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The Artist
"The artist Gustave Courbet once said, "the beautiful is in nature and it is encountered under most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found, it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers it." I have always been enraptured by the natural world and strive to recreate what moves and excites me with my art. I have always been captivated by animals and the many " diverse forms of reality" nature holds. As a kid, I was always drawing something, be it the maple tree in the backyard, our dog or someone in my family...I was ALWAYS drawing. Animals are the subject that make up the major body of my work. The initial fascination animals held for me as a child still holds true for me today. It's the wonderful aspects their daily lives in their
Portrait of artist | Member of Artists for Conservation
Being an artist is who I's not what I DO.
Recent Artwork | <urn:uuid:8a00e0a2-b643-4a08-95cd-ae4459e4d5f9> | https://gallery.artistsforconservation.org/artists/5235 | en | 0.975445 | 0.12603 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The pu decorative meterials can meet your multiple needs for a house, such as beauty, personality and cleanliness. What’s more, we can make a beautiful renovation of an old house that we have lived in for years with a limited budget, or customize a children’s room for our children.Why can PU adornment building materials achieve this? Let’s go into more detail as follows.
1.The function of waterproof
The pu decorative meterials has good water-proofing capacity. It can slide down, air dry naturally and leave no water stains on the surface of building materials. Moreover, it doesn’t grow mildew, which can be safely applied to bathrooms or pools with high humidity.
pu decorative meterials
2.The function of antifouling
The pu decorative meterials have smooth surface and it is not easy to obsorb dust. What’s more, It produces no dust during use. Therefore, they can be restored to its original appearance as long as with a wet rag even if the sauce, milk and other things was pouring on it.
pu decorative meterials
3.The function of simulation
The pu decorative meterials is an organic polymer compound, which can be easily painted its surface to meet the needs of designers and owners for various styles and colors. These needs include pure white, washed white, imitation stone, imitation jade, imitation wood, imitation bronze, etc. In addition, the pu decorative meterials can be painted on the surface with gold drawing, gold and silver foil for some special design requirements.
pu decorative meterials
4.Modular production design
Goodware started to adopt the concept of modular design 15 years ago in Taiwan. It now has more than 3,000 sets molds. Therefore, Stylists and owners can match them at will to create beautiful shapes or patterns, which fully satisfy the demand of each kind of scene and style. Finally, the householders can enjoy the free creativity on the space adequately. If you don’t have the assistance of the designer, you can directly choose several modules from the thousand pre-designed modules of Goodware, which can be used to save money and energy.
pu decorative meterials
5.Perfect appearance on the wall
The pu decorative meterials is good for wall appearance. After installation, the pu decorative meterials and walls look like a entirety that doesn’t have any feeling of inconsistency because of the planable and abrasive feature.
pu decorative meterials
Is that beautiful when you decorate your house with pu decorative meterials? It’s time for you to take action. Clicking here will give you more information. | <urn:uuid:852c6a56-5661-4fbd-a9e3-b5f36c43e629> | https://goodwarehk.com/pu-decorative-meterials.html | en | 0.855164 | 0.018487 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Story of the Notebook
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As I sit here drinking my rooibos tea my eyes stray to the objects that are around me; my phone, my laptop, my notebook, a banana skin and my mug. As I look at them I begin to wonder what it all cost. Therefore I asked some questions that sprang to mind in considering the human cost of my notebook. Some of my questions have hyperlinks embedded in them which will direct you to a short story behind the question, each linking to modern day slavery. These are stories that I have created through a mixture of research, stories I have heard and my own imagination. If you would like to read more into the stories that I have been exploring they can be found in the research and background reading at the bottom of this blog.
Where did the paper in my notebook come from?
Photo Credit:
What type of tree was chopped down?
Who chopped the tree down?
Were they fairly paid?
What cow died so that I could have a leather notebook?
Who killed the cow?
Were they fairly paid?
What is the binding made out of?
Who designed it?
Were they fairly paid?
Who made it?
Or did a machine make it?
Who designed the machine?
Were they fairly paid?
Who made the machine?
Were they fairly paid?
Who packed the notebook in a box to be sent away?
Were they fairly paid?
Was the book shipped from far away?
Who shipped the notebook?
Were they fairly paid?
Who drove the van that picked the package up?
Were they fairly paid?
How many miles did the van drive?
Who handled it in the shop?
Who placed it on the shelf?
Were they fairly paid?
What is fairly paid?
Who sold it to me?
Even such a simple object as a notebook opens up a cascade of questions that digs into a complex supply chain. All of which leads to the conclusion that for a notebook that cost me a total of £10 someone must be missing out somewhere. The notebook company’s website tells me that every endeavor has been taken to ensure that they and their suppliers are ensuring the wellbeing and sustainability of both human rights and the environment. How can you be sure though? With over 40 million people in slavery in the world today [1] many companies are clearly not looking into their supply chains with enough scrutiny. The story might end over here in Oxford with a notebook but it could well begin with the destruction of our planet or even the enslaving of a child. The story told in my notebook is one of stickmen, notes on lectures, some of my own reflections on life and an unfinished plan for a workshop. The story untold in my notebook is the story of the blood and sweat of human beings and of a planet so consumed by ‘stuff’ that it is gasping for air. Which story is more important? Which one needs to be told?
Written by Jonathan Steinegger, Justice in Motion intern
[1] IJM accessed 28.11.2018
Background Reading and Research | <urn:uuid:a9cfde79-3f37-4a5a-a808-794cbb4b5a8c> | https://justiceinmotion.co.uk/supply-chain-the-story-of-the-notebook/ | en | 0.965091 | 0.116312 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
5 parts of paragraph essay
Outline for a Five-Paragraph Essay. Paragraph 1: ... Paragraph 5: Conclusion. Think of the ... The introductory paragraph should include the following elements:.
The Paragraph In The College Essay. When transitioning from the five paragraph essay to the college essay, breaking out of its “intro, body paragraph 1, body
Class: Language Arts/8-5 Material: Parts of a 5 Paragraph Essay Teacher: Mrs. Gaddi Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free.
May 10, 2012 -
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Maecenas aliquet accumsan
Or visit this link or this one | <urn:uuid:f76b39f2-d85c-45df-a20c-7118a75c60bb> | https://kredithi6l.webgarden.cz/rubriky/5-parts-of-paragraph-essay | en | 0.799669 | 0.037008 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Starry Night
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890)
Dimensions: 73.7 cm × 92.1 cm
Location: Currently displayed in Museum of Modern Arts, New York
Subject: The view from the asylum window of the artist.
Period: Post-Impressionist
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Very few times in the history of art, a painting or a piece of art surpasses the fame of the artists themselves. This enigmatic painting by the Post-Impressionist Maestro Vincent Van Gogh has had that impact on the art lovers. Ironically enough, In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh had expressed his feelings calling this painting to be a failure, before this particular piece he had painted 21 preceeding versions of it.On 23rd December 1988, Van Gogh had a mental breakdown and he self mutilated himself by cutting off his left ear. As a result of that act, he voluntarily took admission to the Saint-Paul-De-Mausole Lunatic Asylum, France in May 1989. During his stay at the asylum he painted some of his most renowned pieces of art, The Starry Night being one of them.
It is said that the painting was an inspiration and impression, from the view through his Asylum window. Van Gogh never drew the iron bars of the window in the painting, giving it a more mystical feel than realistic. The moon dominates the right side of the painting with a star filled night sky with the morning star, Venus on the left side of the painting. Three quarters of the painting is of the sky.There are deep and powerful swirling patterns, created through short brush stoke, that seem to glide across the surface in wave like formations, some observe the patterns to be tumultuous in nature. The morning star is encircled by concentric glowing white and yellow light. There’s an enriching and luminous quality given to the night sky, through the choice of colours. Underneath the night sky is a village surrounding a church, with undulating blue black mountains in the background. A tree, which is identified as a cypress tree dominates the foreground, shaped like flames going upwards, almost forming a visual link of the ground and the sky. Symbolically, the cypress tree is considered as a connection between life on earth and death as represented in the sky, referring to it as a pathway to heaven. There is an organized chaos in the sky which complements the tranquility in the hamlet drawn on the ground. In later studies, scholars found the astronomical observations of Van Gogh to be pretty accurate for that time of the year, as depicted in the painting.
As with any famous piece of art, this painting has also been commercialized to such an extent, that to an art lover it might feel it takes away the very essence of the artist’s mental and emotional state while he created this, which was extremely turbulent, private and internalized.It is currently displayed at the Museum of Modern Arts in New York and art lovers across the world visit the gallery to witness the sheer brilliance and creativity of the artist, who was tragically embraced by fame only posthumously.
Words: Rhiti Chatterjee Bose
Disclaimer: Please note that the information used here has been researched from the internet and the writer is aware that there is more information which has been left out due to the restrictions regarding the length of the article.
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Are Cows Happy Being Milked?
Most of us have pictures of happy cows being milked in our heads.
This probably came from cartoons and misleading ads while growing up.
But reality is quite a bit different.
Dairy farming is a business, and cows are treated as objects to get milk (yes I’m sure you could find 0.1% of farms that treat their animals really well).
It’s sad that we treat animals as intelligent as cows as products like this.
Here, let’s focus specifically on how much a cow likes or dislikes being milked.
What Modern Cow Milking Really Looks Like
The first misconception that most have is that most milking is done by hand.
The vast majority of dairy cows live on factory farms (we’re talking in the high 90%s). Milking here is mostly automated on modern farms.
One common tool for large scale milking is the rotolactor:
Do Cows Enjoy Milking?
It’s a tricky question to answer because cows can’t exactly talk, but I’ll try my best.
To start with, consider that dairy cows are bred to maximize milk production. In the last 40 years alone, average production has doubled, and we’ve been breeding cows in this way for much longer.
But when you breed animals (or even plants) for specific traits, there are trade-offs. In this case, high producing dairy cows are at higher risk for a variety of health problems like lameness and mastitis.
This is partially due to having to be milked more often, which causes soreness and even open sores.
So even if milking is done perfectly, dairy cows are already likely not to be happy due to these complications of breeding.
What About Cows On Smaller Dairy Farms?
Even on smaller dairy farms you still have the same types of cows bred for maximal milk production.
However, the milking process might be less automated and gentler.
Let’s pretend the conditions are ideal, for the sake of the original question.
The milking process itself is pretty neutral. It’s not particularly enjoyable, but not too painful either. It’s not so different to a woman who breastfeeds her children.
However, if there is too much milk stored, it can cause the cow pain. Milking will relieve this pain. Think of it like having a full bladder and finally getting to urinate, it’s a big relief.
One other factor to consider is that mother cows have strong maternal bonds with their calves. If they were feeding the calves, I’d imagine they’d enjoy it more.
Summary: Do Cows Enjoy Being Milked?
To answer the original question directly, cows feel relief when being milked if they have too much stored. This is common since modern dairy cows have been bred to overproduce milk (more than they would need to feed calves directly).
Essentially, we’re breeding dairy cows to be in discomfort just so we can relieve it. So it’s pretty neutral overall (not particularly painful or pleasurable).
However, cows definitely don’t enjoy the multitude of health problems that they are more likely to get as a result of specialized breeding over the years.
You’ve taken a great first step trying to understand if dairy is ethical or not, but I urge you to keep researching. It ends up being one of the most common reasons people go vegan.
There are many ethical issues when it comes to the treatment of dairy cows that I believe are more impactful than the enjoyment of milking. Here’s a summary of reasons why vegans don’t eat dairy.
This includes taking away baby calves within 1-48 hours, poor living conditions, breeding side effects (as discussed), and slaughter after milk production slows down.
About the author
Dale Cudmore
Add comment | <urn:uuid:3918a822-b2d2-4aa4-ae2e-a3de62979e95> | https://vegfaqs.com/are-cows-happy-being-milked/ | en | 0.946183 | 0.114847 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Hedgie List Breeder Reference: Hedgie List Pedigree Resource Herd Initials List
The Herd Initial List (HIL) is a listing of Participating Breeders, Affiliate Breeders, Breeders No Longer Breeding (for reference purposes) and paid sponsors. The purpose of Hedgie List Pedigree Resource is to promote ethical and accurate tracking of animals via pedigrees in a database registry. This list is not a comprehensive list of all hedgehog breeders but only those who wish to participate on this site. A comprehensive list of all known breeders with herd initials is available to Hedgie List registered users.
Attention Breeders: Please sign in to request changes to the information on your breeder listing. | <urn:uuid:c8c4e9cf-91b1-48bd-aced-8229d3a8d59c> | https://www.critterconnection.cc/reference_breeders.php?prefix=X | en | 0.838214 | 0.027697 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Let's Talk
Let's Talk
Dining at the Cafe 401(k)
The West Wing
October 22, 2019
Dining at the Cafe 401(K)
As with all jobs, being an investment manager comes with some unofficial duties, including free guidance for family members regarding retirement savings. In fact, Olivia was recently helping a family member with investment choices in their employer sponsored 401(k) when she was provided a glaring reminder as to why people choose to hire professionals like us to manage it for them. Her beloved family member had chosen funds that made no sense for their goals, had high management fees, and were redundant at times. When probed about why they’d chosen these funds, Olivia was told that they had performed best in recent years, to which she firmly responded, “let me stop you there, dearest kin.”
The Menu at the 401(k) Cafe(Can Make You Sick)
It’s not our relatives' fault that lead to these poor choices. Anyone who's seen a menu of funds provided by their HR department knows how confusing and overwhelming they can be. You know the local diner with an eight page menu, including everything from pizza to sushi? That's what it can feel like. The funds are often not organized in any useful way, and their names are typically incomprehensible to the untrained eye. Data on available funds is predominantly led by recent investment performance, while one has to go digging to find the expense ratio. Furthermore, there are an overwhelming number of options, ranging from basic to extremely esoteric. The latter leading people to invest in places they don't understand. Much like at the greasy diner, you start out excited and hungry, but end up regretful and nauseated.
Even if you manage to get past all of the perplexing information and pick a few good funds, will you be able to accomplish this feat on a regular basis? Will you rebalance your portfolio properly through a decades-long career? Since it requires an unbiased lens to view the life savings of a person and not fall into a behavioral trap, it's often hard to do it yourself, assuming you even remember to perform the task.
Order What You Know
If you do want to do it yourself, your employer sponsored plan should have at least one way to properly invest without stepping on a land mine. If you can, find the handful of broad-market, low-cost, index funds for the two main asset classes: stocks and bonds. The key is to not get distracted by fancy names and recent performance. Hone in on the easy to understand funds, and use their simplicity to your advantage. Having a few simple funds makes it easier to rebalance your portfolio on a regular basis and get your asset allocation back to target after market fluctuations.
If rebalancing sounds like a chore to you, target-date funds can be a one-stop-shop, but only if you use them correctly and fully understand the underlying asset allocation of the fund you choose and how it will change over time.
Hire Someone to Order for You
If you'd rather leave it in the hands of professionals, there are some ways to get help. When you eventually leave your job, you have the right to rollover your account (e.g. 401(k), 403(b), 401(a), 457) from your employer's plan into an IRA. Some retirement plans even let you rollover assets while you're still on the job. Meanwhile, other plans, such as at our nearby University of Michigan, will let you authorize a fee-only wealth management firm like Exchange Capital Management to manage your retirement plan directly. You still have to eat off the preset menu, but you can have help choosing the best food.
What a Personal Chef Brings to the Table
In the case of an individual account outside of the constraints of an employer plan, we're able to cook for our clients in our own kitchen, and we can use any number of raw ingredients. Since the building blocks aren't restricted, the portfolio is efficient and low-cost.
In the case of an employer sponsored plan, is it possible to order off a limited menu and still manage to build a quality meal? With the right knowledge and research tools, yes! Depending on the particular menu of the plan we're dealing with, we start with low-cost index funds for the main courses and add flavors from there, if needed. On the surface, the ingredients look quite different from how an open architecture version would look. Depending on what's available on the menu, though, the overall experience and flavors can be similar.
If you're tired of the remorse from accidentally ordering California roll flatbread on yet another mind-boggling trip to Cafe 401(k), then maybe it's time to find a dietitian who knows their way around the menu.How do I find an expense ratio?
Who Wrote this Anyway? Who is The West Wing?
The West Wing (our offices are at the west end of the building) is made up of three full-time professionals (AndyOlivia, & Matt) who are charged with leading the firm's day-to-day investment and trading operations.
The West Wing is well aware that this article is a little corny, but sometimes corny is ah-maize-ing. Andrew Stewart, CFA is a Senior Portfolio Manager, Olivia Stacey, CFA is a Portfolio Manager, and Matt Farris is a Trader at Exchange Capital Management, a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm. The opinions expressed in this article are their own. | <urn:uuid:13235d15-651c-4f61-b66e-92d26da75584> | https://www.exchangecapital.com/blog/dining-at-the-cafe-401k | en | 0.957308 | 0.142378 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Green Is the New Black
Supermarkets can reduce their environmental impacts using new technologies while increasing sales.
Cool Insights
Getty Images
Grocers and food brands have largely flown under the radar when it comes to the fight against climate change, but that tide is now changing thanks to more socially-minded consumers and new technologies. Research shows that 73 percent of consumers gravitate to brands that care about the environment—shoppers feel good buying from companies that do good. But there’s a more pressing reason for brands to act: the global warming-causing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that are rife throughout the food retail industry due to antiquated and inadequate cooling technology.
Environmental Impacts
Today, a single supermarket emits about 875 pounds of HFCs annually, which is equivalent to the emissions of more than 300 cars. This is derived largely from its refrigeration and freezing systems, which contain thousands of pounds of HFCs that leak out over time. These chemicals are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide, making their environmental impact that much more detrimental. In fact, the collective impact of these pollutants across the United States’ 38,000 supermarkets can equal as much as 45 million metric tons of CO2 a year.
The pervasiveness of these dangerous refrigerants has put a spotlight on refrigeration management, which several environmental organizations, including Project Drawdown, have called out as the No. 1 solution to global warming.
Given this, it’s imperative that food retailers closely manage, if not completely eliminate, their use of HFCs across the cold chain. Companies like Aldi, Whole Foods, Target, Sprouts Farmers Market and Ahold Delhaize have already made significant commitments to cut back HFCs and foster energy efficiency—but the challenge comes in execution. Making an impact on sustainability has often necessitated sacrifices in other areas of the business that can impact a company’s bottom line, stagnating many organizations’ efforts.
