays (even with small children) during the summer month, but its western and northern shore is also a polular destination because of its spas and wine growing areas. Siofok is the party capital with plenty of clubs.
+City Hotel Siófok
+Address: H-8600 Siófok, Szűcs utca 2.
+Our hotel situeted in the center of the city, but still in a silent street, 700 meters from the lakeshore, port/pier and promenade. Close to cafes, and clubs, discoes. There are 7 apartments and 22 double Rooms (furniture: with natural wood) in two leves. The room price including the breakfast. Hotel offers buffet breakfast
+Hotel Margaréta
+Address: H-8230 Balatonfüred, Széchenyi u.29.
+The Hotel Margareta is located in Balatonfüred, a very friendly little town ont he Northern shore with nice promenade, near Tihany peninsula and wine growing areas. It is directly at the main road 71, 300m from the beach and Aquapark. It has 50 lagre double rooms with shower, balcony, TV, refridgerator. (extra beds possible) Room types: comfort and standard. The hotel welcomes its guests in a familiar athmosphere.
+To pay: Jade massage beds, billiard, table soccer, pokertable
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+ACCOMMODATION IN BRATISLAVA
+Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia is only 200 km from Budapest, 80 km from Vienna, 340 km from Prague and almost on the way from Budapest to Vienna, or from Budapest to Prague. We will be glad to arrange connected tours including a visit in Bratislava for 1 or more days. Ask for our detailed offer for Slovakia by e-mail.
+Hotel Mercure Bratislava Centrum
+Address: SK-811 04 Bratislava, Zabotova u. 2.
+The Mercure hotel is located in the city-centre of Bratislava in 10 minutes walking distance to the downtown. The straight and amorphous forms, intensive and pastel tones, direct and indirect lighting create an interesting and bright atmosphere of the hotel. The hotel have total 165 rooms.
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+ACCOMMODATION IN VIENNA
+Vienna, the capital city of Austria, and the twin capital of Austro-Hungarian monarchy is only 3 hours drive from Budapest (270 km on motorway) and it is ideal to connect the 2 cities to explore the legacy of the Habsburgs. Ask for our detailed offer for Austria by e-mail.
+Vienna Sport Hotel
+Address: AT-1030 Vienna, Baumgasse 83.
+This modern and comfortable hotel offers a wide range of sports and leisure options unique in Vienna, only 10 minutes on the underground away from the city centre. The Schlachthausgasse underground station (line U3) can be reached in a few minutes' walk. From there you can get to the centre quickly and easily. Vienna Sporthotel is also in the immediate vicinity of the A4 and A23 motorways, and is only a few minutes' drive away from the airport.
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+ACCOMMODATION IN PRAGUE
+PRAGUE, the 3rd pearl of the imperial cities, 5 hours drive from Budapest on motorway (550 km) can be also easily visited during a connected tour: Budapest – Prague /Bratislava on route/), or Budapest – Vienna - Prague
+Best Western Hotel Meteor Plaza
+Address: CZ-11000 Prague, Hybernska u. 6.
+The hotel offers 88 rooms and occupies a historic building in Prague's centre; the Meteor Plaza is 200 metres from the Powder Gate and Namesti Republiky metro stop. The Municipal Hall and the Palladium Shopping Centre are located in the immediate vicinity of the Meteor Plaza Hotel.
+BUDAPEST: 3 star hotels | 4 star hotels | 5 star hotels | Budget hotels/hostels
+Spa Resorts in Hungary | Eger | Lake Balaton | Bratislava | Vienna | Prague
+Mark Mattson, Norm Rubin, Krystyn Tully
+Comment on Environmental Assessment Draft Scope
+April 11, 2002
+Sharon Baillie-Malo
+Uranium and Radioactive Waste Division
+Natural Resources Canada
+580 Booth Street
+Ottawa, Canada K1A 0E4
+submitted by fax: 613.947.4205
+Re: FEAI #: 30619
+Title: Draft Scope of the Environmental Assessment for the Port Hope Long-Term Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Project
+Dear Madam,
+This submission is made with respect to the above-noted request for public comments on the Draft Scope of the Environmental Assessment for the Port Hope Long-Term Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Project on behalf of Lake Ontario Keeper and Energy Probe.. Hope region.
+1. Request for referral to a review panel under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA)
+The description of the Port Hope).’s “business as usual” approach and toward the kind of wisdom that we must develop to deal properly with nuclear materials.
+The nature of the material in question (i.e., radioactive waste) and the gravity of the concern shared by members of the Port Hope Hope Hope Hope Hope Hope Hope Project itself, such a review is critical to the decision-making process by which such a project is approved.
+In effect, the Port Hope Project as outlined in the Draft Scope is treated as a fait accompli and the EA as a mere formality. To protect community, environmental, and economic interests, the Draft Scope should be expanded to include criteria for assessing whether the Port Hope Hope. Hope have volunteered or consented to site such a repository, but it does strongly suggest that the present contract between Port Hope and the federal government an agreement that has not been tested or endorsed by the citizens of Port Hope Hope Hope Hope and their environment are questionable, and on the basis of active dispute between local citizens groups and the federal government, this baseline is insufficient.
+The decision to leave the radioactive waste in the Port Hope community and the resulting suggestion that current environmental conditions are acceptable standards also curtails the ability of the Port Hope Hope community is the best permanent site for the radioactive waste without evidence to demonstrate the validity of such a decision.
+Accordingly, the Environmental Assessment for the Port Hope Project can be of limited comfort to the community of Port Hope unless it takes into account a review of alternatives, the need for the project, and the historic impacts of nuclear waste in the region.
+3. Scope of the assessment
+The scope of the assessment proposed in the Draft Scope requires increased specificity in order to ensure that key issues important to the community of Port Hope are explored.
+A. Environmental Effects of Radioactive Waste in Port Hope Harbour
+The most complete and up-to-date public study of radioactive waste in the Port Hope Harbour is found in the Port Hope Harbour Remedial Action Plan Stage 1: Environmental Conditions and Problem Definitions, published in 1990. The RAP report was prepared by a Steering Committee and a RAP team, which included representation from Environment Canada, Environment Ontario, Health and Welfare Canada, and the Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Office. (Pg. vii – viii)
+The RAP report discusses the 90,000 cubic meters of sediments located in the Port Hope Harbour prior to some small remediation efforts during the 1990s. The sediments were found to be contaminated by uranium and thorium series radionuclides, as well as heavy metals and PCBs. The contamination was believed to be the result primarily of waste management practices associated with radium and uranium refinery operations in the town of Port Hope. (i-ii) Other studies have indicated that contamination is also discharging from the Harris Ponds (located on private property on Bedford Road in Port Hope) that drain into the Ganaraska River in Monkey Mountain waste site discharges.
+Impact on fish
+The 1990 RAP report found levels of radionuclides in Port Hope Turning Basin benthos and stated that radioactive contaminants in the sediments were also bioaccumulating in the benthic biota. A detailed bioassessment of sediment toxicity was not undertaken however. (p.65)
+It is also significant to note that the RAP report recognized Port Hope Harbour as waters frequented by fish and cited 1984/1985 studies finding the presence of radionuclides in fish taken from the Turning Basin. (p. 66-68) The accompanying analysis in the RAP report, however, concludes that there is little impairment to potential beneficial users despite the presence of radionuclides.
+Reasons for this conclusion include:
+i. the main impairments to eating fish in the Harbour were caused by environmental conditions and sources not attributable to the harbour. (pg.ix)
+ii. there had been no complaints regarding tainting of fish flavour. (pg. ix)
+iii. conditions are not good for fish habitat within the Port Hope Harbour due to shallow depth and configuration resulting in high summer water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen and murky waters. (p. 66)
+For the purposes of the Port Hope Project Environmental Assessment, the studies conducted in the 1990s regarding the impacts of contaminated harbour sediments on fish, fish habitat, fish consumption, and the benthic community need to be updated and expanded.
+This process should include, but is not limited to:
+i. The conclusions drawn by the RAP team should also be reassessed to reflect the objectives of the Environmental Assessment;
+ii. New tests not conducted by the RAP team are performed to ensure that an accurate and
+detailed understanding of the extent to which the Port Hope Harbour sediments are toxic to fish and the benthic community is achieved; and,
+iii. Fisherman in the area should be solicited for complaints about fish tainting and fish consumption in order to assess the state of the problem and what remedial actions can and should be taken.
+We would also be remiss if we did not point out that there seems to be contradictory evidence in the public domain with regards to the state of the Port Hope fisheries. The Ganaraska River and Port Hope Harbour region identified in the RAP report as places where only “some” fishing occurs (pg. ix) are in fact widely lauded throughout the sportfishing and tourism worlds:
+“The fishing opportunities in the Port Hope area are truly outstanding The Ganaraska draws people from great distances to fish There is world class fishing for the Bow’s upstream.”
+“Other popular areas include Port Hope’s legendary Ganaraska River.”
+Even the Ganarask Region Conservation Authority a government agency recognizes the region as a popular place for sportsfishing
+An accurate evaluation of the health of the fisheries in the area is needed in order to protect human health. The results of such an evaluation will also legitimize statements as to the risk and use impairment impacts of contamination in the Port Hope Harbour.
+Wildlife/Migratory Birds
+In the RAP document, the team members conclude that the impact of the harbour’s contaminated sediments on wildlife consumption and flavour is not relevant, as “hunting is not permitted in the area.” This type of logic should be discouraged for the purposes of the Port Hope Project Environmental Assessment, as it undermines any legitimate attempt to evaluate the environmental impacts of contamination in the region.
+The most prevalent wildlife in the Port Hope Harbour other than fish are the migratory birds that fly into the area. Geese and ducks are found throughout the Turning Basin and West Slip, and many of these birds nest on the shores and banks of the Harbour. Because these birds are migratory (and therefore fly in both localized zones and over large areas), the fact that hunting is not permitted in the area is irrelevant. While hazardous waste management may not directly effect the local community in this case, managers of the hazardous material should not be permitted to thrust negative impacts, use impairments, and other associated risks on other regions.
+Application of Environmental Laws
+The Port Hope Project must take into account potential impacts on regions outside the local community and ensure that government standards – particularly Federal laws such as the Migratory Birds Act and the Fisheries Act – are enforced. These laws provide a clear set of standards by which to measure the performance of project managers.
+Furthermore, continuing discharges from any waste site or industrial process discovered during the EA must be forced into compliance with the Fisheries and Migratory Birds Acts. If compliance does not result, charges against the offenders should be pursued.
+B. Radioactive Contamination in Port Hope
+There must be a full and complete assessment of all contaminated wastes in the Town of Port Hope, completed using the best available technology.
+As recently as last summer, the Town of Port Hope unexpectedly uncovered radioactive waste in a town park. Similar surprise discoveries must not continue to occur. The EA process should conduct a complete and detailed evaluation of all contamination in town, identifying contaminated regions, informing property owners of suspected areas of contamination originating on their land, informing the general public of suspected areas of contamination located on publicly owned or accessible land, and instigate remediation of the problems.
+The Ontario MOE soil study done in the Town of Port Hope in the 1980s should be updated to compare and contrast data, to determine whether or not a continuing problem exists, and to identify what actions, if any, are required to deal with contaminated soils in the town.
+Finally, the contamination in the Harris Ponds and on adjacent property needs to be assessed and remediated. Environmental impacts of contamination originating from the Monkey Mountain waste site should be assessed.
+Issues of property de-valuation, tax assessments, and re-sale values of property contaminated by radioactive or hazardous waste should also be addressed in the EA.
+Beaches
+While the 1990 RAP report states that “No beaches are located in the Area of Concern,” thereby dismissing the risk of potential health risks or use impairments there is a large, popular beach located just a few metres from the Port Hope Harbour. The Port Hope Project Environmental Assessment should include an evaluation of the historic, current, and potential effects of contaminated soil and sediment on this (and other) known public bathing areas.
+C. Health study
+The Port Hope Project EA should require that a full health study be conducted to ensure adequate measures are being taken to protect the community from hazardous waste disposed of in Port Hope. This study should be deemed a significant element in the assessment of cumulative harm.,
+While many people see the stock exchange as their primary option for spending, the fact is that it is only of on several choices. Branching out a profile with various other investments is an ideal means to safeguard your financial resources and also safeguard your future. Gold, silver, and various other precious metals offer simply this chance.
+Birch Gold Reddit
+There are a multitude of gold investment companies out there. While some competitors is a good idea, it can also make it more of a challenge to determine which company will offer what you’re seeking. We’ve assembled reviews of five of the top gold investment companies to aid streamline your decision so you can pick the best company to satisfy your requirements and also safeguard your monetary future.
+Gold Investment Firm Reviews:
+GOLDCO – Our Top Recommendation
+They use a huge selection of silver and gold coins and also bars for IRAs.
+Setting up a brand-new Precious Metals Individual Retirement Account or surrendering an existing IRA is easy, and a participant of Goldco’s team is always offered to assist you with the process.
+Goldco is an A+ rated service with the Bbb.
+Disadvantages:.
+Platinum as well as Palladium aren’t provided by Goldco for Precious Metals IRAs.
+There are a great deal of wonderful gold investment firm available yet Goldco is the one we best recommend. They are an A+ rated firm with the Better Business Bureau as well as additionally have a Triple A score from business Consumer alliance. Thus a trusted as well as reputable business, you really can not fail when you pick to invest in gold or silver with Goldco.
+Goldco specialized in Silver and gold Individual retirement accounts, additionally called Rare-earth elements of self-directed IRAs. Setting up a Valuable Metals IRA with Goldco are an ideal means to expand your portfolio as well as shield you from the very unstable stock market. As highly-sought after precious metals silver and gold both make an outstanding financial investment. Their value has stayed steady over the years and also tends to rise when the economy or stock market are not performing too.
+Birch Gold Reddit
+Silver and gold are likewise being made use of an increasing number of for manufacturing as well as brand-new technologies, implying their need will just continue to expand as we change into a more technologically-advanced future. When you make a decision to sell your financial investment upon retired life or a later day, you’ll have no trouble obtaining cash for your silver or gold, which is not the case with a few other investment types, like real estate.
+Goldco concentrates on helping its customers set up Gold IRAs. A Gold Individual Retirement Account is one type of self-directed IRA where people are allowed to hold gold, rather than supplies or bonds, in their Individual Retirement Account. Establishing a self-directed IRA with Goldco is easy.
+See their web site, and take a few moments to fill in an application to open a new Individual Retirement Account. You’ll after that pick exactly how you plan to money your Individual Retirement Account, as well as move money to the brand-new account. When the money has been obtained by Goldco, you can choose the gold items you would love to contribute to your Individual Retirement Account.
+Goldco uses both gold coins and bars for Gold IRAs. Every one of these coins and bars satisfy the IRS requirements of being 99.5% pure and can be held in IRA accounts.
+Since silver is more economical than gold, you’ll be able to add more to your Precious Metals Individual Retirement Account for the very same price you ‘d pay to purchase simply a couple of gold coins or bars.
+Because of IRS laws, silver needs to be 99.99% pure to be held in a silver IRA. Goldco supplies various IRS-approved silver coins as well as bars for individuals wanting to add silver to their Priceless Metals IRA.
+Numerous silver bars from PAMP Suisse, the Perth Mint, and also various other very pertained to mints as well as refiners.
+In addition to assisting you set up a new self-directed Precious Metals IRA with gold or silver, Goldco can also help with rolling over an existing IRA right into a Precious Metals Individual Retirement Account. Numerous retirement accounts are eligible for a rollover and will certainly permit you to obtain your new self-directed Individual Retirement Account established with the funds presently in your account. A member of Goldco’s group can assist you recognize a lot more regarding the process and figure out if your pension is eligible for a rollover.
+A Silver Or Gold Individual Retirement Account with Goldco supplies the very same tax benefits as a conventional Individual Retirement Account. You can add as much as $6,000 annually (or $7,000 if you’re over 50 years old) to help your financial investments remain to expand much more up until you prepare to retire. As soon as you go to the very least 59 1/2, you will, have the ability to withdraw funds from your account scot-free.
+If you want finding out more concerning Goldco and also setting up a self-directed Rare-earth elements Individual Retirement Account, see their website to ask for the totally free Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account guide. The overview will assist you comprehend what Gold and Silver IRAs are, just how to establish them up and also fund them, and the different coins and bars you can add to your account.
+# 2 Birch Gold Group
+Pros:
+You can buy rare-earth elements for a self-direct Individual Retirement Account and also for personal investment.
+A member of the team will be able to walk you through the process of setting up your account and also offer investment suggestions.
+Birch Gold Team has an A+ rating from the Bbb.
+Disadvantages:.
+You’ll require to pay yearly storage space, insurance, and also administration fees.
+Considering that 2003, Birch Gold Group has actually been striving to prioritize the need of their clients. They intend to aid each of their customers find the best mix of gold, silver, platinum, and also palladium to expand their portfolios as well as shield their riches. Birch Gold Team uses an experienced and useful client service team that can aid respond to concerns or stroll you with the needed steps for investing in gold.
+Birch Gold Team can aid you establish a Valuable Metals IRA to expand your profile. If you have an interest in establishing a new IRA or surrendering an existing retirement, the initial step is to open up a brand-new account as well as transfer funds to it. When your account is established, you’ll be able to pick the rare-earth elements you want to contribute to it.
+A member of the Birch Gold Group group will be readily available to assist you discover more concerning this process and deal individualized suggestions to help fulfill your financial investment needs. After you settle your decision, the specialist collaborating with you will certainly complete the acquisition for you.
+Precious metals purchased for an IRA should be stored in an IRS-approved vault. Birch Gold Team uses their customers a selection of storage space choices. Among their very advised choices is the Delaware Vault that uses $1 billion worth of insurance coverage, so you can relax easy knowing your financial investments will certainly be safe.
+In order to be held in a self-directed IRA, precious metals have to meet particular levels of pureness. These include readily available gold and also alternatives include:
+# 3 Noble Gold
+Pros:
+Noble gold likewise allows individuals to buy electronic currencies.
+Safe and secure storage alternatives in Noble Gold’s Texas storage space facility are readily available.
+Noble Gold supplies gold, silver, platinum, and also palladium for capitalists.
+Disadvantages:.
+Gold Individual Retirement Account rollovers need a minimum of a $5,000 financial investment.
+Noble Gold is another gold investment firm you’ll wish to take a close take a look at. Recognized with both the Better Business Bureau and also Customer Matters, Noble Gold makes every effort to assist each of their clients make the very best monetary decisions feasible without the anxiety or inconvenience that many connect with spending rare-earth elements. Noble Gold is also a participant of the Business-Consumer Partnership, the Royal Canadian Mint, and TrustLink. They are highly pertained to and well-reviewed by their various pleased clients.
+Noble Gold can aid you establish a Valuable Metals IRA to aid you shield your financial investments as well as expand your portfolio. Gold IRAs receive just the same tax breaks that traditional Individual retirement accounts receive, making them an excellent alternative for establishing for future financial success.
+If you wish to establish a new Precious Metals Individual Retirement Account or rollover an existing pension right into a Priceless Metals Ira, complete the IRA set up form on the web site. Once you’ve completed the type, a participant of the Noble Gold team will certainly call you to aid you finish establishing your account and start the procedure of relocating funds to the new account.
+After your account is moneyed, you can select the precious metals you wish to have actually contributed to your new self-directed IRA. Noble Gold supplies a big choice of IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum, as well as palladium coins and bars.
+If you choose to purchase rare-earth elements for an individual financial investment, as opposed to setting up a self-directed IRA, you can additionally do that with Noble Gold. In addition to being able to buy the gold, silver, platinum, as well as palladium coins provided above, they likewise use collections and also rare coins for purchase.
+All of the rare coins are individually rated as well as certified by the NGC (Numismatic Assurance Company) or the PCGS (Expert Coin Grading Solution). Each coin or collection is sent out in a secured owner to keep it in excellent collection. The unusual coins and collections that are available include: Four-Piece Indian– Saint Gauden Set, 1854 Kellogg $20 Coin, as well as Morgan Silver Dollars.
+Financiers might additionally think about among the Royal Survival Packs provided by Noble Gold. There are eight various options that consist of pre-selected precious metals that are designed to fulfill the demands also offered for individuals living beyond the USA also.
+When you purchase precious metals from Noble Gold, your order will certainly be shipped firmly, discreetly, and quickly to obtain them to your hands as swiftly as feasible. Noble Gold works with numerous suppliers for gold, silver, platinum, as well as palladium, which allows them to provide their consumers extremely affordable pricing for rare-earth elements. If you choose you wish to offer your rare-earth elements back, Noble Gold’s buy-back program makes it fast and also simple so.
+Another significant benefit of choosing Noble Gold is that their team members are simple to deal with and also will not provide a pushy or hard sell. They wish to aid each consumer make the very best choices for their individual financial requirements, and don’t press you to make decisions you aren’t ready to make.
+Augusta Precious Metals
+Birch Gold Reddit
+Pros:
+Establishing an Individual Retirement Account is a basic procedure, and also a participant of the team will be available to walk you through each action.
+You can purchase silver and gold for personal financial investment.
+They provide various IRS-approved storage space alternatives for Gold and Silver IRAs.
+Cons:.
+You will need to speak to the company to locate the full listing of IRA-eligible gold and silver coins.
+Augusta Valuable Metals is another exceptional company to think about if you want to buy silver or gold. They have gotten an A+ score from the Bbb along with outstanding scores from Google, Facebook, TrustLink, and also business Consumer Alliance, making them a trusted company to offer your company to.
+Augusta Rare-earth element’s is committed to each customer and helping them get the best possible experience. The firm is committed to being clear, streamlining the process of purchasing silver and gold for the client, and offering tailored solution to fulfill the needs of each individual.
+Among the main items that Augusta Previous Steels specializes in is aiding consumers establish Gold and Silver Individual retirement accounts to expand their portfolios and safeguard them against future securities market slumps. They strive to make the procedure of establishing an Individual Retirement Account as straightforward as feasible and also offer support each action of the way. They can additionally aid you figure out whether an existing retirement account is eligible to be surrendered right into a new Precious Metals self-directed IRA.
+Augusta Rare-earth elements uses a huge option of IRS-approved silver and gold coins that can be added to a Priceless Metals IRA.
+One more choice you’ll have with Augusta Valuable Metals is the opportunity to acquire gold or silver for a personal financial investment. Purchasing silver and gold as a personal financial investment features most of the exact same benefits associated with purchasing them for a retirement savings account. You can protect your portfolio by diversifying your investments along with secure yourself versus a reduction in the value of the dollar.
+To make an individual financial investment in silver or gold, set up your account, transfer funds, then choose the coins or bars you wish to purchase. Augusta Rare-earth elements provides silver and gold bullion along with superior gold and silver for acquisition.
+Purchases with Augusta Priceless Metals ship totally free with cost-free insurance. Each thing is securely and inconspicuously packaged to supply additional protection.
+Birch Gold Reddit
+Regal Possessions
+Pros:.
+Rare-earth elements for Individual retirement accounts are kept in safe and secure, IRS-approved storage space facilities.
+You can pick from segregated and also fully-insured storage space options for personal financial investments.
+You can likewise purchase cryptocurrencies with Regal Properties.
+Cons:.
+The choice of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium is not as big as you’ll locate with some other companies.
+Whether you’re looking to expand your profile with precious metals or cryptocurrencies, you’ll wish to take a look at what Regal Properties has to supply. Regal Assets was founded by Tyler Gallagher more than a years ago and has become a highly-trusted name in the rare-earth elements’ investment service. They belong to the Forbes Money Council as well as use a specialized group of skilled and well-informed investors to aid their customers make the best financial decisions for their details scenarios.
+Regal Possessions can help you set up a brand-new Rare-earth elements IRA. They provide a large option of gold, silver, platinum, as well as palladium coins and bars that are approved by the IRS for holding in an Individual Retirement Account. If you intend to establish a brand-new Precious Metals IRA with Regal Asset, just finish the on the internet form to enter the details essential to establish an account as well as fund it. As soon as the funds have actually arrived right into your account, you’ll be able to choose the coins and also bars you would love to invest in.
+Regal Properties.
+In addition to aiding people established a new Precious Metals IRA, Regal Properties can additionally assist you rollover an existing retirement account into a Precious Metals IRA. If you are not sure whether your present pension is qualified for a rollover, reach out to a participant of the Regal Possessions group, and they can aid you determine if it is qualified.
+Regal Assets supplies various gold, silver, platinum, and also palladium coins as well as bars that satisfy the IRS’ regulations. Gold should be 99.5% pure, silver, must be 99.9% pure, and platinum and palladium must be 99.95% pure to be kept in an Individual Retirement Account.
+Something that makes Regal Possessions attract attention when compared to many other gold investment companies is that they likewise offer the chance to buy cryptocurrencies. This is yet one more method to expand your portfolio as well as deal higher protection against the ups and also downs of the stock market or a damaged United States buck. A few of the cryptocurrencies you can purchase with Regal Properties include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tezos, Zcash, Litecoin, Stellar, and XRP.
+Regal Assets likewise provides unique investment bundles. These bundles are designed to streamline the financial investment process, which can be frustrating, and offer pre-selected coins and bars at various rate points. There are 6 different plans to pick from:.
+Seller Plan: $5,000 investment.
+Knighthood Plan: $10,000 financial investment.
+Tradition Portfolio: $25,000 investment.
+Royalty Profile: $50,000 investment.
+Empire Portfolio: $100,000 financial investment.
+Crowning Portfolio: $250,000 financial investment.
+Factor to consider in Choosing.