Eliminate HFCs
This problem has been eliminated as a result of new technologies and initiatives, from recyclable packaging and cost-effective, energy-efficient lighting to advances in cooling solutions that don’t just reduce but fully eliminate HFCs in favor of natural refrigerants. New cooling innovations, such as those enabled by solid-state technology, are critical to addressing global refrigeration management in a way that is truly sustainable. Specifically, these alternatives are creating a powerful value proposition for grocers and food brands, which can now meet sustainability goals while also creating new revenue streams and driving greater ROI.
By eliminating the compressor, an antiquated staple of refrigerators and freezers that relies on these harmful refrigerants to run, solid-state solutions offer a greener alternative that uses only low-pressure CO2 and water to cool and freeze. Furthermore, the elimination of the compressor enables near-silent operation, more even heat rejection and more compact designs than traditional cooling units—which have long been relegated to the back of the store due to their size and energy needs.
Profits and Rewards
This versatility is enabling grocers and food brands to redesign in-store layouts, improve product placement and offer a wider variety of fresh and frozen foods throughout the store, from mid-aisle and end-cap displays to checkout counters. The most notable impact is at the point of sale, a high-margin location prone to impulse buys.
It’s imperative that food retailers reduce their environmental footprint, but it doesn’t have to be an obligation. Today, there are more reasons than ever to embrace efficient technology—and the impact can be just as profitable as it is rewarding
Dana Krug is the vice president and general manager of the Food and Beverage Division at Phononic, a company that is using semiconductor chips to deliver sustainable cooling solutions across industries. | <urn:uuid:5b6e88ba-cd44-48f9-b2aa-98b4d8f21f1a> | https://www.foodlogistics.com/sustainability/article/21079755/green-is-the-new-black | en | 0.943597 | 0.028434 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
What Causes A Sensation Of Tightness In The Chest?
The sensation of tightness in the chest or chest tightness is a symptom in which there is a sort of chest discomfort, chest pain, or heaviness. This symptom is disturbing and may affect your daily routine. Some people may describe chest tightness as difficulty in breathing or a feeling as if they are having broken ribs. Many people keep asking, “Is Ventolin for chest tightness”? This question will be answered in this article.
The sensation of tightness in the chest can be due to so many reasons. Some of the causes are a heart attack, asthma, chest muscle injury, pneumothorax, and many more. Medical consultation and physical examination is a must to analyze this symptom. Analysis of this symptom will help doctors in formulating a diagnosis and subsequently choosing the best treatment to cure the patient.
Ventolin is a type of medication that results in dilatation of the airways. This medication contains what known as salbutamol. Ventolin is a specific form of salbutamol that taken via inhalational. Generally, salbutamol can be taken via oral, inhalational, or intravenous. Salbutamol or Ventolin results in the dilatation of the airways.
Ventolin is not always the answer to chest tightness. Ventolin is only used in chest tightness which caused by airway narrowing for example in the case of asthma. Other causes of chest tightness have different treatment plans and management. Self-diagnosing is the reason why such a question is frequently asked. Chest tightness usually requires immediate medical attention and intervention.
Chest tightness is an alarming symptom. You must immediately go to a hospital unless you are known to have certain illnesses that allow you to take the medications given by doctors at home. Let’s say you are still not improving with the given medications, you still need to go to the hospital.
Chest tightness caused by a heart attack can deteriorate super fast and may cause death in less than an hour. That is how serious chest tightness is. Chest tightness caused by a pneumothorax can also be an emergency case that may need emergency medical intervention. It is a wise act to go to the emergency department if you are having chest tightness.
Another known condition that may cause chest tightness is anxiety or panic attacks. This condition related to mental health and it has different interventions. The less severe form can be managed by doing relaxation techniques like deep breathing while the more severe form may need medications and cognitive behavioural therapy. Ventolin has no role in curing panic attacks. Ventolin is always prescribed by the respiratory physician while panic attacks are usually managed by the psychiatrist or general physician.
Some cases do not require you to go to the hospital. Cases like asthma can be treated at home with the given medications. Medications like ventolin help relieve chest tightness and prevent respiratory failure. If you are an asthmatic patient, make sure you always keep your medications at home or within reach. You can’t afford to run out of stock as that may lead to death. | <urn:uuid:30b83b95-94d5-4fae-ae78-2037f3131eb1> | https://www.hellomissniki.com/what-causes-a-sensation-of-tightness-in-the-chest/ | en | 0.956511 | 0.525695 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Lagos Bans Cart Pushers And Wheelbarrow Operators In The State
Discussion in 'Nigeria News, Politics' started by okappolla, Jan 13, 2018.
1. okappolla
okappolla Member
The Lagos State Government on Saturday announced a total ban on the operations of cart pushers and wheel barrow operators in the State, saying that their activities were inimical to the environmental cleanliness in the State.
According to the state govt, investigations had also revealed that the cart pushers are responsible for most of the illegal dumping of waste in canals and road medians at night which causes flooding, adding that they were also traces of security threats.
The State Government has finalised plans to ensure that the CLI would cover every area of the State and ensure that refuse are well packed and collected, urging residents to desist from patronising them or risk prosecution.
Source: newshelmng
2. okappolla
okappolla Member
3. Lukat Naija
Lukat Naija Member
How are they going to deal with thieves and hoodlums after the ban? That's my problem with all these hasty implementations. | <urn:uuid:32cbb0a6-16ac-42b4-94e4-a74422b69b2a> | https://www.naijasquare.com/threads/lagos-bans-cart-pushers-and-wheelbarrow-operators-in-the-state.2508/ | en | 0.95454 | 0.025917 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The National Wildlife Federation
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Pocket Gophers
pocket gopher in hole
Pocket Gophers
Family: Geomyidae
Status: Not Listed
Classification: Mammal
Pocket gophers are fossorial rodents named for their fur-lined cheek pouches. Their cheek pouches, or pockets, are used for transporting bits of plant food that they gather while foraging underground. They have special adaptations for their burrowing lifestyle, including clawed front paws for digging, small eyes and ears, and sensitive whiskers and tails. They’re also able to close their lips behind their long incisors so they can use their teeth to loosen soil without getting any dirt in their mouths. Pocket gophers are medium-sized rodents that range in length from 5 to 14 inches.
The most widespread North American species is the plains pocket gopher, which is found throughout the Great Plains region. Several other species are found in the West and Southeast. Loose, sandy soil with edible plant cover is the best habitat for pocket gophers. Often this means pocket gophers make their homes in lawns and crop fields, much to the dismay of homeowners and farmers. Voracious pocket gophers can leave unsightly dirt mounds in yards, and they readily feed on ornamental garden plants. In their native range, however, pocket gophers are beneficial components of ecosystems. They move enormous amounts of soil every year, and therefore help to aerate the soil. This is especially important when soil has been compacted by grazing livestock or agricultural machinery. The tunnels also serve to capture snowmelt and rainfall that would otherwise run over the soil surface and cause erosion. Abandoned tunnels provide habitat for a number of other species, and the waste left behind by pocket gophers fertilizes the soil.
Roots, tubers, and the occasional aboveground plant provide all the necessary nutrients to these hungry rodents. Pocket gopher teeth are well-adapted for their vegetarian diet. Their incisors are ever-growing, which compensates for the tooth wear incurred while chewing on hard, gritty materials. Pocket gophers also have flattened molars and premolars, which are perfect for grinding vegetation. They are the only natural force that seems to be able to limit the growth of quaking aspen—they can chew the root systems back faster than they can grow back.
Life History
Pocket gophers are solitary animals that only come together in the spring and summer to breed. Young pocket gophers are born in nest chambers underground. The mother takes care of the young for several weeks before sending them on their way to construct burrows of their own. Pocket gophers generally live less than three years, which is typical for small rodents.
Most pocket gopher species are relatively common and not of conservation concern. The desert pocket gopher is the most threatened species because it occupies a very small range and is thus more vulnerable to habitat loss.
Fun Fact
Pocket gophers are sometimes confused with their fossorial relatives, moles. There are several easy ways to tell the two groups apart. Moles have small teeth and tiny, unapparent eyes. Pocket gophers have long incisors that protrude from the mouth, and their eyes are easy to see. In addition, mole tunnels leave raised ridges in the ground, whereas pocket gopher tunnels do not.
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business tenant evictAs a landlord of a commercial property, issues with a tenant can soon escalate into stormy heights. You’re generally dealing with bigger numbers and issues here than, say, residential, and so you can either live or die by the sword, so to speak.
And having the rent paid is of course the biggie, although there can be other factors such as bad behaviours and letting the property’s condition deteriorate.
When you’re past the point of trying to resolve in whatever fashion, you end up asking the question of how to simply get them out. Maybe you already have a potential better tenant lined up to take over, or it’s just more of a case of seeing who else you can re-let to or develop longer-term options for.
Time will probably be an important issue, with having made the decision then simply wanting the premises vacated, and quickly. Cost of course will count; needing to keep this as low as possible while taking any hit on arrears that won’t get paid.
So here are a few issues to mull over as you think about taking this drastic action towards a tenant of commercial property:
1. Business Rates
These are normally covered by the tenant under their occupational lease, therefore only becoming an issue for a landlord when the property is vacant, or rather the lease has ended.
This lease-ending is critical as that’s the trigger date for the rates going back into the landlord’s name, and therefore there is the benefit of a tenant still being liable for these whilst their lease is still in existence.
And when you do get the rates direct, then look at options to reduce this liability whilst still vacant and unlet, including any initial zero-charge period.
2. Utilities
As with business rates, they are normally covered by the tenant direct during the lease, unless it’s under any separate communal charge or recharge.
There may be hefty bills owed anyway by the tenant with the utility providers, and if the lease is formally ending then these accounts will need placing back into the landlord’s name.
You can then see what ongoing standing charges need to be covered directly, and make sure only sensible readings are being assumed in the invoices. These should near enough be zero with being an empty property, although watch out for any utilities still needing to be used such as electricity for security lighting and alarms.
Or on the contrary, check if utilities need to be all turned off for insurance purposes whilst vacant and therefore incurring on consumption.
And although you might be able to pass the buck to the tenant with utilities chasing them for any arrears, just watch out for consequences of this such as utilities then being turned off and huge re-connection costs (and time delays) then being incurred.
3. Surrenders
This is a nice and easy solution if you can get the tenant to agree to it, simply both agreeing to end the lease early.
If all goes well, then make sure you then formally document this with, say, a Deed of Surrender through solicitors who can also help mop up any other issues such as registering this surrender with Land Registry.
However this can all be difficult to get lined up and agreed in reality. Not only have you the challenge of beginning a dialogue with the actual tenant, but also then coming to an agreement on this, as they may want to continue blindly along with things.
4. Forfeiture
Now comes a drastic option of forfeiting the lease if you can’t agree a sensible surrender. This is certainly a tricky one to get right, and needs some special advice.
If the lease permits this option, then you basically have a window of opportunity after each new rent demand to then literally end the lease and even change locks and stop any further access after so many weeks. This is for straightforward rent arrears though, with other breaches needing more complex section 146 notices and procedures.
There’s two caveats here though, the first is that a landlord needs to act correctly in order to validate this forfeiture and not ‘waive’ their rights away.
So during this window of opportunity no actual contact should be made with the tenant whether through correspondence, dialogue, or even sending an invoice through, as it’s all deemed to be acting as if they are still a tenant carrying on when in reality you’re preparing to end it all.
Secondly, even if you do pull it off correctly, the tenant will have a right of relief for six months afterwards. So if they do pay off arrears and stop their breach then they have a legal right to ask for a new lease back again, even though the original one has at that point formally ended.
In reality this will probably not happen and involve them incurring legal costs to proceed with, and in actual fact that’s probably acceptable in principle because all you’ve ever wanted as a landlord is for them to behave themselves. However it causes frustrations and hassle in the meantime, and more importantly technically delay any new letting for six months whilst this right fades away.
5. Arrears
Arrears from a tenant is certainly the most popular offence, whether that’s a rent affecting a landlord’s pocket directly or other costs like service charges and insurance premiums that a landlord may still have to cover indirectly.
Although getting the arrears does not deal with getting them out and ending the lease, it can play an important role. So whether that’s, say, CRAR or solicitor’s action, this pressure on a tenant can help focus their minds regarding lease liabilities.
Also, remember other forms of security to rely upon, for example using rent deposits and involving any guarantors or even former tenants.
6. Tenant’s Goods
A final point is looking at what tenant’s goods are loitering around and causing a help or a hindrance.
It’s worth noting that this is a different issue to that of the lease, so you can’t just use, say, CRAR to try and seize these goods for arrears whilst trying to forfeit the lease.
If the lease is ending then the tenant will probably still need the ability to collect these, which can be a kick in the teeth if they still have arrears to pay. Even with valid forfeiture you have to allow at least a few weeks for them to legally collect these before any action to then keep these.
And also watch out for the grey area of what a tenant’s own items are compared to the landlord’s as part of the main property. This might take careful dissecting of the lease and ancillary documentation like licences of alterations.
Taking the Plunge
As you face the issues of a difficult commercial tenant, whether a landlord direct or an advisor stuck in the middle, you need to think through carefully all the options available to you.
Taking drastic action on impulse can backfire in many respects, including any form of other goodwill opportunities with the tenant. Try and understand what the bottom-line issue is and work back from there.
If after this there is no other option but a drastic one like forfeiture or surrender, then you may just need to go for it and finally bring things to a head.
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People Interests Posts | <urn:uuid:1fbce5be-4dac-4f54-9365-713089cedffe> | https://www.propertymanagementguide.co.uk/resources/people-interests/kicking-business-tenant-out | en | 0.939049 | 0.018911 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Surnoch CR 9
XP 6,400
N Large animal
Init +6; Senses low-light vision, sense through (vision [stone only]); Perception +17
HP 145
EAC 22; KAC 24
Fort +13; Ref +13; Will +8
Immunities acid
Speed 30 ft., burrow 30 ft.
Melee bite +21 (2d10+12 P)
Ranged acid jet +18 (3d6+9 A)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Offensive Abilities corrosive spines
Str +3; Dex +6; Con +4; Int –4; Wis +2; Cha +0
Skills Stealth +22, Acrobatics +17
Other Abilities no breath, tunnel swiftness
Acid Jet (Ex)
As a standard action, a surnoch can spew a stream of acid from one of its spines. This attack has the line weapon special property and a range increment of 60 feet.
Corrosive Spines (Ex)
A creature that begins its turn grappled by a surnoch automatically takes 3d6+9 acid and piercing damage from the acid dripping from its spines.
Tunnel Swiftness (Ex)
When moving in a tunnel that it or another surnoch has burrowed, a surnoch moves five times its speed and doesn’t gain the flat-footed condition when it takes the run action. In addition, it can hustle in such a tunnel for 3 hours each day before it begins to take nonlethal damage.
Environment any underground or vacuum
Organization solitary or pair
Surnochs are burrowing creatures that live in and devour the crusts of asteroids and small moons. Jaws that function like grinders and glands at the bases of their many spines that exude acid to liquefy rock allow these wormlike creatures to create labyrinthine tunnels in their domains, through which they can move with uncanny speed. The color of a surnoch’s hide is similar to that of the rock it burrows through. A typical surnoch is 15 feet long and weighs over 1,200 pounds.
At its leading end, a surnoch has a deep funnel of a mouth lined with numerous small orifices. At the back of the funnel is the grasping jaw with which it brings material into the funnel to be sorted. While the grasping jaw looks ferocious, the real danger of the maw lies in the fact that it is essentially a giant, churning mining machine.
The numerous small orifices that line the interior of a surnoch’s mouth allow matter of different consistencies to stream through as the creature chews and melts its way through rock and stone. Nutrient-rich material is routed to the surnoch’s digestive tract, while much of the rest of it is broken down into various acids by the surnoch’s caustrolizer system, a series of organs unique to the creature that act like a chemical factory. A surnoch has an innate sense of which minerals its body requires the most of and has evolved a kind of X-ray vision that it allows it to find these foodstuffs, even through several feet of rock.
After consuming some of its favored elements, a surnoch excretes condensed and hardened forms of the minerals it can neither digest nor turn into acid.
A feeding surnoch leaves tunnels full of strange alloys and amalgams in its wake, some which can’t be created through any other process.
The castings that line a surnoch tunnel have an ethereal, shimmering beauty, like mother-of-pearl arranged in strange symmetries. Many of the endemic alloys are useful to technological races, so occasional expeditions purposefully seek out asteroids mined by surnochs to harvest the beasts’ unusual leavings. The greatest connoisseurs of these castings are the sarcesians, who turn the beautiful substances into jewelry and elaborate sculptures.
Approaching surnoch territory to harvest such material, or for any other reason, is incredibly dangerous. Surnochs aren’t territorial but they are ravenous. Almost any technology that can transport a visitor to a surnoch-infested asteroid contains the elements that a surnoch consumes. While powered armor and electronic items are the most likely to draw hungry surnochs, most refined material has a reasonable chance of looking like dinner. Those who make their livings harvesting surnoch castings primarily use equipment created from materials that have already been vetted as uninteresting to the creatures.
Surnochs are found mainly in asteroids and in the larger rocks of planetary rings, fully sorting and digesting them before drifting through space to the next host. Surnochs are sometimes seen on small moons, especially the shepherd moons, and the discovery of surnoch remains on larger moons has given scientists a fairly precise understanding of how much gravity the beasts can withstand.
A surnoch reproduces once every decade or so, in a process where a smaller creature slowly grows from the surnoch’s hide over the course of a month. This parthenogenesis is often preceded by a period of gorging by the surnoch, which is difficult to differentiate from the creature’s normal voracious feeding behavior. A surnoch feasting in this manner tends to consume minerals with natural radiation (such as uranium), though rocky areas that have been bombarded with nuclear weapons also tend to draw a surnoch ready to reproduce. Once the creature’s bud fully sprouts, it detaches with a burst of acid and the newly formed surnoch is ready to begin feeding. Luckily for the galaxy, at least a third of surnoch parents immediately consume their offspring immediately following this “birth” for reasons that continue to baffle biologists to this day.
While most surnochs are solitary creatures, two will occasionally travel and feed together, often working their way through parallel tunnels to consume different minerals. While to outsiders it might seem like the two surnochs are deliberately working in concert to cause the most destruction, the truth is far less sinister. The two creatures have been brought together by unknown electromagnetic symbols echoing off their thick hides and attuning their appetites to crave distinct fare.
And just as quickly as the pair came together, some mysterious trigger can set them against one another in a tumbling mass of spines and acid that is usually even more devastating than the two surnochs feeding peacefully.
A handful of survivors from a recent surnoch attack a production facility claim that their factory was targeted by a rival company that placed a losing bid for the rights to their asteroid several years before. While their allegations have been dismissed as paranoid ravings, independent investigators found strange computer chips in the brain of what they believe is the corpse of the attacking surnoch.
Acid Lancer
In addition to collecting the valuable composites the creature leaves behind, some entrepreneurs enter surnochs’ territory to hunt and kill them for their acid-producing glands and spines. These components can be made into heavy weapons known as acid lancers, which shoot jets of caustic fluid. A wielder of an acid lancer can squeeze the gland located near the trigger to give her next shot an extra boost of damaging acid. Acid lancers use a special synthetic acid called caustrol for ammunition, which has the same price and comes in the same size containers as petrol.
Acid Lancers (Two-Handed Heavy Weapons) Uncategorized Level Price Damage Range Critical Capacity Usage Bulk Special
Acid lancer, corroder-class 4 2,000 2d4 A 30 ft. Corrode 1d4 20 caustrol 4 2 Analog, boost 1d4, line, unwieldy
Acid lancer, melter-class 9 13,000 3d4 A 30 ft. Corrode 2d4 20 caustrol 5 2 Analog, boost 1d6, line, unwieldy
Acid lancer, liquefier-class 14 75,000 8d4 A 50 ft. Corrode 4d4 40 caustrol 8 2 Analog, boost 1d8, line, unwieldy
Acid lancer, disintegrator-class 19 550,000 8d8 A 50 ft. Corrode 6d4 40 caustrol 10 2 Analog, boost 1d10, line, unwieldy
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CONFERÊNCIA – Europe dating site 100 free
Young people may be inclined to experiment and take risks that could impact on their own health and wellbeing and have consequences for others. This article examines behaviours such as risky drinking, illicit drug use and dangerous driving by people aged years. It also looks at some of the potential consequences of these behaviours, including being charged with criminal offences, hospitalisation and death. This transition period has been made more complex by the social, economic and technological changes that have occurred in Australia over recent decades. Patterns and levels of some risky behaviours differ between young men and young women, with prevalence often being higher among young men. In , there were 2. This article examines the risky behaviours of this population, focusing on risks where the potential harm is immediate, such as short term risky or high risk drinking, illicit drug use and dangerous driving. While not all young people engage in these risky behaviours, the consequences for those who do, and for those around them, can be serious. This article also examines some of the potential consequences: Although it is illegal to sell alcohol to people under 18 years of age, many young people have access to alcohol before they turn
Why women lose the dating game
Browse all statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australia’s biggest baptism Jehovah’s Witnesses from all over Australia and the world came together on december 13, , in Telstra Stadium to see more than new brothers and sisters lie down in specially designed tubs to “take God into their hearts” and set the Australian record for biggest baptism. Australia’s biggest beer The Darwin stubby contains a huge 2 litres of beer, and is a popular souvenir for tourists that visit Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Its origins date back to the s when the small Carlton United brewery in Darwin decided to package their beer in bottles, but they proved so popular that even despite charging a deposit they hardly ever got their bottles back.
The former FBI director is the perfect choice to lead an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the US election. The indictment was sealed under orders from a federal judge, but has been reported by US media outlets citing sources who said they had been briefed on the matter. It was not clear what the charges were or who the target was, with reports adding the indictment could be unsealed as early as today.
Chinese dating shows emerged in the late s and initially were a space for marriage advertisement for individuals. It has then evolved into an entertainment arena for singles to show talent, discuss, and interact with one another. The evolution of the shows not only reflects the changing preference of television viewers but also testifies the broader changes of social and gender relations.
Speed Dating is a fun and exciting way to meet like-minded people who are genuine about finding a partner right for them in a safe and comfortable environment. You also get to mingle with your dates and get to know them better during the free nibbles break and in the bar area after an event. Some daters like to extend their evenings by going out afterwards as a group.
Singles mixer events may include meeting for dinner, catching live bands, doggie days out or even bare foot bowls! Given our Speed Dating and Singles Mixer events are held in safe environments and personal information is kept confidential, they not only provide the opportunity for multiple singles to meet in one night but does without the concern of security issues that may arise from online dating. Once registration is complete, you will be given full access to fellow MYM member profiles and you can start saying hi!
I have regular daters that come back to enjoy the events I plan, as they are a lot of fun and a fantastic way to meet people. Renae There are no items in this list Please reload There are no items in this list Please reload Are you wanting to make a difference in someones life? Do you care about people and their happiness?
Why women lose the dating game
How much of the warming trend in Australia is due to the switch in the mid s from older slower thermometers to new electronic zippy ones that could record every waft of hot air? How many records today are just noise? If the BOM would release its calibration and comparison data instead of deleting it, we might know. Ouch — are we writing outliers and noise into our history books and climate data bases?
There will be a lot more discussion on these.
Au tribunal correctionnel de Saint-Malo ce mardi 21 août, deux prévenus étaient jugés pour avoir mis sens dessus dessous la maison de victimes terrorisées, qui les avaient invités à prendre.
You can read all the cited links as well. This is based on limited measurements and flawed estimates based on those limited measurements, limited in both time and place.
It arrives, that is to say, practically every day, it knocks or makes other noises , it is observed coming up the drive or in other places. I myself, when staying there, have seen the present Mrs. Peveril, who is rather short-sighted, peer into the dusk, while we were taking our coffee on the terrace after dinner, and say to her daughter:
RISK TAKING BY YOUNG PEOPLE ABSTRACT Youth is a stage of life characterised by rapid psychological and physical transition, where young people progress from being dependent children to independent adults.
Footballers were the most likely to be injured and those aged between 18 and 24 were at greatest. Surprisingly one in four people going to yoga classes ended up with some sort of injury. One child a week gets run over by a car in a driveway, often by four wheel drives from which it is hard to see out the back. Australia’s roads and highways are lit by 1. The murder rate in central Australia is ten times higher than the national average. Australia has one full time politician for every 20 citizens not counting local councillors which is more than twice as many as the U.
And it is not cheap to have all these politicians, they get paid for domestic and overseas travel, chauffeur-driven and self-drive vehicles, electorate allowances and staff. In Australia was rated the sixth most democratic country in the world, Norway was the democraticest country, our Kiwi were slightly democraticer than us at number five, and North Korea was on last place as the undemocraticest country. Incarceration rate in the Northern Territory is the third highest in the world, prisoners per of adult population, and the vast majority of them are indigenous.
Boston Welcomes You
As a consequence, the ATSC digital television standard states that for i signals, SMPTE “C” colorimetry should be assumed unless colorimetric data is included in the transport stream. Color encoding[ edit ] For backward compatibility with black-and-white television, NTSC uses a luminance – chrominance encoding system invented in by Georges Valensi.
The three color picture signals are divided into Luminance derived mathematically from the three separate color signals Red, Green and Blue which takes the place of the original monochrome signal and Chrominance which carries only the color information. This process is applied to each color source by its own Colorplexer , thereby allowing a compatible color source to be managed as if it were an ordinary monochrome source. This allows black-and-white receivers to display NTSC color signals by simply ignoring the chrominance signal.
The two signals each amplitude modulate 3. The result can be viewed as a single sine wave with varying phase relative to a reference carrier and with varying amplitude.
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Greyhound Review
By: Amanda Guarragi
Greyhound is based on the 1955 novel ‘The Good Shepherd’, it was adapted by Tom Hanks, who also stars in the lead role, as Commander Ernest Krause. The film follows a US Navy Commander on his first war-time assignment, he was in command of a multi-national escort group defending a merchant ship convoy under attack by submarines in early-1942 during the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’. It is yet another generic war film, that is filled with a bombastic sound design and score, that went above and beyond, to elevate the story in some way.
There are some redeeming qualities in this film because of the uniqueness with the camerawork from director Aaron Schneider. At times the direction almost didn’t match the dullness of the story and the weak performances from everyone. The technical aspects like the sound design, score, sound mixing, cinematography and practical effects were all solid and made the film look quite pleasing. For a film that takes place at sea, the visuals were important and the horror of being at sea, during a war was definitely effective. The editing was fairly mediocre and the constant fades to black, with the time stamps, made it feel disjointed and almost episodic. Apart from the final battle at sea, there was no length of time where I felt anything for these characters.
It was a very lacklustre war film and it is because the writing just wasn’t there. It is almost hard to believe that Tom Hanks wrote the screenplay because of how one note the story was. I admit that he tried to construct a different structure for it and it did look promising but something just wasn’t connecting. It feels like the entire budget went directly to the practical effects because it looked like a very expensive film. It felt larger than it should have and that may have been the issue, I can’t even put my finger on it.
Greyhound is a war film that attempts to show the darkness of the waters during World War 2, in a unique way but the story is not strong enough to make the journey interesting to the viewer. The technical aspects of this film overpower everything else but the somber atmosphere at sea made it quite boring and the characters were emotionless throughout the film. It had so much potential to be a great film but the content just wasn’t there.
The Old Guard Review
By: Amanda Guarragi
The Old Guard is adapted from a graphic novel written by Greg Rucka and directed by Gina Prince- Bythewood. It is an introduction to ancient, immortal mercenaries, who have the ability to regenerate cells with Andy (Charlize Theron) being the oldest and leading the rest of the soldiers. They find out that the CIA knows what they are and they and they fight to protect their secret. The action slowly builds, as we learn more about these characters and their backstories. There is so much lore that can be explored and it feels like they didn’t even scratch the surface.
Bythewood gave incredible direction in the action scenes, they were really fluid, sharp and when the movements connected it looked slick. Every punch, knife swing or the pull of the trigger was perfectly timed and made it look effortless. The rest of the film did have pacing issues, I felt as if it dragged on and it took too much time to get from one location to the other. For a film that had solid action sequences, that spike your adrenaline, the rest of the film just seemed to exist. That is the only aspect that was lacking for this film and I wish it picked up a bit in the middle.
Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne were dynamite together and I loved seeing them work together. They both have such a strong presence on screen. Charlize had this calmness to Andy, she was subtle in her delivery but had so much emotion masked behind her eyes. You could feel that she was old and you could feel the grief that she was carrying. Kiki Layne had this innocence to Nile but had this warrior essence slowly building up inside her as the film went on. Their fight scene in the cargo plane was really well done and it’s probably my favourite scene in the whole film.
The Old Guard is jam packed with lore and intriguing characters, that will leave you wanting to know more. It is a pretty fun action film and the fight choreography was really unique to their immortal characters. It was a great way to start this story and considering how the film ended, we are banking on a well needed sequel. Everyone that worked on this film deserves a sequel because there is so much more left to unpack.
Palm Springs Review
By: Amanda Guarragi
Palm Springs had its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year and it instantly created buzz in the film community. It is directed by Max Barbakow, written by Andy Siara and it is a Lonely Island Classic picture. The film brings together two characters, Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) who have questioned their own existence and the decisions they have made. When they meet at Sarah’s sister, Tala’s (Camila Mendes) wedding, the night takes them on an interesting journey, which leads them to a cave and changes everything.
The film is unique to the time loop subgenre that has developed over the years. It has a refreshing structure and the editing is a huge part of it. The reason why this film is different to the genre is because there are more people involved in the time loop storyline. As we have seen in the past, majority of the time, it is only one character processing the idea of reliving the same day, over and over again. In this comedy, it has Nyles informing Sarah, how to approach the time loop in very humorous ways. There is a nice surprise with the addition of Roy (J.K. Simmons) to add an origin story for Nyles and his time loop journey.
It has a nice mixture of comedic moments and realistic discussions about life, which I really appreciated. The perception of loneliness, is always something that should be explored and how life can sometimes seem meaningless, if you do not have someone to share it with. That is why placing the central event, as a wedding day, in this film was extremely beneficial because of the weight it holds on everyone’s lives. It is very well crafted because they address so many different ideas of love and relationships.
Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti had excellent chemistry and solid comedic timing. They bounced off of each other extremely well and you could feel the freedom they had with these roles. The pacing was really strong because of how the story builds. Instead of just reliving the same day, in the same location, Barbakow and Siara explored different moments in the day and had them react differently to new information. The way they slowly revealed different aspects of their lives, was really well done and continuously surprised me.
Palm Springs adds so much depth to the time loop subgenre and it is a wonderful edition to The Lonely Island production library. It is probably one of the most charming films I have seen in a while and it will capture your heart. It is also constructed to always keep you on your toes because even though you are stuck in a time loop, life still comes at you fast and you have to adapt to every situation in the best way you can.
Why the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Franchise Should Not Be Touched
By: Amanda Guarragi
After nearly a decade, since Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was released in 2003, there has been confirmation from Disney that there will be, not one reboot, but TWO reboots, of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. One is a stand-alone film in the Pirates franchise and it is not considered a sequel, reboot or spin-off. Margot Robbie is set to star and Birds of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson, is set to write the screenplay. The other film, is in fact, a spin-off, which was rumoured as a Disney+ series. It has a $100 million budget and is headed by Chernobyl creator, Craig Mazin and Ted Elliot (who wrote for the previous Pirate franchise), in order to take it in a fresh direction.
Here is the thing, Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most solid, live action, Disney adventure films, that they have in their library. The women in the franchise, have always elevated the story, especially Pirate King Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). The others that come to mind, are Anamaria (Zoe Saldana), Tia Dalma or Calypso (Naomie Harris), Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario). They have all made their mark on screen, there have been women at the forefront, in each of the Pirates films, so to make two spin-offs, that are female led, discredits the work these women put into their roles.
It is a franchise that cannot function without Captain Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann or Will Turner and I will stand by that. After having a marathon of the five films myself. I can honestly say, that whatever Disney attempts to do with these female led reboots, they will never come close to what they had almost 20 years ago. The way Disney makes their films now, is completely different than how they made them 20 years ago and that’s not necessarily a good thing. Their storytelling has changed and it seems that they cannot create a darker atmosphere for their films anymore. It is always light hearted fun and the characterizations are at surface value.
While watching The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), I felt an instant wave of nostalgia and I was surprised, that I watched this as a young child because the film is scary. It has this dark, eerie, ghost story feel to it, from the very beginning. Verbinski managed to hook you within the very first scene and make you want to learn all about Pirate mythology. The story is pretty haunting for a young child to watch, as the curse makes Pirates, who are aboard the Black Pearl, change into skeletons when there is a full moon. The special effects were so well done, it still blows my mind to this day, that everything was smoothly rendered. It was not a film for young children, whatsoever, but it is still in the Disney library.
potc 1
Courtesy of Disney, (left) Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom
Dead Man’s Chest (2006) is my favourite out of the entire saga. It takes all we have learned from the first instalment and amplified it by 100. The action sequences, side deals and manipulation, made a great impression on so many people. The CGI for Davy Jones was exceptional and Bill Nighy gave a solid performance. Jones and his whole crew, were horrific sea creatures and it was so well done. Each movement that was rendered, felt so lifelike and authentic, that it still gives me nightmares. The battles between ships were also elevated and the design for ‘The Flying Dutchman’ was perfect. Not only was this a perfect sequel, but it had one of the best cliffhangers of the decade.
Courtesy of Disney, (left) David Bailie, Mackenzie Crook, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley
It bumped the stakes going into the third instalment At World’s End (2007) and kept us waiting for an entire year. The score is probably Hans Zimmer’s best Pirate score to date because of the heart thumping undertones, that he used throughout for Davy Jones’ theme. It was really effective and it did not overpower the classic Pirates theme. Heading into the third one, Captain Jack Sparrow is in the depths of Davy Jones’ locker. While Will, Elizabeth and the rest of the crew head to Tia Dalma’s, to find out Commodore Barbossa is still alive. Everyone wants to save Jack and bring him back, but they need to travel to the ends of the world to go save him.
Courtesy of Disney, (left) Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp
At World’s End is such an exciting final instalment to the trilogy because it explores all the Pirate Lords, who hold one of the nine pieces. The Pirate mythology is so well thought out and presented in Singapore. Everyone is pretty much a Pirate in this film, including former Commodore James Norrington. Lord Cutler Beckett also became a fantastic villain with the East India Trading Company because he wanted to abolish piracy forever. We are also introduced to the Brethren Court in Singapore with Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun Fat), who is the Pirate Lord of the South China Sea. There were so many big players and moving pieces in this, which made for one of the most exhilarating third acts for a third instalment.
Gore Verbinski’s trilogy was so well written because they had a clear plan from the start. You could see the foreshadowing and where the story was going to go after each film. That is how you set up a trilogy. There was always anticipation for the next film because of how invested you became in these characters. The most impressive character arc, in this whole trilogy is Elizabeth Swann’s, she broke free from her role as Governor’s daughter, learned how to deal with pirates and the high seas, leading her to eventually become a Pirate Lord! Talk about amazing character development. If you really look at this trilogy, the focus may have been on Captain Jack Sparrow, but the underdog in all this, that truly stole the spotlight was Elizabeth Swann because you do grow to love her.
Courtesy of Disney, (front) Keira Knightley
The trilogy is perfect on it’s own. So when Disney pressed for a fourth instalment with On Stranger Tides (2011), nearly five years later, directed by Rob Marshall, it felt like it was an afterthought. At the end of the third one, they did allude to the fountain of youth and that Captain Jack wanted to travel there. They did leave it open ended but the only flaw in this film, was that Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann did not return with Jack. Instead we are introduced to Angelica (Penélope Cruz), who felt like a mirror of Jack, which was very fun to play with. It was also a Blow (2001) reunion for Cruz and Depp.
Courtesy of Disney, (left) Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz
In this journey, Captain Jack Sparrow loses his first mate Gibbs and has a run in with King George the Second, who insists that he should guide him on an expedition to the fountain of youth. We then see that Commodore Barbossa has joined the British navy and will join Jack. His old flame Angelica, has been impersonating him this whole time and Jack finds out that she is the daughter, of the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Ian McShane) who uses voodoo magic and wields the ‘Mythical Sword of Triton’ to control his ship, the ‘Queen Anne’s Revenge’.
It was a fun movie and they did want to see, if they could make a side journey, without Will and Elizabeth but it just seemed empty without them. It is always great to explore different characters like Syrena (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey), who was the first mermaid that we had seen in the franchise and to see various Pirates from mythology. It wasn’t the strongest Pirates film but we did get to know Jack a bit more, even though the writing for him in this one was weaker than the previous instalments.
The final and fifth instalment in the Pirates trilogy, was Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, which takes place six years after the fourth film. Will and Elizabeth return to save the franchise. It is now thirteen years after At World’s End and their son, Henry Turner is now aboard ‘The Flying Dutchman’ with his father. Apparently he knows of a way, to break the curse, that binds his father to the ship and needs to seek out Captain Jack Sparrow for help. In order to help his father, he needs the ‘Trident of Poseidon’ and ventures to ‘The Devil’s Triangle’.