+Prior to selecting a gold investment firm, reviewed our checklist of considerations listed below. Spending some time to pick the right business to meet your requirements will aid guarantee that you’re satisfied with the procedure as well as obtain the services you’re trying to find.
+Online reputation and Experience.
+As with any other financial investments or huge purchases, you wish to do your research study and pick a reputable and also credible business. Select a company that has several years of experiences and high consumer evaluations. Trying to find business with an A+ ranking from the Better Business Bureau or ones that are accredited with Consumer Affairs may offer additional satisfaction.
+Investment Options.
+Next off, you’ll intend to take into consideration the different investment choices offered by each company. Determine whether they only supply Precious Steels IRAs, or if they give the choice to purchase gold, silver, or other precious steels for personal financial investments.
+Then, consider the option of precious metals they offer. Can you purchase gold, silver, platinum, as well as palladium, or will you be limited to simply gold and silver? The amount of coins and also bars are readily available for IRAs, as well as the number of are available for individual financial investments.
+Some gold investment firm also enable individuals to invest in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. If this is something you believe you would certainly have an interest in, make certain to search for a company that uses this option.
+Fees.
+You might need to examine the fine print, but you’ll also intend to examine the costs you’ll require to pay. Will you require to pay for shipping or insurance coverage for your rare-earth elements? Exist yearly costs connected with Individual retirement accounts? Will you be charged for anything else? Addressing these inquiries may assist you better contrast two firms that you’re torn between.
+Customer Support and Assistance.
+Establishing a Gold IRA can be challenging. You might likewise be billed different costs if you do not transfer funds from an existing retirement to a new one. Discovering a company that uses superior customer service is a must.
+You desire a person valuable who will stroll you though each step in the process of either setting up a brand-new Individual Retirement Account or rolling over an existing retirement account. In addition, locating an investment company that will certainly supply you with suggestions and also assistance if you aren’t sure specifically what you wish to invest in can likewise be valuable.
+Leading Select.
+Every one of the gold business we reviewed above are relied on and also respected alternatives to help you establish a Precious Metals IRA or invest in gold, silver, platinum, or palladium. We had to choose Goldco as our leading choice. There is a lot we like about Goldco.
+They are an A+ ranked firm with the Better Business Bureau and also have a Three-way A ranking from the Organization Customer Alliance. Goldco makes it very easy to establish or rollover a Priceless Metals Individual Retirement Account; their staff member are very well-informed as well as handy as well as will certainly address any inquiries or problems you may have.
+Goldco uses a wonderful selection of IRS-approved gold and silver coins and bars that you can add to your Individual Retirement Account. Purchasing gold and silver with Goldco can aid diversify your portfolio and also safeguard you against decrease in the stock market.
+We believe you’ll be happy with your decision to buy silver or gold with Goldco. See their web site today to request your complimentary Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account guide or to register to obtain your brand-new Rare-earth elements Individual Retirement Account started!
+Frequently Asked Questions
+1. Why should I invest in gold or various other rare-earth elements?
+Investing in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium supply a terrific method to expand your investment profile. Unlike the volatile stock exchange, precious metals typically hold their value rather regularly. They are likewise in minimal supply in the world, which makes them a lot more uncommon and extremely in-demand.
+Rare-earth elements are commonly connected with fashion jewelry, however the fact is that they are made use of in a variety of various means which keeps them in high need. This includes makes use of pertaining to technological innovations, which will just continue to boost over the coming years.
+Investing a few of your money in gold, silver, platinum, or palladium will certainly permit you to diversify your profile. This is extremely a good idea to secure you against an unexpected decline in the stock market. If every one of your properties are held in the stock exchange and the stock market collisions right around the time you prepare to retire, you might encounter a great deal of monetary stress. Nevertheless, if several of your possessions are held in rare-earth elements, you will certainly be less detrimentally influenced.
+Rare-earth elements are likewise really easy to sell off when you prepare to market them. Given that they are in such high demand, you need to have no trouble locating a buyer. This is not the instance with property or some other financial investment alternatives.
+2. When is the most effective time to acquire gold?
+It goes without stating that you wish to purchase gold when it goes to the most affordable price feasible. While this isn’t constantly simple, there are a couple of indicators that can aid you understand if it is a good time to purchase great. Typically, the cost of gold increases as the stock exchange drops. If you can purchase gold prior to the securities market is anticipated to take a big decrease, it is most likely a good concept.
+Discovering exactly how to examine the securities market futures might help you forecast when you ought to acquire gold. Hearing that a reserve bank is going to start printing more currency is likewise often an indication that the rate of gold is about to boost given that the value of gold increases as the value of the nationwide currency drops.
+3. What is a Gold IRA?
+A gold Individual Retirement Account is one kind of Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account, or Individual Retirement Account. Gold IRAs permit individuals to purchase gold, silver, platinum, or palladium in their retirement account, instead of the supplies as well as bonds with a typical Individual Retirement Account. Gold IRAs use the very same tax obligation benefits of other kinds of retirement accounts, however might undergo higher costs.
+The benefit of selecting to set up a Gold Individual Retirement Account is that you’ll have the ability to diversify your profile by holding some rare-earth elements instead of all stocks as well as bonds. Sometimes, you can even surrender an existing IRA into a Gold Individual Retirement Account.
+4. What percentage of my portfolio should I hold in gold?
+The best percent of a profile to commit to gold financial investments will differ by person. Consider your comfort level with different sorts of investments in addition to your current age. If you are close to retiring, professionals advise against making riskier investments. Nevertheless, if you are years far from retirement, you may feel extra comfy taking a larger danger and spending even more cash in gold.
+You could likewise change the percentage of your portfolio held in gold by carefully complying with the rate of gold and also the stock exchange. This is riskier though, since if you don’t move quickly sufficient you could shed a great deal of cash.
+5. Where can I purchase gold?
+Gold is available in coin shops or from bullion suppliers. You may be able to find a local bullion dealer or coin store in your area if you are interested in acquiring personally. Before checking out a dealership, you will wish to research their track record as well as company practices to make certain you select someone reliable. It is additionally a great concept to establish the current cost of gold and bring it with you to see to it you do not obtain scammed.
+Along with buying gold in person, there are a variety of on the internet gold investment firm. They provide a big choice of gold coins and bars in addition to various other rare-earth elements that you could acquire for an individual financial investment or for starting a self-directed IRA. You need to additionally inspect the evaluations as well as scores for a gold investment company before giving them your business.
+6. Should every one of my cash be purchased gold?
+No, every one of your money ought to not be bought gold. Gold should be used to expand your portfolio to shield against unexpected losses in the stock market. If every one of your money was purchased gold, you could encounter comparable issues to having every one of your money purchased the stock exchange.
+If the rate of gold occurs to reduce, your entire portfolio would lower in worth. If simply a section of your profile is invested in gold as well as the cost of gold lowers, you won’t take as large of a monetary hit.
+When you spend several of your money in rare-earth elements, whether via a self-directed IRA or as a personal investment, you are spreading out your investments to supply even more stability should the stock market collision. In case the stock market does collapse shortly before you prepare to retire or need to access your money for one more function, your losses will certainly be less significant if you have cash purchased other areas.
+Gold investment firm are made to make it simple for individuals to expand their profile by purchasing gold, silver, platinum, or palladium coins as well as bars. Some also use the chance to invest in cryptocurrencies currently. A gold investment firm can be an outstanding source whether you just intend to pick up a couple of gold coins or bars to hold in your house risk-free, would love to go after a big investment to be safeguarded in a depository, or want rolling over or establishing a new self-directed IRA, typically called a gold IRA.
+User Details
+- User Since
+- Oct 3 2014, 1:00 PM (258 w, 2 d)
+- Availability
+- Available
+- LDAP User
+- Unknown
+- MediaWiki User
+- Edokter [ Global Accounts ]
+Jun 29 2016
+@Jdlrobson I'm waiting for TemplateStyles to be deployed, but it has a major blocker in that it does not support media queries (see T135788), on which the new main page relies heavily. Other then that, I just have to ensure 100% consensus from the community :)
+Jun 19 2016
+A line break (\n) after each list item should provide a clean output allowing breaks.
+May 27 2016
+It applies to all skins. But can we decide on a unified selector please?
+May 26 2016
+May 23 2016
+May 22 2016
+To clarify, even if this is the older task, the code responsible for this bug is no longer present since Category view switched to CSS cloumns.
+May 5 2016
+If we're not touching the colors set in the other skins, they will override this, and the colors set in enwiki's common.css will have to remain.
+Apr 25 2016
+This would remove the ability for dynamic styling (unless parser functions work inside <TemplateStyles>, but that is a coding nightmare), so that is a definite no for me. As @Nbdd0121 says, this is a super-breaking change, and wihtout a good rationale. Both inline and <style> have their uses, and neither has the full set of features that the other lacks.
+Apr 24 2016
+@fredw, the current release version (45) still uses the internal font stack, which is why I find it odd we override it in the first place. But if the internal stack is removed, we may as well leave it.
+Apr 20 2016
+I think scoping to #mw-content-text should be enough. Any tempate appearing outside actual content is usually protected anyway.
+Apr 19 2016
+Apr 17 2016
+OK, let me explain my exact goals again...
+Apr 16 2016
+Apr 7 2016
+Mar 25 2016
+Yes, lets move all CSS inline to the templates... I think not. Why shouldn't the loading of Mobile.css be fixed instead?
+Mar 17 2016
+Where is the max-width coming from?
+Mar 8 2016
+Dec 30 2015
+@MaxSem That breaks up the list, which creates accessability issues on its own. The better choice is to use column-break CSS. But browser support is fragmanted.
+Dec 25 2015
+From what I can see, the content is evenly spaced on both sides inside the quotes. Adding the margin would break that symmetry, which would look bad in ohter situations. Spacing also depends on client font metrics. Plus this adds micro-managing CSS bloat; we should not fall into these "1px"-trap because something looks off. Suggest WONTFIX.
+Dec 13 2015
+I don't agree with removing Linux Libertine; I want Georgia removed. But anyway...
+Dec 2 2015
+I'll remove it. When will it be deployed?
+Nov 22 2015
+I get this (blocking) error on any page on enwiki with an .ogg file on it. Chrome does not like somthing about the embedded player (that replaces the native player).
+Nov 12 2015
+Yeah, I removed that, as it !forced any clears to none, which interfered with some templates.
+Nov 2 2015
+Wikipedia:Typography links to some archived font surveys that break down the installed fonts for each of the three popular platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux). Some will regard those as outdated, but it provides a good base non the less.
+Oct 24 2015
+Your guess is as good as mine. I found the code once, but now I searched the entire core and I can't find it anymore...
+Oct 23 2015
+Oct 17 2015
+That would be a terrible hack that defeats the purpose of using clumns in the first place.
+Sep 25 2015
+I don't think that is sufficient reason to remove focussing all together.
+Sep 20 2015
+I made some small modifications to the Dutch script, but I like having it closer to the MW implementation. I'll move the 'Create account' to the right, but I'm not sure what to do with the user page link: remove it or link it? Thoughts?
+Sep 13 2015
+This is a local problem. Normally, unvisited pages on your watchlist are bolded. On enwiki, this is changed to a green bullet. Recently, changes to the ResourceLoader forced me to move the CSS associated with the watchlist to a gadget, to ensure the correct loading order.
+Aug 29 2015
+If a gadget doesn't work and other scripts are affected, I'm sure such admins will be taken to task pretty quick.
+Aug 22 2015
+I hope this trend is not pushing towards other (generic) classes, such as thumbs. Those are used by templates, and this may apply to galleries as well.
+Aug 12 2015
+@Volker_E, You mean the font stack? Last revision is here, it then moved to a separate CSS page before it was killed off. Now, Common.js only loads two common Unicode fonts, and only on XP.
+We should not specify fonts that are marginally installed by default. Some time back, enwiki had a font stack for unicode fonts that included 30(!) fonts. It grew over the years because each time some glyph didn't work, another font was added. I ended up removing it as it started to interfere with the browser's glyph fallback. So let's not fall into that trap, lest we end up with 30 fonts.
+Aug 9 2015
+Glad you understand. We shouldn't use @supports for initial, there would be no end to it and we'd end up with duplicate rulesets everywhere. Just avoid initial where ever you can.
+Aug 8 2015
+@mxn, IE does support @supports in the nighlies, but not initial. So this creates a problem is they decide to implement text-decoration-style.
+Oh dear, we just moved the problem from Firefox to Internet Explorer; IE does not support initial (and probably never will), but it will someday support text-decoration-style, which will cause the same problem we're trying to solve here. And it already supports @supports in the nightlies, where it will throw an unneeded CSS error in the console.
+Jul 30 2015
+Now site and user are loaded twice. @Krinkle calls this 'harmless', but it is extremely annoying having to dig through duplicate properties, not knowing where they come from. I also experience occasional load order issues and discrepancies between bedug and live loads.
+Jul 26 2015
+Jul 25 2015
+Jul 24 2015
+What @DavidEppstein said...
+Jul 21 2015
+This comes as quite a shock... I was so glad to get rid of those awful PNGs. But it is not much of a suprise that it was unmaintainable due to the way MathJax was integrated.
+Jul 11 2015
+I don't think it is too hard using inline CSS; it is the most straightforward approach. Personally, I would choose [| and |] as column markers, with | (and |-) as optional column break points. That should not create a conflict with existing markup. HTML-wise, they should translate to somthing like:
+I chose those values as they inherently include their own 1.5x and 2x versions (not al of them need to be listed in preferences though). The cleanup is due anyway. I once suggested an expiring mechanism for (existing) thumbs that have been stale for 90 days, but it requires a daily task to run.
+Jul 10 2015
+But not so consistent with other projects like Gerrit.
+I think we should build on multiples of 120 and 160. That should result in the following common cached image sizes: 120, 160, 180, 240, 320, 360, 480, 640, 720, 960, 1280, 1440, 1920... with 240 as the default.
+Jul 9 2015
+I ment if the Wikimedia logo should be black and white?
+Jul 8 2015
+I'm saying we could use existing code for that, for example: and
+We already have several extensions that can load page-bound CSS. Why are these not used?
+Good! Now we have an actual example of an obsolete attribute being removed from a browser. That will kill any argument claiming "but these attributes still work and will be supported forever!".
+Jul 6 2015
+I'll have a shot at it. Does it have to be black-and-white?
+Jul 4 2015
+Locally as in enwiki? I would also oppose that, as I do see other elements shrinking, such as the search box. So a universal box-sizing:border-box is ill-conceived. There is nothing in the way to choose border-box for certain elements, but it makes no sense whatsoever to apply it to all elements; they have been designed with content-box in mind after all.
+You may want to reword your proposal, because I somehow still have the idea that you want to apply the first snippet somewhere, and I would certainly oppose that.
+Sorry, I am wrong to asume the first snippet is not already in Vector? If not, why put a patch in core to fix a local CSS issue?
+Where can I see the bug in action?
+Common.js still loads edit.js and watchlist.js through importScript; edit.js because of a seemingly longstanding bug T10912, and extra buttons for the old edit toolbar; and watchlist.js to add butons to dismiss watchlist messages.
+Jun 28 2015
+It has alwasy broken inside a list item wihtout the enclose=div option (which was a hack in itself). We should make it a good habit of no longer using it inside a wikilist item. Other then that, wether it is Tidy or the parser getting confused (I'd have to test using ExpandTemplates), the extension should always treat it as a new block context.
+Jun 21 2015
+Jun 14 2015
+Then I was partly wrong, and it still presents a problem.
+Also, as @Krinkle hase pointed out in the patch, divs cannot have focus and thus cannot be navigated using the keyboard. That hurts accessability more then the purported middle-click would.
+Jun 9 2015
+It is clear that the design team knows nothing about the technical aspects of web typography. All the issues raised here are real, especially the non-Latin use of fonts (and Georgia in particular). But perhaps I expect too much when trying to explain something that transcends outside the expertise of designers.
+Jun 8 2015
+Let me rephrase that: Declining a task should only be done if the request is eihter unreasonable, hard to implement or going against core design priciples. Neither of those apply, so no single dev can decline.
+Reopening... @Krinkle, you do not have the authority do decline this request, and I will not leave this alone until users have some control over ordering, wihtout having to revert to indicator name-hacking.
+Those are the less distinct corrections. The core of the Typography Refresh--the actual fonts--would all be reverted to just "sans-serif".
+To allow...?
+I'm just about ready to fully support reverting back to sans-serif for the headers. There has been plenty of feedback from readers on mediawiki.org, and all of them are blissfully ignored. That is what happens when you stand by a change dispite its shortcomings.
+Jun 3 2015
+Not convinced this needs action. It will also break any script interacting with the menu... again.
+Jun 2 2015
+I once already suggested throwing out Georgia as being diproportionate to the other fonts. See. I also suggested ohter fontstacks that are very similair in design and metrics. But ditching Georgia is the main argument in all of them.
+May 30 2015
+That did not clear the problem for me, so caching issue is server-side.
+Very possible. But these deploy/cahcing issues seem to become a weekly occurence.
+May 29 2015
+I thought the point of all CSS loading at top by default is that there is no point in loading CSS at the bottom. I can think of no scenario where CSS is not needed at page load. The only possible advantage is that content comes sooner, but you also risk style flashes.
+May 24 2015
+How can it be a regression? It's a new feature with a new bug?
+May 23 2015
+@Jdforrester-WMF, I don't think there has been any case studies done with regards to indicator use, and I think you have no idea how indicators are used in real wiki-life. I am talking from experience and as the one how implemented it on enwiki, I get all the complaints regarding sorting.
+Then discuss... I have put my arguments forward in that auto-sorting gives more trouble then advantages, and that sorting can easily be achieved localy instead.
+Because I'd like to have this cleared before it gets released.
+Any HTML5 will not degrade gracefully on IE8; while it safely ignores the tag, any associated CSS wil also be ignored.
+Any HTML5 will not degrade gracefully on IE8; while it safely ignores the tag, any associated CSS wil also be ignored.
+Final patch pending. Once merged, this can be closed.
+May 19 2015
+May 17 2015
+Chrome bug to monitor: (EDIT:) which is now marked as "fixed".
+I think the shortest path is, as @EoRdE6 points out, is to allow users to supress redirects, but only when moving from their own user space. What were the reasons this was shot down?
+May 16 2015
+This will lead to option-bloat. If there is a user option to disable this particular interface element, what about all the other elements that some editors don't want to see? There would be no end in sight. Therefor declined.
+Perhaps supress the creation of a redirect by default when moving a draft.
+May 15 2015
+Again, no editor is directly using <indicator>, but uses templates, which there are a few hundreds of, and I am not about to go through them all again to add a name parameter, which has other disadvantages, like breaking id naming.
+I'm with @Quiddity. What causes all the control to be misplaced? If checkboxes are placed on one line, I expect them to be on one line. The controls should behave as standard UI controls with regards to being placed inline or as block elements.
+ACAPMA Daily COVID-19 Roundup | as at 17:00 27/4/2020
+Dear Retailer,
+Attached is the latest update from ACAPMA, it highlight the latest changers to JobKeeper. If you have any question around this I suggest that you all Elisha directly.
+Also on Wednesday we are having our third webinar, featuring again Mark McKenzie, I am sure he would be happy to field any questions you might have around JobKeeper as well as updating us on the fuel pricing situation. You should have received a link to register.
+C Store Boot Camp.. will start on the 4th May , more information will follow shortly. Man I just cannot wait.
+Keep Safe, Keep Local and Keep Positive
+Steve
+Daily COVID-19 Roundup | as at 17:00 27/04/2020 (last Roundup 24
+- The JobKeeper Rules changed – Juniors Eligibility effected >>> SERIOUSLY READ THIS >>>
+On Saturday the Treasury updated the Factsheets on the JobKeeper program and included in the update the eligibility criteria for Juniors. This update has changed the previous criteria from “as at 1/3/2020 were over the age of 16” to “as at 1/3/2020 were are at least 16 years of age at 1 March 2020, with the exception of full time students who are 17 years old and younger and who are not financially independent”. This difference is stunning and will have an impact on businesses that have already been approved for staff and made the payments for the Transition Period. It is noted that the ATO Employee Nomination Form (as at 16:30) still shows the old criteria, so businesses and staff are applying the old criteria in good faith, and the change to the eligibility may impact the payment that businesses receive. ACAPMA is urgently following this up directly with Treasury and anticipates an answer in the morning. For now all businesses should note that Juniors may change in their eligibility, so if possible, hold off on paying their Transitional Period Top Up Backpay until clarity can be sought. It will need to be made by 30/4/2020 for eligible staff. However it is worth waiting until the deadline for juniors, because, if the business makes a payment to an employee who is 17y and is, according to the old criteria and the current ATO form, eligible, but they are then removed from eligibility based on the new criteria, there will be no payment to the business, and, as covered yesterday, there is no mechanism for recouping that money from the employee (other than by agreement).
+- ATO JobKeeper Application deadline extended – but the details matter, don’t apply late until you understand the details
+The ATO has extended the final application date to 31/5/2020…BUT…any business that applies for the JobKeeper program AFTER the normal application deadline of 30/4/2020 WILL NOT receive any payments for the Transition Period of 30/3/2020-26/4/2020. To be clear, even if the business has paid the eligible staff the minimum $1,500 before tax per fortnight for the period of 30/3/2020-26/4/2020 (in real time or via a backpayment) but the business does not apply for and get approved for JobKeeper until after the initial deadline of 30/4/2020, for example on 6/5/2020, then the business will not receive any JobKeeper Payments for the period 30/3/2020-26/4/2020. The message is this; if your business has suffered the minimum decline in turnover, or, if it is predicting that it will suffer the minimum decline in turnover by September, then it should apply urgently, now, BEFORE 30/4/2020 to ensure that approval can be gathered in time to make the required backpay for the Transition Period. It should also be noted that there is no mechanism to recoup any amount paid to the staff in anticipation of the JobKeeper being approved other than by agreement.
+- COVID Safe App launched
+The Department of Health Track and Trace COVID Safe App was launched yesterday and will form an important weapon in the prevention of secondary case number spikes as lockdown restrictions ease. The app utilises the phones Bluetooth to ‘ping’ other phones nearby that also have the app and record when the phones are near eachover. In the event of someone who has the app being diagnosed with COVID-19 they have the option of providing the Department of Health access to the information in the app that will then notify all of the phones that ‘pinged’ with the patients phone for the exposure period that they may have been exposed and they should get tested and isolate. The data on the app is in the control of the user and cannot be accessed without permission. Once the crisis is over the app will notify users to delete it. It is important for businesses to note that while every Australian of every age is encouraged to download the app, give it location permission and ensure they leave Bluetooth on so that it can work, that it is voluntary. There are specific protections for all persons who choose not to download the app. No business or government body can require a person to download the app, or deny access to any services or places because a person does not have the app. As lockdowns ease there will be secondary spikes in cases, high participation in an app like this will ensure that they can be contained quickly and that the unchecked clusters and spread that were seen at the beginning of this crisis is not faced again…so please download the app, spread the word and keep safe. For more information on the COVID Safe App see;. To download the app for Android click here; To download the app for iPhone click here;
+Q & A with ACAPMA
+Q: What if I am not approved for JobKeeper, how can I get back the money that I have paid my staff?
+A: As outlined here; if there is a concern that you will not be approved for the JobKeeper then you should not be paying the payment. There is no mechanism (other than by agreement) to recoup overpayments to staff, so they should not be made until you are approved. Approval is given quickly once the business has applied for the JobKeeper (usually within a few minutes to hours), and for the period from 30/3/2020-26/4/2020, which is known as the Transition Period, the business can backpay staff the amounts to top up to $1,500 before tax per fortnight for that period. These Transition Period backpayments will need to be paid by 30/4/2020 – so it is important that the business applies for the JobKeeper now. If the business applies at a later date and is approved, if it has not paid at least $1,500 before tax for each eligible staff member, then the business will not receive the payment for that period, only for periods from the approval date.
+The business can not simply deduct any overpayment from staff – even in the event of a payroll error, the business must have approval in writing for all deductions. Some staff contracts provide for the incremental deduction of payroll errors, which would count as agreement for an error, provided it stipulated the maximum amount to be deducted per pay period or laid out an option for alternative arrangements depending on the nature and magnitude of the error. Even with such a clause however, it is not clear if the business would be able to claim that any Top Up payments that were paid in anticipation of the JobKeeper approval would fall into the category of a payroll error, because it is clearly paid with intention, and paid prior to the application and approval, which is not necessary and is therefore a calculated business risk.
+Q: My business and staff have been approved for JobKeeper, can I issue a Directive for my staff to work more hours, up to the value of the $1,500 before tax per fortnight?
+A: This is an old question, but it has come up repeatedly over the weekend and the answer is a very clear NO!!!!!
+If the business and the employee are both participating in JobKeeper the business can issue several Directives; to reduce hours (including to zero), to undertake differing duties, to work from a different location (provided the distance is reasonable) and to take annual leave (provided after the amount Directed to be taken is removed the employee still has at least 2 weeks entitlement in the bank). By agreement there can be a Directive concerning; the days of work, taking leave at ½ pay and undertaking other work for other businesses and training. There are requirements for the issuing of any Directive, including consultation and notice. There is however, no mechanism to increase the number of hours that an employee works.
+Like always there is capacity for the employee and employer to agree to work more hours, but any such agreement will need to be genuine – this means it can not be based on misrepresentations. A recent case outlined that a business that has sought agreement to increase hours on the basis that ‘it is a requirement as part of the JobKeeper to work hours to the value of $1,500 before tax per fortnight’ any such agreement was deemed to be invalid, resulting in not only adverse action claim implications, but also the need for the business to apply overtime rates to any time that was worked in excess of the normal hours as it was ‘additional hours at the direction of the business’, which attract overtime penalties.