Courtesy of Disney, (left) Kaya Scodelario, Johnny Depp and Brenton Thwaites
All the big players come back and we are introduced to yet, another Pirate, Captain Armando Salazar (Javier Bardem), who is the undead Captain of the ‘Silent Mary’. Henry somehow joins the British Navy, in order to find the Devil’s Triangle and runs into Salazar. He then has a message for Jack Sparrow, that he is, in fact, going after him. Carina is on trial for being a witch, but is simply a young astronomer and horologist, who makes a quick escape and runs into Jack. It is a bit convoluted but the one thing the Pirates franchise does well, is develop their characters enough to make you like them.
Loose ends are definitely tied up, as the Turner family is reunited, Barbossa finds his long lost daughter and Jack is reunited with his crew, his ship and his love for adventure on the high seas. It was possibly the only way to end this franchise on a high note, while still leaving a little bit of mystery in the post credit scene, with the connection that Davy Jones and Will Turner share.
Courtesy of Disney, (left) Orlando Bloom and Lewis McGowan
The Pirates franchise as a whole, is a fantastic adventure franchise, when you see how they handle their characters. The original trilogy is done so well, that it definitely can make you forget the final two instalments. It is such a great franchise and I think a reboot, spin-off or even a sequel is not the greatest idea because the momentum is gone. It will always be treasured and I think developing new, original, adventure films with women at the forefront is the better way to go. We all know that everyone will be comparing these reboots to its predecessor and that’s harmful for female led films.
Disney has changed drastically and has only been focusing on remaking the films they already have in their library. Yes, you can perceive it as making content for a new generation but I was raised on their older classics and I loved them just as much. Like many other films that shouldn’t be touched, this is one of them because I personally think it is too soon to flip this script and not have the original cast present because they are the ones that made it iconic. I highly recommend giving these films a rewatch because they do hold up years later.
Courtesy of Disney, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow
Miss Juneteenth Review
By: Amanda Guarragi
Courtesy Ley Line Entertainment (left) Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze
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Austria to Put Ardor Blockchain-Based Comms in Citizens' Hands
Austria to Put Ardor Blockchain-Based Comms in Citizens' Hands 101
Source: Adobe/sdecoret
A child chain called Ignis by software company Jelurida will be a part of a new project - QualiSig - that has for a goal secure, blockchain-based communication between Austrian authorities, the country's institutions and citizens in the times of the pandemic. Data control will be the responsibility of citizens.
Jelurida develops and maintains the Ardor and Nxt blockchains. The Ardor blockchain is a decentralized proof-of-stake blockchain that introduced the architecture of child-chains. This means that Ardor is the parent chain, which serves as the security and consensus layer, while there are child-chains like Ignis rely on Ardor but enable additional features, the company's co-founder and Director, Lior Yaffe, told Cryptonews.com.
Now, the company took a role of a partner that will provide consultancy for the QualiSig project, which was launched by Austrian trust service provider (A-Trust) in partnership with several organizations including Donau-Universität Krems public university, the press release states.
The project's aim is to establish a secure, data-sharing communication channel between citizens, government agencies, and institutions commissioned by authorities, the announcement adds. It will combine qualified digital signatures with blockchain.
The project was awarded a EUR 60,000 (USD 67,350) grant from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs, following their response to the Corona Emergency Call of the Research Promotion Agency (FFG) for COVID-19 prevention.
Jelurida's Yaffe told Cryptonews.com that, in the case of QualiSig, secure information of Austrian COVID-19 cases will be kept as a token on the Ignis blockchain. It is the citizens who will use it, and therefore "the information will be kept securely on their device and be submitted to the blockchain in an encrypted manner which only they can decrypt."
Yaffe adds: "This allows the citizens to maintain control over their digital identity, and makes it their responsibility."
People can run an Ardor light node, which is a mobile app that maintains synchronization with the blockchain, which is "very cheap, easy and has low requirements," and it allows them to verify the entire consensus layer that protects their data - this then results in an increase of their own security, argues the Jelurida boss.
Alternatively, they may run a blockchain full node, which Yaffe describes as "relatively simple" since a full Ardor node can be run on a phone.
Finally, people can use the official app of QualiSig, which can be configured to connect to a remote blockchain full node of their choice.
"Bottom line is, citizens are left with a choice," says Yaffe.
Use cases: health advancement, fake news and fraud prevention
The press release cites health as a use case, saying that a secure digital folder utilized for health status verification takes into account the privacy of people involved, while digitally signed and verified news updates help in the fight against fake news in the times of health crises.
Signing data with a digital ID not only helps to combat fake news but also allows peer-to-peer (P2P) communication from authorities to citizens. "As it is already possible regarding signed PDFs through the A-Trust E-Tresor (electronic safe). Now, not only PDFs can be signed but (encrypted) messages directly," says Alexander Pfeiffer, Danube University Krems Researcher and co-founder of Picapipe GmbH.
Pfeiffer and fellow researcher Thomas Wernbacher are the authors of the research proposal. The combination of digital qualified signatures such as the “A-Trust Handy-Signature” and Ardor’s Ignis child chain is based on Pfeiffer’s current research, the announcement adds.
A lot of "fraudulent activities happen through people pretending to be someone else and knock on citizens doors," Pfeiffer says, so "any service company (eg. gas reading) that knocks on your door - especially if unannounced, can use the door-to-door application."
"Combining the ‘mobile phone ID signature from A-Trust’ to enable storing the data related to the service on a non-tradeable utility token created on the Ignis network - creates a high amount of safety for the citizens being able to read the information related to the person knocking on the door and his ID and tasks he should perform," says Pfeiffer.
Lior adds to this that "a government utilizing a public blockchain could become the ultimate form of democracy." He adds that not only is the government elected by its citizens, but it gives them back "the power to control their data and decide how to share it. This will assist in preventing future privacy leaks and data hacks by governments and possibly tech firms, as we've seen quite a lot in the past."
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Showing posts from April, 2010
Basically my writing style is personal and journalistic. When you write a journal, you are essentially writing to yourself. So you're honest. My writing didn't evolve to be read by everyone or by "readers" it was to, and for, me. Then came along blogging, and my web site, which made my style start to change.
I've spent the last few years learning to edit and think about you, whoever you are. Just because I like something, doesn't mean you will. Just because I dont like something, doesn't mean you won't. So i've read a lot and paid attention to what seems to be universally appealing. What keeps "our" interest.
I'm also really interested in writing itself. How it evolved and how it works. I used to think it was this magic ability that only certain people had. Now I realize it's a acquired skill. Thats why one of my favorite things to write about, is writing about writing...
I've figured out that everyone's biggest interest …
My Writing "style"
First I should admit that writing about my writing style seems almost arrogant. It means that I actually have a syle. If someone were to compliment you on your colthing style, or style of make up, or your style of dance, it would be different than commenting on your own style. "I'm stylish! arn't I?"
So what I guess I really mean is that I want to explain why I write, and what has influenced how I write. I dont know if I actually have a "style" I just have my way, and the following is why.
Of course I learned how to write and read in school. But I never wrote anything besides what I had to. I knew how, but never honed it outside of school work. Then one day in 1997 I decided to start keeping a journal. I dont remember why. I would write for a couple days, then stop and wait months before writing again. I only really got into what I did that day, pretty much just documenting my life. But never really included anything besides ME. As I grew up and evolved so…
All you single babies
Dog Saves Dog
I guess it's not always a dog eat dog world.
Digital Art
Experiment in Hue
I'm starting a new project, and to go along with that I bought a Bamboo Fun Waccom Tablet. It basically is a tablet that uses a pen instead of a mouse. When you write on it, it writes on the computer. It's very nice. These are the fruits of my labor so far. | <urn:uuid:ec3acc9b-7a84-4830-885c-d739f807dbd8> | https://derekbair.blogspot.com/2010/04/ | en | 0.979679 | 0.418226 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
People Analytics 2018-12-31T07:30:59+00:00
Attract. Retain. Engage.
In this changing world of work, your people are your strongest advantage. Yet maintaining top talent at the right cost is a continuous challenge for business. Leaders are faced with questions such as:
• How can we become an “employer of choice,” and attract top talent?
• How can we help new employees integrate with our culture and thrive in their ever-evolving roles?
• How can we grow our company while minimizing risk?
• How can we care for our people while managing our balance sheet?
From information to insights. From insights to intelligence.
Making the best decisions for your workforce is complex, and there are multiple variables at play all the time. In light of this reality, industry leaders understand the power of data to identify, attract, develop, and retain the right people.
Drawing from our industry experience and scientific training, our team understands the great potential for information to enhance decisions, optimizing resources while supporting people in their work. With predictive and prescriptive information, you can effectively link talent decisions with strategic planning.
People Analytics Solutions
Percipient solutions helps organizations streamline their HR processes with People Analytics. We develop data-driven strategies to identify, attract, develop, and retain top talent. We can help you move from HRIS and historical data to predictive answers and recommendations. We aim to give you a complete picture of your workforce to help address your key workforce questions.
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Click to view | <urn:uuid:aea17b4f-1d9a-480b-a20f-5308ce42d207> | https://percipient.ca/ | en | 0.912049 | 0.094877 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
NHS health checks - Who can get the check?
The NHS Health Check looks for early signs of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia.
Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who has not been diagnosed with one of those conditions, will be checked. You’ll be invited for the check once every five years by your GP.
If you’re outside the age range and are concerned about your health, you should still contact your GP.
What is an NHS Health Check?
Who can get the check?
What happens?
What will the results be?
Why is the check important? | <urn:uuid:8a0f5638-e010-419f-a0ea-a8f4ad9d3723> | https://screeningsaveslives.co.uk/nhs-health-check/who-is-eligible/ | en | 0.947435 | 0.23432 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Sonic the Hedgehog
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Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 219 is the two hundred nineteenth issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by Archie Comics.
Official solicitation
Sonic and Geoffrey St. John are sent on a perilous mission into the Special Zone. Nothing two heroes can't handle, right? That is, until a shocking twist puts one of our heroes in mortal danger! Then, get a sneak peek into the next great Sonic game with 'Sonic Colors!'
Featured stories
In Service to the King Part One
In New Mobotropolis, Mina Mongoose is having a nightmare. In it, she relives a twisted version of the Iron Dominion's takeover of NICOLE and the city itself. A traumatized Mina is snatched from her bed by a monstrous Iron NICOLE, who tells her that the heroes have fled while citizens are being Legionized. Mina suddenly wakes up with a cry as a storm rumbles outside. She sits on the edge of her bed, looking miserable.
In Castle Acorn, a disgruntled Maximillian Acorn asks why Commander Geoffrey St. John has decided to bring Sonic the Hedgehog along, saying he had wanted to speak with the commander alone. His wife, Alicia Acorn, apologizes for his mood, blaming the bad weather. Geoffrey takes no offense, saying that Max had earlier tasked him to find a way to "restore the monarchy to proper authority" (as Max seemingly disapproves of his son Elias Acorn's decision to form the Council of Acorn). When Max confirms this, Geoffrey suggests attaining a Chaos Emerald, explaining that he has brought Sonic along as an emerald might be hard to get without "acceptable losses." Geoffrey is given permission to proceed as he sees fit, and he and Sonic leave the room. Sonic, not happy to have been dragged out of bed on a rainy day, asks Geoffrey if he will finally tell him what is going on. Geoffrey explains that, while it is "heart-breaking" to say, Max is getting senile. Thinking he could make things as they were before the war, he had officially asked Geoffrey to find a way to make that happen. Sonic wonders how a Chaos Emerald is supposed to help in that case, and Geoffrey merely replies that it will let Max think things are changing and be none the wiser - additionally, having a Chaos Emerald around would be useful regardless. While Sonic admits he does not quite feel right leading the former king on like that, he says it is a good plan... for Geoffrey.
The two head out into the storm, Geoffrey atop a motorcycle with helmet and Sonic wearing goggles. Geoffrey explains that he needs Sonic's help because he has experience with the Special Zone and seems to be on the good side of its ruler, Feist. Sonic accepts this as a compliment and teasingly asks what Geoffrey's wife, Hershey St. John, would think of this; Geoffrey dryly replies that Sonic's not his type ("Which is to say you're vacuous and narcissistic"). The two arrive at Freedom HQ, and as Sonic continues to tease Geoffrey, he doesn't immediate notice Mina, hitting her with the door as she removes her rain jacket. Sonic is quick to apologize, but Ash Mongoose, Mina's boyfriend, is not impressed; however, his verbal assault is cut short by Mina, who's unusually irate. Surprised, Ash apologizes to her, and Sonic asks if she's okay. Closing her eyes, Mina insists she's fine. She tells Sonic she wanted to get out of the city for a bit and brainstorm her new album, asking if it's okay that she stay at Freedom HQ. Sonic says she's always welcome, as, despite her having decided against becoming a Freedom Fighter, he considers her one of the group. She thanks him and Geoffrey leads Sonic off, reminding him they have work to do.
Waiting until Sonic and Geoffrey enter the lab, Ash approaches Mina, asking if she was still suffering nightmares. Mina tries to hold it in, but then breaks into tears, saying she can't handle it anymore. Ash leads her to the couch to sit, encouraging her to talk, and she explains that it feels as though she's reliving the Iron Dominion's occupation over and over. Ash reassures her, telling her that despite the horrors the endured, she still assisted with the evacuation via Warp Ring, but Mina sobs into her hands, saying that they couldn't save everyone with the Dark Egg Legion and Yagyu Clan lurking everywhere. The most horrific aspect, however, was NICOLE herself; as the AI running the city's Nanites, she was "everywhere" - Mina tearfully recalls people being captured by their own beds or snatched off the street by the trees. Mina says that while she knows Sonic insists NICOLE is now fine, and that she wants to trust NICOLE, she still feels scared that AI might again lose control and they'd be helpless against her. Ash says that a lot of people feel the same way. Mina, frustrated, adds that it seems as though the Freedom Fighters are oblivious to the potential danger, saying that for them they just left for a while and saved the day.
Ash has a sudden realization; he tells Mina that as she had wanted to do something new with her music for a while, this would be the perfect opportunity. Catching on, Mina realizes she can use her music to make a statement and make people aware of the situation. Ash agrees, saying they'll be able to wake people up with a new sound. Her tears diminishing, Mina grabs Ash by the hand and leads him off, wanting to start right away.
In the lab, Sonic asks NICOLE to power up the Star Posts leading to the Special Zone. Sonic again says he feels a little bad acting on pretense; Geoffrey replies "whatever it takes to preserve the kingdom." Sonic thinks Geoffrey's attitude is boring, and then asks how Hershey's doing, commenting that he hasn't seen her in a while. To Sonic's surprise, Geoffrey goes silent, frowning. Then he smiles and says that Hershey's doing fine but that she's deep under cover, adding "I won't be seeing her for a while." Sonic finds that understandable. NICOLE informs the two that the Star Posts are now online, and Sonic tells Geoffrey to brace himself, as the Special Zone can be "intense." Having read reports, Geoffrey is sure he can handle it...and finds himself shocked when he steps through the portal. The two have arrived on a small planetoid, and are caught by surprise when an angry Feist grabs the entire orb in his hand. The godlike being does not want to "tolerate an infestation of mortals" but a panicked Sonic quickly tries to remind him who he is, and Feist eventually calms. Feist assumes they have come for another Chaos Emerald and prepares to offer a challenge, but says that if they do not abide by his rules and attempt to defy him "as the others did" he will punish them. Sonic quickly agrees, wondering who else had gotten access to the Zone. Geoffrey, catching on to things, asks Feist if he likes games; he then suggests that he pit Sonic and himself against each other to make things more interesting. Feist is pleased by this, but Sonic isn't; Geoffrey assures him that it should still be an easy task and that it placates Feist. Playfully trading insults, Sonic and Geoffrey bump fists and then prepare to set off for the challenge; navigating a winding path and reaching the purple Chaos Emerald at the end. Sonic tells Geoffrey "May the best super-speedy hedgehog win" and takes off like a shot; unbeknown to him, Geoffrey stays put. The skunk watches as Sonic navigates the treacherous path with ease. Just before Sonic reaches the emerald, Geoffrey calmly pulls out a dart of sorts and loads his wrist-mounted crossbow. Sonic, with the emerald in tow, quickly returns, unimpressed that Geoffrey didn't even try. Geoffrey, in return, shoots Sonic with a stunning dart; he tells the frozen-but-furious hedgehog he didn't need to, and then boots Sonic from the planetoid and into the abyss. Feist is delighted by this treacherous act, and Geoffrey takes the emerald and walks through the portal.
In Freedom HQ, NICOLE attempts to get someone's attention but Geoffrey ignores her. He passes by Mina's room, where she and Ash are practicing music. Strapping the emerald to his back, he gets on his motorcycle and leaves, approaching but then driving past New Mobotropolis. Instead, he arrives at Casino Night. He approaches one of the staff members, Scratch, and demands to meet his boss. Another staff member, Coconuts, appears alongside two SWATbots and tells the skunk, "Nobody sees Mister Mogul without an appointment."
Not long afterwards, Geoffrey bursts into a room, holding a beaten and battered Coconuts before him, who feebly announces "Y-y-your eleven o'clock is here, sir." Sitting behind his desk, Mammoth Mogul calmly notes Geoffrey's arrival and the Chaos Emerald with him, dryly commenting, "I'm not sure if we have enough chips to exchange for that." Geoffrey replies that he's there to barter, not gamble. Mogul is unimpressed; he says that as he's retired from "daily antagonism and malevolence" he has no need for a second Chaos Emerald. Geoffrey replies that the emerald isn't for him, but rather that it's needed for his mission, and that Mogul has the last thing he needs. Mogul wonders what this mission is, and Geoffrey tells him, "To restore the so called true king to the throne." As they speak, they look over to the chained and unaware Ixis Naugus...
Sonic Colors
Sonic Colors comic adaption.
After exiting an orbital elevator, Sonic and Tails are greeted by an announcement welcoming them to Dr. Eggman's "not-at-all-sinister" interstellar amusement park. Tails is woozy from the elevator ride, though Sonic merely found it "kinda slow." He announces it is time to find out what Eggman's planning to do with this new amusement park. He then notices Orbot and Cubot chasing a number of small, strange creatures, trying to capture them. Sonic rushes ahead and snatches a number of the creatures from their clutches, not sure as to what is happening, but also not wanting to see them mistreated. To his surprise, one of the creatures suddenly seems to dissolve - and Sonic realizes he has somehow absorbed its power. Curious to see what he can do, he suddenly launches into an incredibly fast, laser-like attack, destroying several of the nearby robots.