+The message is clear, while it is possible to reduce hours for staff as part of the JobKeeper Flexibility provisions, there is no capacity to increase them other than by genuine agreement, and any business that attempts to convince staff that they ‘have’ to increase their hours, will face not only overtime penalty rates and backpay, but also the uncapped penalties of adverse action claims.
+Q: Do I have to pay staff on unpaid leave the $1,500 before tax per fortnight if both the staff and the business are approved for JobKeeper?
+A: Yes…if it is approved leave. An employee on APPROVED unpaid leave will receive $1,500 before tax per fortnight pay if they and the business are approved for JobKeeper as per; (page 10; “I AM ON UNPAID OR PAID LEAVE. WILL I RECEIVE THE PAYMENT? Yes, unless you are in receipt of Government Parental Leave Pay or Dad and Partner Pay. If you are an eligible employee and your employer is an eligible employer, they will receive the payment whether you are working, on leave, or have been stood down.”)
+Here the important element is the approval. If the business approves unpaid leave then the employee will receive the payments, however, if the employee is rostered to work and refuses to appear, and the employee is not on approved leave (including personal and carers leave) then there will be an issue of failure to follow lawful instructions (misconduct) and abandonment of employment, which will trigger a Show Cause process and eventual termination if the employee does not show a valid reason for not presenting to
+Home › Forums › Backyard Chat › General › I haven't posted cuz didn't want to bore you but
+This topic contains 15 replies, has 11 voices, and was last updated by
+ILUVCHICKODEES___MN 4 months ago.
+- AuthorPosts
+- July 16, 2014 at 7:28 pm #5264801 Report Abuse
+With my “date night” with my 92 yr old widowed friend.
+I have been going to the classic car roll ins for wks now. And because of the flooding in town, instead of the 4 min drive it took me 25 min to go around. I would leave from work (6 miles shorter)
+He calls me every time the night before “I sure hope you can make it”… almost always SOMEONE drives his car there. But last night he drove alone. Apparently, none of his family could make it.
+We walked around and looked at cars… then he wanted to buy me “lunch”…. to me supper. He always buys us each ONE beer…. ok… sometimes 2…. first one we have to “click” together. We had a good “lunch”.
+Then of course he has me drive his car down main street to show it off (Like everyone does).. I get so scared cuz what he has brought are BIG. We stop at the kettle corn vendor… he always gets me a bag… I thought we were ready to go when he asks me if I wanted an icecream cone. I was SO full but the look in his eyes… I say SURE! We stand in line for GOOD icecream…. we leave that building, find a park bench… watch people (OH we “click” our cones too.. LoL) he looks at the people… he looks at me…. takes a taste of his cone… looks at me and says. “Life is good”… melted my heart! I didn’t think I’d ever hear those words come out of his mouth after his wife died…. Made it all worth while!
+Just had to share.
+July 16, 2014 at 7:37 pm #5264807 Report Abuse
+awww-life is good for him because of good people like you! so nice of you to spend time with him. your a good girl chicky!
+July 16, 2014 at 8:17 pm #5264822 Report Abuse
+tealbirdIA_Z4Participant
+Neat night. Thanks for sharing. Alma
+<*)~// TealbirdJuly 16, 2014 at 8:24 pm #5264823 Report Abuse
+shortbreadloverParticipant
+how sweet. everyone regardless of age needs someone to care about them
+July 16, 2014 at 8:24 pm #5264824 Report Abuse
+I had to parallel park that long Lincoln… I accidently drove up and over the curb!!! I said “I’m sorry!!!”
+He laughed and said “no problem… now I know the shocks still work”…. LoL
+It took so long to get a cone and it would get dark soon. I was concerned about his driving alone let alone at night so I called to make sure he got home ok… he did!
+July 16, 2014 at 8:48 pm #5264829 Report Abuse
+OhioLilacLadyParticipant
+Awww, ILUV, share about your dear friend anytime !!! He seems so appreciative of the time that you spend with him and it sounds as if you re making happy memories for him as well.
+I think it is wonderful, the time you are spending with him and he obviously enjoys your company or he wouldn t as you to go with him each time as well as treat you so well.
+Go, enjoy the time with him and I ll listen to your stories anytime ~~~~
+Marilyn
+July 16, 2014 at 9:05 pm #5264830 Report Abuse
+I do enjoy it too!
+You should see him when we cross the street…. he puts his arm out in front of me a lot cuz a car is coming!! And I often go to open a door for him and he budges in front of me to open it for ME. Then when we were done with “lunch”.. … and have to-go containers he always insists on carrying them…. he’s just so darn sweet!
+July 16, 2014 at 9:12 pm #5264831 Report Abuse
+tealbirdIA_Z4Participant
+When I moved to town – the man next door – would come home from seeing his wife – but she had alzeheimers – he was so worked up and would come where I was gardening. Helped him unwind for 20 – 30 minutes so he could relax and go to his home.
+Then he would come over to see what I needed – he had a tool for that. We had 8 years to do things together. Geri died 6 months before he did. But not been able to communicate with him for 7 years.
+He reminded me of my dad. He had been a mechanic for GM cars and won many awards in the service. So many things he taught me that worked on the sewing machines. He had bought a newer machine – used, from me – and had shown me the tool roll up carriers. Many evenings he would say – lets get a sandwich and go for a car ride.And we had to take his ‘Long Car’ so I know that feeling.
+He and Geri had installed many garage door openers and knew where people lived.
+Spent many hours looking at his WWII pictures and stories. He taught me to like cats. We often watched the news and his Bermese Cat would climb into my lap and sit. That was a first for me.
+he was so worried that he might have to go to a ‘home’ and often talked about it. As he aged he found comfort that I would call – or he would call me 2-3 times a day. And as the end drew near he called more often. But I had just gotten my MG and couldn’t walk over untill the meds got increased.
+Had realized I would be the Designated Finder. One AM he didn’t answer. I called again and then went over. He had a massive thrombosis sitting on the edge of he bed. He then tipped to the side and landed on a pile of laundry. Later a neighbor across the street knew his light had come on that AM at 7. So he had been there about 1.5 hours and cold.
+What to do. Then I remembered I was to call the Funeral home and they would take care of things. They knew to call son and SIL of DD. She would be hysterical. so I didn’t have to do that.
+When it was all said and done I went home. But every where I went – there was something he had helped me fix, showed me how to fix – or bought me when I took him shopping for groceries.
+When SIl and BIL either one came to help me fix things – he would have the tool we needed – and knew right where it was – basement or LR. We called it the east shop. I finally got a big box of tissues, the journal and a glass of water.
+In two hours I had written 9 pages – between tears and blowing nose. It was all of the blessings I had recieved because the Lord put me beside him. Yes – I only looked at that one house!!!
+Sorry this got so long. DD walked into his LR and there were 2 tables where he fixed door openers. She said – well you both like to fix things – I know why you are friends.
+Good night. And ILOV – you are a good friend. I understand!
+<*)~// TealbirdJuly 16, 2014 at 11:17 pm #5264850 Report AbuseJuly 17, 2014 at 12:17 am #5264855 Report Abuse
+Lisa, This man is a GENTLEMAN and has manners. He was taught well. He holds a door for a lady; he carries her packages; he puts himself between her and traffic. This is what real men are supposed to do.
+When my DH and I were first dating we came out of a building and he was on my right because he had opened the door, and all of a sudden he was gone, and the next thing I know he was on my left; I was confused. We were now walking down the sidewalk. I asked him why he did that, and he said a gentleman never lets a lady walk next to the street and car traffic. OKAY, news to me. We have been together 35 years and he still walks on the street side and opens doors for me, and thinks I can’t carry much.
+I’m sure “life is good” because he was mentally back in the day when he had a beautiful lady by his side, and a beautiful car to drive. Life is/was good, but it was also a lot simpler then.
+He’s a happy man when he has someone to share his joy with. I hope you realize just what your company means to him. You might want to stop and think about what he’s doing for you also. You don’t have your dad in your life and I know you miss him. Maybe this gentleman is filling the void that happened when you lost your dad, and you are filling the void of his missing wife. Maybe you both need each other equally. There’s no such things as coincidence, maybe the good Lord brought you two together for a reason.
+July 17, 2014 at 4:09 am #5264858 Report Abuse
+SO GLAD to read about your ‘helping’ your old boss! What a pleasure you are giving him in his last years! That is ‘so special’ of you and for you to do and I, too, honor you for your willingness to share his life that is now so empty and he needs you. Alma is doing much the same thing as she can, in her own life and has helped ME as well. So, I now pass it along and also help others in my age group; my 5 widow ladies and others too….when I can. My Daughter is helping ME here, as well and I cherish my family. THANK YOU for sharing these ‘special moment’s’ with us! God Bless You!
+July 17, 2014 at 5:27 am #5264881 Report Abuse
+Awww….. Tealbird
+Mary hubby does that street thing too! I just found out about it last summer when we have our date night (Friday nights). He told me that very same thing.
+July 17, 2014 at 7:26 am #5264933 Report Abuse
+Elderly people are my favorite people. When that generation is gone, we sure will lose a treasure. Yes, there are polite people who are younger, and even in the youngest generation, but it is not the same. I love the politeness, the respect, the wisdom of (most of) those who went through tough times and losses and perhaps poverty…they understand integrity, honesty, faithfulness and understand what it means to have had a work ethic. They also know how to be a good neighbor, and have an understanding of community that I doubt will ever be experienced again.
+I work with the elderly, but am on a leave of abscence due to a back injury (displaced vertebrae, which is so very painful) I miss my last client, she was the sweetest person, and she would pray for me! I called her not long ago, she is now in a nursing home in another city quite far from me, so I can’t visit her.
+Give that friend of yours an extra hug or pat or whatever you are comfortable with for me. I am sure he is a blessing to you, too.
+Linda Z
+July 17, 2014 at 8:07 am #5264946 Report Abuse
+Awww! That was so sweet of you to meet him all the time like that! Not everyone would do this. My df would be 91 now if he was still alive. What happened w/ anything re the job offer at his employment?
+July 17, 2014 at 9:13 am #5264975 Report Abuse
+- AuthorPosts
+You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
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+SNUGGLY BOOKS 2019
+My previous reviews of this author here: and this publisher here:
+When I read this book in due course, my thoughts will appear in the comment stream below…
+—> Page 26
+“Art always find a way.”
+An amazingly engaging start to this novel, not very surprised, but also very surprised, if that makes sense, as I follow the narrator, amid the perfect wordings for a benighted wandering London, and the narrator’s attempts to lay the narrator’s head under a train’s metal wheels, giant metal wheels, in a forbidden raw corridor of London, a corridor bespoke for such trains, then accidentally rescued by a woman, up to no good, perhaps, in the same forbidden corridors, the colour of her clothes turning out later to be deceptive, when fully seen, when the narrator sees them upon waking from a long sleep under the housing or arch of a sea wall or railway (with severe housing shortages, I am told, making people in these days camp on a Heathrow runway!), or a Soak or whatever, in the limehouse= fenchurch= cannon= shadwell lands, in which lands I used to wander randomly in the early 1970s, when I was NOT visiting St Paul’s, that is. The narrator is later about to be introduced to the ‘others’. Before reading any more, and not yet knowing anything about this novel other than what I have already read, I will link — as a wild guess at a chance mutual-synergy — to my previous real-time review of a Doris Lessing novel here.
+HOPEFULLY NO INADVERTENT PLOT SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.
+From my erstwhile review of that Lessing novel: “.” (sic)
+Except my guts have now happily been reconstituted…
+—> Page 39
+“It tasted nice.”
+A sense of Xan Brooks, too. But this Rix mix is unique … so far. And I am indeed entranced by the Picasso (collective noun I just coined) of four nicknamed characters whom our socially-ill-at-ease, arse-ends-of-buildings-and-backstreets-wandering-surveyor, once suicidal (still is?) NARRATOR meets in an urban clearing or viaduct/archway shelter/abode where some of us readers may feel we have gathered to watch a near open-air theatrical. And we have indeed done so. What ‘forbidden’ food as a pink prop is brought out by the others to cook so as to welcome our narrator (despite some of their suspicions) is indeed a coup-de-théatre. Some studied tentative gestalt-forming, on my part, as I soak in the nature of this genius-loci where this commune (?) has its ethos in a gathering world that I have not yet gathered, through the eyes, of course, of our very interesting narrator. A general scene beautifully conjured, with sporadic well-honed constructs of prose worthy of books on ethics.
+—> Page 49
+“What does blue sound like? What colour is someone sobbing? I might compare it to certain fruit, with a quiet subtle flavour that contains great depth.”
+The nature of food’s flavour and texture is one startling thing about this book so far, but also the maze of under-urbs and salad-like chickweed, too. As we follow the narrator whom I shall call Train Man for the moment, as he departs perhaps temporarily from those he has just met in an archway near Limehouse Cut, a wanderer on foot, if not food, and by train, a wanderer by faith. A new Iain Sinclair or Moorcock. Or a refreshingly baser Ackroyd. I am LIVING this book by its vicarious art. So will you, I trust, as the type of person who reads my reviews. This book I have seen mentioned as the author’s first novel, which implies it’s an earlier pre-Brexit novel prior to later novels, yet it seems to have already recognised the endemic RAGE of London, our polarised world and its mazes. The rage lands, whereby we judge human values by many things, such as sea level, mushroom-disguised blades and adventurous urban decay. We all feel the endemic rage wherever we are. The wingnuts, et al. Still, MY first novel was my last novel.
+“— I like travelling and watching — I like knowing London. It’s my thing,…”
+Cross-referenced with Vernon Lee here:
+Cross-referenced again, a day or so later, with McQuade’s pink meat here:
+—> Page 66
+“How can you burn a bike?”
+There’s so much to quote here, but as a reviewer you have to be abstemious. There is also an ‘elephant in the room’ (my use of this expression) about this book, one concerned with something tasting nice, and if you followed that link directly above this entry, you might reach some sort of plot spoiler about it there, if you are not too careful. The elephant in the room is bound to come out in my review, anyway, sooner or later, I guess. “Regardless of leanings, food always seems to excite strong opinions.” Meanwhile, the chapter headings in this book are unfolding days of the week. Another Book of Days. And with the Train Man back in his capsule room in a house share somewhere in London near where we were before, no doubt, I am (un)surprisingly beginning to become even more impressed with this novel. Seriously so. It should be on the shelves. Judging by it so far. I really do get a strong picture of where he lives, his house mates, the society around of housing shortages and that ‘elephant in the room’, and what is on Tv, and his crush on the Slovenian woman called Tea (if I recall correctly) whose bike is mentioned above. Involuntary surgery in some video report he watches. Cramps in his bowels – from what tasted nice yesterday? And so much more. And two quotes I cannot resist:
+“It seems a fundamental flaw in the human animal that suicide should be so hard when as a culture we make sure that it is inevitable.”
+“One of the basic rules of life: always live with people slightly messier than yourself.”
+—> Page 83
+You reach a point in a book when you feel the utmost confidence in it, as I have now already felt with this novel, the prose style, the build up of characters, the genius loci, the ethos, and here a sense of what sort of world, alternate or not, I may be dealing with. My own world does not exist, and this book’s world does, during the reading of it. And sometimes afterwards, too!
+I hope to continue real-time reviewing it, as well as reading it. I am one of its hunters now. One of its hawlers.
+So far, it’s like entering a version of Antonioni’s Red Desert one inimical moment but something far more amenable the next moment. The concept of potential suicide as a liberating force, somewhere between the two.
+—> Page 100
+“In this part of the city, canals and rivers twined like lovers through the marshes and it took all my mapping skills to know which was which.”
+This is in mutual synergy with Lee Rourke, complete with similar sporadic “…” interpolations. More or Lessing. One who enjoys Rourke fiction will enjoy this Rix novel. And vice versa. Meanwhile, there is also incredible stuff in the Rix that I DARE not tell you about in case you SNARE me for reading it and disseminating it here! Yet, disarmingly, I am with it. I can even empathise with the inchoate rage of one of the characters, rage that is unfocused like many people who have raw emotions. Even viscerally naïve ones as displayed here. I empathise, too, with Train Man’s reaction to being comfortingly hugged by each of two women on two separate occasions. Also his seeming inability to nurture his own rage, finding it hard even to be angry. And the theatricality that I identified earlier is now satisfyingly made more explicit towards the end of this section of pages. These five characters really live. I am sure the novel may not be as expected. It is something lateral to something else I have not yet quite identified. The King’s, not the Queen’s, hat, notwithstanding?
+“What the hell was all that even about?”
+Sometimes I wonder if I am reading so far in BLAST a new Swiftian Modest Proposal or an old Quentin S. Crisp Graves or something else altogether! A lateral Mark Samuels A Pilgrim Stranger? A nod towards The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing?
+Caveat: I naturally tend, where any text allows, to eschew didacticism in literature and to promote l’art pour l’art.
+The take on the Falklands War in the new McEwan or the jester’s hoax that resides within Ligotti?
+I also believe in the gift, that some possess, of a preternatural instinct in curating literature rather than – or as part of – any conscious intention or design.
+(As Star Girl does in the next section of BLAST currently being read, with my having identified her clothes earlier in this review, I now find she actually curates clothes and their colours!)
+—> Page 108
+“The age-old desperation for a simple solution — something nicely black or white that we can all comfortably blame — even though that never exists either. Or conversely something we can imagine is perfect, when it’s actually meaningless.”
+Today’s increasing rage of polarities, prophesied when this novel was first written. I get the impression it was written longer ago that I originally assumed. Curating clothes, “performance art”, and even mention of David Attenborough. The Socratic dialogues between the characters here are nicely madcap. Make some sense, too! I can’t help thinking of Xan Brooks as well as the other cross-references above. I don’t know why! Rosanne Rabinowitz, too. And the stewpot at the end of this section of pages, reminds me of Alice’s stewpot in ‘The Good Terrorist’. Whatever I say about these cross-references, I am sure of one thing: BLAST is UNIQUE!
+—> Page 138
+“I traced my finger from my nose, to Tea’s eyes, then in a graceful arc towards the computer that was blaring out this racket and mimed a sharp explosion.”
+…as if Train Man, the narrator, is measuring…and a bit like how this book has erupted as a process in my mind, so far. I have gathered how counterproductive would be reporting to you exactly how I am learning about Train Man (his social unease, his thoughts, oblique desires etc) and about this London within which he lives, because, like me, you need to encounter some pretty remarkable, but truly believable, habits and events and items as they unfold in the book, and my telling you beforehand about them risk altering the reading journey itself. Rest assured, this book so far is elegant in style if not always in what the style describes — compelling, too, startling, page-turning, with concepts galore, conceits, names for certain things, sound and silence mixed, visualised speculations that are inexplicable but you know they CAN and probably will be explained. Sexual mœurs seemingly formalised. Things that are only one audit trail’s single step away from our own reality’s audit trail, but that step, I suggest, is really a giant leap. And if this novel has been hiding away somewhere before now, one needs to loudly ask WHY?! Meanwhile, this particular section is of a young person’s urban house party in the house where Train Man lives, mainly held in Tea’s flat (Tea, wearing her eyepatch that later gains some traction of explanation) but also partying on the roof, too…
+“People are people. People interact — always have done, always will, within the realms of possibility.”
+—> Page 158
+“Just a jumble of verticals and horizontals in various shades of brown.”
+From now on, take it as read, what I have already said about this book’s general compelling assets of readability. I can’t keep repeating it. Meanwhile, you won’t forget, in this section of pages, Train Man’s alarm clock diatribe, and his views on the work /art balance, the sinister cuteness of cats, pizza boxes as illegal structures, and others’ views on illegal substances and not just drugs, fulminating on the housing crisis, the fridge door in the fridge’s back, the measuring signs between Train Man and fellow tenant Tea (the latter being a perfect name for a woman in a QSC fiction, I guess, as well as in a Rix one), and Train Man, during the next day’s aftermath of last night’s party, meeting up on the roof with a girl called Feather whom he had met earlier there, and, for me, she sets, by her talk, this book into a new startling gear! No point in my telling anyone about it. It is all in the book for people to read. I would, however, just remind myself of Tea’s earlier throwaway line about setting her boyfriends on fire, and then introducing us to a boy friend with sideburns! (I say ‘us’, because Train Man as narrator has already encompassed each reader by conniving with each reader.) And, oh yes, Tea and this boy friend are trying to measure each other’s shapes while still being in the early stages of an intimate relationship, a relationship that no doubt started with a BANG! If not a blast. Just one gripe, a shed on the roof? (You know the one, the shed with a bag of animal bones in it leading to someone’s misuse of the word ‘cannibal’). Well, the first hefty gale would surely have removed such a shed?
+“There are enough problems in the world without deliberate mysteries.”
+I suddenly wondered if I should also be cross-referencing this unique novel
+with Nina Allan, say, The Rift.
+—> Page 176
+“I liked these forgotten places in the city; I liked venturing into the private places on the other side of gates—“
+These forgotten or not yet noticed places of literature, I like venturing, too. And I don’t think I am exaggerating when saying this book is increasingly turning out to be its own such inbuilt city of words: the optimum such reading-venture, paradoxically the pessimum, too. Riven with housing crisis politics, yet somehow not didactic. There is something going on here beyond didacticism. Something mathematical, something graffiti- or art-orientated, something transgressive, enclave-engendered or alien, with, say, a mention of many thoughts and visions that seem part of a Jungian collective unconscious being revealed — for example a mere mention of a Crying Room that I seem to have encountered before. Each time I pick this book up, I think to myself that I shall be on a plateau of good reading, good writing, a plateau that I have already reached, only for it again to reach new levels I could not have anticipated. Here I follow Train Man, accompanying Feather, into her world. A new commune or enclave to match the earlier City Hunters at the sea wall. Now an ostensible mail dump. With corners like shrines. A book that is quickly becoming its own (what I earlier identified) performance art. Beanbags et al. Clear and impenetrable as “the disconnects of the world” or the gestalt I ever seek, scavenging for gems of expression, cross-references with angles against the backdrop of London’s new landmarks. Being spooked, maybe, but also ready to explore the city further or get back to old places, any spookiness to be transcended. Another personal cross-reference in this review would be an obliquely connective one, i.e. my recent triangulation of Middle England. “Be ready”, other tags and pieces available. We need to polyangulate all viewpoints. The biker, the walker, the train-traveller, even the car driver. And those supine in makeshift corners or boxes. Some nearly dead. I am currently all of those things at various times. Ah, not a biker, though. Not since I was a boy.
+“It felt as though performances were being put on all around with every action fractionally unreal. […] These were all classic dramas of the city night…”
+Some connections with review entry headed “—> Page 150” here:
+—> Page 208
+“a noticeable blast of heat”
+Sea Wall time again, yet one more ratchet up from yesterday’s level, a hot night, following the ‘Face of Twilight’ at the tail end of the previous section (“Red lights. Gossamer threads of light. Faces. Vertices.”), Mark Samuels blended with Lee Rourke and others, with canals, railtracks, and secret concrete boxes or chasms that make both suspicion/timidity and expansive adventure bedfellows, plus Canary Wharf’s “glittering towers”, and the surrounding psychogeography, Train Man’s lack of bodily confidence (“unfit blob”), unfit but unfat, when he is faced with an accretive eroticism in that twilight, a twilight now a night of mud-wallowing and magical madness, here amid the “green to orange” and nakedness of a special night, with two other explicit “blasts” yet to sound out in this section of pages, one a blast of a “bomb” with riots and the other a “blast of emotion”, prior to sight of London’s last scheduled red bus, the last ever? A world drifting sideways into dreams within dreams within dreams. Like the power of a slowly moving train in the night, a power strangely greater than that of a fast train. Stealth travel. Scars on bare skin that told stories…
+“—an over-arching structure simultaneously supporting and binding this world we live in, on some level fictitious, on some level not at all. Lines and angles filled with tension and glowing an impossible red beneath the cityscape. Permitting it to exist . . .” (the book’s ellipsis, not mine.)
+—> Page 232
+“—and after a few complex seconds.”
+The new normal. The mocking and raging infecting us all from the internet — as if aliens were/are using WiFi to take us over? … my latter pondering inspired by this book, not necessarily the book’s own pondering. The London Madness. This book does indeed have something special, a genuinely professional writerly quality underpinning its bitingly fell transgressions, over and under bites, those bones in the roof shed again, and things I can’t tell you for fear of spoilers. I will tell you, though, of the highly believable rage scene between housemates, those people trapped in their own little boxes when they get together. And there is the most beautifully written description of Train Man reading a book aloud to someone. This book has moments like this, arguably gratuitous, but perfectly woven into its patterns. And a wounded Tea that needs more than just a plaster. And, oh yes, this reminds me about the Canary blasters, the concept of biking things mass-communally is a very striking image. You will know what I mean when you read it. More than just a good terrorism à la Lessing…
+—> Page 246
+“Aren’t we all just a little bit mad? Aren’t we all just telling our own stories on the substrate of an unknowable world?”
+A section of half dream, half reality, yet even dreams that tail off are indeed real in themselves, even those communal dreams of flesh. A continuing evocative vision of colours, angles, possible alien/human-oppressor imposition by dint of something ineffable that this book touches upon, including the oppression of the underclass, arty or not. Imbued with the reality of London, its impending omens of strife that we feel even stronger today wherever we live in the land. But there has turned out to be at least one more red bus, after the night’s cobweb of red lasers, a bus with electronic ticket bleeps, that Train Man boards with feathery Feather, whereby they discuss underground life, beyond all our mail dumps and measurements. Our measurements and those of others.