Orbot and Cubot are shocked and decide that it is time for them to escape. The small creature reappears and Sonic is impressed with its ability. Another creature attempts to communicate with him, and although Sonic is able to gather that it is quite a talker, he cannot understand him. Tails suggests that he might be able to attune his handheld device so that they can understand the creatures, and soon comes up with an awkward, confusing translation. Then, with some adjustments, he clarifies what was said: Dr. Eggman had captured the creatures' planet in order to give himself a special supply of fuel. Sonic figures that makes more sense, comparatively, and attempts to reassure the "little talktative ghostly-alien guy" (Tails interrupts, informing him that the alien's name is Yacker and that he is of a race called "Wisps"). Sonic says that he will save Yacker's planet and the Wisps, adding that, with their powers, they will likely be able to offer a hand. He races off, saying, "Then let's get this show on the road!"
Off Panel
See also: Off Panel
Off Panel
Geoffrey St. John's status in the comic series as being "bad" or "good" is compared, from replacing Sally with a robot clone (which Sally wanted), to bullying then-Prince Elias into carrying out his actions (to help advise the Prince). Then, Geoffrey's former rivalry with Sonic is looked at as having changed to a friendship. Finally, Sonic asks Geoffrey "Whose side are you on?!" Geoffrey grins and replies "There's no fun in telling. YOOOOOOOU'LL SEE!"
Sonic: Aw, that's so sweet. What would Hershey think?
Geoffrey: She knows you're not my type. Which is to say you're vacuous and narcissistic.
Sonic: Quiet, you'll make me blush--
Mina: ...and Nicole! Running every single thing in the city with those little nanite-things! Beds eating people! Trees snatching you right off the street! She was everywhere!
Mogul: Commander St. John, is it? And with a Chaos Emerald, no less. I'm not sure if we have enough chips to exchange for that.
• This issue contains an In Another Time, In Another Place adaptation of Sonic Colors.
• Feist's challenge in this issue appears to be based on the half-pipe Special Stage seen in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 video game, complete with floating mines.
• In one scene while Sonic is running through the course, he is drawn without his ears.
• The tune Sonic "sings" when he claims the purple Chaos Emerald is a reference to the classic "successfully acquired emerald" jingle from the Sonic games.
• Bivalve of the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters makes a third cameo appearance on a monitor in the Freedom HQ's lab after Geoffrey exits the Special Zone.
• Posters from both of Mina's bands, the Forget Me Knots and the Knothole Knuts, appear in her room.
• Despite appearing on the cover, Elias Acorn does not appear in this issue, although he does appear in the Off Panel.
• The issue marks the first, but not true appearance of Orbot and Cubot in the comics, as these are versions from an alternate reality. Their Prime Zone counterparts would not be introduced until Sonic Universe #37.
• In the Sonic Colors story, in the panel that all the Wisps are shown, the Violet Wisp is missing.
• In the United Kingdom, "Sonic Colors" was printed in All About... #73 and as a digital comic accessible through the QR code feature in Pedigree's Sonic Interactive Annual.
Preview pages
External links
| <urn:uuid:43ab2138-3df1-4a33-9a3f-7d0c75733ac6> | https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Archie_Sonic_the_Hedgehog_Issue_219 | en | 0.969936 | 0.034941 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Lobster Man from Mars
Lobster Man from Mars (1989) 5.3
1989-01-29(美国)| 喜剧 恐怖 科幻| 美国
上映时间：1989-01-29(美国) 类型： 喜剧 恐怖 科幻
获奖信息：圣丹斯国际电影节(1989年) 获奖：1
评分： 力荐
Young film student tries to sell his weird movie to a desparate film producer who is in need of a tax write-off. The producer screens the fi...更多>
Professor Plocostomos: If you were a lobster man, would you go into a haunted house surrounded by hot springs? Professor Plocostomos: Do you think you can kill an alien space bat with bullets? Tommy Sledge: I had a hunch - not an idea, not even a feeling, more like a rabbit punch to the base of the brain. The Dreaded Lobster Man: Is this the end of Mombo? Professor Plocostomos: Their purpose is clear - maybe not to you, but to me. Mary: It's all very simple! Bunny men from Neptune have invaded Mars! J.P. Shelldrake: Lou, DO something about it! Tommy Sledge: It means that either he escaped, or he walked backwards from the horizon to commit suicide in this bonfire.
Lobster Man from Mars
| <urn:uuid:ff1b697f-9e7b-467e-bcaa-bd9316474fcb> | https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/1988639/ | en | 0.842528 | 0.298918 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Mgr Dario Vigano, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for Communication, explained that he had asked Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to “write a page or a page and a half of dense theology in his clear and punctual style that (we) would have liked to read this evening.”
Pope Benedict wrote he hope that the series would contradict “the foolish prejudice of those who see Pope Francis as someone who lacks a particular theological and philosophical formation …”
The Associated Press’ Vatican reporter, Nicole Winfield, wrote, “The Vatican admitted Wednesday that it altered a photo sent to the media of a letter of retired Pope Benedict XVI about Pope Francis. The manipulation changed the meaning of the image in a way that violated photojournalist industry standards.”
The Vatican explained that the letter itself was never intended to be made public.
At a news conference, Mgr Vigano read out loud the lines that were subsequently obscured. | <urn:uuid:ded715bc-564b-42f1-8820-99422122b95b> | https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2018_03_16_archive.html | en | 0.957584 | 0.058617 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Sunglasses are the most important and significant fashion accessory you can ever have. No matter how bad your day has been and how unkempt you look, a decent pair of sunglasses can transform your outfit of the day in a matter of seconds and save your day no matter what the shape, style, frame or colour is. This tiny but significant fashion accessory can also enhance your coolness quotient just like that-be it a bad hair day or just one of those days when you feel bloated, your trustworthy fashion accessory will always have your back. Of course, if the fact that sunglasses, as a fashion accessory, are indispensable, is not enough for you, then these reasons are a proof why you should always keep a pair of sunglasses ready at hand.
These are only some of the reasons as to why you should keep your shades nearby. If you already don’t own the perfect pair of designer shades, you should get one as soon as you can. For more information and exclusive coupon codes to make your shopping experience even better visit
1. To enhance your sexiness: You do not even need a reason to keep a pair of sunglasses on your head. Sunglasses are a style statement. Invest in really great designer shades which will transform a simple dress into a sexy outfit.
1. Save yourself from the UV rays: While sunscreens do a lot to save us from the harmful glare of the ultraviolet rays there is little they can do to protect our eyes. People often choose to forgo sunglasses because they are afraid of the metaphorical “panda eyes”. Since sunglasses prevent the area around the eyes from getting tanned while the rest of the face gets scorched and tanned in the sun. Without the protection provided by the sunglasses, the ultraviolet rays will not only harm the eyes but will also cause the area around the eyes to wrinkle, thereby giving you the much-dreaded crow’s foot. That is not all. Extended exposure to sun rays can also cause glaucoma and cataract. Ultraviolet rays have been shown to not only worsen the symptoms of glaucoma they have also lead to complete blindness in some instances. If the reasons weren’t convincing enough exposure to sun rays, have also been proved to cause macular degeneration.
1. Acing the no-makeup look: We all have one of those days when we are too late even to put on a touch of kajal or eyeliner. On those dreadful days, you can always trust your sunglasses to save your day. There is something so inherently cool about sunglasses that even a bare face looks glamorous.
1. Save you from all the glare: Sometimes staring at the screen for too long may cause terrible headaches. In such a scenario your only weapon against a headache-inducing screen glare is your trustworthy sunglasses.
1. Bad hair day to casual chic: We have all had one of those days when we don’t have any concept what to do with our hair. Even the bun fails at times, and there are in a lot of clueless strays and fly-aways. Of course, you could use a hand band, but that wouldn’t be as cool. Simply put your sunglasses on your head, and it will miraculously take care of even the worst hair days, and make you look so effortlessly cool and casually chic.
1. Hide away the dark circles with a touch of luxury: Dark circles are so frustrating and so hard to deal with- be it a bad hangover or simply a long night dark circles are a menace. While the remedies do work, they simply take too long and in the interim period all you need to do is put on your trendiest pair of shades.
1. Plain old convenience: Shades are one of those things we always keep at hand yet don’t know where to keep them once we are done using them. Of course, keeping a pair of shades on your head is the coolest thing ever, and it will even enhance your sexiness quotient. However, it is undeniable that we often keep sunglasses on the head because it is merely convenient. Keeping the sunglasses on the head not only keeps us aware of its location but also prevents us from losing it. | <urn:uuid:2ea9d668-3958-48b9-8c9c-10dd210fd186> | https://www.strongseal.org/interesting-things-you-didnt-know-about-sunglasses/ | en | 0.949524 | 0.026726 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
15 Best Things to Do in Coventry (Warwickshire, England)
England’s 9th largest urban centre has the cachet of being both a historic cathedral city and a modern manufacturing hub.
The 14th-century St Michael’s Cathedral was bombed out in the war and its ruins have been conserved as a symbol of peace next to a bold, modern cathedral built in the post-war period.
In the Cathedral Quarter are traces from when Coventry was a cloth-making capital in Medieval times, like the astounding St Mary’s Hall from the 14th century.
For a lot of the 20th century Coventry was a hotbed for British vehicle and cycle manufacturing, and the prestige brand Jaguar is still headquartered in the city.
Let’s explore the best things to do in Coventry:
1. Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry Transport Museum
Source: Caron Badkin / shutterstock
Coventry Transport Museum
Given its manufacturing heritage, Coventry is an appropriate place for a transport museum.
Here you can run the rule over the world’s largest collection of British-made vehicles, among which are many Jaguars, Triumphs, Humbers and Standards.
Some of these have exciting tales to tell, like the Austin Metro owned by Lady Diana, a Humber Staff Car that General Montgomery rode in during the Second World War and the bus that carried Coventry City football team on their parade after they won the FA Cup in 1987. Two head-turners are the Thrust2 and the ThrustSSC, which broke the world land speed records in 1983 and 1997. The latter hit 763 mph and became the first road vehicle to break the sound barrier.
2. Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral
Source: Caron Badkin / shutterstock
Coventry Cathedral
The 14th-century Gothic St Michael’s Cathedral was bombed out on 14 November 1940 during the Second World War.
This structure has been left in a state of ruin as a memorial, allowing you to walk through the nave and ponder the window tracery.
The tower is the largest surviving remnant, and is a working bell-tower that has a visitor information centre on its ground floor and can be climbed for £4. The new cathedral next door was designed by Basil Spence and consecrated in 1962, and has been voted the UK’s favourite 20th-century monument.
Make time to see the immense tapestry of Christ by Graham Sutherland, the stained glass windows by Lawrence Lee and the Expressionist Great West Screen by John Hutton.
Check out the recommended hotels in Coventry, England
3. St Mary’s Guildhall
St Mary's Guildhall
Source: Martin Fowler / shutterstock
St Mary’s Guildhall
A window on Coventry’s distinguished Medieval past, St Mary’s Guildhall was built in the 1340s and then enlarged to its current proportions at the end of the century.
It was the headquarters of the influential St Mary’s Guild, and then a unified set of guilds until they were suppressed by Henry VIII in the 16th century.
At that time, the mayor and corporation of Coventry moved in and remained until the 20th century.
St Mary’s Guildhall is free to enter, and is one of the most beautiful surviving guildhalls in the UK. You can hear about Shakespeare and Mary Queen of Scots’ stay at St Mary’s in Tudor times, and admire collections of art, weapons, armour and furniture.
Best of all is the Great Hall, which has Medieval stained glass, angels carved into its ceiling beams and one of the UK’s most valuable tapestries.
4. Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
Source: MarkUK97 / shutterstock
Herbert Art Gallery And Museum
Locally known as The Herbert, this sensational gallery and museum has strong collections in visual arts, archaeology, natural history and social history.
Start at the British Life and Landscapes exhibition where there are works by important 20th-century English painters like Paul Nash, L. S. Lowry, Stanley Spencer and David Bomberg, The outstanding piece in the art collection is Lady Godiva, by the Pre-Raphaelite John Collier, appropriately displayed in Lady Godiva’s home city.
The archaeology department takes you from Prehistory up to the Stuarts in the 17th century, drawing on Stone Age ceramics, Roman artefacts from Coventry’s Lunt Fort, Anglo-Saxon tiles, vessels and weapons.
But richest of all is the Medieval collection, harking back to when Coventry was thriving.
From this period you can inspect a 15th-century helmet, carved choir stalls from a Carmelite friary and high-quality stonemasonry from a Benedictine priory.
5. Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church
Source: Tupungato / shutterstock
Holy Trinity Church
The only Medieval place of worship in Coventry to come through the war unscathed, the Holy Trinity Church has one of the tallest spires (73 metres) of any non-cathedral church in the country.
The church was consecrated in the 12th century and updated in the 17th century and then in the 1850s, by the renowned restorer George Gilbert Scott.
What makes the Holy Trinity exceptional is its engrossing “Doom” painting of the Last Judgment above the tower arch.
This was composed in the 1430s, but would have been covered over with limewash during the Reformation.
The work was rediscovered in 1831, but restoration work wouldn’t begin until the 1990s, and the painting was unveiled once more in 2004.
6. War Memorial Park
War Memorial Park
Source: bq Photography / shutterstock
War Memorial Park
After the First World War the city bought 50 acres of land from the Lords of Styvchale Manor to lay out a park in memory of the Coventry’s war dead.
The gardens were completed across the 1920s and 30s, while the focal point is the 27-metre monument built from Portland stone and dedicated in 1927. At the start of the 2010s the park was given a multimillion pound makeover and has since earned coveted Green Flag status for its upkeep and facilities.
In one part is the memorial and garden, while the other has playing fields, a “Splash ‘n’ Play Park”, a golf course and tennis courts.
In spring and summer there’s a lot going on, like the Sikh and Hindu Vaisakhi Mela festival, the Caribbean Festival and the famous Godiva Festival, which we’ll talk about later.
7. Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick Arts Centre
The well-regarded University of Warwick is under five miles southwest of Coventry, and is the second largest arts complex outside of London’s Barbican.
The Warwick Arts Centre is in the middle of the university campus and puts on more than 3,000 individual events a year.
There’s drama by leading theatre companies, art exhibitions, national opera, talks with Nobel Prize-winning writers, comedy, classical and contemporary music, dance and movie screenings across five venues.
Being part of an educational institution there are often post-performance talks by artists and actors, as well as theatre workshops by some of the country’s top companies.
8. Coventry Music Museum
Coventry Music Museum
Source: twitter.com
Coventry Music Museum
Coventry and Warwickshire have produced some modern music trailblazers, and they are all celebrated at this spirited museum.
You can take a closer look at artists like the electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire, who was a member of the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop and produced the famous electronic arrangement of the Dr Who theme.
Coventry was also ground zero for Two-tone, a multicultural cross-pollination of punk and ska.
There’s a lot of exhibition space devoted to the genre and its most famous band, The Specials.
The museum also has a chronology of the history of music in the region, going back to Roman times, a reproduction of a record shop booth and an interactive recording studio.
9. Midland Air Museum
In two hangars and a grassy space at Coventry Airport, the Midland Air Museum is a showcase for British and international post-war aircraft design.
It comprises the Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre, named after the Coventry native who invented and patented the first turbojet engine in 1930. A small sample of the many aircraft on show includes a Gloster Javelin, a Lockheed Starfighter, a MiG-21, a Panavia Tornado, an Avro Vulcan and a Dassault Mystère IV. There’s also an exhibition about the career of Frank Whittle and an array of piston, gas turbine and rocket engines, five by Rolls-Royce and five by Armstrong Siddeley.
10. Lady Godiva Statue
Lady Godiva Statue
Source: Claudio Divizia / shutterstock
Lady Godiva Statue
Lady Godiva was a real historical figure, an 11th-century noblewoman who was wife to Leofric, Earl of Mercia.
According to a popular legend she rode naked (covered only by her long hair) on horseback through Coventry in protest at her husband’s excessive taxation of his tenants.
Her modesty was preserved because the whole city averted their gaze, save for one man, a “Peeping Tom”, who is supposed to have been struck blind as a poetic punishment.
This is the origin of the term “Peeping Tom”, while the statue of Godiva’s legendary ride can be seen atop a solemn plinth on Broadgate and was erected in 1949. Also on Broadgate is a clock with a figure of Godiva that appears on the hour, watched by Peeping Tom.
Check out the recommended hotels in Coventry, England
11. Lunt Roman Fort
Lunt Roman Fort
Source: Gail Johnson / shutterstock
Lunt Roman Fort
In the south of Coventry is a Roman fort, partly reconstructed by the Royal Engineers in the 1970s following an archaeological survey.
The fort’s exact roots are unclear, but it is believed to date from around 60AD, and was put up in the wake of the Roman defeat of East Anglia’s Iceni tribe, led by Queen Boudica.
The camp has the typical square footprint of a Roman fort, except for one portion on the east side where there’s a circular bulge that has been rebuilt.
There’s nothing else like this in the Roman Empire, and it is believed this “gyrus” might have been used to train horses.
The granary and gatehouse have also been rebuilt and the fort’s small museum has a colour representation of the frieze from the Trajan’s Column in Rome.
12. FarGo
Source: nrqemi / shutterstock
Since 2014 a former industrial zone east of Coventry University has been reborn as a hub for creative, young and independent businesses.
In repurposed warehouses and the alleys between them are vintage clothes shops, graphic design and animation studios, candle-makers, a micro-brewery and pub and a vegan cafe.
The Box is a stylish 500-capacity performing arts venue, while maybe the quirkiest thing at FarGo is a museum devoted entirely to the American 20th-century TV actor Phil Silvers, best known for Sergeant Bilko.
13. Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle
Source: BCFC / shutterstock
Kenilworth Castle
This magnificent castle was raised in Norman times, and testifies to pivotal events in English Medieval and Tudor history.
The six-month Siege of Kenilworth, the longest in English history, took place here in 1266 during the Second Barons’ War.
Later, Queen Elizabeth I was received at Kenilworth in 1575 with great fanfare by her friend and suitor, the Earl of Leicester.
The castle was updated throughout this time, but was gutted by Parliamentarians in 1649 to prevent it being reused.
The ruins are extensive and enthralling, with an 18-metre tower built for Elizabeth I that you can now climb, and the majestic the Gothic Great Hall, ordered by John of Gaunt in the 14th century.
You’ll need a day to see everything, from the interactive exhibition in the Tudor stables to the cultured Elizabethan garden.
14. Stoneleigh Abbey
Stoneleigh Abbey
Source: Nicola Pulham / shutterstock
Stoneleigh Abbey
Another great excuse to visit Kenilworth is Stoneleigh Abbey, a stately home on the site of a Cistercian abbey that was founded in the 12th century.