+“My head was swimming trying to find a catch…”
+Two coincidences –
+half an hour ago, I was writing about things swimming in my brain with regard to ‘Blamol’ here – and last night I was discussing with my son the various shades of black with regard to the pixels on my television. Well, my son was telling me things about it, rather than it being a proper discussion! As Train Man also does today in this section!
+– “the colour of that black shape”
+—> Page 273
+“If London was indeed an orchestra, then we were slowly building up from an eerie quiet with the occasional sharp phrases from the woodwind through to some serious brass eruptions — demonic fanfares and dissonant trombones.”
+Eruptions, or blasts. That is at the beginning of this section. Not always Penderecki, though, but rather John Cage’s 4’ 33” mentioned towards the end of this section (also the title of the world’s first blank story as published in Nemonymous 2002, proving there is no such thing as nothing) – silence as shades of black or white? – and this mighty section is some sort of grown-ups’ Lord of the Flies performance, but one that takes acting towards a reality of impulse, when the mask or masque becomes you, and vice versa. Hide & Seek and Catch, fun amid chaos transcended, sometimes traumatised. On the brink of danger attuned to the London Madness. With Train Man’s learnt confusion of sex. Now a polar bear. All here compared to painting (Delvaux) as well as the above music, and ‘a surreal movie.’ I myself mentioned Picasso earlier. This is a mighty section of the book, one with these growingly iconic characters, seriously memorable characters projectable into the future, characters that one can easily imagine being cinematised as well as what-I-called-earlier theatricalised. Reading this book is like sharing a ride with Train Man on his bike. Or becoming the book’s duck or rabbit.
+“And whatever you do, don’t think in black and white.”
+Another cross-reference to this book:
+—> Page 326
+“…it was one of the most complicated silences I have ever experienced, with almost an entire novel’s worth of narrative and information.”
+Train Man as the author’s narrator is still explicitly colluding or conniving – on and off – with the reader. And the reader is me, is you, and, I, for one, feel as if I have been on one helluva literary journey through this section of pages that I decided to read in one fell sitting. But even more than just literary, if that was not enough! Let me take it in stages, with blanks to avoid significant spoilers. First the duck scene – different from any later impossible fuck scene – one I will never do justice to, in its raw culinary detail, a Ralph Robert Moore crescendo with duck preparation and its inferred Easter eggs of meanings within it, where the duck becomes, for me, tantamount to the endless Fishes and Loaves in the Bible! The ‘stealth browsing’ of the dark web or underground cooking. Train Man trying to retrieve his ‘white bear.’ (Cf Tem’s excavated bear.) The germs in the weather of WiFi or mass hysteria. Contagious crying or riots. Reference to Japanese girls in an epidemic of fainting. Did Murakami reference that, too? Various ceremonial toasts, one to “curves”, this book’s geometric ones I guess, not bodily ones. The flesh-phobia of eating. Then there are three substantial scenes or events that really affected me in the guts. Few books have managed to do exactly that in my reading past. (See the book’s own telling take on the use of the word “guts”.) First, a journey for Train Man to another secret abode (in itself a description of residual living quarters you will not forget) amid a post-Iain Sinclair East London landscape of sea walls and encroaching river tides – “a sense of a singingly beautiful ruin”, a ruinenlust – a journey description that outdoes even the earlier one Train Man had with Feather, a description now leading towards his own telling experiences with another woman, one who leads him to such ruinenlust. Yes, the second event, the most incredible series of personal feelings described by Train Man, being a literary event to outdo most literary events, surely, in the history of all fiction scenes of characters reaching some sort of physical fruition, and the thoughts that go with such usually non-precontractual acts in our own world. Followed, by the third event, a scene where some of the now iconic characters are observed by Train Man meeting moments of authority. I will draw a spoiler-free veil over these moments, but rest assured they make a deeply poignant pattern with the other two major events of intertwined place and two people together. “That’s what it is like when you have been this close to catching a train.” And when having a shower becomes a back stage intimacy as a complement to the front of that stage. Followed by moving moments of lightning, as the London Madness develops new symptoms… and other ‘spans of time’ that the narrator turns into his own blanks of “time passing.” Railtrack workers and other such ‘coincidences’, notwithstanding. The event horizon. “…a blast of beautiful coolness”, as this section’s coda.
+Postscript to previous section above, before reading the next section –
+To eat or feel flesh, eroticism or phobia?
+—> Page 374 (end)
+“‘They are just a metaphor,’ she said soothingly.”
+Just? Meanwhile, a number of soliloquys, info-dump dialogues, sermonising, yet somehow perfect for this book’s theatricality of performance art. There was indeed no need to worry. I was dreading that the climax would not be a climax at all. I was desperate for it to reach even beyond the last plateau, towards not necessarily only a Wellsian invasiveness but an essential peak of Rixian light shows. And, indeed, again, I need not have worried. THIS IS SOMEHOW A MAJOR BOOK MANQUÉ, I feel. Manqué, because it was hidden too deep. A novel on the brink of something with a literary éclat or “breathtaking” blast. Not really SF, not a mere McEwanism, but something other for our times, literary as well as an ‘adventure’ in open mind and closed passiveness, as written a few years ago, I suspect. Still keeping my powder dry away from the river’s dark muddy tides. All that I thought on the jagged graph of my real-time reviewing of this book heretofore now reaches some sort of anticipated fulfilment or gestalt, characters and their hang-ups now fleshed out despite the ambivalent ministrations OF that flesh. Reader and author on no name terms. Like some of the blanks that disable the ability for Train Man to say certain things to one person among other no named people. Here are some final unconnected moments from this last section as a personal nemo book or mnemonic for me — “As dawn crept over the sky, a new sound intruded into the world – the rumble of a train.” — “A logarithmic spiral of dwindling water.” — “the knowledge that a half-expected doom is right there waiting for you.” — “If this was a different kind of book, then no doubt I might have been able to come to the rescue at the eleventh hour.” (Ironically, as he did with a mudlarking Feather!?) — “22, red light, 8, red light, 47, red light, 34, red light, 12, red light – somehow like a very slow musical composition,” — “Then with a blast we emerged from that pipe,…” — “…well there was only a blank. Utter blackness.” — “What did it feel like to be finally measured and found wanting?” — “Or was the conflict between the angle and the curve somehow eternal?” — “A few cubes of white flesh […] I was pretty sure it was rabbit.” — “‘For all sorts of reasons,’ I said. ‘Bear with me as well.’”
+The leaner Bacon triptych?
+Just cross-referenced with the Nogle here:
+Cross-referenced again:
+The phobia/ eroticism nexus of touching and eating flesh mentioned here:
+Also re a ‘mathematical romance’ earlier in that review,
+And again that nexus later compared here:
+Later cross-referenced here with Wretched:
+Markinch
+Markinch MAI PS NO297019 1 373 70m
+(church of) Marckinch c.1028 x 1055 St A. Lib. 116 [rubric]
+(church of) Marchinke c.1028 x 1055 St A. Lib. 116 [granted to Lochleven; see MAI Introduction]
+Marchinche 1152 x 1156 St A. Lib. 43 [20 mela of cheese and 1 pig from Markinch belonging to Lochleven, now granted to Robert, prior of St Andrews]
+(church of) Markynche 1165 x 1169 St A. Lib. 175 [with its kirkton (villa ecclesiastica), one of possessions of Lochleven granted to St Andrews priory]
+(church of) Marcinche 1165 x 1169 St A. Lib. p. xxi [granted to St Andrews Priory by Aodh son of Aodh son of Gillemhìcheil (Hugo filius Hugonis filii Gillemich<el>) earl of Fife: for whom see MAI Introduction, Multiple Rights in the Church]
+(church of) Marchinch 1165 x 1169 St A. Lib. 135 [rubric]
+(church of) Marchinche 1165 x 1169 St A. Lib. 135–6 [confirmed by Bishop Richard to St Andrews Priory, no donor specified]
+ecclesiam de Markinke 1165 x 1169 RRS ii no. 28 [o.c.; royal confirmation of grant made by Aodh son of Aodh (Hugh) son of Gillemhìcheil earl of Fife of the church of Markinch with a toft (tofta) on the east side of the church, with teinds and all rights belonging to the church; see MAI Introduction, Multiple Rights in the Church, for more details]
+apud Marking 1172 Stringer 1985 no. 28 [o.c.]
+Hugone clerico nostro de Markinch 1173 x 1173 x 1178 St A. Lib. 241 [Hugh of Markinch, Duncan earl of Fife’s clerk]
+(church of) Marchinch 1173 x 1178 St A. Lib. 242 [granted to St Andrews Priory by Earl Duncan II of Fife]
+ecclesiam de Marking 1173 x 1178 NLS Adv.15.1.18 no. 67 [o.c.; St A. Lib. 244 represents the same charter, with the same form; confirmation by Malcolm of the churches of Cupar, Markinch, Scoonie and the chapel of Kettle, all granted to St Andrews Priory by his father Earl Duncan of Fife]
+(church of) Markinge 1173 x 1178 RRS ii no. 151 [ = St A. Lib. 220]
+(church of) Marchinge 1183 St A. Lib. 59
+(church of) Marchinche (with chapel of Katel) 1189 x 1195 RRS ii no. 333
+(church of) Marking 1189 x 1198 St A. Lib. 151
+(church of) Marching 1189 x 1198 St A. Lib. 152 [confirmed twice in one charter, by Bishop Roger elect of St Andrews]
+ecclesi<a> Modhrusti de Markinge 1204 x 1228 St A. Lib. 245 (1) [gift by Earl Malcolm I of Fife to the church of St Drost(an) of Markinch of 1 toft of 1 acre on the north-east side of its cemetery (unum toftum unius acre in orientali ab aquilonali parte cimiterii eiusdem ecclesie)]
+(church of) Markinge 1206 St A. Lib. 73
+(church of) Marking 1224 St A. Lib. 327 [dispute with church of Kilgour FAL re teinds of Pittenchagill # MAI; see MAI Introduction]
+(church of) Marchynche 1243 St A. Lib. 348 [of St. John the Baptist and St Modrustus (Modrusti)]
+(church of) Markinge 1248 St A. Lib. 103 [papal confirmation]
+(cains from) Markinche 1248 St A. Lib. 121 [part of barony of Kirkness PTM]
+(cains of) Markinch 1248 St A. Lib. 178-9
+(church of) Markinge c.1250 St A. Lib. 33
+(church of) Markinge c.1250 Dunf. Reg. no. 313
+(church of) Markinge c.1250 Arb. Lib. i, no. 299
+vicarius de Marking 1276 Bagimond’s Roll, p. 61
+(cains of) Marchinche 1279 x 1297 St A. Lib. 177
+Marchynche 1284 St A. Lib. 420 [rubric]
+cimiterium ecclesie de Markinch’ 1284 St A. Lib. 420 [see MAI Introduction]
+terram arabilem de Markynch’ 1284 St A. Lib. 421 [see MAI Introduction]
+apud Markyng’ 1284 St A. Lib. 421 [see MAI Introduction]
+Ranulph<us> vicari<us> de Markynch’ 1284 St A. Lib. 421
+Merkynche 1296 Stevenson, Documents ii, 30 [‘where this is only the minster and three houses’; see MAI Introduction, Physical Descriptions]
+in cimiterio de Markynchs c.1250 x 1340 Dunf. Reg. no. 326 [see MAI Introduction, Markinch Cemetery]
+(lands of Neutone and of) Markinche 1393 RMS i no. 870 [Robert Earl of Fife to Sir John of Wemyss; here the Newton (Neutone) probably refers to Newton WMS]
+(Master John Feldew vicar of) Markynch 1420 St A. Cop. no. 25
+(church of) Markynche c.1420 St A. Lib. 413
+Markinche 1451 ER v p.469 [see Newton MAI]
+Eister Markinch 1491 NAS GD26/3/796 [17th c. copy (1649)]
+Wester Merkinch 1492 RMS ii no. 2303 [John Lord Lindsay of Byres to his brother Patrick Lindsay of Kirkforthir, ‘lands of Wester Merkinch on both south and north sides of the Leven’ (terras de Wester Merkinch tam ex australi quam ex boreali partibus aque de Levin existen.)]
+Westir Markinch 1508 RMS ii no. 3274 [Patrick Lord Lindsay of Byres, lands or lordship of Wester Markinch, on both south and north sides of the Leven, with mills etc.]
+Over-Markinch 1511 RMS ii no. 3642 [to Henry Wardlaw, with lands of Brunton (Burntoun) etc. in lordship of Dalginch (Dalginche) KWY]
+(John Multrar of) Merkinch 1512 RMS ii no. 3738 [lands of Easter Markinch (Est-Markinch), Nether Markinch (Nethir-Markinch) in lordship of Dalginch (Dalginche) KWY, feued to John Multrar (Multrare) by Henry Wardlaw]
+Est-Markinch 1512 RMS ii no. 3738 [see preceding entry]
+Nethir-Markinch 1512 RMS ii no. 3738 [see preceding entries]
+(Robert Hog in) Markinsche 1518 Fife Ct. Bk. 102
+Markinch Easter c.1560 s Purves 155
+Markinch Wester c.1560 s Purves 155
+Merkinsche 1588 RMS v no. 1431 [to James Lindsay ... the lands of Markinch with grain- and waulkmills (cum molendinis granorum et fullonum)]
+terras ecclesiasticas de Markinsch 1593 RMS v no. 2273 col. 5 [‘kirklands of Markinch’, among St Andrews Priory lands]
+(parish church of) Markinche 1593 RMS v no. 2273 col. 6
+(lands of) Markinche 1606 Cunningham 1907a, 9 [see Brunton KWY, above]
+Newtoun de Markinche 1609 Retours (Fife) no. 205 [see following entries]
+Eister Markinche 1609 Retours (Fife) no. 205 [see following entry]
+Nether Markinche 1609 Retours (Fife) no. 205 [Henry Multrar (Moultray) of Seafield (Seyfield) KGH, Nether Markinche, Pitenchagal # (Pittinhagillis) MAI, Inchinnie # (Inshehome) MAI, Bighty (Bichtie) MAI and 6 acres of Dalginch (Dalginche) KWY]
+parochia de Merkinsche 1627 RMS viii no. 1162
+Eister Merkinsche 1627 RMS viii no. 1162 [‘Eister Merkinsche alias Kirktoun de Merkinsche’]
+Kirktoun de Merkinsche 1627 RMS viii no. 1162 [‘Eister Merkinsche alias Kirktoun de Merkinsche’]
+Nather Merkinsche 1627 RMS viii no. 1162
+(lands of) Markinchlaw 1635 RMS ix no. 338 [to Alexander Leslie of Balgonie lands of Lochtiesyde, Mylnetoun de Balgonie ... lands of Spittell, Markinchlaw ]
+Kirktoun de Markinsch 1635 RMS ix no. 307
+kirk of Markinche 1636 Stevenson 1900, 101
+(lands of) Merkinsche 1648 RMS ix no. 1939
+N<ether> Markinch 1642 Gordon MS Fife
+Markinch K<irk> 1642 Gordon MS Fife
+Markinch 1654 Blaeu (Pont) East Fife
+Markinche K[irk] 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife
+N<ether> Markinche 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife
+Nether Markinch 1667 RMS xi no. 1074
+Over Markinch 1667 RMS xi no. 1074
+(parish of) Merkinch 1667 RMS xi no. 1074
+(parish of) Merkinshe 1667 RMS xi no. 1091
+(parish of) Markinche 1668 RMS xi no. 1201
+totas et integras villam et terras de Markinsh 1685 NAS GD26/3/950 [to David Melville (Melvill), ‘all and hail the toun and lands of Markinch’]
+villam et terras de lie Over vel Easter Markynsh nuncupatas 1685 NAS GD26/3/950 [as above, ‘toun and lands called Over or Easter Markinch’]
+Kirk Markinsh 1685 NAS GD26/3/950 [to David Melville]
+Neather Markinsh 1685 NAS GD26/3/950
+Markinshmilne seu Midlemilne 1685 NAS GD26/3/950 [‘Markinch Mill or Middle Mill’]
+Markinchland 1685 NAS GD26/3/950
+Merkinch 1753 Roy sheet 18, 1
+Markinch 1775 Ainslie/Fife
+Wester Markinch 1775 Ainslie/Fife
+Over Markinch 1799 Sasines no. 5328 [see following; also discussion]
+Easter Markinch 1799 Sasines no. 5328 [see following; also discussion]
+Kirk Markinch 1799 Sasines no. 5328 [‘Over and Easter Markinch called Kirk Markinch’]
+Markinch Mill 1799 Sasines no. 5328 [‘Mill called Markinch Mill or Middle Mill’; Middle Mill is shown on OS 6 inch (1856) at NO293010, between West Mill and Sythrum Mill]
+Kirk Markinch 1807 Sasines no. 7812 [Mary Landale, ‘eighth part of the town and lands of Easter Markinch called Kirk Markinch, Pittenhaigle, and Inchany’]
+Markinch 1828 SGF
+W. Markinch 1828 SGF
+Wester Markinch 1856 OS 6 inch 1st edn [at NO291017]
+G marc + G innis
+‘Horse-inch or haugh’. The fact that it shares the same generic with the important early place of legal assembly, Dalginch KWY, MAI (see MAI Introduction, above), which lies immediately east of Markinch, is certainly significant, and the two names should be interpreted together.
+Dalginch KWY, MAI comes from G dealg ‘thorn’ + G innis. It means a piece of land marked out from its surroundings by a thorn-hedge, probably with reference to the area within which the legal proceedings would take place. For a similar combination of thorn-bush and place of legal assembly, compare Coldrain, Fossoway KNR (formerly Tullibole FIF), analysed by Barrow (1981, 15). Also for ‘inch’ used for a place of assembly, see Threipinch # SCO (or WMS), noted in Elements Index under innis.
+Dalginch was a centre of legal assembly for places up to 32 km away. Obviously people would come to it on horse-back.[238] This would of course regularly mean a high concentration of horses at Markinch for periods lasting days if not weeks at a time. It is in this context that the name ‘horse-inch’ may well have arisen. Also during these times the horses would have raced against each other, since horse-races were a feature of public assemblies (Kelly 1997, 99). The horses would have been kept enclosed not merely to prevent theft or straying, but also because it was usual practice to keep horses by themselves on separate pasture (Watson 1904, 86; Kelly 1997, 93). It should also be borne in mind that G marc denotes a steed or charger i.e. the kind of horse that members of the gentry would own, rather than capall, the work-horse, or each, the generic term. The number of horses at Markinch at such times would also have been augmented by those horses about which there was legal dispute (to be settled at Dalginch), or which had been poinded.
+Thus the element innis echoes the generic in nearby Dalginch, with the same meaning of land rising out of or above a body of water or a bog. Markinch could well have originally referred to the whole piece of raised land on which the church and original settlement sits, which was almost entirely surrounded by bog until drainage of the surrounding land in the modern period.[239]
+The main divisions of the lands of Markinch are (or were) Easter, Wester, Over, Nether and Newton. Only Newton has survived (q.v.). The name Wester Markinch first appears in 1492. Its lands and lordship (held by the Lindsays of Byres) lay on both sides of the Leven (RMS ii nos. 2303, 3274). By 1775 Ainslie/Fife shows Wester Markinch as a small settlement inside the southern boundary of Balbirnie estate, beside the road which skirts it, while by 1856 (OS 6 inch 1st edn) the name had come to apply only to ‘A few cottages at the South entrance to Balbirnie House’ (OS Name Book 92, 11). Over Markinch, first mentioned in 1511, is associated with the lands of Brunton MAI and, along with Easter and Nether Markinch, lay in the lordship of Dalginch KWY, MAI (RMS ii nos. 3642, 3738). Easter Markinch applied to what later became the town of Markinch, the settlement around the parish kirk, hence the alternative name *Kirkton of Markinch (1627 RMS viii no. 1162 Eister Merkinsche alias Kirktoun de Merkinsche). That Over Markinch was closely associated with Easter Markinch is seen in the 1799 Sasine entry, which implies that both Over and Easter Markinch were known together as Kirk Markinch (Sasines no. 5328).[240]
+/mark ɪntʃ/ or ˈmarkɪntʃ/
+This place-name appeared in printed volume 2
+D.A.R.E. the program has been successful remains a controversial topic.
+Proponents of the program claim youths retain the information learned and carry it onward into their developmental years. Others tout the efficacy of the D.A.R.E. program, citing poor statistics that don’t back up the claims the organization promotes. One such figure stems from a survey conducted by the California Department of Education in which 40 percent of student respondents claimed they weren’t influenced by the program at all, and almost 70 percent cited having neutral to negative feelings about the program leaders.[1]
+The Beginning
+When the program was initiated in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, it expanded across the nation quite rapidly with the passing of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act in 1986 by the United States Congress.[2] By the 1990s, it was in thousands of schools in the United States — educational institutions being the easiest way to reach mass numbers of children. The goal was clear — to introduce young people to the presence of peer pressure to use drugs and likewise, effective ways of handling such — but was the program thought out thoroughly enough?
+The D.A.R.E. Program 101
+The catchy “Just Say No” slogan has served to keep D.A.R.E. recognizable among children and adults alike for more than three decades. However, the promise of those words may not hold up under a microscope. For that reason, many school districts have begun to pull the program from their students’ school-year experience in recent years. As a result, the organization endeavored to draw attention to a new campaign that would pull focus away from drugs and onto character development. The decline of school participation led to a great income deficit, too, which declined from $10 million in revenue in 2002 to just $3.7 million in 2010.[3]
+The typical D.A.R.E. program lasts for 17 weeks[4] and includes the following structured lessons:[5]
+- Personal rights and general safety practices
+- The damaging effects of drug use, misuse or abuse
+- Consequences of drug and alcohol use behaviors
+- Dealing with different forms of pressure to use drugs or alcohol
+- Peer pressure and how to resist it
+- Self-esteem-building exercises
+- How to be assertive in situations that warrant it
+- Stress management techniques that don’t include substance use
+- Influence of substance abuse by radio, television, film, music and other forms of media
+- Making the right decisions and the side effects of engaging in risk-taking behaviors
+- Alternatives to engaging in substance use or abuse
+- Positive role models that don’t use drugs
+- Support systems and friendship barriers
+- Gang activity, membership and the consequences of both
+- Review period of the program
+- Discussion period on defending yourself against pressure to use drugs
+- Program participation award assembly where students are urged to veer away from drug use
+Traditionally, personal safety is the core focus of lessons taught up through 4th grade, but subsequent ones will reinforce those lessons and tackle harder issues, like anger management and coping techniques that don’t involve self-medication and substance abuse. These new developments to the program have yet to show an increase in efficacy.
+Criticism
+There are numerous studies that have churned out results that don’t support the program as a drug abuse deterrent. The results of more than 30 such studies note that D.A.R.E. didn’t serve to deter students from using drugs in the short-term, nor when they reached their high school or college years.[6] Citing minimal effects on drug use, one study noted a decreased likelihood of utilizing learned curricula from the program over time.[7] In 1994, the first study of its kind pointed out only scant benefits when it came to short-term decreases in D.A.R.E. students’ use of tobacco, but marijuana and alcohol use did not decrease.[8]
+When it comes to marijuana specifically, 5.8 percent of 8th graders, 13.8 percent of 10th graders, and 19.4 percent of seniors were using it in 2008.[9] Just five years later, those figures increased to 7 percent, 18 percent, and 22.7 percent.[10]
+Another study produced alarming results with D.A.R.E students showing a 29 percent increase in drug use and 34 percent increase in tobacco use.[11] Perhaps one of the most disheartening studies completed on the D.A.R.E. program was one that spanned more than a decade. Participants filled out a survey on their substance use when they were 10 years old and again when they were 20 years old. Those who completed D.A.R.E. were no less likely to smoke cannabis or tobacco, drink alcohol, use illicit drugs, or succumb to peer pressure than their non-D.A.R.E. peers.[12] Even more worrisome, those who did participate in the program correlated with a high incidence of low self-esteem later in life.[13]
+Some antagonists of the program have questioned whether the officers teaching the lessons are the best for the job and if their training is extensive enough. There has been talk of a joint effort in the future by both law enforcement and addiction professionals, such as counselors, but for the time being, the former continues to educate the masses on their own. By 2013, some 70,000 officers had been D.A.R.E. educators.[14]
+To be certified as a D.A.R.E. educator, officers must undergo at least 80 hours of training in the following departments:
+- Strategies for teaching
+- Communication skills
+- Adolescent development
+- Drug information
+- Classroom management
+- Extensive direction on the program’s 17 lessons[15]
+Overall Efficacy
+Addiction comprises a physical and psychological dependency on a substance that can be impossible to escape without professional help. This is perhaps even more so the case for the young addict. Since its conception, the D.A.R.E. program has seemingly wavered between success and failure in achieving its goal of decreasing drug abuse. A 1998 study noted a 50 percent decreased likelihood of high-risk drug use among students who participated in the D.A.R.E. program.[16] Meanwhile, research is plentiful that points in the other direction. Between 1992 and 1995, there was a 59 percent increase of illegal drug use among high school seniors, and a 92 percent increase among 8th graders who reported lifetime use of marijuana between 1991 and 1995.[17]
+So what exactly was D.A.R.E. contributing while these numbers were steadily rising? Some sobering realities about the American youth include:
+- 36 percent of American teenagers have used alcohol by the time they enter 8th grade[18]
+- 71 percent of teens have used alcohol by their senior year of high school[19]
+- By 8th grade, 21 percent of teens have used an illegal drug[20]
+- By 12th grade, that number spikes to more than 48 percent[21]
+Moving into the Future
+By 1994, the D.A.R.E. program was present in schools in every state in America.[22] As of 2013, only 48 states were still using the program,[23] with two states having already dropped out. Additionally, more than 200 million students had participated in the D.A.R.E. program by that point, with an impressive 114 million of them being Americans.[24] To date, the program exists in 53 countries worldwide.[25]
+Changes to the program model took flight in 2009 for 7th graders, as did the new name — Keepin’ it REAL.[26] It targets youths aged 12 to 14, and instead of officers leading the way, it is delivered via trained classroom instruction over a 10-week period that is accompanied by continued education over the next school year in the form of booster sessions.[27]
+The program made its way to 5th and 6th graders by 2013 and brought with it curriculum that was developed by actual prevention experts who ran studies that produced positive results in terms of decreased substance abuse and retained anti-drug attitudes among participants.[28] One study of 1,300 drug-using students who participated in the Keepin’ it REAL program touted successful results with a decreased rate of substance use “that was 72 percent higher than the control group.”[29]
+The new program focuses on reaching children and adolescents of a wider age range and educating them on real-life experiences and the prevalence of drug abuse, rather than using scare tactics and reactive “just say no” approaches. In addition, it removes the proclamation D.A.R.E. once perpetuated that drugs are everywhere and “everyone is doing it.” Contrary to popular belief, everyone is not. Results of the Monitoring the Future survey of American high school seniors notes that 53.3 percent have never tried any kind of illicit drug.[30]
+Room for Change
+There is an opportunity for the D.A.R.E. program to continue growing under its new format. That being said, the changes that are made should be tailored toward educating children on real issues they’ll actually face in their young lives. Some have questioned whether mental health information should be passed on to students during their D.A.R.E. experience. While around half of all individuals with severe mental illness also have substance abuse issues, the likelihood of children of young ages being prepared for or able to comprehend such isn’t high.[31]
+Thus, such information is better reserved for older students, which brings forth the development of reaching out to students in higher grades in the Keepin’ in REAL version. Nonetheless, this information isn’t covered in the new program format either. Despite the new name, it seems reality may be exactly what has been and continues to be lacking from drug education.
+Of every 10 children, one is suffering from some sort of emotional disturbance.[32] Among 15-24 year olds, the third leading cause of death is suicide.[33] In addition, a 2007 survey noted that 6.9 percent of high school students surveyed tried to commit suicide in the prior year, and 14.5 percent seriously thought about doing it.[34]
+Overall, the Keepin’ it REAL program is now likely effective enough to warrant its continuation based on the potential for an increase of drug abuse among youths without it. While certain organizations and individuals will always be quick to point out the $1 billion to over $2 billion[35] expense that the program presents, and recent reviews tout the new program’s efficacy just as much,[36] it’s hard to argue that drug abuse prevention tactics aren’t one of the best ways the government could spend federal and state funds. Furthermore, a variety of factors contribute to whether or not an individual engages in substance abuse or becomes an addict. It would be impossible to pinpoint such an event in a person’s life solely upon whether or not they ever participated in a D.A.R.E. program.
+Alternatives to D.A.R.E.
+Today, there are other options. Life Skills Training Program and Project ALERT both focus on resistance strategies and reasons to abstain from drug and alcohol use. The former targets students aged 10 to 14, while the latter focuses solely on the middle school years. The Strengthening Families Program is strictly geared toward preventing substance abuse in six to 12 year old children who live in substance-abusing households.
+Drug addiction and alcoholism continue to sweep the nation every year. In 2009, some 23.5 million people needed professional help with a substance abuse problem, despite only 2.6 million of them getting it.[37] Without a new approach, it is difficult to say whether increased exposure to D.A.R.E. later in life or any other intervention will help. Over time, the statistics will speak for themselves.
+Citations
+[1] “Is the D.A.R.E. Program Good for America’s Kids (K-12)?.” (n.d.). ProCon. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[2] “Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” (n.d.). Crime Solutions. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[3] Reason Foundation. (2012 Dec 3). “D.A.R.E. to Turn Focus Away From Drugs.” Opposing Views. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[4] “What is D.A.R.E.?” (n.d.). Mount Pleasant Police Department. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[5] “Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” (n.d.). Crime Solutions. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[6] “Is the D.A.R.E. Program Good for America’s Kids (K-12)?: Pros and Cons.” (n.d.). ProCon. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[7] Clayton, R., Catarello, A., & Johnstone, B. “The Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (Project D.A.R.E.): 5-Year Follow-Up Results.”. Preventive Medicine. Via Challenging Dogma. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[8] Nordrum, A. “The New D.A.R.E. Program—This One Works.” (2014 Sept 10). Scientific American. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[9] “DrugFacts: High School and Youth Trends.” (Jan 2014). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[10] Ibid.
+[11] Hanson, D.J., Ph.D. “Drug Abuse Resistance Education: The Effectiveness of DARE.” (n.d.). Alcohol Facts. Accessed November 30, 2014.
+[12] Reaves, J. “Just Say No To DARE.” (2001 Feb 15). TIME Magazine. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[13] Ibid.
+[14] “Is the D.A.R.E. Program Good for America’s Kids (K-12)?.” (n.d.). ProCon. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[15] “Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” (n.d.). Crime Solutions. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[16] “Community DARE.” (1999 Jun 21). Bangor Daily News. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[17] Rosenbaum, D.P. & Hanson, G.S. “Assessing the Effects of School-Based Drug Education: A Six-Year Multilevel Analysis of Project D.A.R.E.” (1998 April 6). Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[18] Matheson, J.L. & McGrath, Jr., R.T. “Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.” (Aug 2012). Colorado State University. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[19] Ibid.
+[20] Ibid.
+[21] Ibid.
+[22] “Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” (n.d.). Crime Solutions. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[23] “Is the D.A.R.E. Program Good for America’s Kids (K-12)?.” (n.d.). ProCon. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[24] Ibid.
+[25] “DARE.” (n.d.). University of Michigan. Accessed November 30, 2014.
+[26] Nordrum, A. “The New D.A.R.E. Program—This One Works.” (2014 Sept 10). Scientific American. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[27] “Keepin’ it REAL.” (n.d.). SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. Accessed November 30, 2014.
+[28] Nordrum, A. “The New D.A.R.E. Program—This One Works.” (2014 Sept 10). Scientific American. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[29] Ibid.
+[30] “For Youths: FAQ’s/Facts.” (n.d.). National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+[31] “Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders.” (n.d.). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Accessed November 28, 2014.
+[32] “Child and Adolescent Mental Illness and Drug Abuse Statistics.” (n.d.). American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Accessed November 30, 2014.
+[33] Ibid.
+[34] Ibid.
+[35] Riskind, J. “[D.A.R.E.’s] Programs cost soars past $1 billion with little accounting.” (2002 Jun 30). The Center for Educational Research and Development. Accessed November 30, 2014.
+[36] “Is the D.A.R.E. Program Good for America’s Kids (K-12)?.” (n.d.). ProCon. Accessed November 29, 2014.
+Further Reading About Does the DARE Program Work?
+-.
+Fanon:Revolution
+this wiki
+Revolution is the third chapter of the fanon series, Avatar: Past Masters.
+Overview
+When nine groups start a revolution in the Fire Nation leaded by Stiyl, two "new" members of the Order of the White Lotus will try to stop them. Team Avatar continues the search of Azula, who is trying to recruit allies.
+Synopsis
+The Fire Nation Royal Palace had lost protection due to the absence of Fire Lord Zuko; many royal guards were removed of the area. The notice about the escape was, naturally, spread for all the Fire Nation and the world, it didn't delay more than two weeks. In Capital City, many groups of still disagree people with the fall of their nation in the last war started to be formed. They were planning a new revolution against the new government and the actual Fire Lord, their purpose was to reshuffle the conditions of the late war, a better position of the Fire Nation over the other nations. Nine groups would operate together with a common purpose, but separately; they would have a main leader for the union of the nine groups, the leader of the revolution was chosen democratically, his name was: Stiyl, a middle-aged man, tall, with red hair and strong ethos; a firebender incapable of control his anger, just like the dead and former admiral Zhao, in fact, they were very similar physically too.
+An agreed day, the leader of each group met with Stiyl to decide the official start of the revolution; the final decision was that it would start in three days more, each group had its specific zone of protest and destruction; the final words of the main leader that day were: "We mustn't waste this opportunity, Azula is free now and our mission is to support her in her plan of overthrow the Zuko and recover the power of the Fire Nation of the war. Fire Lord Azula is probably recruiting people now, people with same purposes and enemies of the Avatar; this time, the Avatar won't defeat us, we will catch him and then, anyone will stop us. So, brave leaders of the nine groups, and now, we're starting the revolution!". They felt security with the words of their leader, they thought that there wasn't any obstacle in their objectives this time, and they thought this day would be the first day of an eternal period of power of the Fire Nation.
+Three days after, Stiyl and the other leaders started the revolution; according to the plan, two groups destructed the Royal Palace. Ursa was taken to a more safety place, a hiding-place in the Earth Kingdom by her personal guards. The royal guards tried to defend the palace, but the revolutionary attack was unexpected and they were not absolutely prepared for a battle. A battle around the palace took just eight minutes and minutes due to the few guards and the many assailants; a mixed up bent of risky sounds and repercussions predominated in the environment. There were explosions in every part of the palace, dead defenders and a chaos in the population of the city.
+Stiyl and his adherents couldn't believe the excellent and fast progress they were obtaining; the Avatar won't stop this, thought the leader of the third group, that started to reinforce the attack of the first two groups in the palace. The revolutionaries had taken the control of Capital City and their plan was to keep in this way. Stiyl was proclaimed as leader of the city, he had decided to govern until the arrival of Azula, he would take care of the nation to his future Fire Lord.
+The notice of the revolution was swiftly known in the Earth Kingdom. The Earth King decided to solve this problem with the help of the Order of the White Lotus; "this is not a big problem, we will help to the Fire Nation, we will defeat the revolutionaries in two minutes. We won't need the help of the Avatar and his team, we only need an advice and a little help from the Order, this problem has a very easy solution, we had foreseen and supposed this incident," communicated Seita to the important generals.
+When Iroh was informed about the problem, he had a similar thought, he had an easy and wise solution. The Order had been waiting for this opportunity, so Iroh decided to inform the new mission to two members, two powerful benders who had never participated in an official mission of the order due to their recent union to the group. This decision was taken for the main members of the community months ago, they had not doubt in the effectiveness and power of that benders. They were: Lear, Bumi's son and Hira, Jeong Jeong's son; only they two would confront Stiyl and his troops. They had been friends all their life, Lear was a 17 years old experienced earthbender, he was strong, powerful and a genius like his father, but not a "mad" genius. Hira was a 16 years old experienced firebender, he also had some characteristics in common with his father, like his wisdom, power and accuracy. They were happy with the mission and confident.
+The new headquarter of the order was now near to the Serpent's Pass, hence, they had to travel by ship a long part of the way. But they had to arrive to the shore first, so Piandao gave them two ostrich horses. They started the trip with the farewell of the members of the order.
+- This trip will be long – said Lear, five minutes after.
+- Maybe, so we should think our plan to confront the revolutionaries and Stiyl – responded Hira.
+- Okay, but we have hours, days to think that; our first break will be tonight – declared the earthbender.
+- Okay. I agree.
+The friends kept traveling until two. Then, they stopped, ate and took a rest; next morning they continued their trip.
+The notice of the revolution had crossed the world and, of course, Team Avatar knew it; they also knew about the Order, the Order had to solve the revolution, while they had to continue with the search, but they didn't know anything about Lear and Hira, they didn't know them, just members of the Order could know something about them. They were already in Roku's Island, the place where Azula was seen some days ago; they observed and investigated around, searching for a clue or a sign to suggest her next stop. They didn't find anything, but Sokka thought: "If Azula wants to recover the power of the Fire Nation, she will need the help from known people to her. Who's the person that would help in a dangerous mission with only evil purposes, wants revenge and knows Azula? It's seems obvious". So, he said aloud: "Hey, friends, Azula is in Ba Sing Se now, we have to go there". "How do you know?" asked Suki; "Well, I'm not sure, but there's a 58% of possibility that she's there". "Okay. So, we'll go now; we'll be there in four days," said Aang. In the way, Sokka explained his reasons of his thought, Aang, Toph and Kuroko were agreed, but Katara and Suki didn't believe it.
+Azula was already in Ba Sing Se in search of Long Feng, she had planned to attack the place he was imprisoned and liberate him. "I don't think I have much possibilities of his help, due to I betrayed him in the past, but I will make a deal with him," was thinking Azula while she sailed in her new ship. Azula entered to the Royal Palace prison, attacking and defeating the earthbender guards and she found Long Feng in one of the cells:
+- Long Feng, nice to meet you again.
+- Azula! You were imprisoned in Avalon. How...? – answered amazed the earthbender.
+- Yes, but as you can see, I escaped some days ago. I suppose the prison guards and the warden informed to the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation.
+- What do you want? Why are you here?
+- Well, Long Feng, I know I made a deal with you in the past with the objective of take the control of Ba Sing Se and I betrayed you and that's one of the reasons because you are imprisoned now, I mean, due to a deal with the princess of the Fire Nation and all your actions against the government of the Earth Kingdom. But I'm now here with another objective, I want to recover the control of the Fire Nation and I need your help, I can free you right now if...
+- What would I win? – asked Long Feng mistrustfully.
+- Well, that's what I wanted to propose you now: when I get the control of the Fire Nation, our next mission will be to attack and take Ba Sing Se again, you'll rule Ba Sing Se and the Earth Kingdom. There're no possibilities of betrayal now, I wouldn't betray yo if I'm the Fire Lord because that's what I want, I don't want to rule the Earth Kingdom – said Azula, but these weren't her real objectives now.
+- That'd be great, if the plan works. I think I don't have another chance, I'll help you in your plan if you respect your rules – agreed Long Feng, thinking it was another trick of the ex-princess, but it was his only chance of escape from prison.
+Azula made explode the cell with a lightning and released Long Feng. "We have to go immediately to Chase Island," said Azula. "It's called Kuzon Island now but, why do you want to go there?" he asked. "The name is not important, I'm going to meet another person there, a friend who will help us. Well, I have to tell him about the plan, first". So, they sailed up to the sun in the ship of Azula, now with the name of "Tambourine".
+Kuzon Island was a big Fire Nation island located near to Capital City, by ship the travel could take ten days. The island had been renamed after the end of the past war by Fire Lord Zuko due to a petition of Aang, he said: "Zuko, I want to honor Kuzon, an old friend of the Fire Nation, he lived in Chase Island almost all his childhood. I want to ask you for a replacement of the name of that island to Kuzon Island, anyway, I don't like the actual name"; "Okay, there's no problem, Aang, I had planned to do this," accepted the Fire Lord.
+Team Avatar arrived to Ba Sing Se. They talked with the citizens but anyone had seen Azula. Sokka was talking with the last person they were going to interrogate that day, while the rest of the team were resting, Sokka was the only who was not finished yet. "Do you think Sokka will be fine alone?" asked Suki. "I'm sure he's fine now, I'm feeling him with my feet in this moment, he's near to that house," answered Toph, "and he's with another person now; wait, I can feel her heart, she's lying to him; I don't know what is Sokka asking, but she lied". "How do you know Sokka is talking with a woman?" asked Kuroko. "Well, the way she moves and the way women move is different than men, but that's not the problem; the problem is why she lied?" insisted Toph. "Everybody lies," said Zuko. "But not in this type of questions," inferred Aang. "You're right, Aang; let's go," said Katara. They ran toward Sokka guide by Toph, she said: "The woman is not with Sokka now, come on, we have to be there as soon as possible". When they arrived, Sokka asked: "What's going on, guys?". "Where's the woman? She lied, Toph said she was lying when she was talking with you. What did yo ask her?" said Katara very exhausted. "Why? I don't think she was lying," answered Sokka. "Quickly, she's in that bar," said Toph trying to keep feeling the vibrations. The team entered to the bar and Sokka indicated the woman: "There she is, in the bathroom's door, hey, you, stop!" they approached to the woman, "You lied to me. Why?!" "Sorry, I didn't want to do it, but I want to tell yo the truth, I see you are with the Avatar"; "Hi"; "I saw Azula three days ago with Long Feng, I thought he was imprisoned, maybe Azula helped him. Well, I was hidden and I heard them talking. They said something about Kuzon Island and they had to find somebody there; and then Long Feng noticed my presence, I tried to run away, but he followed me, unfortunately some guards were in the way in that moment and Long Feng stopped and returned with Azula. I thought you was a spy of Long Feng and you were investigating the identity of the woman who heard them talking about their plan; sorry for that". "No problem, Ms., thanks for your help; are you sure they mentioned Kuzon Island?" asked Katara; "I'm absolutely sure."
+Five minutes after, out the bar, Sokka asked to his friends: "Why they traveled to Kuzon Island? I know the woman said they had to find somebody, but who? Who lives in Kuzon Island?". "I don't know," answered Aang worried, "We can't keep chasing Azula, and now Long Feng too, we have to see them soon. Maybe the old name of the island was right". "This time we have to arrived there before them, we have to travel as fast as we can," said Kuroko.
+When Lear and Hira arrived to the Fire Nation, they saw the chaos of Capital City. Many parts of the city were on fire and the royal palace was destroyed. "This is going to be easier than we thought," Hira said. "I don't think so," added Lear, "maybe we won't just need to talk with their leader". They went to the palace, to the only rebuilt part of the palace, the throne room. Stiyl was there, doing nothing, when he heard a noise, a fall of somebody and he noticed: "The palace is been attacked! Guards, go and fight, stop the enemies!" The door of the room was destroyed by Lear; they had defeat all the guards who were protecting the entrance of the palace. Hira defeated also the personal guards of Stiyl and they stood in front of him:
+- Stop the revolution right now – said Hira.
+- Why?
+- Because if you don't stop the revolution, we'll do it; and we'd have to defeat the nine groups and defeat you – continued the firebender.
+- I started the revolution because I'm preparing the arrival of Fire Lord Azula, she's going to return soon, and we have help her a lot. You won't defeat her, you can't.
+- How do you know Azula is going to return? How do you know Azula wants your help? I think Azula is going to punish you, maybe kill you, because you made something she didn't ask you for – said Lear joining to the talking.
+- Maybe, but I want to risk my life for her. I won't stop the revolution.
+- Okay, we warned you; now, the destruction of the revolutionary groups will be on your head – warned again Hira.
+See more
+For the collective works of the author, go here.
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+Session: 2012/2013
+Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
+The Chairperson: I welcome Sean Johnston, programme manager in the Department for Regional Development's transport projects division; Anne Breen, of the public transport services division; and David Strain, of the transport projects division. You are all very welcome and are no strangers to the Committee. We will start where you left off the last day, so we do not have to go through the presentation again.
+Your answers are being recorded by Hansard, so we will hold your feet to the fire on them in due course. Members have the information on your previous presentation, so if you want to make your opening comments, we have quite a number of questions that we want to put on the record and hear your answers to.
+Mr Sean Johnston (Department for Regional Development): All we were going to do was to thank you for the opportunity to come to clarify any issues that you want to clarify with us, following the presentation on 5 June and the letter with your queries that we responded to after that presentation. So, really, we are here to respond to your queries.
+The Chairperson: There are quite a lot. I ask members to bear with me and the Deputy Chair in relation to a number of issues and then pick up on the points. The questions that we will ask are those that we want on the record.
+During the debate on the Main estimates before the First Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill on 10 June, in response to Mr McNarry, who, unfortunately, is ill and not with us today, the Finance Minister stated:
+"we should not enter into a 10-year contract — "
+— or agreement, if you want to call it that —
+" — with what is, in effect, a monopoly, without proper assurances. Before the 10-year contract is signed, comfort has to be given to PEDU that there are proper procedures in place so that there is validation of the financial practices and control within the organisation". — [Official Report, Vol 86, No 1, page 55, col 1]
+Is that built in to your calculations for progressing the matter? What views do you have on the comments made by the Minister of Finance on that just a few days ago?
+Mr Johnston: The work on the performance and efficiency delivery unit (PEDU) is ongoing, so we will see where that takes us in due course when that is completed, which will be well before the service agreement is agreed. Any issues about the finance or governance of Translink have been well catalogued over the years and, no doubt, will be further catalogued.
+The Chairperson: You might say so, but the Committee certainly does not hold that view, Mr Johnston. If you want to answer questions on the financial status of Translink, and can expertly answer such questions, I am quite happy to go into that area.
+Mr Johnston: No; but I do not think there is anything in any of the issues that we are aware of that would prevent us from entering into an agreement for 10 years, as we propose. The arrangements for governance of them have been long-standing. The contracts will introduce further controls in the service delivery, including efficiency targets and the arrangements that are already fairly well documented, so I do not see that —
+The Chairperson: Some of their key performance indicators (KPIs) are about footfall and stuff like that, not the financial aspects of the contract or anything else, are they?
+Mr Johnston: They are not about the financial aspects, but there are other arrangements for the financial controls. The governance arrangements are controlled through the management statement and financial memorandum, which adheres to Department of Finance and Personnel guidelines.
+The Chairperson: The Committee has not seen the financial annex because your Department has refused to let us see it at this time.
+Mr Johnston: The financial annex for the agreement is not developed yet, so you cannot see that.
+The Chairperson: All right.
+Mr Johnston: It is not there yet.
+The Chairperson: So, you are not sure about it? You have not examined it, so you are not really sure about the financial aspects, is that what you are telling me?
+Mr Johnston: You seem to be querying the financial governance of Translink, and that is an issue for the 10-year agreement. The controls of that are through the financial arrangements that are in place, which is the governance plan and financial memorandum, which are ongoing and have been reviewed.
+The Chairperson: With all due respect, Mr Johnston, surely the annex goes into areas of the financial governance of Translink as well. Yes or no?
+Mr Johnston: The annex looks at the income and outgoings of Translink. The reason for the annex is to prove that we are not overcompensating them. On one side of the equation, it will show Translink's income, and, on the other, its outgoings and some level of profit, assuming that it makes a profit. The point is to make sure that it is not being overcompensated. That is the purpose of the annex that we are talking about in terms of the contract. However, the overall financial governance of Translink is covered through the management statement and financial memorandum.
+Ms Anne Breen (Department for Regional Development): The overall governance is in the management statement and financial memorandum. In addition, the corporate planning process looks each year at the overall financial package, the balance within that and how that is managed. Added to that, we have the monthly monitoring cycle, when we get resource reports from them as well as KPIs. We can monitor that throughout the year to see what progress is being made and look for any changes in trends or differences and question them on the reasons for that.
+Those three aspects will continue when a contract is in place. We will need all that more-detailed monitoring to support the overall monitoring of the agreement that is in place.
+The Chairperson: Let us go back to PEDU. You say that you do not know what is in the PEDU report yet and it is not being considered, but you are still doing the work. What if the PEDU report says that the proposed agreement does not provide the appropriate assurances?
+Mr Johnston: The purpose of the PEDU report is to assess Translink against other operators and provide some sort of benchmarking information. Financial governance of Translink is not the purpose of the PEDU report. The PEDU report is about the efficiency of Translink. The reason that is an issue is that we need to be able to confirm, in the financial annex to the agreement, that it is not being overcompensated. It is not about the overall financial governance. I think the Audit Office, relatively recently, looked at the Department's relationship with Translink and that governance.
+The Chairperson: Of course, the Audit Office is doing another examination of Translink, is that not right?
+Mr Johnston: I am not aware of that.
+Mr Dallat: I hope not.
+The Chairperson: It has asked for papers from the Committee. It is doing it. Would you not need to know the outcome of that audit report as well before you enter into a 10-year agreement?
+Mr Johnston: I do not know that there is an audit report. The Audit Office looks for all the information it can glean from anything that is produced, so it is not abnormal for it to come looking for information. It does not mean that it is going to launch another review.
+The Chairperson: Our understanding is that it is launching an investigation.
+Mr Johnston: It may be looking at the overall public transport strategies and all of that. I think there might be some work planned on that, but there is nothing further specifically on Translink that I am aware of. That is not to say that it could not be planning something in the background that we are not yet aware of, but we have not been told yet — certainly not in the context of the agreement with Translink.
+The Chairperson: You stated that the key requirement is that there is no overcompensation. Could it be argued that £29 million for buses last September and a bid of £12 million is overcompensation, particularly as that means that Translink does not have to eat into its profits or capital fund?
+Mr Johnston: To prove the overcompensation, you would need to look at the overall package of funding. Capital funding is a bit of an odd thing, because it is depreciated over the life of the asset, as I understand it. You do not say that in the year it got the £29 million, it was overcompensated. I think that that is depreciated over the life of the asset, so that is the way it would be represented in the accounts. I am with you on the complication of accounts, but it is not just because it gets a bulk of money. Capital money tends to spike up and down. Some years it gets very little, and other years, it gets a lot, but it is usually smoothed out and depreciated over the life of the asset. Is that fair to say?
+Ms Breen: In the overall calculation, we have to take account of all funding that it gets in order to determine whether it is overcompensated. That will include capital funding and revenue funding. Anything that it gets will have to be taken into account. Against that, you offset anything that it is getting as well. We have to balance that equation and see whether, if it is making a profit, it is a reasonable one, and to make sure that we are not overcompensating it. We will take full account of any capital that it gets in determining the balance of that equation.
+The Chairperson: Does that include the other contracts that it has with government — the very lucrative and substantial contracts with the Departments of Education, Health, and so on?