The abbey passed to the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Leigh in 1558 after the religious order was dissolved by Henry VIII. The lavish home that followed mixes Elizabethan and English Baroque architecture, due to a ceremonious west wing that was completed in 1726. There are also elements from the old abbey, most visibly the gatehouse from the 1300s.
One regular guest at Stoneleigh was Jane Austen, who was friends with the Leigh family.
You can take a special Austen-themed tour at the house, which is open five days a week.
In the grounds are restored gardens by the eminent 18th-century landscaper Henry Repton.
These, and the view over the River Avon, can be appreciated at the cafe in the abbey’s orangery.
15. Coventry Godiva Festival
Coventry Godiva Festival
Source: MarkUK97 / shutterstock
Coventry Godiva Festival
Coventry has the UK’s largest free family festival, taking place in War Memorial Park over three days at the end of August and start of September.
The event started out in 1997 and has always been known for its consistently strong alternative rock bill, complemented by some more mainstream artists.
In the last few years, the Happy Mondays, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Buzzcocks, the Stranglers have all played here.
There are two fields at the festival: The Family Field with all sorts of things for children, like a funfair, petting farm and falconry demonstrations, as well as a charity village and community stage.
The Main Field has music for all tastes.
In 2018 the headliners were 90s pop stars Ronan Keating and Gabrielle, but you can head off to see what else you can find around the food stalls, acoustic stage and craft and vintage market.
Where to stay: Best Hotels in Coventry, England
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List of Image Sources
15 Best Things to Do in Coventry (Warwickshire, England):
Lady Godiva Statue
• Coventry Transport Museum: Caron Badkin / shutterstock
• Coventry Cathedral: Caron Badkin / shutterstock
• St Mary’s Guildhall: Martin Fowler / shutterstock
• Herbert Art Gallery And Museum: MarkUK97 / shutterstock
• Holy Trinity Church: Tupungato / shutterstock
• War Memorial Park: bq Photography / shutterstock
• Warwick Arts Centre: James UK / flickr
• Coventry Music Museum: twitter.com
• Midland Air Museum: Roland Turner from Birmingham, Great Britain / Wikimedia
• Lady Godiva Statue: Claudio Divizia / shutterstock
• Lunt Roman Fort: Gail Johnson / shutterstock
• FarGo: nrqemi / shutterstock
• Kenilworth Castle: BCFC / shutterstock
• Stoneleigh Abbey: Nicola Pulham / shutterstock
• Coventry Godiva Festival: MarkUK97 / shutterstock | <urn:uuid:00fc2a9f-51d7-4e9d-ab7c-55c3772e095a> | https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-to-do-in-coventry-warwickshire-england/ | en | 0.942706 | 0.023509 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
PHY 124 Lab 1 - Electric Field Plotting
1. Plot lines of equal potential for two 2-dimensional charge distributions (see Ch16 sheet 15).
2. Construct the corresponding electric field lines (see Ch16 sheet 13).
• 1 Digital Voltmeter
• 2 Voltage probes
• 1 Platform
• 2 Carbonized Acetate Sheets (“parallel plate” and “dipole”) to be mounted on platform wires
• 1 Battery (~1.5V)
• 1 Meter ruler
Each carbonized sheet has a certain pattern of highly conducting areas silver-painted onto it. These painted areas are connected to the terminals of the battery which supplies charge to the conductors and maintains a constant potential between them. A current flows through the resistive carbon film from one conductor to the other. By probing the area between the conductors with the digital voltmeter, we will find sets of points that have zero potential difference (see Ch 16 sheet 14) between them, i.e. they lie on the same equipotential lines. Each sheet has a grid of reference marks to make it easy to identify the points between the conductors.
Plotting the equipotentials and field lines for the “Parallel Plates” arrangement
• Connect battery, terminals of the sheet and voltmeter as shown in the diagram above.
• Turn the voltmeter ON and set the scale to 2V. Make sure that you always have both carbon sheets together on the frame, with the sheet you are measuring on the top. (This ensures better contact with the terminals). The sheet with the plates is oriented such that the row numbers increase with increasing voltage, from low to high. The column numbers step in the direction along the parallel plates.
• The negative battery terminal is connected to the left “contact” on the sheet and the positive battery terminal to the right “contact”. The voltmeter input “-” is connected to the left parallel plate via the free standing stationary voltage probe and the terminal “+” is connected to the right parallel plate via the voltage probe with the handle This will be the probe you use for measuring voltage on the sheet, between the parallel plates. Make sure you have good contact between the terminals and the conducting strips leading to the plates. You should see on the voltmeter ~ 1 – 1.3 V. If you see less than ~1 V, your contact with the terminals is bad, most likely due to damage of the end of the conducting parallel plate shapes. By shifting the carbon sheet as indicated below you should be able to get ~ 1 V or more.
• Record the voltage between the 2 plates on your Execution Sheet.
• You are now going to measure the potential at various point and record your results on Xerox copies of the carbonized sheets (available from the instructor). Do not place the Xerox copy of the carbon sheet on top of it. Leave it on the side and record the results on this copy. Label the low and high voltage plates on your copy including the voltages on them, i.e. 0 for the low voltage plate by definition and your recorded value from the voltmeter on the high voltage plate.
• Next, leave the low voltage probe fixed at the low voltage parallel plate and put the handheld voltage probe in the center of the line of dots just below the high voltage parallel plate This should be column 8, row 9, which will be expressed as (8,9) from now on. Record the voltage from the voltmeter next to that point on your paper copy of the set up.
• Now, you want to find points that have no potential difference when compared to point (8,9). Put the standing voltage probe onto point (8,9). Take the handheld voltage probe and place it on nearby points until the voltmeter measures a ~ 0 V potential difference. Mark this point with a cross. Repeat this for a few different points until you have enough to determine the shape of the line. While you do this remember to leave the standing voltage probe on point (8,9).
• Once you have enough points, connect them to show the shape of the equipotential line. You can make your job quicker by thinking about the symmetry of the diagram to help you predict where the lines should go.
• You are now going to repeat this procedure to obtain several more equipotential lines in between the parallel plates. Again, start by putting the standing voltage probe onto the low voltage parallel plate. Put the handheld probe down to the center of the next row, point (8,8). This will give you the voltage of the next equipotential line. Then move the standing probe onto point (8,8) and use the handheld probe to look for lines with a ~ 0 V potential difference. Mark these and when you have enough, draw the equipotential lines.
• Repeat this process going down the sheet until you are just above the low voltage parallel plate. When you are finished you should have 7 equipotential lines between the two parallel plates. While you are doing this, pay attention to points that lie outside of the parallel plate configuration, because once outside of the two plates, the equipotential lines will no longer be parallel.
• When the equipotential lines have been drawn, you will be able to sketch the electric field lines. To do this, draw lines that are perpendicular to the equipotential lines. Draw several of these lines inside the parallel plates and one by each of the ends of the plates. Remember that electric field lines should also be perpendicular to the surface of any conductors on your sheets!
• These lines are electric field lines for the parallel plate charge distribution. Indicate with arrows how the electric field begins on areas with positive charge and ends on areas with negative charge.
When you have finished your diagram should look similar to the example below.
Calculating an Electric Field
The electric field in a uniform part of your diagram can be calculated from the voltage difference between 2 equipotential lines and the distance between them taken in a direction perpendicular to the equipotential lines and using the formula . (see Ch16 sheet 27p). Choose a region with a uniform electric field in your parallel plate drawing. Is this region close to the edge of the plates or is it in the interior of your plot? Indicate on your sheet with the equipotential lines where you take these measurements and write the voltage and distance values needed for your calculation of the electric field onto your worksheet. Use 5 mV for the errors in the 2 voltages . For the error of simply use half of the smallest division of your ruler.
We need to find the error in the value of the field we have measured from the error in our measured quantities. You can find the absolute error in by using equation E.6 of Error and Uncertainty. Then you find the error in the field by using E.7 to find the relative error in the field . Multiply that by your value of to find the absolute error in .
Complete the table on your worksheet.
Plotting the equipotentials and field lines for the “Dipole” arrangement
• Repeat the search for equipotential lines for the “dipole” charge distribution. Orient your carbon sheet on the platform as you did for the parallel plates. First, obtain the voltage between the 2 poles by putting the standing probe on the low voltage pole and the handheld probe on the high voltage pole. Record this on your Execution Sheet and also label the electrodes on your sketch with these values.
• Next, you will be finding equipotential lines. The procedure for this is very similar to the first part of the lab, but you must be careful. The shape of the equipotential lines is very different and you cannot just look for points on a straight line.
• Again, start with a point just below the center of the high voltage pole. This should be point (8,9). Obtain the voltage at that point by using the probes to compare it to the low voltage pole (This is exactly how you did it in the first half of the lab). Then look for points with the same potential as (8,9) by leaving the standing probe on (8,9) and moving the handheld probe to other nearby points, noting where the voltmeter reads ~ 0 V. Notice that the points will curve away from (8,9). Mark these points and when you have enough draw and equipotential line connecting them.
• Repeat this process by going down the sheet from the high voltage pole to the low voltage pole in the way that you did for the first half of the lab. When you are done you should have 7 equipotential lines and the voltage for each one.
• Finally, draw electric field lines from this configuration by drawing several lines which are always perpendicular to both the equipotential lines and to the surface of any conductors. Make sure to use arrows to note the direction the field travels across the sheet.
Some questions to discuss with your TAs
Looking at the electric field lines you drew for the “dipole” arrangement, where is the field the most dense, close to the + and - charges or closer to the horizontal center line of the graph? Compare your observation with the sketch shown in Ch15 sheet 26.
If you replace the negative charge in the dipole by a positive charge, is the pattern of the electric field lines the same as measured for the +/- dipole?
phy124/lab_1.txt · Last modified: 2010/04/28 15:23 by mdawber | <urn:uuid:f270414d-042f-4f84-a30d-a44e01a1f603> | http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Class/phy122ps/labs/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=phy124:lab_1 | en | 0.898314 | 0.033998 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Gifts of Christmas: Hope
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“So Samuel passed on the LORD’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king.”
1 Samuel 8:10 (NLT)
1 Samuel 8:19 (NLT)
Compartmentalization is the practice of keeping things organized into separate categories. This is what the children of Israel did in the book of 1 Samuel; they wanted to separate their spiritual leader from the leader of their nation. God could be the leader of all things spiritual, but they wanted a human—in the form of a king—to lead their nation.
We can find that we do this with our personal lives: God can be in charge of our spiritual life, but we want to be in control of the things we deem to be secular.
Back to the Basics: Sanctification
John 3:6 (NASB)
Today is the conclusion of the “Back to the Basics” series of messages. What lies beyond being born again? Where do we go from here? In our physical life, we grow and mature from the day of our birth; the same is true in our spiritual life. Healthy things grow and therefore God desires for us to spiritually grow and reach spiritual maturity.
Back to the Basics: Justification
It is through justification that we are declared righteous by God. So today we look to answer three big questions:
1. Why do we need it? (Hebrews 9:27, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10)
2. What is it? (Romans 5:18-19)
3. How do we receive it? (Romans 3:21-22 ) | <urn:uuid:11432d5b-1bb8-4920-8c85-087d3f0b1138> | http://www.journeychurchrf.org/sermons/page/30/ | en | 0.952606 | 0.936625 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
CHRIS: Adaptation (Jonze, US, 2002)
About ten years ago I had an idea for a film. It was set in Thatcher’s Britain (the early 80s) where two young lads are trying to raise money for a science fiction film that they want to make and begin to claim the pension of an old neighbour who they find dead.
Everything was going well: I had synopsis, a smart line in witty dialogue and a contact in the film world who was interested in taking the idea to some people in the industry. I then bought Robert McKee’s STORY: STRUCTURE, STYLE AND THE PRINCIPLES OF SCREENWRITING to help develop the mechanics of the screenplay.
Somehow, the formulas and references that McKee makes in his book, based on his popular workshops, managed to kill the idea dead in its tracks.
A similar fate besets Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) who is persuaded by his alter ego, twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage) to attend McKee’s workshop to find inspiration as he struggles to adapt the non-fiction book THE ORCHID THIEF, by New Yorker journalist, Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep at her most enchanting). Following the success of Kaufman and Jonze’s previous collaboration BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (1999), he was commissioned by Columbia to write an adaptation of the book. He wrestled with writers-block as he realised that there is no narrative thread, and this film came out of his experience of trying to create a story about creating a story from The Orchid Thief.
Cage is great as the twins: the easy-going Donald who is a first time screenwriter and the ideas are flowing for him, while Charlie struggles with self-doubt and prevarication. Robert McKee is played by Brian Cox, and Charlie visits his workshop to break through the block:
Charlie Kaufman: (voice-over) I have failed, I am panicked. I’ve sold out. I am worthless, I… what the fuck am I doing here? Fuck. Its my weakness, my ultimate lack of conviction that brings me here. Easy answers used to shortcut to success. And here I am because my jump into the abysmal well – isn’t that just a risk one takes when attempting something new? I should leave here right now. I’ll start over. I need to face this project head on, and …
The genius of Kaufman is his willingness to push at the conventions of narrative by celebrating the formulas used in Hollywood writing while at the same time deflating them. It seems that he is using the idea of ‘adaptation’ in its evolutionary sense: just as the orchid has developed and changed into a thing of beauty, so must writing.
As for my idea for a film, well SON OF RAMBOW (2007) and SUPER 8 (2011) have shown that there is no millage in films about kids making films.
3 responses to “CHRIS: Adaptation (Jonze, US, 2002)
1. It is a great film but I’m unsure about the third act. I understand Kaufman is trying to make a point about Hollywood screenwriting but I’m not convinced it’s worth sabotaging the end of your own film to make it. I admire the chutzpah of it though.
2. Pingback: Starburst Memories: How To Write Groundhog Day by Danny Rubin | The Dirk Malcolm Alternative·
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Federation of Austrolis
Flag of Austrolis
Map of Austrolis
Map of Austrolis
Official languagesAustrolisian
GovernmentFederal parliamentary republic
• President
Amanda Ferosan
Gidean Il'Jarro
• Founding
May 16th, 1679
• Constitution of Austrolis
April 5th, 1901
• Federation
April 5th, 1911
357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi)
• 2020 estimate
Date formatmm-dd-yyyy
The Federation of Austrolis, most commonly known as Austrolis, is a nation in the Coalition of Crown Albatross located in Western Adula, bordered by Kantoalina, Kint, Murzi, and Montanian. It has an extensive coastline along the Strait of Austrolis, allowing maritime access to the Toyana Ocean and the Albarine Sea. Austrolis is considered to be a middle and regional power with a significant economy (the second largest in Western Adula after Cadair), and is an emerging global leader in several industrial and technological sectors. It is a highly developed country with a very high standard of living, it offers social security and a universal health care system, environmental protections, and a tuition-free university education. Known for its long and rich cultural history, Austrolis has many heritage sites and is among the top tourism destinations in the world.
Austrolis' topographical map
Austrolis is in Western Adula, bordering Kint and Kantoalina to the north, Murzi and Montanian to the west, and the Strait of Austrolis to the west. Austrolis territory covers 357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi), consisting of 348,672 km2 (134,623 sq mi) of land and 8,350 km2 (3,224 sq mi) of water.
Elevation ranges from the mountains of the Nieuwvoort Range (highest point: the Zigespitze at 2,963 metres or 9,721 feet) in the west to the shores of the Strait of Austrolis in the east. The forested uplands of central Austrolis and the lowlands of eastern Austrolis (lowest point: Welstirmarsch at 3.54 metres or 11.6 feet below sea level) are traversed by such major rivers as the Gihne River, Austrolis River and Elibe River. Significant natural resources include iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, and nickel.
Most of Austrolis has a temperate climate, ranging from oceanic in the east to continental in the west. Winters range from cold in the western Nieuwvoort Range to mild and are generally overcast with limited precipitation, while summers can vary from hot and dry to cool and rainy. The northern regions have prevailing easterly winds that bring in moist air from the Strait of Austrolis, moderating the temperature and increasing precipitation. Conversely, the southeast regions have more extreme temperatures.
Nieuwvoort Range National Park on the border with Kint.
The territory of Austrolis can be divided into two ecoregions: Adulan-montane mixed forests and Southwest Adulan-shelf marine. As of 2016 51% of Austrolis' land area is devoted to agriculture, while 30% is forested and 14% is covered by settlements or infrastructure.
Plants and animals include those generally common to Western Adula. According to the National Forest Inventory, beeches, oaks, and other deciduous trees constitute just over 40% of the forests; roughly 60% are conifers, particularly spruce and pine. There are many species of ferns, flowers, fungi, and mosses. Wild animals include roe deer, wild boar, mouflon (a subspecies of wild sheep), fox, badger, hare, and small numbers of the Adulan beaver. The blue cornflower was once a Austrolis national symbol.
Austrolis is a federal, parliamentary, representative democratic republic. Federal legislative power is vested in the parliament consisting of the Federal Diet and Federal Council, which together form the legislative body. The Diet is elected through direct elections: half by majority vote and half by proportional representation. The members of the Council represent and are appointed by the governments of the sixteen federated states. The Austrolis political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1901 constitution known as the Grundgesetz (Basic Law). Amendments generally require a two-thirds majority of both the Diet and the Council; the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the federal structure, and the rule of law, are valid in perpetuity.
The President of Austrolis, currently Amanda Ferosan, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. She is elected by the federal convention, an institution consisting of the members of the Diet and an equal number of state delegates. The second-highest official in the Austrolis order of precedence is the President of the Diet, who is elected by the Diet and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body. The third-highest official and the head of government is the Chancellor of Austrolis, who is appointed by the President of the Council after being elected by the party or coalition with the most seats in the Diet. The chancellor, currently Gidean Il'Jarro, is the head of government and exercises executive power through their Cabinet.
Foreign Relations
Austrolis has a network of 227 diplomatic missions abroad and maintains relations with more than 50 countries. Austrolis is a member of the Coalition of Crown Albatross and has played an influential role in the Coalition since its inception. It has maintained a strong alliance with all neighboring countries since the conclusion of the 1990 Murzi Civil War. Austrolis promotes the creation of a more unified Western Adula political, economic and security apparatus. The governments of Austrolis, Cadair, Zamastan, and Avergnon are close political allies.
Austrolis MaG-39 fighter jet
Austrolis' military is organized into the Army and special forces, Navy, Air Force, Austrolis Joint Medical Service and Joint Support Service branches. As of January 2020, the Austrolis military has a strength of 184,001 active soldiers and 80,947 civilians. Reservists are available to the Armed Forces and participate in defence exercises and deployments abroad. Until 2011, military service was compulsory for men at age 18, but this has been officially suspended and replaced with a voluntary service. Since 2001 women may serve in all functions of service without restriction. Austrolis is a major exporter of major arms in the world.