+Ms Breen: Yes. That is the process that we have to go through. We have to make sure that we have all the information that we need in relation to all its funding and how that is accounted for. Then we have to balance that with the costs of—
+The Chairperson: Can you give us figures in relation to the budget that it gets from the Department of Education for school transport, etc?
+Mr Johnston: I have seen the figures relatively recently. The overall amount that the Department of Education spends is something like £70 million, and I think Translink gets about half of that, or maybe slightly less than half of it. Do not hold me to the figures, because I am trying to recall what they were, but that is the sort of magnitude.
+The Chairperson: So it is £35 million?
+Mr Johnston: More like 40 —
+The Chairperson: Maybe you can give us a proper figure for that, and there is a bit of Health spend as well.
+Mr Johnston: There might be, but not that much, I think. It is more the Department of Education, and that is what we are looking at in the Dungannon pilot.
+One of the other things that we need to take into account is other commercial activities. If they do Ulsterbus Tours, private hire, and so on, what we want to show is that that contributes to the public service obligation (PSO) and that the profits from that are counted in. The money that they are bringing in on that is also counted into the equation.
+The Chairperson: That is what we are not sure about and what we are trying to find out, Mr Johnston.
+Mr Johnston: It has to be. We have to make sure that that is the case.
+The Chairperson: Maybe you could let us have the figures for Ulsterbus Tours and all the rest of it as well?
+Mr Johnston: We will come to you with the annex when we have it compiled.
+The Chairperson: You are already examining those figures. They are a matter of transparency for the general public, with regard to Education transport and Translink’s commercial activities.
+Mr Johnston: I do not know whether that is clear in the accounts. I am not so familiar with them that I would know how to differentiate that.
+The Chairperson: You obviously have those figures. You are only after telling us, on the record, that you have them and that you have seen them. Is that right or wrong?
+Mr Johnston: I have the figures for Education transport, but they may not be quite up to date. I have not seen the recent accounts.
+The Chairperson: I am surprised that you are doing an agreement or contract or whatever you want to call it, and you have not got the up-to-date figures. Is that would you are now telling me?
+Mr Johnston: No. What I am saying is that we have not got to that piece of work yet. We are flagging up to the Committee the fact that we are going to be doing that work over the coming months and that we will share it with you when it is ready.
+The Chairperson: When is it likely to be ready?
+Mr Johnston: Probably in the autumn.
+The Chairperson: Probably the autumn. OK.
+Can I move to the contract? You do not like calling a contract, but I will call at the contract because —
+Mr Johnston: We do not mind.
+The Chairperson: — it appears that the Department of Finance and Personnel calls it a contract. A contract must contain five key elements, one of which is that it should be legally binding. Is this agreement, which you are putting together in relation to a 10-year contract, legally binding?
+Mr Johnston: No. We have already explained that in the response.
+The Chairperson: Explain it to me again for the record.
+Mr Johnston: Generally speaking, contracts between public bodies are not recommended to be legally binding. That is not a sensible way to proceed because they would be involved in litigation against one another. So they are not generally seen as legally binding. It does not need to be legally binding for the purposes of EU regulation either.
+The Chairperson: So, EU regulations talk about a legally binding contract, and you are operating under the EU —
+Mr Johnston: I am not sure that they talk about a legally binding contract.
+The Chairperson: I think you want to go and check that. You should be able to —
+Mr Johnston: I am fairly sure that we have checked that and that it is not the case.
+The Chairperson: It is a public service contract. It says that it needs to be legally binding and that it has five key elements.
+Mr Johnston: The guidance that we have seen suggests that it could take the form simply of a legal act, so it is not, as far as we are concerned, legally binding. It could be that legislation says that this is the way that the arrangements work and, in that sense, it is legally binding. However, in the traditional sense of a contract and taking each other to court, it is not legally binding.
+The Chairperson: Let me ask you another question. You have just told us that £35 million — give or take a few million here and there; it is probably not a big issue in the context of what we are talking about — comes from the Education budget. Is that legally binding?
+Mr Johnston: Education is exempt from the terms of the EU regulation. It is not encapsulated within it, but it will have to be encapsulated within the annex for the costing purposes because it is another part of income. However, Education transport for pupils is exempt from the terms of EU regulation 1370.
+The Chairperson: Well, it is a contract —
+Mr Johnston: It is effectively a contract.
+The Chairperson: — between two public bodies. You are telling me that it does not have to be legally binding?
+Mr Johnston: No. It does not.
+The Chairperson: Do we just make up our own rules as we go along but throw in the EU regulations when it suits us? Is that what you are telling me?
+Mr Johnston: No. What I am telling you is that, with respect to finance for the annex of the agreement that we will enter into with the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, we will take account of the funding that comes from the Department of Education as income to Translink. However, if you are asking me whether it is a legal requirement that Education transport is part of the agreement, the answer to that is no.
+The Chairperson: All right. Let me go to another area. You have told us that the Department opted for a 10-year contract and that — these are your words, not mine — the format of the contract is not expected to change significantly over the period. Right or wrong?
+Mr Johnston: Yes, I will explain what I mean by that in a moment.
+The Chairperson: Surely the introduction of a major infrastructure investment such as Belfast rapid transit would be seen as a significant change during the period, would it not?
+Mr Johnston: The format will not change. The core agreement and the schedules to that agreement — that basic format of services — will not change. The body of the contract, the services and the KPIs will probably change.
+The Chairperson: So, we bring rapid transit along, and, hopefully, new drivers and other staff will have to be employed, possibly on new contracts, and you are telling me that the millions of pounds that the Executive are going to put into the all-singing, all-dancing rapid transit system does not amount to a significant change? What is a significant change then? Maybe you could explain that to me.
+Mr Johnston: The basic format of the contract will probably remain static, or, if it needs to change, we will change it.
+The Chairperson: So you make new rules up as you go along?
+Mr Johnston: That is what I said to you. There will be a change-control procedure in the 10-year agreement to allow us to change that. If we need to change the contract for the rapid transit or for any other reason, we will do that; for example, if we have to change the service. There will be a schedule of services from April 2014 that will probably be broadly similar to what is provided now, but as we intercept things like the Dungannon pilot, rapid transit and whatever else comes along, the schedules will have to change, probably quite dramatically in some cases, because it will be a different service. The design of those services might be quite different, so those will all change, but the basic format of contract and schedules, with service levels and KPIs, will not change. The detail of what is in them will change.
+Given the law that is in place at the moment, we did not see the point in having to constantly go back every few years and go through the bureaucracy of renewing the contract, because the expectation is that Translink will be the lead supplier for the foreseeable future.
+The Chairperson: Because you say so and because you have only soft-tested it in the market.
+Mr Johnston: Let us think about that. We did soft-test in the market, and there was not much appetite —
+The Chairperson: No, because you do not put it out, giving all the facts and details of all the grants, the Education part of it or the elderly pass for senior citizens, which is some £39 million or £40 million.
+Mr Johnston: Let us be clear; even if we were dealing with Transport for London, if we were going to enter into a commercial contract, the type of contract that we would have to go for is the net cost contract. In other words, the operator would have to take the risks of the operational costs and the fare box. That model is similar to what they have in London, except in London, it is a gross cost contract. We would be asking operators to take on the risk of funding here. Some of them are even reluctant to take on the risks in London. A lot of the GB operators are moving out of London because it is too difficult.
+The Chairperson: We do not know that, because it has only been soft-tested.
+Mr Johnston: We do know that. That is what happening right now. FirstGroup is moving out of London and National Express has already moved out. Other operators from elsewhere on the continent and from Singapore and places like that are moving in, but they just do not like taking the risk on the fare box or the passenger risks that we have. We would want them to take those risks. Do not forget that our system —
+The Chairperson: You are talking about London, but what risk does Translink have? It gets all its buses bought for it. It has reserves that no one knows anything about really. I do not think even the Department knows anything about them. It gets lucrative money from the Department of Education and the senior citizens' passes, as well as the rest of the money that it gets from the public purse. Then your Department trots four times a year to the trough to look for more money for new buses and all the rest of it.
+Mr Johnston: That is absolutely right, but it still bears the operational risk —
+The Chairperson: I know that it is absolutely right. That is why I stated it.
+Mr Johnston: It bears the operational risk of all the things that go into making up the comprehensive service that has developed right across Northern Ireland at various times of the day and in various areas that are not very profitable. It is bearing all that risk, and it is very difficult to change it, because the Department does not let it change that too readily as it means taking services —
+The Chairperson: The last time that you were here, you told us that Translink cherry-picks the routes.
+Mr Johnston: It cherry-picks the routes, but —
+The Chairperson: It cherry-picks the routes.
+Mr Johnston: The cherry-picking of routes supplements the vast number of routes where there is no money to be made, and which we insist that it provides in rural areas and areas where no commercial operator would operate. It bears all that risk. It bears the risk of the fare box. We keep encouraging it to grow the fare box, and that helps to make the thing more viable. There is a whole balance between income and services that have to be provided. In summary, it bears the operational risks of running all those services, and it bears the fare box risk. In commercial terms, that is what it bears. However, you are right: the fact that it gets the buses bought is a big de-risk. It does not eliminate the risk completely, but it de-risks it considerably. That offer was made to the private sector. Even with that, if it did not have control of the fares and the level of fares and the ticketing arrangements, it saw that as a risk.
+The Chairperson: You have just told us that that offer was made to the private sector. Can we have a copy of the letters in relation to that and to whom it was offered?
+Mr Johnston: Those discussions took place as part of the soft market-testing.
+The Chairperson: It was only discussions. I am asking you now for —
+Mr Johnston: There was no offer, because that would imply a tender.
+The Chairperson: I am asking you now. Is there any issue with letting us have that?
+Mr Johnston: Sorry; that was part of the soft market-testing offer that was discussed with the operators during that exercise, and I think that you have got a copy of that.
+The Chairperson: You just told me that it was offered to the private sector.
+Mr Johnston: Sorry; what I am saying is that, as part of that discussion on the soft market-testing, all of that would have been discussed with the operators, including all the ins and outs of what was available with concessionary fares. I think that the capital option of it providing the capital or the Department providing the capital was all explored as part of those discussions. The work was done by outside consultants, and I think that you have a copy of that.
+The Chairperson: I do not think that we have. Maybe you could let us have a copy.
+Mr Johnston: Did Ciaran De Burca not send you that?
+The Chairperson: No.
+Mr Johnston: I thought that he had.
+The Chairperson: We will need to check, but, normally, any papers that come into the Committee office are in front of us. Certainly, we have not seen that yet.
+Mr Johnston: I think that it was sent a few weeks ago. You should have it. If you have not got it, we can send it to you.
+The Chairperson: You are happy enough to let us have that anyway.
+I have one final question to put on the record, and then we will move on to the Deputy Chair. Your letter of 19 June states:
+"In order to take account of the different legal regimes ... the Regulation is very broad and includes various types of legally binding acts."
+Those are your words: "legally binding acts". Can you tell us what those are and how the proposed service level agreement is legally binding?
+Mr David Strain (Department for Regional Development): Chairman, Sean has tried to cover the fact that it is very difficult for the Department to enter into a legally binding agreement with the holding company, because both are public bodies. The contract itself, or the service agreement, is about developing a relationship between those two bodies and trying to find the best way to deliver services within that arrangement that suits the particular member state in which it is being operated. That is why the EU regulation allows different types of agreements to be put in place to suit the different internal markets. That is what we are doing at the moment. We are trying to find an agreement that can be set out in conjunction with the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO) in its analysis of the regulation and also a set of regulations that we will bring to the Committee in the autumn, which will set out what may or must be contained in that service agreement.
+There are a couple of ways in which we intend to try to make sure that we find an agreement that best fits the circumstances in Northern Ireland and can then be dealt with through formal regulations, which the Committee will see when they are developed over the summer.
+Mr Johnston: The EU regulation allows for wide variety to cope with the different member states, their various machinations, and how they are organised. It allows for a wide range, from a fully formal contract through to a legal Act, in other words an Act of the Parliament in the member state. That could be the basis of an agreement.
+Ms Breen: We have to take legal advice as we develop the agreement. We will be taking legal advice the whole way through to make sure that whatever agreement we end up with complies with the EU regulation.
+Mr Lynch: You are having discussions in Brussels. Did the European Commission clearly state in writing that your proposed approach met their requirements and that we will not be facing potential infractions down the line?
+Mr Johnston: We met them, set out what we were proposing, and then David and I had a meeting with them, which we minuted and sent back to them. That was the form of the discussion that we had with them.
+Nothing that we were proposing seemed to breach any of their arrangements. They are mandated to issue further guidance on that, but that has not arrived in its final form yet. Hopefully, it will arrive before we finalise the agreement. If it does not, we will just have to run with what —
+The Chairperson: We will just go ahead anyway?
+Mr Johnston: We are working to a date. We do not think that we are that far off the track that we need to be concerned, so I would not be unduly concerned. The only issue, legally speaking, is overcompensation, which is the income from Translink and the amount it gets. We need to be able to show, on an ongoing basis, that the Translink companies are as efficient as they can be and are moving towards improving efficiency, which will always be on our radar in trying to get them to be as efficient as possible. The big issue, as regards the risk of the EU disagreeing with what we are doing, is overcompensation and in us showing that we are not overcompensating.
+Mr Strain: At the meeting in Brussels, we had both sets of people who were responsible. As you are aware in some of our previous discussions, DLA Piper, the consultants, did a report for the Commission on the EU regulation and how it was applied across member states. As a result, the Commission said that it would provide us with further guidelines, which we will take into account over the summer.
+We ensured that not only were the people responsible for providing those guidelines at the meeting but the Commission staff who are responsible for dealing with infraction proceedings. On the basis of the explanation that we provided on how the market was regulated in Northern Ireland and how we intended to put the service agreement together, they did not express any concerns about issues around infraction.
+Mr Lynch: Are you confident that the agreement will be compliant with the EU regulation?
+Mr Johnston: I do not think there is any doubt that it will be compliant, but that is not an issue that concerns the Department. The issue is that we are on track to getting a contract, but how do we make it work to best effect for everybody? The first iteration will be in March or April 2014. That will be first stab at it, if you like. However, we will be constantly refining the schedules to the contract when intercepting it with the results of Dungannon, rapid transit and whatever else comes along; for example, getting real-time passenger information on the buses.
+The issue will be how we make it work for us. We introduced a system whereby instead of Translink having responsibility for acting as authority and operator, we are moving to a situation in which the Department, or Transport NI, is the authority, and Translink and its subsidiaries are the operator. So, we need to make that work for us to the benefit of the service. We need to focus on making sure that that is to the benefit of the users. We are not overly concerned about the EU. We are more concerned about getting a system that works to the benefit of Northern Ireland.
+Mr Lynch: Do you agree that all your incentives are process-focused and that they ignore the outcomes? That is what communities — [Inaudible due to mobile phone interference.] — outcomes rather than processes.
+Mr Johnston: We agree. When we come to you in the autumn with the KPIs, you will see that there is some focus on process, but there is also focus on outcomes. To some degree, there is a focus on outputs in the existing KPIs, but there needs to be a greater focus.
+Historically, the Department has not had an authority role; it has had more of a governance role, but we are moving to a situation in which it has an authority role. In that role, it needs to have more focus on the services. That is what we started in Dungannon. The Department needs to know and understand the services and have a say in their design. That is where we need to move to.
+We do not want this to be process-focused, and I will be disappointed if you get the KPIs and come back to us and say that they are all process-focused. If they are, they should not be. There is a bit of process, such as your query about Translink delivering projects on time. That is a bit of process, but it also has an impact on users. Some things will be important to us as a Department, but a lot of other things should be important to users. If it is not like that, we have not got it right.
+Mr Lynch: Finally, you will have seen that we had a presentation from Guide Dogs NI, and one issue was audiovisual information. Will your proposed agreement touch on that, because it is a very important subject?
+Mr Johnston: Yes, I cannot agree more. In a sense, the ball is in the Department's court rather than Translink's court. It falls within our remit; so, when I am here, I might as well explain it to you.
+The position is that the contract for the existing bus track system that operates in Metro is over. We are finished on that, and there is a short-term arrangement in place. We do not have the money to replace it wholesale, so we are out for contract to see whether we can get an operator or supplier to maintain the existing system that is on the buses.
+Subject to some upgrades, the existing system on the buses is fine. It does all the things, and it is an earlier version of what is in operation in other parts of the UK, such as Cambridge. Subject to us getting a supplier to maintain the system, it is perfectly adequate. We need to find the money to put it on the buses in the Metro area and to get mobile phones geared up and upgrade the bus stops as we can afford it. We still have to secure the money for that, but some of it would not take a lot of money, and we are bound to be able to get it from somewhere.
+Translink has installed a GPS on the buses anyway, and we are in discussions with it as to how we could utilise that or make use of it to provide real-time passenger information on Ulsterbus. It is a bigger ask for Ulsterbus because there are a lot more buses, so I am not sure how we could do it. Mobile phones might be part of the answer, but, as the lady here explained, you cannot get mobile reception everywhere. It is a lot more money for Ulsterbus, but we would like to do some improvements on Ulsterbus as well, subject to us getting the money. However, the Metro one is doable and should be doable. When we will get the money to do it, I do not know, but the short answer is that it is not insurmountable.
+Mr Lynch: What about the idea that it should be pre-planned and built into buses as they are being designed?
+Mr Johnston: That is absolutely right, and it will be for rapid transit. The problem that we have had is that we are not sure what the solution will be at this point. We could have put something into the latest buses that were bought, but it would have been obsolete by the time that they were six months old. So, we are in limbo, and we are not sure what the solution is. We expect that it will be the existing bus track system, but it might not be. If somebody comes in with a cheaper, better solution, it might get thrown out.
+The Chairperson: Are you telling us that we will wait until we get something cheaper?
+Mr Johnston: We are out to competition, so we might get something cheaper; it might be cheaper. It is a competitive market. The system was installed a long time ago. It is still in operation. It is still being upgraded, and we expect that the software will continue in operation. That is our assumption, but who knows? When you are doing a procurement exercise, you cannot pre-judge its outcome. That is why we have not put it on the most recent buses.
+When this year is over, and we know what the solution will be for five or six years, there is no reason why it could not be on, subject to us having the money.
+Mr Lynch: One of the best ways of knowing the solution is through dialogue with the stakeholders and people who were here this morning. They are the people who sometimes know what is needed and what would best facilitate their needs.
+Mr Johnston: I agree.
+The Chairperson: I suppose the other thing is the costs. I do not see any issue with the cost, because if you are ordering 89 new Goldliners, you could order 86 instead and put the technology on board. You were able to do Wi-Fi. You were in the room when the folk were at the table. It appears that Translink treats people who are visually impaired and people with a disability as second-class citizens, basically.
+Mr Johnston: There is that business of driving off. One of the things that we would like to do on the contract is some sort of mystery shop, where those sorts of things are happening on the ground. Customer service must be part of the contract; the standard of service must be part of that.
+The Chairperson: The KPIs are sorted out by Translink by asking the questions, knowing that they will get the right answers. Would you guys get the right answers? Is that not the way it is done?
+Mr Strain: Another thing that we can do in the regulations that are being prepared, and I mentioned this before, is to have an annex to the regulations. We will have that, and it will indicate what may or must be contained in the service agreement. One thing we can look at in association with DSO is building in some of the things that we would expect to see as basic requirements in that service agreement. They could include compliance with best practice or standards being set in the EU, as mentioned by Andrew and his colleagues this morning. We can look at that.
+Mr Ó hOisín: I do not know whether there is a wild lot of meat left on this bone. I want to ask about the financial annex. Can I recap? This will not be developed until mid —
+Mr Johnston: Mid-autumn; about October time.
+Mr Ó hOisín: Yes, but in your presentation, you put a lot of store on the Dungannon pilot — I think you mentioned it five times — which will not be ready until mid-autumn, or thereabouts.
+Mr Johnston: All I am saying in relation to this is that we will want the contract to be flexible enough to intercept the outcomes of the Dungannon pilot, whenever those happen. It will take a fair bit of time after we get whatever we get up and running in the autumn to make all the changes, because the law will have to be changed. It will not be a simple matter of having it in Dungannon this autumn and then rolling it out immediately; it will not be as simple as that. There will be a period of planning involved.
+Mr Ó hOisín: Are you confident that the Dungannon pilot is still on schedule? I remember a presentation last autumn, when we were looking at the Dungannon pilot starting around April. Then we talked about September. Is that still the case?
+Mr Johnston: No, we always talked about the autumn. We only got started in December. It was always planned that the first iteration would be in the autumn and that, as we resolved problems, we would augment it thereafter and, at the same time, start doing the business case for how it could be configured and rolled out.
+We need the contract to be flexible enough to intercept that, as needed. This is where the work with the Department of Education and the interface comes in. Even though it is not part of the EU regulation, it will have to be part of the overall agreement about the money that is coming in. It needs to be counted into the overall pot of money that is available.
+Mr Ó hOisín: OK. Are you happy with the buy-in from all the stakeholders?
+Mr Johnston: We have been pleasantly surprised. It took us a long time to get all of them mobilised, but we have been pleasantly surprised so far. Maybe, when hardy comes to hardy and we see how it starts to shape up and what it is going to look like, there will be less support, but, at the moment, we have support from everybody.
+Mr Ó hOisín: I want to ask about the financial annex. Given that the Department is the main funder, will the levers that can be used be reflected accurately in the annex?
+Mr Johnston: What do you mean?
+Mr Ó hOisín: Will the funding to maintain and improve the holding company's service and the Translink service and standards be reflected?
+Mr Johnston: The annex will be an annex of all the income and outgoings and any profit that it makes.
+Mr Ó hOisín: The Chair touched on the Goldliner purchase. It makes eminent sense to address some of the issues rather than look at the overall estate, per se.
+Mr Johnston: Yes.
+Mr Dallat: Given that so many imponderables are yet to be decided, is there not a real danger, Sean, that you will spend most of your time down at Central station or in the palatial new offices on the Boucher Road with a begging bowl? You have supplied the buses and trains. What muscle power do you have to negotiate anything?
+Mr Johnston: We have considerable muscle power. Translink is there to provide the service, and it is up to the Department, as the authority, to agree the standards of that service. In fact, Translink already runs a lot of services that are not profitable, and, occasionally, it comes along with proposals to drop ones and is generally sent packing. That is not always the case, because some of them are so underused.
+Mr Dallat: A few short years ago, they put the accounts into a skip and headed off to Wicklow for a weekend after taking £20 million more than they should have for upgrading the Bangor to Belfast railway. That is the background in which you are negotiating.
+Mr Johnston: I know, but I suspect that it learnt quite a number of lessons from that, and there have been a number of reviews since that. Its efficiency is under constant scrutiny. It will need constant vigilance; there is no two ways about it.
+Let us not kid ourselves: if it were a commercial operator, we would have the same problems. In fact, we might have more. I speak regularly to the passenger transport executives in Great Britain, and they have much more serious problems because they just drop the route and dump the problem on to the councils. Translink cannot do that.
+The Chairperson: There is no contract. Translink can really do what it likes.
+Mr Johnston: It cannot, and does not, take off routes without the Minister agreeing to it. Is that fair?
+Ms Breen: Yes.
+Mr Dallat: Sorry, Anne, I do not wish to interrupt you.
+Ms Breen: I was just agreeing. If Translink is proposing service changes, it has to come —
+Mr Dallat: I respect Sean's presentation and enthusiasm. I am trying to visualise this as part of a modern progressive western society, and what I see is some poor craythur in the Kremlin before perestroika and glasnost trying to organise a public transport system. I know that that is being slightly cynical, but try to convince me that that is not true, Sean.
+Mr Johnston: Metro was reorganised. It is cited as best practice in numerous reports that I have read from other jurisdictions. Everybody has their own view on whether it is or is not. However, it is probably designed in a way that is as efficient and effective as modern public transport in cities can be, and, hopefully, we will augment it by rapid transit.
+I suspect that we have a reasonable service in rural areas, given the level of coverage from the main towns and villages around the country. From the ones that I know, and those that other people I speak to know, it seems reasonable. The fact that we joined school transport with that makes it more viable. That is where it goes awry in Great Britain: most places there do not have that. We could do a lot more of it through the work in Dungannon and try to integrate it a bit more and tackle the issues, including the rural roads and buses up and down the country roads and the back roads. There is a lot to be done. That does not need to be in Translink's contract. However, there are things that could and should be done.
+The other issue is technology, which is something that you pointed out in the other report you issued recently. We need better information for passengers. We need to track the vehicles better. You are talking about a modern transport system; we need to make sure that that is what happens. We are not going to get there in 12 months. However, that should be, and is, our ambition. That is where we need to be heading.
+Mr Dallat: Finally, finally; I know that you provide the buses and trains. However, I am very conscious that there is no provision in these sophisticated accounts for any kind of replacement of either the track or the rolling stock on the service between Belfast and Dublin. What will happen if, next year, one of the intercity train sets goes on fire, as happened recently? Would you then have to go back to the Minister and say that Translink needs new trains?
+Mr Johnston: Do you mean if there is an accident or if a wholesale replacement is needed?
+Mr Dallat: I just mean, Sean, and you know it, that the train sets are clapped out, burned out and constantly haemorrhaging passengers to buses that clutter the roads, instead of being a modern, intercity service that is fit for purpose and gets you there on time.
+Mr Johnston: A consultation on that has just finished, or is about to finish.
+Mr Dallat: Will that be part of the contract?
+Mr Johnston: The service will be part of the contract, but the replacement of the rolling stock —
+Ms Breen: The need for future capital investment is not going to change. There will still be the need for capital investment in the type of system that we are working. We will obviously have to be transparent in how we are doing it, what we are investing in, how that feeds into the equation and how it is reported through into Translink.
+Mr Strain: We have to look at the public service obligation that requires that to be dealt with in the service agreement with Translink. If the public service obligation standards are set as to what that service should be, and the funding is available to meet that public service obligation, it will be set out in the contract as meeting the PSO but not overcompensating Translink for providing that service.
+Mr Johnston: We should not kid ourselves. There will be pressures on capital funding, such as the relaying of lines. Although we have new trains now, x number of years down the road, they will run out. You are right to say that the Dublin one is maybe heading in that direction. That is the model, and that funding will need to be taken into account, assuming that we give them some more funding for that. It is the same with relaying the tracks. That is a costly business, too, from time to time.
+The Chairperson: You said that you reckon we are getting there. My final point is this: are we ever going to get to the place we want to be with a structure that was put in place in 1967 and is now outdated? Is it now time for change? What is the Department doing about that, with the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and all that nonsense?
+Mr Johnston: I am not sure. We await your report on that.
+The Chairperson: There must be a more modern system rather than an outdated system from the Ulster Transport days. We are still hearing about Ulster Transport reserves of £50 million, which the Department is now trumpeting as the £50 million "other" reserve. Surely, in 2013, with those outdated structures, it is time for change.
+Mr Johnston: I think that this is less about structures and more about services. We focus too much on structures. If we focused more on the services and outcomes, we might make more progress. In the contract, it is the services that we need to focus on; the service delivery, the service delivery model, the design of the services and the interface with others who provide services. Frankly, I am less worried about structures than services.
+The Chairperson: I thank all three of you for your presentation. The meeting has been reported by Hansard, and I am sure that you will want to have a look at that and the answers that you gave. There are a number of letters and reports that we want sight of, so we will write to you informally on that.
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+Ms Anne BreenMr Sean JohnstonMr David Strain
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+Version: 6.1.0.0
+Mark 5: 21-43
+BRIEF INTRO: We have noticed beginning in chapter four (4:1) that Jesus was teaching by the sea. After He finished His teaching using parables, He wanted to cross over the sea to go to the other side, into the region of the Gerasenes (4:35; 5:1). There He was met by a man “with an unclean spirit” who lived in the tombs (5:2). Jesus commanded the spirits to leave the man and gave His permission for them to enter the swine. The herd, about two thousand, ran into the sea and drowned!
+We witness Jesus getting into the boat and “crossing over again “to the other side (5:21). It is there where one of the synagogue officials approaches Jesus. In the events leading up to this meeting, we find two fascinating and seemingly “hopeless” situations that Jesus proved His Lordship over! First is the deadly storm (4:35-41). Second, the man possessed by the “Legion” (many unclean spirits). He now moves into what I will term another set of seemingly hopeless situations: a diseased woman and a dead girl! We will witness in each of these situations, yet, again, the complete authority and power Jesus has over all the things and all the scenarios of our daily and temporary lives!
+21 When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and He [a]stayed by the seashore. 22 And one of the synagogue [b]officials, named Jairus, *came, and upon seeing Him, *fell at His feet 23 and *pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will [c]get well and live.” 24 And He went off with him, and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
+FOCUS ONE: Jairus boldly approaches Jesus
+Directly after Jesus touches the shore, a man breaks through the crowds that have gathered and falls at Jesus’ feet. His name is Jairus, and he is a “synagogue official” (v. 22). As a synagogue official, Jairus would be some form of an attendant in the synagogue. That role entailed bringing out the Torah scrolls for the service, leading the synagogue in prayers, and returning the scrolls afterward. Historically speaking, “after the destruction of the Jewish temple in A.D. 70, worship could no longer take place in the temple, making the synagogue the central place of worship.”
+He approaches Jesus in reverence and humility, NOT demanding or proclaiming entitlement, evidenced by his tone and demeanor (fell at His feet, pleading earnestly). This man exhibits great faith in Jesus to heal his daughter in what, humanly speaking, is a hopeless scenario to find himself in. She is only twelve years old and is at “deaths door” (v. 23). His faith in Jesus to heal her is impressive and instructive for us, even today. “Come and lay your hands on her so she can get well and live.”
+Jairus is a bold man of faith. He was not afraid to approach Jesus, the only one that could help him in his hour of need. He must have heard of what Jesus was doing on the other side of the sea and so had no doubts that He was able to heal his daughter.
+“So, Jesus went with him.” Everybody in that crowd wanted to witness a miracle. To see with their own eyes the Undoing of the impossible! With that many people pressing against Him as they walked, it must have been burdensome to move. At that moment, a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years reached through the compacted crowd and touched Jesus’ robe.
+I will focus on her story in my next focus point. But for now, I want you to put yourself in Jairus’ place. His daughter is close to death, and time is quickly running out. Jesus, his only hope, is now “side-tracked” by this woman who has an issue. Time is of the essence and Jesus, rather than continuing to his house, turns around inquiring as to who touched Him, which then leads to more precious time being lost as Jesus engages the woman.
+Jesus, with great compassion, always seems to be ready to inconvenience Himself to help people in need. Are we prepared to do the same?
+Jairus, like us, must have felt great apprehension in his soul when Jesus stopped to engage this woman. The fear of losing his daughter must have escalated as time appeared to be quickly passing by and hopes of healing were diminishing. And then, to have people come and tell you that your daughter has died while you were en route must have been deeply grievous to his soul.
+BUT, Jesus knowing what was said, tells Jairus, “don’t be afraid, only believe” (v. 36).
+We must remember, and this is VERY important to the story, that Jesus, by touching a dead person and being associated with blood, in their view, would Himself take on the uncleanness related to both of them (Leviticus 15:19-27; Numbers 19:11). BUT, rather than making Jesus unclean, the woman was instantly healed, and Jairus’s daughter was brought back to life! disease. 30 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself [c]made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease.”
+FOCUS TWO: The woman sneaks up in the crowd and touches Jesus’ garments
+As I meditated on this text, seeking to understand why Mark would include this story sandwiched between Jairus approaching Jesus and then going to Jairus’s home, I tried to put myself in his position. Sometimes it is helpful to do that when we are trying to figure out the plotline within our text. Now we have, most likely in Jairus’s view, an unwanted delay in Jesus healing his daughter by this woman that sneaks up to Jesus in the crowd.
+Jairus, now with Jesus, is walking home to his beloved dying daughter. This woman “interferes” with his expectations, and that subsequent time lost results in the death of his little twelve-year-old daughter. When they began walking, there was hope; she was only in the process of dying. Now, after this woman engages Jesus, his daughter is dead! He is weighed down with grief.
+This woman has been dealing with her ever-growing hopeless situation for twelve years. She tried every new thing she could. New doctors with new treatments and spent all her wealth but found no healing. Luke, the physician, tells us that nothing helped because her condition was incurable (Luke 8:43). It sounds like God had a plan in allowing her to suffer for so long. He would manifest His authority and power through her, under such circumstances for His all-wise and holy purposes! That’s how old Jairus’ daughter is (vv. 25,42).
+Her faith was so great that she believed that she only needed to touch His garment and that she would be healed. Such faith was exhibited with Paul (Acts 19:12), the difference being Paul was not God; the Lord granted any power in Him to magnify His name and His gospel!
+Jesus, wanting to draw the woman out of the crowd, asks, “who touched me?” He wanted her to have faith, not fear; praise, not trembling. She does come forward and tells Jesus everything (v.33). Jesus then makes this statement crucial for us to hear: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed from your affliction” (v. 34).
+From his sentence, we draw out three statements
+- Your faith has made you well
+- Go in peace
+- Be healed of your affliction
+First, notice that her faith made her well, not touching His clothes. Second, Jesus was not angry at her for touching Him, and He granted her peace. And third, He heals her of her affliction.
+*”The verb save (s’oz’o) in verse 28 can refer to deliverance from physical danger and affliction or deliverance from eternal judgment. It’s used in 10:26, where ‘being saved’ is par to inheriting eternal life and 10:17,30 “entering the kingdom of God (10:23-25). The primary meaning in this passage (5:23,28,34), however, relates to deliverance from physical difficulty since ‘being saved’ is par to ‘being healed from affliction’ (5:34). YET, even in his passage, (save) seems to point beyond mere physical healing from a particular affliction to a greater sense of wholeness and well-being, since the woman’s deliverance allows her to ‘live in peace.”
+So there seems to be a strong suggestion that her faith also led to spiritual salvation!
+We now begin to see the bottom piece of bread in this sandwich! Mark began with Jairus (bread), then entered the woman (meat), and now we have our next piece of bread (Jairus’ home) to complete the sandwich.
+35 While He was still speaking, people *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why bother the Teacher further?” 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid, only [a]believe.” 37 And He allowed no one to accompany Him except Peter, [b]James, and John the brother of  utterly astonished. 43 And He gave them strict orders that no one was to know about this, and He told them to have something given her to eat.
+FOCUS THREE: The little girl arises
+While Jesus was speaking to the woman, news came of Jairus’s daughter’s death. How distressing for him to hear, how discouraging for him as he may have counted in his mind the precious minutes being lost as Jesus engaged the woman. BUT, Jesus encourages him to continue having faith in Him, even though his situation appears pointless now that his daughter has died.
+Imagine the scene as they walk up to his house, hearing the mourners’ loud lament. They saw so many people weeping and wailing at the girl’s death. Imagine standing there as Jesus tells them all not to cry. The child did not die but is sleeping! Would you have laughed at Him too!
+Jesus takes Peter, James, John, and the child’s parents into the room where the twelve-year-old girl lies. He speaks while holding her hand, and she arises!
+What similarities and differences do these accounts share?
+Common:
+- Both are in a hopeless situation (vv. 23, 25-26)
+- Both seek Jesus for healing (vv. 22, 27)
+- Both expressed fear (vv. 36,33)
+- Both exhibit faith (vv. 23, 28)
+- Both receive what they sought (vv. 34, 42)
+Not in common:
+- Jairus is a male; the woman is, well, a woman (vv. 22, 25)
+- He is a synagogue official, she is a woman with a hemorrhage (vv. 22, 25)
+- Jairus boldly approaches Jesus, the woman sneaks up in a crowd (vv. 22, 27)
+- He exhibits fear and concern, she exhibits embarrassment and shame (23,36,27,33)
+- She endured much at the hands of others; Jairus is pleading for someone else (vv. 26, 23)
+- Jairus’s daughter dies and then is brought back to life; the woman remains alive (vv. 35, 34)
+What do we learn from these things? We realize that they both needed Jesus, the king of the kingdom, the promised Messiah, Emmanuel, to heal their hopeless situation. And in so doing, Christ put on display His deity, authority, and power over all things natural or unnatural!
+Jairus had many “why” questions, just like us, and he was able to get the answers, at least to some degree” through this experience. I think the story of the woman with the blood issue was placed in the middle because Jesus wanted Jairus to grow in his faith in Him. His circumstances did just that?
+“But we may never know the answers to our why questions this side of heaven. Will you be willing to trust God during that most difficult moment?”
+This account of Mark should encourage us to trust Jesus even when we have to wait longer than we would like.
+*Exegetical guide to the Greek NT, Joel f. Williams, pg. 96
+One thought on “ONLY BELIEVE”
+I love this passage with the women with 12 year bleeding and the 12 year old; two events seemingly nonrelated but parallel with the 12 and they are opposites in being old and young, life threatening and not, accepted and unaccepted ill person, etc. TY
+Recent discourse around monuments venerating Ukrainian Nazi collaborators, such as the monuments in Edmonton and in Oakville, Ontario, is bringing new attention to Canada’s messy entanglement with a burgeoning Ukrainian nationalist movement that historians warn is whitewashing the crimes of Nazi collaborators.
+Canada’s newly-minted Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is widely rumoured to be the successor to an increasingly scandal-plagued Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has a familial connection. Her Ukrainian grandfather Michael Chomiak edited a pro-Nazi Ukrainian paper called Krakivski Visti in Krakow and then Vienna.
+In a 2015 essay for the Brookings Institute entitled “My Ukraine,” Freeland writes, “My maternal grandparents fled western Ukraine after Hitler and Stalin signed their non-aggression pact in 1939. They never dared to go back, but they stayed in close touch with their brothers and sisters and their families, who remained behind.” But this is a highly oversimplified, airbrushed presentation of her grandparents’ history, one which she has repeatedly offered.
+Chrystia Freeland is not responsible for the actions of her grandfather, but her continual praise of Chomiak is a microcosm of a broader whitewashing of the history of the movement to establish a sovereign Ukrainian state that often downplays Nazi collaboration.
+This story isn’t so much about Freeland, or even Ukraine, but a larger tendency towards historical revisionism in the leadership of many eastern European diaspora communities, whose leadership refuse to accept responsibility for their national heroes’ dark pasts.
+On August 26, 2016, in honour of Black Ribbon Day, which perpetuates a moral equivalence between communism and Nazism, Freeland tweeted out a loving tribute to her maternal grandparents, Mykhailo (Michael) and Aleksandra Chomiak.
+Black Ribbon Day was established by Markus Hess, who, according to the Canadian Press, believed the Soviet Union was engaged in a “slow and insidious” takeover of the world. Hess was financed by the right-wing National Citizens Coalition. He was also photographed in Munich with Slava Statsko, a prominent member of the far-right Banderist movement, in front of a bust of Roman Shukhevych, who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jews, similar to the one that stands outside the Edmonton’s Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex.
+It’s no coincidence that Freeland used this particular day to depict her grandparents as unmitigated promoters of liberal values.
+“They were forever grateful to Canada for giving them refuge and they worked hard to bring freedom and democracy to Ukraine,” Freeland wrote. “I am proud to honour their memory today #BlackRibbonDay.”
+Her grandfather definitely wasn’t a victim of Nazism. One could infer from this tweet that her grandfather was a victim of totalitarianism, rather than a Nazi collaborator. By serving the Nazis, was he really bringing freedom and democracy to Ukraine? Ukrainian Jews might disagree.
+Matters of common interest
+Freeland knew otherwise. In 1996, she assisted her uncle, University of Alberta scholar John-Paul Himka, with research for a paper in the Journal of Ukrainian Studies on Krakivski Visti in the context of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.
+In the paper, Himka, who is Chomiak’s son-in-law and Freeland’s uncle, shows that the Krakivski Visti was established in Nazi-occupied Krakow in 1940, where many Ukrainian nationalists fled the previous year when the Soviet army invaded Lviv, the capital of Ukrainian Galicia. Many of these migrants feared the communists more than the fascists and, as a result, collaborated with Nazi-dominated institutions in Poland and Austria, including the media.
+Although Krakivski Visti did publish “many excellent articles on Ukrainian history and culture that are worth reading 50 years later,” it also published a series of anti-Semitic articles, particularly at the time of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which manufactured consent for Nazi war aims, Himka’s paper notes.
+The newspaper also glorified the 14th Waffen SS Division, a Nazi battalion composed of Ukrainian volunteers that is honoured at the aforementioned monuments in Oakville and Edmonton.
+Many members of the Ukrainian intelligentsia regarded collaboration with the Nazis as beneficial to their nationalist cause, Himka explained when interviewed by the Progress Report.. “A very important group of Ukrainian nationalists wanted a Ukraine for Ukrainians, so they wanted to remove, one way or another, all nationalist minorities.”
+This was by no means unique to Ukrainians. Croatians, as one example of many, also turned towards the Nazis out of a desire to create an ethnically-pure Croatian state that would be free from Serb dominance in Yugoslavia.
+Although most nationalist papers in Nazi-occupied Europe were run directly by the Germans, Krakivski Visti was Ukrainian-run, which Himka describes as an anomaly. As managing editor, Chomiak had a working relationship with his German associates, sharing an antipathy towards Bolsheviks and Jews.
+And the newspaper was printed on a press confiscated from a Jewish newspaper, which was provided by Emil Gassner, the man in charge of the Nazi’s press department who worked directly under Joseph Goebbels.
+Chomiak was photographed at a social gathering with Gassner and other Nazi officials, which Ukrainian-Canadian researcher Alex Boykowich unearthed in the Province of Alberta archives, alongside other documents revealing the extent of Chomiak's collaboration.
+Chrystia Freeland's grandfather Michael Chomiak at a party - he is to the right of the smoking man. In the right lower corner of the photo in uniform is Emil Gassner, the Nazi administrator in charge of the press for the region. Photo from the Provincial Archives of Alberta.
+“He wasn’t a huge anti-Semite but he was an anti-Semite,” Himka acknowledges, adding that this wasn’t extraordinary at that time and place, but part of a larger narrative.
+Immigration to Canada
+Prior to the First World War, Ukrainian immigrants, who were mostly illiterate peasants coming from the Hapsburg Empire in search of land, settled in the Prairies. The second wave in the interwar years were politically very leftist and many of the new immigrants joined the Canadian Communist Party. After the Second World War, the Canadian Ukrainian community lobbied the government to bring in Ukrainian refugees and migrants. Many of the new migrants had right-wing nationalist sympathies and between 1,200 to 2,000 of them were former members of the 14th Waffen SS Division according to Anders Per Rudling, a professor of eastern European history at the University of Lund in Sweden who has published several papers on the Ukrainian nationalist movement.
+This was was the Waffen SS Division that Chomiak’s paper had glorified. Those soldiers swore an oath to Hitler, were addressed personally by Heinrich Himmler and many of of those soldiers took part in the Huta Pieniacka Massacre, an atrocity recognized recognized by both the Polish Institute of National Remembrance and the Institute of History at the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.
+“In Canada, the question they"--they being Canadian immigration officials deciding whether or not to admit emigres--"asked was, ‘Are these people Communists?’ and a very good answer to that was ‘No,’” Rudling explains. “They were as anti-Communist as it gets.”
+Himka says since the third wave was part of the European intelligentsia, they took on a significant leadership role in the Ukrainian-Canadian community in Canada in the 1960s and ‘70s, as the descendants of the previous waves began moving to cities and becoming professionals, finding a “common language” with the more recent immigrants.
+“But they didn’t know much about Ukrainian history, so they just, more or less, absorbed what the post-World War Two immigrants were telling them,” he said.
+Chomiak was part of this wave, coming to Canada in 1948.
+“[Chomiak] kept a low profile,” says Rudling,who did his PhD at the University of Alberta. “All these people who came to Canada denied, of course, any collaboration with Nazis. They whitewashed their own past. He presented himself, as did Chrystia Freeland, as a victim of the Nazis.”
+In the years prior to his death in 1984, Chomiak edited a conservative Catholic paper in Edmonton, which Rudling emphasized wasn’t anti-Semitic, but “presented a very sanitized view of Ukrainian history.”
+He says the way the nationalist right, particularly supporters of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), gradually came to dominate Ukrainian-Canadian institutions, namely the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, is emblematic of the way other diaspora communities relate to the politics in their country of origin.
+“There’s a paradox there,” says Rudling. “The liberal democratic impulse translates into multiculturalism, which translates into something akin to multinationalism, which emphasizes the worst aspects of European civilization.”
+Mainstream conspiracy theories
+When Chomiak’s history came to mainstream attention in 2017 through stories in the Russian and Polish press, Freeland, and many in the mainstream press, dismissed this fact as an exercise in Russian disinformation intended to destabilize Canadian democracy, and four Russian diplomats who promoted the story were expelled from Canada.
+In other words, the story became the story, and then it was quickly forgotten.
+Freeland, whose office didn’t respond to request for comment, did issue a statement in the wake of the controversy reiterating her support for Himka’s research "on this difficult chapter in her late grandfather's past," which makes her position on the matter all the more ambiguous.
+But this was after her office denied Chomiak was a collaborator at all.
+"People should be questioning where this information comes from, and the motivations behind it," a Freeland spokesperson said.
+At Vice, Justin Ling said he was offered the story by Russian embassy contacts, but turned it down because he didn’t see the newsworthiness of Canada’s then-foreign minister knowingly whitewashing her grandfather’s history of Nazi collaboration. Instead, he wrote a generic story about Russian disinformation that repeated Freeland’s talking points.
+An op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen written by political geographer Lubomyr Luciuk headlined “Freeland has nothing to be ashamed of about her grandfather’s ‘Nazi’ ties” uses a 1987 commission report that concluded the numbers of Nazi war criminals in Canada are “grossly exaggerated” to make the logical leap that there’s no evidence of Chomiak’s collaboration with the Nazis.
+“Years ago, another journalist told me the paper’s editors had no affinity for Nazi aims but used their positions to sustain the Ukrainian resistance,” Luciuk claims.
+Terry Glavin at Macleans took a different track, suggesting that Freeland clearly knew her grandfather was a Nazi collaborator, having edited one of Himka’s papers on the subject, but that it’s no big deal and to discuss it is to do Moscow’s bidding.
+“It was a hoax, perpetrated on the Canadian public, in service of Vladimir Putin’s gangland regime in Moscow,” Glavin wrote in characteristically pompous prose.
+In her previous career as a columnist at the Edmonton Journal, Trudeau-appointed Senator Paula Simons wrote a piece questioning the extent of Chomiak’s Nazi collaboration.
+“Chomiak may have been naive. Or a coward. Or an amoral pragmatist, more interested in protecting himself and his family than in heroism,” she wrote. “Just labelling him a collaborator oversimplifies a horrifically complicated time. But it certainly suits Vladimir Putin and his allies now to insinuate that Freeland’s credibility is tainted by her grandfather’s past.”
+To Simons’ credit, she does say Freeland “might have been clearer about his complicated legacy — if only to deny the Russians the ammunition of such Kompromat."
+And most recently, a 2019 CBC News television report on political disinformation earned managing editor of news coverage Greg Reaume a reprimand from the CBC’s ombudsperson for calling Chomiak’s extensively documented history of Nazi collaboration “fake news.”
+Honourable exceptions are David Pugliese at the Ottawa Citizen, Canadaland's Jesse Brown, Robert Fife at the Globe and Mail and Colby Cosh at the National Post, who reported that Freeland knew about Chomiak’s history without equivocating that it was some sort of Russian conspiracy.
+Pugliese told CBC’s the Current, in a segment that mostly focused on the Russian angle, that the way Freeland’s office handled the story was cause for concern.
+"If they had just said, yeah, he was a Nazi collaborator, Miss Freeland has nothing to do with that, it probably would have ended right then and there," he said.
+While it may be true that the Russian government is digging up dirt on Freeland’s family history to demonize an outspoken critic of theirs, the history is undeniable—Chomiak was a prominent propagandist for the Nazis.
+Freeland could unequivocally acknowledge the dark side of her grandfather’s legacy, but it would be a major political risk that could halt her rapid ascent within the Canadian government, given the importance of the Ukrainian vote in certain ridings outside Winnipeg and Toronto that swing between the Liberals and Conservatives, says Rudling.
+Beyond electoral considerations, Freeland has a very close and supportive relationship with Canada’s organized Ukrainian community, which has supported her throughout her political career, as well as the Ukrainian government.
+“She’s been a superstar with every Ukrainian president and prime minister that she’s interacted with,” according to past Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) president Paul Grod, who is reportedly close friends with Freeland. “She walks on water – that’s the way she’s perceived.”
+Paul Grod, the former president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the current president of the Ukrainian World Congress, is pictured in the centre in the blue suit between Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland in the picture on the left. He is pictured behind and to the left of Justin Trudeau in the picture on the right.
+As president of the UCC, Grod requested the Canadian government officially recognize members of the OUN and soldiers in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (the military wing of the OUN that Roman Shukhevych commanded) as anti-Nazi resistance fighters. This request was made despite the fact that independent scholarship shows that these military units collaborated with the Nazis and were responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jews and tens of thousands of Poles in multiple atrocities. Recognizing them as resistance fighters would have provided surviving members with access to publicly-funded veterans’ pension funds. The request was not granted.
+The call and response slogan Slava Ukraini! Heroiam slava! Or “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!” was originally created by fascists and became the official slogan of the OUN in 1941. Here Freeland leads a room of peoples in this slogan from a 2016 speech given to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Regina.
+“I will never answer [that slogan]. I’ve seen so many terrible things signed with that but I study the Holocaust,” says Himka. According to Himka the phrase also became repopularized during the Euromaidan protests.
+The sins of Freeland’s grandfather aren’t the issue here, but a web of associations that informs her refusal to acknowledge the dark side of Chomiak’s and the Ukrainian nationalist movement’s history. She has the agency to use her position of leadership and respect to shine a light on how war criminality is a huge collective blind spot in the memory of the Ukrainian diaspora, as her uncle has written. But she won’t.
+The excuse Freeland’s spokesperson used to dismiss the facts about her grandfather mirror those used by the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex in Edmonton when asked about the statue of the Nazi collaborator war criminal they have outside of their building: it’s all a Russian plot, according to both of them.
+This historical revisionism also has geopolitical consequences with the resurgence of the European far right and re-emergence of Cold War tensions. In her previous role as foreign affairs minister, Freeland pursued a very hawkish position on Russia in response to its conflict with Ukraine, ratcheting up the sanctions her Conservative predecessors imposed, which have done nothing to change the situation on the ground in Crimea. Her hardline position on Russia is virtually identical to that of former Conservative foreign affairs minister John Baird.
+This ideological anti-Russia stance informs Freeland’s refusal to acknowledge that her grandfather was a Nazi propaganidst, but more importantly in the grand scheme of things, it greatly increases the risks of a major global military confrontation in the present.
+Verizon Wireless has launched the Motorola V325, an entry-level handset that's similar to the V265 that Verizon already carried. Even though the handsets are very similar, the V265 doesn't appear to be discontinued.
+Features fo the V325 include:
+The Motorola V325 is available now and costs $79.99 after contract.