Christianity as the largest religion in Austrolis, with 66.8% identified themselves as Christian, with 3.8% of those not being church members. 31.7% declared themselves as Protestants, including members of the Evangelical Church in Austrolis (which encompasses Lutheran, Reformed and administrative or confessional unions of both traditions) and the free churches; 31.2% declared themselves as Austrolisian Catholics, and Orthodox believers constituted 1.3%. Islam is the second largest religion in the country. In the 2011 census, 1.52 million people gave their religion as Islam.
Austrolisian is the official and predominant spoken language in Austrolis. Austrolisian is the most widely spoken first language in Adula, with around 320 million native speakers.
Responsibility for educational supervision in Austrolis is primarily organised within the individual federal states. Optional kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years old, after which school attendance is compulsory for at least nine years. Primary education usually lasts for four to six years. Secondary education includes three traditional types of schools focused on different academic levels: the Ginser enrols the most gifted children and prepares students for university studies; the Reschule for intermediate students lasts six years and the Hapschule prepares pupils for vocational education. The Gesamuche unifies all secondary education.
Most of the Austrolisian universities are public institutions, and students traditionally study without fee payment. The general requirement for university is the Abitur. Austrolis is one of the world's leading destination for international study. The established universities in Austrolis include some of the oldest in the world, with Heidenberg University (established in 1386) being the oldest. The University of Austrolisia, founded in 1810 by liberal educational reformers, became the academic model for many Adulan and Euronian universities.
See also: Cities in Austrolis
Metropolitan areas in Austrolis
1 Austrolisia 7,852,000
2 Feldkirch 3,244,000
3 Pathune 2,772,000
4 Benkau 2,202,000
5 Houilan 1,678,000
6 Krameirma 1,290,000
7 Dusdoffern 967,000
8 Kelsdaam 744,000
9 Aarvoorde 712,000
10 Traran 620,000
11 Dübensiedeln 601,000
12 Elsterzach 543,000
13 Nieuwvoort 421,000
14 Granheim 402,000
Lisian Castle is one of the most popular tourist destination spots in Austrolis
Austrolis has a social market economy with a highly skilled labor force, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It is one of the world's largest exporters of goods, and has the second largest national economy in Western Adula after Cadair. The top 10 exports of Austrolis are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipments, pharmaceuticals, transport equipments, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics.
In 2015, Austrolis was the world's seventh-largest consumer of energy. The government and the nuclear power industry agreed to phase out all nuclear power plants by 2021. It meets the country's power demands using 40% renewable sources. Austrolis is committed to several treaties promoting biodiversity, low emission standards, and water management. The country's household recycling rate is among the highest in the world—at around 65%. Nevertheless, the country's total greenhouse gas emissions were among the highest in Adula in 2017. The Austrolis energy transition is the recognised move to a sustainable economy by means of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Austrolis is the ninth most visited country in the world as of 2017, with 37.4 million visits. Austrolisia has become the third most visited city destination in Adula after Cardiff and Vongane. Additionally, more than 30% of Austrolisians spend their holiday in their own country. | <urn:uuid:8c3828b8-8913-4050-b572-e9a51ad263a9> | https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Austrolis | en | 0.93188 | 0.20866 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
@article{agriconnect:/content/ac_dm/16/6/EJC12020, author = "Hofmeyr, Izak", title = "Once-a-day keeps the costs at bay : focus on stock management", journal= "The Dairy Mail", year = "2009", volume = "16", number = "6", eid = "", pages = "52-57", doi = "", url = "https://journals.co.za/content/ac_dm/16/6/EJC12020", publisher = "Agri Connect (Pty) Ltd", issn = "1561-4301", type = "Journal Article", language = "English", keywords = "", abstract = "The popularity of milking only once a day, has increased over the past few years in various parts of the world. The main reason, it seems, is because it opens up more time for the dairy farmer. It seems as if New Zealand is at the forefront of exploring this phenomenon, but they are by no means the only country to practise once-a-day (OAD) milking.", } | <urn:uuid:f3c5c307-8573-4c44-9cf2-08cc2b619c85> | https://journals.co.za/content/ac_dm/16/6/EJC12020/cite/bibtex | en | 0.935414 | 0.997676 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
What are some examples of posets $\mathbb{P}$ which have the following properties? It's OK if the definition uses large cardinals or some other hypothesis.
1. $\mathbb{P}$ preserves stationary subsets of $\omega_1$
2. $\mathbb{P}$ fails to have the $\omega$-covering property. So in particular, $\mathbb{P}$ cannot be $\sigma$-distributive, or proper on any stationary set of countable models.
3. Whenever $\kappa$ has uncountable cofinality, then this remains true in $V^{\mathbb{P}}$.
Item (3) rules out Namba forcing,Prikry forcing, and the standard stationary tower forcings with critical point at least $\omega_2 $ (the latter preserve stationary subsets of $\omega_1 $ if the height of the tower is a Woodin cardinal, but change lots of regular cardinals to cof $\omega $).
Item (2) rules out several forms of antichain sealing forcings (all variants of sealing forcings I know of are of the form "proper followed by shooting a club", which has the countable covering property).
• 1
$\begingroup$ This seems somewhat close to recent work of Yair Hayut and yours truly. Although there's still quite a gap, if you require that $\Bbb P$ do not add new subsets of $\omega_1$, and that it is a "tiny bit homogeneous" (in an odd, technical sense), then it not change cofinalities at all. $\endgroup$ – Asaf Karagila Jul 15 '15 at 19:55
Let $(\kappa_n: n<\omega)$ be an increasing sequence of measurable cardinals with limit $\kappa,$ and for each $n$ let $U_n$ be a normal measure on $\kappa_n.$ Let $\mathbb{P}$ be the Prikry type forcing notion which adds one element Prikry to each $\kappa_n:$
$p\in \mathbb{P}$ iff $p=(s, A),$ where
1)$s$ is a finite sequence,
2) $\forall i< |s|, s(i) < \kappa_i,$
3) $A=(A_n: |s| \leq n < \omega),$ and $A_n \in U_n$,
$p=(s,A)\leq q=(t, B)$ iff:
1) $s$ end extends $t$,
2) $\forall |t| \leq i < |s|, s(i)\in B_i,$
3) $\forall |s| \leq n < \omega, A_n \subseteq B_n.$
The forcing adds an $\omega$-sequence to $\kappa,$ and can not be covered by any ground model set of size $\omega$ (in fact of size $< \kappa$), it adds no bounded subsets to $\kappa,$ and does not change cofinalities.
So the forcing is as requested.
| cite | improve this answer | |
• $\begingroup$ Do you know if the consistency strength of this violation of $\omega$-covering is exactly $\omega$ many measurable cardinals? $\endgroup$ – Yair Hayut Jul 16 '15 at 15:18
• $\begingroup$ Unfortunately I have no idea. $\endgroup$ – Mohammad Golshani Jul 17 '15 at 4:54
• 1
$\begingroup$ It can be done with just a single measurable cardinal: just take a quotient of Prikry forcing by another Prikry forcing on co-infinitely many coordinates. $\endgroup$ – Bill Chen Jul 18 '15 at 22:39
Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:816c68c7-ba62-4a10-af1c-3b07137ddaaa> | https://mathoverflow.net/questions/211634/posets-preserving-stationary-subsets-of-omega-1-and-no-new-textcof-omega | en | 0.826247 | 0.082189 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
the Enlightened One
• Role
• Difficulty
1. Passive
Gathering Fire
Reduces Mantra's cooldown each time Karma damages an enemy champion with one of her abilities (Half-effect for Karma's basic attacks)
2. Q
Inner Flame
Karma sends forth a ball of spirit energy that explodes and deals damage upon hitting an enemy unit. Mantra Bonus: In addition to the explosion, Mantra increases the destructive power of her Inner Flame, creating a cataclysm which deals damage after a short delay.
3. W
Focused Resolve
Karma creates a tether between herself and a targeted enemy, dealing damage and revealing them. If the tether is not broken, the enemy will be rooted and damaged again. Mantra Bonus: Karma strengthens the link, healing herself and extending the root duration.
4. E
Karma summons a protective shield that absorbs incoming damage and increases the Movement Speed of the protected ally. Mantra Bonus: Energy radiates out from her target, strengthening the initial shield and applying Inspire to nearby allied champions.
5. R
Can't display this ability in video format
Available Skins
Available Skins
Available Skins
Take League With You
| <urn:uuid:967fb28b-04cd-4a18-b9eb-3b36973ca78e> | https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/champions/karma/ | en | 0.88859 | 0.177746 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
How to get yourself stabbed...
Forum rules
Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby suvin123 » 07 Dec 2018, 03:45
jay65536 wrote:
David E. Cohen wrote:If you put the seven best players on the planet in a game, it is quite likely that ALL of them will be stabbed.
I used to agree with this. Now I'm not so sure.
I own a book called Scarne's Encyclopedia of Card Games. The last chapter talks about card tricks and cheating. Scarne asserts that when you get together a table full of great card cheats, none of them cheat. I love his quote explaining why--and I believe it is applicable to the quoted statement about Diplomacy.
"They do not, because they dare not."
I think if you got together the 7 best Diplomacy players in the world on one board, you wouldn't see that many stabs--because great players don't make bad stabs, nor do they allow good stabs. I suspect most of the game would unfold fairly straightforwardly.
To get back to the original thread topic, one thing to take away from it is the reverse perspective. It's not just about that list being things you should avoid doing. The other angle is, if you are in a game where someone else is displaying these behaviors, and you are continuing to trust them, you are very likely making a mistake by doing so. I have already, in 4 games, played with my fair share of people who have done things like this and then either expected I wouldn't notice, or else acted indignant when I told them I considered them unreliable or refused to follow through on plans with them. I suspect the prevalence of that behavior means there are many other people on here who don't consider those things red flags and allow themselves to be stabbed later by players who exhibit these behaviors as a warning sign.
Totally agreed. I think a game with 7 greatest players would be the most boring game ever. Most likely it would end up in 6 or 5 way draw to prevent someone from soloing. Diversity is the most important factor for dip to be fun - even trolls.
For the post, I was expecting to see stabbing because of 'circumstances', rather than because of 'person'. But still, I see your point especially people being silent. I don't feel sorry for stabbing silent people because they look like bots, rather than a person.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby jay65536 » 07 Dec 2018, 16:10
If you assume that all 7 players care about the draw size--which you probably shouldn't--then I don't think that's true. Anything from a solo (with someone throwing it) to a 4way draw could happen.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby David E. Cohen » 07 Dec 2018, 21:56
In my experience, the best players in the world (I have played in several games with world email or world FTF champions together with other very good/elite players) do not shy away from stabs. Granted, this is anecdotal, not statistical evidence, but it is the evidence I have.
In order to excel, you need to be willing to risk it all. Going to pull out Teddy Roosevelt here:
Play every game of Diplomacy as if it will be the last game of Diplomacy you will ever play.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby Mr.E » 24 Feb 2019, 23:43
Sorry, I know this thread has been quiet for a fair while, but I've been absent for a longer while, and I can never turn down a good discussion.
I think one thing is coming out of the thread behind the scenes: Two different points of view on stabbing, and these might reflect approaches to the game itself. One is "I stabbed you because you left me no choice," the other is "I stabbed you because I needed to." Neither is wrong because, in a game of Diplomacy, you need to survive to have a chance to win.
I do agree that if I stab someone, whatever my reason, it is because I chose to do it. So, as has been said, if I stabbed you, you got stabbed because of me. But that may well be semantics rather than much else. The reason I stabbed you may well have been reached because of something you did rather than because it was the ideal thing to do for my game.
The post from Dipsy is about a study I read a year or so ago: Linguistic Harbingers of Betrayal: A Case Study on an Online Strategy Game. When you cut through (what is to me, at least) the techno-babble in the study, there are a number of things that, retrospectively, indicate that a stab was likely. Go read it. See it as penance.
The problem (well, one of them) with the study is it's limitations. It assumes that players only stab when they're provoked; that the best thing in the game is to maintain the alliance. It doesn't apportion blame, as such, it simply gives reasons why a stab happened. But it only looks at linguistic indicators that a stab was going to happen, and doesn't take any account of players in the game and their philosophies behind how they approach the game.
It's an interesting study, nonetheless, because it provides some food for thought on how to avoid being stabbed and how to avoid giving indicators that might foreshadow the stab. And some of those reasons are given in the OP.
blazebbc wrote:1. Silence. If you don't speak to me over a period time, especially when asked about a set of orders, I am going to presume that you have turned unfriendly. If I am making a choices as to whom I should put my trust, your silence has just done you in.
Well, quite. Silence means you're not invested in the game, allied with someone else and not smart enough to realise you need to talk, you don't know how to play the game, or you're not in the game. Whichever, I don't want to be allied to you. But is this a reason to be stabbed? Probably not so much... unless you suddenly spring your silence on me.
Having said that, this is more likely to prevent me allying with you at all. I might make the right noises but that's all they are - noises. There's no reason for me to ally with you in the first place. And, if you spring your silence on me, I'm more likely to do things to prevent you stabbing me, rather than outright stabbing you, unless there's a way for me to stab you and continue with, or postpone, my original ideas.
blazebbc wrote:6. Giving short one-liner replies to orders I suggest. If you are not making other suggestions or taking the time to read them, I know you do not have enough invested in our alliance to be trusted. A good ally reads suggestions and looks for ways to improve orders.
(I know the whole numerical order thing but these two go together like salt and pepper.) Take everything I said about silence and transfer it here, except that this is more likely to happen part way through the game (unless a player drops from the game, of course).
At the start of the game, when alliances are being formed, if this is your communication method, you don't give me any confidence in you. That isn't a stab, it's me making a strategic decision:
Mr.E wrote:[It] means you're not invested in the game, allied with someone else and not smart enough to realise you need to talk, [or] you don't know how to play the game... Whichever, I don't want to be allied to you.
This is more likely to result in a stab later in the game. A stab isn't making all the right noises and then attacking someone. It's a betrayal - it's when an alliance is broken; when you've been working with someone and then you stop. The other is me never intending to ally with you.
blazebbc wrote:7. General obnoxiousness. If you are rude, snarky or obnoxious, I won't want to keep exchanging press with you. It's unpleasant to read and I''ll be looking for a different ally.
And, again, this is a reason for me to not ally with you in the first place. Surely I can make that decision early in the game, can't I?
Now, OK, you might start off nice and polite and friendly and all, and then you change. But surely my reaction to that is why did your attitude change? Now, let's face it, we all think our approach to the game is good. Maybe not great; not perfect, certainly. (Wait... what? No, you're not.) So maybe looking at what has led to this change in approach isn't something that comes easy. But it is something that might need to be done if you're going to improve. So ask the question.
Again: a reason to stab? No - a reason to not ally with you. And if it has emerged that you're not a likeable person, well, then you're not a likeable person. I might avoid you in future games but, well, this is the game I'm playing now and if I need you as an ally, then I need you as an ally. I'll tell you you're a prick later.
blazebbc wrote:2. Refusal to actually do anything. I certainly understand a little bit of caution. However, this is not a risk-free game. If you are so scared to do anything that you don't want to join an attack, you will be the target of the attack.
This isn't a reason I will stab you... well, OK, it is eventually but not right now. Right now it's a reason for me to manage my relationship with you.
It doesn't make any sense to say "I certainly understand a bit of caution," and then say it's why I betrayed you, for me. For me, it means you're not much use to me in an offensive scenario. Defensively, damn yes - you da man (oh... no... I'll never use that again; sorry). But moving against you? Despite everything else? Idiocy. I'd rather take note of your cautious behaviour and use it, if I can.
Negotiation. That is the essence of diplomacy. And persuasion. Those are the essence of diplomacy. You don't want to do something? If it is something essential, then it is down to me to persuade you that it's essential. If I can't do that, then that's down to my limitations. It isn't you being too dumb to see what's necessary. Well, OK, it might be, but it's just as much my dumbness in being unable to find a way around your reticence. I should be asking myself why you're not willing to do something and addressing that issue. I can't do that? That's me.
blazebbc wrote:3. Not following through on promised orders. Even if you did not actually do something against me, if you do not follow through with a promised order, you will create mistrust. If you[r] lack of follow-through causes our attack to stall, you really increase the chances that I turn on you.
OK. So here we are: we're at that difference in philosophical approach to the game I mentioned way back. But first... You promised something. Then you didn't deliver. And I'm pissed about that. Dammit, you betrayed me! So I'm gonna stab you! Hah! Take that!
OK. Breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. And repeat. Repeat. One more time. Again? OK. There you go.
Now, why didn't she do what she promised? What is the position on the board as a result of her betrayal? How has the failure to follow through affected her position, and my position? Does it matter that much?
Alliances are built and maintained on trust, so I can emphasise with the emotion behind someone not doing what they said they would meaning you feel betrayed. You can't trust them. But step back and look at what actually happened. If it hasn't harmed you too much, then OK - go with the flow. If it has, then it's time for some reflection.
Ask yourself whether you should have seen it coming. If you should, then you need to learn from this. If you shouldn't, then ask what was in it for your ally: what did she gain from not doing what she said?
Alliances aren't for life, they're for now. They aren't game-long agreements, they're limited. Did your ally gain a superior position against you? Then you've been fooled - that's your loss and you need to swallow it and learn from it. Did your ally gain a better allied position on the board? Great... hopefully you can use that to forward your alliance and keep a note of it for the future in this game: she's good - use it. Did it produce a worse position on the board? Well, OK, point it out but balance your reaction with where you are in the game now.
If you're one of those players who believes in the sanctity of an alliance, then you need to take a look at Diplomacy again. Alliances are necessary, but they're a stepping stone. Like it or not, that's how the game was designed. (See? We're at the' philosophy of the game' bit now.) The game is about achieving a solo. It doesn't matter whether a specific alliance is short-, medium- or long-term, it isn't supposed to result in a draw, it's supposed to take you into a better position to win. Alliances are tools.
One of the skills in Diplomacy is understanding an opponent's reasoning, as far as you can.
blazebbc wrote:4. Complaining that you don't trust me. Again, I understand that you don't want to leave yourself completely exposed and that you don't want to be stabbed. But, if you keep complaining to me about how little you trust me, I am going to think that your reliability is going to wane. I'm going to look for other options. Besides, it's Diplomacy. Nobody really should trust anybody. But, shut up and play.
Ah, yes: irritating players.
This is the essence of this 'reason'. What it boils down to is finding someone irritating. It's difficult to work with irritating people. They should just "shut up", shouldn't they?