+i have this phone and i luv it! it works very well for me and is very reliable! it also has tons of awsome features like txt messaging and a built in camera which come in handy often!
+OMG THIS PHONE ROXXX!!!
+Eat my sausages. They're good for you!
+Yeah, I have had it for like 3 days... Its prettysweet
+Very nice phone, although I would like to find a way to download pictures off of it using a usb cable.
+when is it availible in stores
+?
+Just got this phone. For me it is a nice size and fits great in my hand. It has great features and am learning more about the different features each time I use it. I especially like that you can send text messages and change the fonts, colors, and add graphics. Very nice Motorola!
+Love the phone and the screen. Verizon does some special enhancements. Really disapointed that I can't use the motorola software to sync the calendar and contacts. What a F'n Rip
+I just got this phone today. It's alright. Someone up above said that you can change the font colors ? How ? I only have 4 "display themes" on my phone and the colors are all ugly. And I have yet to find a way to change the color of the font. PLEASE let me know if you know how I can get more colors on this thing ! Thanks, love ya.
+Someone above said you can't sync the calendar on this phone to Outlook. Anyone know of a way to do it?
+Anyone know if you can modify anything via the USB port? I just got this phone and have not had a chance to monkey with it.
+This phone is nice, but it sucks at the same time cause you have to HACK the phone before it lets you use Mobile Phone Tools to transfer pics or ringtones. You can use Mobile Phone Tools to do you calendar and stuff, but not for ringtones. How annoying is THAT ? You gotta hack into it and I'm thinking of trying it, but I'm a little unsure.
+My phone died after trying to sync to outlook. Never came back from "searching for network" screen. Is anyone having any luck syncing with outlook?
+My Motorola V325 did the same (never came back from "searching for network". I only had it for a week. It was OK for a while syncing with both DataPilot (phonebook only) and/or Motorola Phone Tools (Phonebook and Calendar). I returned it to the Verizon store and got a replacement.
+I see on several sites that there are many different USB cables and the makers of some of the software say they should only be used with "their" cables. Are the differences only in the phone attachment tip, or are their real differences in Pin arrangements for a cable form one phone to another? Could this be the cause of the problem of the failures?
+Also, with MPT, I had problems with calendar clock times. It was subtracting 5 hours from each clock setting when syncing. When I reset Outlook to GMT, then it was OK, I saw nowhere that this should be necessary.
+Finally, why could MPT support calendar syncing when Data Pilot indicated that the feature was not available and wouldn't work. (I tried it anyway, and it really didn't work.)
+Steve
+You SHOULD be able to sync your Outlook Address book with the MPT software. I have been using it for the past 2 months with no problem. You may want to see if you have the latest version of the software.
+As for the ringtones, you CAN transfer them to the phone. Go to:
+You can transfer any .wav or .mid file using this site. You just have to make sure that the length of the .wav file is less than 60 seconds.
+Hope the info helps.
+i just purchased this phone at a local verizon store. i cannot get the ring lights to work and according to motorola, verizon did not purchase this feature on the phone. i sent emails to everyone in the world, verizon, motorola, verizon HQ,..etc.
+does anyone know about this problem?
+Cherry,
+The ring lights do work, it took me a little while to get them to work. Under "Menu" goto "Settings & Tools", under there you will goto "Sound Settings". There you will see "Ring Lights" and also "Event Lights", I turned both of mine on.
+very nice phone, check here for more pics
+although the 0.3 megapixel digital camera is dissapointing... motorola could've done better
+just wanted to know if this phone is the right one for me...i really need a new phone the one i have now is a peice of junk...ts the vx5200...i dont recemend his phone for anybody unless they want promblems...and also does anybody know if you can record things and then set them as ringtones on the motorola v325? if and when you find out e-mail me or repost on this sight...thanks erin
+Munge my sausages!
+My stepmom just got this phone. it is awsome. im going to get it too. i was supposed to get it last week but i will get it this week. thats cool and for anybody that does not know you can record and set things as ringtones. that is awsome. i really like this phone.
+I have this phone for about a month. Overall I like this phone, but it not Bluetooth capatible. The GPS is great. The voice command have not work consistently for me. The picture and messaing have worked quite well for me. I am encountering some issues due to a lack of accessories for this phone. Overall I am satisfied with this phone.
+Hi, I just bought this phone to replace my samsung sch-670. The motorola sound quality is good, better than the samsung, my issue with the motorola is that when i text message the text on the screen is tiny. on my samsung it was huge. Is there anyway to increase the size of the font? I hate to squint, to see the words i am typing.
+Please help.
+i was just wondering if its possible for you to change the colors of the light on the front of the phone other than just blue. has anyone figured this out or know if its possible?
+Does anyone know how to get the incoming call to vibrate and ring at the same time? its been driving me crazy!
+HAM IS GOOD TO EAT!
+i just got this phone a few days ago. it works great but could someone tell me where i can get software to connect the phone to my computer? ive tried a few differnt things and i already have a usb cable.
+other than that this is a great phone and i enjoy it.
+motorola phone tools is the right software.
+it only works for contacts and calendar (no pics, no sounds) but works. You also need a driver to work with that software.
+I just got the Motorola V325 from Verizon and was also wondering how to get ring lights and ring and vibrate. The book says it can do both and I can't get either.
+I just got this phone for my mom and we can't get the ring light on - when I got to "Menu" then "Settings & Tools", under there go to "Sound Settings". There you will see "Ring Lights" and also "Event Lights" - I can turn on the Event Lights, but ring lights has no option - it just says "none"
+Can anyone help?
+The ring lights problem has apparently been linked to keeping the display setting on default. I had the same problem and found some random guy who said that you just need to change it off of default and turn the phone off then back on. Worked for me. (Menu-->Settings & Themes-->Display-->Display Themes)
+Thanks for the info, James. I just got this phone and had the same problem.
+How do I get this phone to ring and vibrate the same time? PLEASE !! HELP !!!!
+okay, the phone does NOT vibrate and ring at the same time. it sucks, but... take your pick.
+Is there anyway to download pictures via the USB cable? The manual says pg 56 but there is nothing listed about downloading pictures.
+Is there anyway to download pictures via the USB cable? The manual says pg 56 but there is nothing listed about downloading pictures.
+anyone have this phone (V325) lock up and not restart until you remove and replace the battery?
+rpm, yes... i have had same problem. did you get an answer from anyone? i have not asked and hoped it was a one time thing, but it has not been one time. also mine locked up because i tried to put a daily reminder on calendar and i think i killed it with too much to remember or something... the verdict is still out on that. i keep taking battery out and putting back in whenever it won't call out (locks up)...
+I left my charger at the Hotel. Can I charge it from the USB Cable?
+As for the ring lights, if your battery is kind of low, they won't come on (an effort to save the little battery left). If it doesn't work, send it back, it's deffective.
+i've been reading around and all of these problems are pretty common. its because verizon puts its own software over the motorola's. verizon also blocked features that are listed in the booklet.
+this phone sucks.....it locks up on a daily basis....it's the 3rd replacement of the same model....other than that, everything is fine.
+So what's the deal with Mobile Phone Tools and the calendar sync? Some wrote that it works, others wrote that it did not. I have the software, and I can sync the phone contacts but not the calendar. Anyone else have this problem?
+I am on my third V325 phone. The phone freezes and the battery has to be removed to get it to work for another two days. The last time I was at Verison getting the phone replaced I asked the Manager how many times do I have to go through this before they will do something about it. The Manager told me after the third phone I would be able to get a differnet model phone. I am bringing the phone back this week to see if they stand behind what they say.
+I just got off the phone with Motorola support after calling to find out why Motorola Phone Tools would not sychronize my calendar with Outlook. The Moto guy said that Verizon disables the ability to synch the calendar and also disables the ability to download pictures via USB. I'm guessing that Verizon does this so that you are forced to pay for their crappy "GET IT NOW" services. Verizon sucks and I hate them but they are the only carrier that works in my area.
+I'm trying to find a site to glean hacking tools to get into my v325 to download pics, anyone know anything about this stuff? Thanxs Tim
+Another Verizon "control through restriction" phone. Features locked out, difficulty with using data cable to upload or download.
+No antenna jack or compatiable car mounting cup to use with MOTOROLA car kit.
+Verizon sucks!
+Has anyone been able to override the restrictions to download photos from the phone through the USB? Hope someone can direct us to some instructions.
+Nice phone, but how do I download my pictures?!
+dear nextell im writeing you this lettertoyoubecauseim wath for you email me back asyoucan and how much it is for anew cell phon for me and for my friadswaye he wath eagels i want nascar on my cellphon ps i needto go now by chriskerzmann
+Looking for WPEngine Alternatives in 2020?
+Whenever it comes to WordPress hosting, WP Engine is one of the most common names that we get to hear.
+They are one of the best companies out there and there is no doubt in that. Moreover, they offer quite a lot of great plans that satisfy most of your needs.
+However, one thing with the wp engine is that the plans are a bit costly. Hence, there is a number of users who avoid them. So in case if you are wondering what are some of the wpengine alternatives are available in the market then you better stick with this page.
+As I am going to talk about top wpengine alternatives that you can use to host your WordPress website. So let’s just head into the topic without wasting much of the time:
+What You Will Learn
+Top WPEngine Alternatives of 2020
+SiteGround: Cheaper Alternative to WPEngine
+SiteGround is one of the best and cheapest wpengine alternatives that you can try out. Moreover, Siteground itself has a great reputation in the market and the best part of them is that they have an affordable price tag. So it will go easy on your pocket.
+What I like the best about Siteground is that they do not just offer you wp hosting like WP Engine. Even apart from that, you will find different types of hosting plan on the website. Like on Siteground, you will find Shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, cloud hosting and so on.
+In addition to that, the company offers you 99.9% uptime. As you already know how important uptime is. Hence, you will never face downtime with your website. What’s more? You get great customer support. The customer support is extremely great and helps you with all kind of issues.
+The overall user experience of the website is pretty great too and it is super easy to set up a website with them. Even for some plans, they offer you free migration. So in case if you are moving from another hosting to Siteground. It will be helpful.
+WPX Hosting: Leading in Best Managed WordPress Hosting
+You can also check out the plans of WPX Hosting. It is also one of the top wpengine alternatives, and they are known for offering the best in the business performance in the market. Although, the company does not provide any other hosting plan apart from WordPress Hosting.
+But as long as the WordPress hosting plans pricing is concerned. They are quite cheaper compared to WP Engine and other options in the market. The lowest plan starts at $24.99 per month. Along with that, you get a lot of other exciting features.
+Such as with each of the plans you will be getting Full backup manager, Free SSL, Unlimited email accounts and so on. Also, they do not charge any extra amount for renewal.
+In addition to that, you will be getting High-speed, custom CDN, Unlimited Site Migrations, 24/7 Fast-response Support and so on. Plus, getting started with WPX Hosting is as easy as you can imagine. Also, the user experience is pretty amazing too.
+DreamHost
+DreamHost is also one of the top web hosting companies out there. The company is quite popular around the web builders and has users around the globe. The best part of DreamHost is that they are super easy to use. They have a custom control panel which is simple to use and removed all the unnecessary elements. So you can have a great experience while hosting your website.
+They also offer you a full-featured experience. Their tool suite includes everything that you will need to create your website. Along with that, they are super fast and reliable. They will offer you a great performance so, your website is not getting down or slow. What’s more? You will be getting 24/7 Expert Support. So no matter when you need their help, they will back you up with their services.
+DreamHost also offers a different kind of hostings. Such as you can purchase Shared Hosting, WordPress Hosting, VPS, Cloud hosting and so on and their plans start for as low as $2.59/mo. In addition to that, you will be getting SSD Storage and a Free SSL.
+FlyWheel
+The FlyWheel is also one of the best WordPress hosting company that you can try out. The best part that I like about this company is that they have very affordable pricing. The lowest plan starts at just $23 per month. Also, they have two other plans. Talking about the lowest plan, it can support 25000 visits. Along with that, it comes with 5GB of storage and 50GB of bandwidth.
+Moreover, all the hosting plans are PHP 7.2 ready. Along with that, you get features like FlyCache, CDN (powered by Fastly), Simple SSL certificates, Globalization, and Auto-healing technology.
+What’s more? FlyWheel will move your WordPress website to their hosting free of cost. So if you are using an existing hosting. Then you will not have to worry about moving your website to FlyWheel at all. Instead, simply raise a ticket and they will serve you at your needs.
+As long as customer support is concerned, well I have to mention that they have one of the best customer support. The support team easily understands your problems and helps you with the necessary solution.
+Pressable
+If you are an advanced user, who is looking ahead to fulfill their requirements for cheap. Then you can try out the Pressable. Pressable is definitely a great solution for advanced users. They offer three managed WordPress hosting plans which are the Pro, Starter and Advanced 3 and the basic plan starts for $45.00 per month or you can purchase a plan on a yearly basis for $450.00. Along with that, you will be getting 2 months of free hosting.
+Talking about the basic plan, well the basic plan can handle up to 200,000 Pageviews. Along with that, you will be able to install 10 WordPress sites on a single hosting.
+Moreover, you get support for 24/7 ticket and chat support. So in case, if you need customer support’s help. You are free to text them whenever you want, and they will solve your needs as soon as possible.
+As I told you that, they are for the advanced users. So if you are looking ahead to host one or multiple websites. Then the starter plan will definitely be a suitable plan for you.
+MediaTemplate
+MediaTemplate is also one of the top wpengine alternatives that you can check out. This one is so far the cheapest hosting plan that you find on the list. The basic plan of MediaTemplate starts at $20 per month and there are total 3 plans exists which are the Personal, Pro and Elite. Also, the offerings of this company are a super amazing tool.
+With the free plan, you will be getting get the option to host 100 sites. Along with that, you will be getting 100 databases. Plus, you will get 20GB of SSD storage and 1TB scalable bandwidth.
+The company does not only offers you managed WordPress hosting. But along with that, it also offers you Shared Hosting, VPS hosting, Cloud hosting and so on and across all the plans you will get to see an affordable price tag which will go easy on your pocket. The overall user experience of the website is pretty easy too.
+It is extremely easy to get started. As well as you get to see quite a lot of features which will help you to run your website smoothly.
+GreenGeeks
+Next, you can check out the GreenGeeks. GreenGeeks is also one of the top wpengine alternatives out there. The best part of this web hosting is that it does not only offers you managed WordPress web hosting. But along with that, you will also get to see some of the other hosting plans like shared hosting, VPS and so on.
+The pricing of the web hosting plans is super cheap too. The basic plan starts at $2.95 per month. What’s more? Along with the plan, you will get unlimited bandwidth, disk space, E-mail Accounts. In addition to that, you will also get a free domain with the hosting plans.
+Talking about some of the other features, with the hosting plan you will get a 1 click WordPress installer. So you will not have to go through a complicated process. Also, it will offer you auto updates and daily backups.
+To ensure your website’s safety, web hosting is backed by custom security rules and zero-day vulnerability fixes. In addition to that, you will get 24/7 customer support.
+InMotion Hosting
+InMotion Hosting is also one of the most popular wpengine alternatives that you can check out. The company offers quite a lot of web hosting plans such as WordPress web hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Servers and so on. Also, the nicest part is that all these plans have an affordable price tag.
+Talking about the basic plan, it costs as low as $7.26 per month and comes with a free domain when billed for a year. Moreover, the basic plan also capable of supporting 20000 visitors a month and comes with 40GB of storage. Plus, you get unlimited email accounts.
+What’s more? They offer you 90 days money back guarantee. So in case if you do not like their service after using them. You can go ahead and ask them for a refund.
+Also, the overall user experience of InMotion Hosting is pretty great too. Hosting a website with them is super easy. Plus, there are quite a lot of features are there which will make your job a lot easier.
+iPage
+In the end, I have the iPage. This one is a perfect option for those ones who are starting with a WordPress website. The web hosting plan of iPage is super cheap, and it costs $1.99 per month, and you will need to pay for a year. Also with the plan, you will get FREE domain registration, FREE email address, FREE 24/7 support, and FREE SSL Certificate.
+What’s more? You will also get a free drag and drop site builder along with 1,000s of free templates. In addition to that, you will get a 30-day money back guarantee. So in case, if you don’t like their services, you are free to ask for a refund.
+However, there are no additional plans. Instead, it only has one plan. So as a pro user it might not be the best option for you to go with.
+Final Words:
+So those were the top wpengine alternatives that are available out there. Now it’s your call to go ahead and check these options out and see which one of these working the best for you. Also, for any questions do feel free to comment below and I will surely help you out.
+3 thoughts on “Best WPEngine Alternatives 2020: Top 9 Recommendations”
+Hi Aakash!
+This is a great list of alternatives. I’ve used WPEngine quite a bit in the past and had a wonderful experience but I agree that it’s quite costly, especially for somebody starting out.
+Right now I’m renting a dedicated server from Hostgator but have had a number of issues. I’ve heard great things about Siteground from multiple people and may just have to look into them as I intend to migrate from Hostgator soon. Thanks so much!
+– James McAllister
+Hi Aakash,
+There are several Webhosting providers in the market; however, your list contains some hosting companies that looks new to me. New in the sense that I never heard of them. Nonetheless, Siteground is fantastic and I have been using their services since I started blogging. ipage is also a phenomenal provider. I must say your list of WPEngine alternatives looks exciting.
+Thanks for recommending WPX Hosting, Aakash!
+Lets us know whenever you need assistance.
+All the best,
+WPX Team
+When it comes to choosing Columbia vs North Face, it's a tough choice. Both brands are known for making some of the best outdoor gear, so read up on the product comparisons below to find the right jacket or fleece.
+One jacket for the whole year just won't do. Any buying a jacket for any season can be difficult with so many brands to choose from.
+You need a different jacket for every time of year and every type of weather, or you'll be too cold, too warm, or soaked to the skin.
+Thankfully, both The North Face and Columbia have models to suit every possible need. To find out which brand is best, check out Columbia vs North Face jacket comparison below.
+Columbia vs North Face[toc]
+Product Comparisons
+Whether you need an insulated jacket, a rain jacket, a windbreaker, a 3-in-1, or a warm fleece jacket, both The North Face and Columbia make great models at decent prices.
+But which is the best model in each category? Check out our reviews below to find out.
+Lightweight Insulated Jacket
+An insulated jacket is great for those cooler days when you need a bit of warmth without sacrificing your mobility on the trail or the slopes.
+They are lightweight and usually packable, thanks to their unique compressible insulation.
+When you compare Columbia vs North Face brands, you'll notice each one has a few insulated jackets to choose from, but the two models below are the best each one has to offer.
+The North Face Thermoball Jacket
+The North Face Thermoball Jacket is a lightweight insulated jacket, with a durable nylon ripstop shell and their unique PrimaLoft ThermoBall synthetic insulation.
+Together, they trap the heat in, while locking out the cold. There is also a DWR coating to keep you dry in damp weather.
+Other handy features of the men's Thermoball jacket are the high collar, the durable YKK Vislon center front zipper, elastic cuffs, and a hem cinch-cord.
+There are 2 hand pockets, one of which doubles as a stuff sack for easy packing. There is also a media compatible chest pocket on the inside.
+The North Face Women's Thermoball Jacket has all the same features, but with a more flattering design and fit.
+Columbia Omni Heat Jacket
+If you want the best insulated jacket by Columbia, the Crested Butte Omni-Heat Hooded Jacket is a great choice.
+The shell is nylon ripstop, with their Omni-Heat thermal insulation in the middle, and Omni Heat Reflective Microtex Light lining on the inside.
+Columbia's Omni-Heat technology reflects your body heat back to you while the shell blocks out the cold, giving you a warm, yet lightweight, jacket for even the coldest temperatures.
+Other handy features include water-resistance, zippered hand pockets, an internal chest pocket, and an adjustable hem to lock out the cold that could seep in through a wider opening.
+There is no women's version of this coat, but a similar model is the Columbia Women's Mighty Lite III Jacket.
+Or, if you prefer a hood, the Columbia Women's Mighty Lite Hooded Jacket is a great option with similar features as the Columbia Crested Butte Omni-Heat Hooded Jacket.
+The Main Differences?
+When you compare the above Columbia vs North Face winter jackets, you'll see a lot of similarities, but a few differences as well.
+The Columbia model is hooded, which the Thermoball lacks. The Crested Butte jacket also uses the Omni-Heat Reflective technology, which keeps you warmer on colder days. But the Thermoball is more packable, with a pocket/stuff sack to create a smaller package to carry with you.
+Lightweight Rain Jacket
+When the weather turns wet, you need a decent jacket that will keep you from getting soaked. Lightweight rain jackets like the North Face or Columbia jackets are great options for even the heaviest rains.
+There are a dozen rain jackets to choose from with either of these companies, all with features that make them a great choice for a variety of uses.
+But for those who need a casual jacket, or one they can use for a damp hike, The North Face Venture 2 and the Columbia Watertight II jackets are both great choices.
+The North Face Venture 2 Jacket
+The North Face Venture 2 men's jacket comes in 7 sizes and 11 colors. It is made using waterproof, seam-sealed Dryvent nylon ripstop, which keeps you dry and protects you from the wind.
+This material is also breathable, but also comes with pit-zip vents in case you get a bit warm.
+The hood, hem, and cuffs are all adjustable for the perfect fit in every area. A Velcro storm flap protects the zipper, reducing leaks, as do the fully sealed seams.
+There are 2 covered hand pockets with secure zips. You can use one of the pockets as a stuff sack as well if needed.
+The North Face Women's Venture 2 Jacket is also available, giving the ladies the same protection and features as the men's model.
+Columbia Watertight II Jacket
+The best Columbia rain jacket will keep you dry on the inside and the outside.
+The Columbia Watertight II Jacket meets these needs, with its Omni-Tech protection that is waterproof and fully seam sealed, but still breathable to keep you from overheating underneath the nylon shell.
+For added convenience, the hem and hood are both adjustable. There is an abrasion-resistant chin guard to prevent pinching and a drop tail at the back for an extra bit of protection from the cold and damp weather.
+This rain jacket also packs into one of the hand pockets, making it a contender for the best travel rain jacket around.
+Though there isn't a women's version of the Watertight II Rain Jacket, the Women's Arcadia II Rain Jacket is a great option. It also uses the Omni-Tech technology and has many of the same features as the men's Watertight II.
+The Main Differences?
+There are a few obvious difference when comparing Columbia vs North Face rain jackets.
+The Venture 2 has adjustable cuffs and the pit-zip vents, which the Columbia model lacks. It also comes in a few more colors and sizes.
+But the Watertight II has the chin guard and the drop tail for extra protection.
+Windbreaker
+Windbreakers are breathable, while still blocking out those winds that could chill you when you're outside on a breezy day.
+They are also some of the most versatile and portable jackets around, making them great choices for spring, summer, and fall.
+The North Face has a number of windbreakers available, but despite the quality of their other jackets, their Apex Bionic 2 is their top rated model.
+Columbia also has a few different windbreakers to choose from, depending on the extra features you need and the style you're looking for.
+Their Flashback is one of the best models, with Collegiate Flashback options available for those who want to show their school pride.
+The North Face Apex Bionic 2 Jacket
+The best outdoor gear gives you great protection without sacrificing comfort. The North Face Apex Bionic 2 Jacket is a midweight, soft-shell jacket with a relaxed fit to give you freedom of movement during your favorite activities.
+It is made of polyester, with a bit of elastane thrown in for some stretch, increasing your mobility. Inside is a fleece backer, which adds some warmth on those chilly days. As well as blocking the wind, the Apex Bionic 2 also has a DWR coating for a bit of weather protection, though it won't keep you dry in a downpour.
+There is a cinch-cord on the hem to block out the wind from the bottom. There are also 2 zippered hand pockets and a zippered chest pocket. For a bit of style, the Apex Bionic 2 has raised logos on the chest.
+This windbreaker comes in 7 sizes, with 5 colors to choose from. For the ladies, The North Face Women's Apex Bionic 2 jacket similar features, except it has an active fit and curved cuffs with an inner stretch cuff for a bit of extra comfort and warmth.
+Columbia Flashback Windbreaker
+Columbia has some of the best value outdoor gear around, and the Flashback windbreaker is no exception. But the great low price doesn't mean its cheaply made.
+The Flashback uses polyester for the shell and mesh lining. This fabric is water-resistant as well as windproof to keep you a bit more protected from the elements.
+It also has elastic cuffs and a drawcord around the hem to block out even more of the wind and cold.
+The lightweight design also makes one of the best packable windbreaker models around, though it doesn't have a stuff sack or fit into its own pocket.
+The Flashback hooded windbreaker also has hand pockets to keep your fingers toasty warm. Columbia's Flashback comes in 5 sizes and 6 colors.
+There is also a Columbia Women's Flashback Windbreaker available, with identical features as the men's model, minus the hood.
+The Main Differences?
+There are a few differences when comparing Columbia vs North Face windbreakers.
+The Apex Bionic 2 has a bit more weight to it, making it less transportable than the Flashback. But it has a few extra sizes, so can accommodate more people.
+The Flashback comes with a hood for extra protection, though it lacks the extra chest pocket and the DWR finish found on The North Face jacket.
+3-in-1 Jacket
+A 3-in-1 jacket uses two jacket layers that you can wear zipped together, or split apart and worn separately.
+They give you a heavy layer for those chilly days, plus lighter layers for when the weather warms up.
+Both The North Face and Columbia have a few different options to choose from, but the two models below are high-quality and worth a look.
+The North Face Carto Triclimate Jacket
+The Carto Triclimate jacket uses DryVent technology in the shell, which combines waterproofing and breathability by using a multi-layer PU coating. This also helps increase the shells durability for a longer lasting jacket.