Alternatively you might ask: "Why doesn't this player trust me?" If you can't ask that, well congratulations on reaching perfection. People should trust you because they should trust you. This is Diplomacy, after all, the game where betrayal and backstabbing have absolutely no place.
Oh, wait...
'Trust' is like 'respect' - it's earned. I have worked with people who thought they should be respected because of the job they did, when actually they treated people like shit. Others believe people should be respected because of their position in life. Bull. A leader with who doesn't know how to create respect isn't worthy of respect.
If you want someone to trust you because you say they should trust you, or because you're being lovey-dovey, you don't understand Diplomacy and you don't understand caution. It's irritating when you think you should have proved yourself but still this idiot doesn't trust you. But have you bothered to ask why he doesn't?
Actually, you shouldn't expect anyone to trust you. And - I suppose - that's part of the irritation because nobody should be using a lack of trust as an excuse. But that just means you need to focus on persuasion rather than rely on trust... so why haven't you been able to persuade him that this is the right thing? Or, why hasn't he accepted your arguments?
Again, then, do you bother to think about the reasons for someone telling you they don't trust you?
blazebbc wrote:5. Incompetence and NMR's. If you can't take advantage of a good situation or fail to submit orders, you are likely more dangerous as an ally than an enemy.
This is the only real reason I would consider stabbing someone then and there. They've proven themselves poor players so they're not right for an alliance. Release the big, carnivorous creatures. There may well be a reason behind this behaviour and, in the case of incompetence, at least, a reason to keep an alliance going but it has to be a big reason.
There is also something to be said about the comments on how a theoretical game between seven elite players would work out. Stabby or not?
Here's the thing: understanding of the game is needed for someone to be elite. And the game was designed so that betrayal was a part of it. Stabs because someone has offended you in some way? Nope. Stabs because it improves your chances of winning the game? Yes.
If you think elite players would play to minimise a stab, you're right. As I said, you have to survive to get a win, but you also have to survive to get anything from a game. Elite players will understand that stabs are coming, and that you can't always prevent them - but you can take steps to minimise them.
Elite players aren't Loose Cannons: they're not players who are opportunists. They are players that will seize an opportunity but this is based on a balanced decision: if I take this opportunity, will it optimise my chances in this game? This is different to players who see an opportunity to grab an SC and jump on it, which may not actually help them.
Elite players are elite because they play to win. But they are also players who play to prevent someone else from winning. What, then, would you expect an elite player to do if she had a chance to win a game? Grab it - regardless of an alliance. This is likely to mean a stab. And if someone else was possibly building a position to win? The elite players would see that, and act on it and this may also result in a stab.
Now, if you think alliances are the be all and end all of Diplomacy, you're not going to be able to see a game of elite players being a stabby game. After all, they will maintain an alliance.
I'm pretty sure an elite player wouldn't discard an alliance that was useful to her without a game-enhancing reason to do so. But if you think alliances are there to be kept, then you're not going to see the opportunities an elite player will take.
Elite players won't make bad stabs, nor will they give room for stabs if they can help it, but that doesn't mean there won't be stabs. There probably won't be Loose Cannon stabs, but there will be preventative stabs. As soon as someone looks likely to move to the head of the pack and be able to establish a winning position, an elite player will do what is needed to prevent this. At this point, one's own chances of winning are dropping so you do what is necessary to prevent someone else from winning. You don't grab an SC for the sake of it, however. On the other hand, while an alliance is useful an elite player will utilise it. This is likely to mean that stabs aren't opportunistic: they won't be for the sake of an odd SC.
A game of elite players is likely to end in a draw. But then, most games probably ought to reach this result anyway. This is because of the priorities in the game, regardless of philosophy: not losing is better than losing; winning is best. So survival - and preventing another player from winning - is key. What we tend to see in many games is players not recognising when a winning position is achievable... or players who put there philosophy, and their reaction to another player's philosophy, before the game being played.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby Cinemascifi » 06 Mar 2019, 03:29
I don't think it's possible for me to agree more with #1 and #6. The game is called "diplomacy". If you completely ignore messages, or do answer them with only 1 word responses, you are not being diplomatic. You are being rude.
I have changed my intended target because a player wasn't responding. 10/10 will do again.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby darksaberx » 17 Apr 2019, 20:43
Stabbing is part of play but it's always a balancing act of only stabbing when necessary because even the most logical players are going to carry wariness towards you going forwards. Explaining your reasoning and why you stabbed (it's just business) can help them be willing to work with you later in the game.
As far as how to NOT get stabbed (i.e. get stabbed less), ask yourself these questions:
Have their communications changed in a major way in either direction (way too chatty or dropping off)?
Do they have a clear path for expansion?
Have they been getting the short end of the stick in all of our operations?
Where is the easiest way for them to go? Is it through me?
Is anyone whispering in their ear currently?
Have they ""misordered"" with units seemingly out of position and were immediately apologetic?
Any of these mean you are at a high chance of finding a knife in your back.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby Pope Pius IX » 17 May 2019, 22:36
My current (and indeed only) online game raises an interesting question, which - given this is all about stabbing - I would welcome some further opinions on.
I stabbed one player, then messages them explaining why, and suggested dialogue. I recognise this may have been an error, but I don't think it was. The player responded that they wanted that particular supply centre back. Then they continually moved their one unit to it, bouncing off my holding unit, for three turns. Each turn, I sent them a message suggesting that they stopped and that we looked at mutual targets. They again simply said they wanted their centre back. So eventually I sent an ultimatum, which they didn't respond to, and I arranged the carve-up of the rest of their country.
In the second stabbing, I invaded one country with the help of a second, and we each took a supply centre. The invaded country responded poorly in public and private press, and now does not respond despite messages both public and private.
In the third stabbing, I rounded on the player I had previously worked with. They immediately sent a message suggesting negotiations and dialogue, and we have been in communication subsequently.
So the first question, asked as you are experienced players and I am not, is - which of these behaviours am I likely to come across the most?
The second question is, is it (usually) a waste of time to open dialogue with players you have stabbed?
A third question, which I don't necessarily want answered but which I acknowledge could be asked is, is three stabs too many?
Any guidance welcome!
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby Nanook » 17 May 2019, 23:17
In my experience, the answers in online games are:
1. Really a mix of all three. PW games advertised on the forum, especially classicist games, tend to get you more of the third result than the first two.
2. Never a waste of time. Even if it doesn’t go anywhere, trying to talk to other players is the name of the game, so it’s never a waste to at least make an attempt imo.
3. Super context dependent. Sometimes 3 is too many, sometimes it’s not enough. If it gets you a solo, it was the right amount, if you end up in the same or worse position than before you stabbed, then it was too many ;)
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby NoPunIn10Did » 18 May 2019, 02:24
Gotta be careful with #2 though. I can’t tell you how many times a condescending d-bag has tried to explain to me why a stab they just made was actually my fault. That kinda gaslighting BS generally puts me in the mood to throw the game to someone else.
It tends to be much more well-received if you start with something more along the lines of “I was greedy, and I took advantage of an opportunity, but here’s how we might go forward...”
Always own your stabs.
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Re: How to get yourself stabbed...
Postby Nanook » 18 May 2019, 02:51
Always own your stabs.
^this is exceedingly true, and something I should’ve added. Opening dialogue after a stab is good, being condescending or not taking responsibility for your stab is bad.
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As a Pre-Requisite to setting up oAuth for Microsoft Dynamics, you need to have an MS Azure instance associated with your MS Dynamics instance as the oAuth is done via an Azure application.
Here are the steps you can follow to set up an MS Azure instance.
1. Goto: Active Directory -> App registrations
2. Select + New application registration
3. Enter a name (e.g., Natero OAuth)
4. Under Application type select: Access Web APIs in Other Applications
5. Under Sign-on URL enter your domain in natero (or just
6. Copy the application ID (you'll need to provide it to us)
7. Click 'Settings'
8. Under 'Required permissions'
1. Select application: Dynamics CRM Online
2. Click Delegated Permissions dropdown and select Access Dynamics as organization users
9. Under 'keys', enter a name and select duration 1 or 2 year (will display a key to copy after saving)
1. When saving the key copy the value displayed, this is the client secret for the app
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11. Click Save - make sure you've copied the key and the application id
Make sure to enter in Natero IT Administration -> Manage Credentials the following information:
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Interned as a child in World War II, Samara Thomson has perspective on our life in isolation
Samara Thomson has lived in Lapstone for 60 years. But as a child in Hong Kong she was held prisoner for almost four years in an internment camp after the British colony fell to the Japanese in 1941.
Mrs Thomson, 83, contacted the Gazette after thinking her childhood experience could provide perspective for children - and adults - living in temporary isolation and lockdown today. "I have watched the changed conditions and the behaviour of some people and thought that some need to be aware that life today is the best it can be, compared to others in the world," she said.
In 2017, Mrs Thomson gave an Anzac Day address to western Sydney primary school children. The following is an edited excerpt of her talk:
"I was only little in 1941, and just like you, I lived with my Mum and Dad in a nice home with a housekeeper and a cook and even a nanny to look after me and my brother. They were called amahs. I had just started going to school.
"I was happy and thought my life would always be the same, but one day it all changed and my homeland was attacked. Suddenly there were planes flying above our houses and bombs dropping over Hong Kong. The enemy captured the colony and I was taken with all the other British and European people in Hong Kong and put into a prison camp; a place that had barbed wire to keep us from escaping. Girls and boys, all those hundreds of people like my family, were held captive for four years...
"I don't expect you to be able to imagine what war can take away from you because it is unimaginable. It took away my home and everything my family owned. It separated my extended family; like my aunties and uncles, cousins and grandparents...
"In the camp we were given very little food; mainly rice and only sometimes a few pieces of protein; meat of some kind. People tried to grow sweet potatoes and tomatoes in the hard soil... [There was ] no electricity; no running water. No television; no toothpaste. Can you imagine cleaning your teeth with charcoal? But it was better than nothing. Oh yes - and no toilet paper. I'll leave that to your imagination. No toys. No birthday presents except what were made from bits of wood and scraps of material
"One Christmas my Mum made me a doll. With the help of some friends, she had scrounged around and found scraps of material and thread. Dorothy has been with me ever since [the doll is now part of a museum in Hong Kong]...
"I have to tell you though; that although it was a terrible time, especially for the grown-ups, because they didn't know what would happen or if we would survive; children adjust quickly to conditions and we made our own fun. We got into mischief and a lot of trouble, but we made our own games, and like the grownups, we put on concerts to amuse and entertain them and ourselves.
"You will probably think it great that I didn't have to go to school, but after four years it gets boring and when I finally came to Australia, I had a lot of catching up to do. I would come last in my exams and I hated that. When I started school in Deniliquin, a little country town in New South Wales I was 10-years-old and was so lucky to have a wonderful teacher who understood how I wanted to learn and be accepted; and the first thing he made me do when I was put into his class, was to ask me to stand up in front of the other children and tell them my story.
"Believe me, I was a lot more nervous than I am today and I was almost sick with fear, but it was the turning point because like you today, they listened."
Mrs Thomson said to "take care of each other and what you have ... we are the luckiest country". And she added "it's an amazing time in history, we've all got to get through this together". | <urn:uuid:e76ecbdb-c836-4583-aead-6cfd230b7389> | https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/6748639/interned-as-a-child-in-world-war-ii-samara-thomson-has-perspective-on-our-life-in-isolation/?cs=1432 | en | 0.990094 | 0.028251 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
symbol for transgender. It's a combined symbol of male, female and both.
Welcome, Trans Bison and allies!
"Transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to all of the identities within the transgender and non-binary gender identity spectrum, including but not limited to transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, genderfluid, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and two-spirit, among other terms. In that light, the following resources are intended to be helpful for Gallaudet University students, staff, and faculty who identify as transgender or within the spectrum of trans identities.
We've collected information on policies and procedures on campus that may be of interest to you should you want to change your name and gender markers on campus records, participate in Gallaudet athletics, find gender-inclusive restrooms on campus, and more.
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Nalu Pendant with Diamonds in 14K Yellow Gold - 24mm
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Manganese Refining Plant Sale
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Blast Those Fleas and Ticks with Eliminall Flea Therapy
Cats are thought of as indoor animals and prefer to spend most of their time close to their homeowners still parasites akin to fleas and ticks can hurt them. Skin infections, flea bites, horrible skin problems and associated skin itching and inflammation is the result of parasites in your kitten.
If you're planning on looking after a hog during early December until the winter is over, you will need to weigh the animal. Hogs which can be of 600g or above could be left exterior to hibernate, offered they are properly enough. In any other case, they will need bringing inside. It is not wise to put the hedgehog in a storage that's getting used, as they are very susceptible to exhaust fumes.
People who have phobias usually avoid from the fear topic. In line with analysis, phobia is likely one of the anxiousness issues which can occur in nearly all age teams. Phobias might be categorized into groups like, social phobia, particular phobia, and agoraphobia. Social phobia happens when you fear of being embarrassed by others or performance anxieties. Specific phobia, as title tells it include fear from some specific thing like canine, elevators, snakes, flying, water, spiders and waves and so forth. Agoraphobia is called concern of leaving residence or any particular safe space.
On the similar time we must concentrate on the maintenance of pets and their habits. What they like and dislike. Because somewhat ignorance can be a dangerous mistake for the pet and also for us. Especially in their cleaning. Because pets can be the rationale of spreading many diseases. We must always give them tub on every day foundation and dry them with neat clean canine's towel. As we all know about pet (canines and cats) hair problem. Most of the time pets spend their time on our mattress, carpet and couch. It can be a dangerous thing. We should always use the perfect lint roller brush for our pet care. And with this all factor we ought to be punctual for their meals for a match and energetic pet. In any other case pets can grow to be sick. In today there are lots of ready made pet's food out there out there in line with their want with the protein.
As soon as your pet will get contaminated with the parasites like flea, ticks and different blood sucking parasites it's really getting powerful for the proprietor to remove them from the pet's body and from the home. For that it's all the time sensible to prevent the infestation slightly than struggling for removing them out of your pet and residential.
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Little Q + A: Michael Lee Nirenberg + Bradley Rubenstein
Michael Lee Nirenberg is an artist and filmmaker living in New York. His current documentary is BACK ISSUES: The Hustler Magazine Story.
Bradley Rubenstein: Your most recent action, Redacted, involves overpainting your past works black, repeating this performance from canvas to canvas. Has the result of this performance series turned it into something like a trademark, a signature style based in old Suprematist methodology, a non-dialectical negation that might once have been witty but ultimately only guarantees its own recognition? A gimmick? Has it replaced your work as a filmmaker and documentarian?
Michael Lee NirenbergOriginally the project began with the immodestly modest premise that, while my earlier paintings might not be worth preserving, the idea of my past history as an artist was. Therefore, by removing the imagery, as such, from the work, I was maintaining its conceptual integrity. In many ways I believe that this conceptual conceit keeps the paintings from becoming iconographic -- in fact denying to some extent the very idea of "recognition" in as far as what is recognizable is only the result of an extended painterly activity. With the exception of the audience who saw me perform the first Redacted action at the Hamburger Kunstverein in 2010, and certain video and photographic documentations, like the performance I did last month in New York (2012), it is impossible to see the work as a totality. Philosophically, I think that Mikhail Bakunin's quote "the urge to destroy is also a creative urge" comes closest to summing up my approach to this project. Ideas can't become a gimmick, only artworks can. I use every means I can to make something that will last—that will speak for itself. Because I think that before I get the other kinds of recognition, like "hanging in a museum," I'd probably see the museum directors hanging in a museum. And I don't think that's gonna happen.
BR: The video reminds me of Joseph Beuys's statement "truth must be found in reality, not systems." I know that he has had a great influence on your work. Do you think that statement applies to this project?
MLN: Beuys, of course, is important, as is Andy Warhol, Carl Andre, Buckminster Fuller, and Yvonne Rainer, all of whom also influenced me very much. Kippenberger, too. Like Beuys, I think that any system ultimately contains the seeds of its own destruction. It is only when the inherent vice of the system, whether in art, science, politics, or philosophy, makes itself apparent do we find the truth.
BR: By obliterating the images, then, while retaining the historical weight of the artwork, do you see that as a way to reinvent yourself and the work? Is it a statement about personal history weighing an artist down?
MLN: This relates to the question about Beuys. There was probably no artist in the twentieth century who was more buried under the weight of his cultural and art historical history, to say nothing of his own past! Yes, getting rid of the imagery is a way of lightening that baggage. Just look at some of these journals and sketchbooks [shows documentation of past projects]. These are notes about paintings I was making, sketches, photographs I copied into artworks -- copies of German tourist postcards, newspaper photos from Paris Match, a sketch of a Thai girl from a massage parlor in Amsterdam, the lion monument at NY Public Library, a portrait of the Marquis de Sade, a baked Florentine, a picture of Helen Keller, a plate of German sausages, two "glowing cigarettes," designs for CD covers for my old punk band The Mohels, a coke mirror and razor blade on a table, my mother's fifty-seventh-year birthday cake, chopsticks and Chinese food, my old Ducati motorcycle, lightening bugs on a back porch…the list goes on and on [closes book]. Wouldn't you eventually want to "clean house"?
BR: The performative element owes something to Pollock, in particular his film with Hans Namuth. Was this something you intended?
MLN: Definitely Pollock -- in the Namuth film you have the collision of art and fashion. No artist before Pollock had so carefully stage-managed his career and image so well. Tom Savini (who did the costuming and makeup) was very influenced by this film. Pollock influenced a lot of artists this way -- happenings, Andy Warhol, a lot of performance art in the 1970s. Maybe Duchamp or Dalícame close. But it was really Pollock with that film that changed everything. There is also an element of Absurdist Theater and Artaud's Theatre of Cruelty. This passage from Yarostan Vochek is applicable, I think.
"Then the strikes and demonstrations ended, when most workers realized the carnival was over and returned to work, our group continued to perform a show. We were still printing posters, gluing posters that read 'Factories to Workers' on recently cleaned walls, shouting about the worker's commonwealth. At that point we had become dangerous, because at that point people like us elsewhere saw that at least some had meant what they said and that the performance of a play had not been the only possibility. Only at that point did we begin to act on our own, but we weren't aware of this. We were so carried away with our performance that we failed to see that the curtain had fallen and the carnival had ended."
I mean, this is really what art should strive to do, right? And a performance that essentially is nihilistic in nature can become a metaphor for reality in a way that only art permits. There is an element of meta-appreciation that you can have in a situation like I am creating.
BR: Okay, beyond art historical influences, what about books? Music?
MLN: J.G. Ballard, Running Wild, definitely. Also Hunger by Knut Hamsun, Musil's Three Women, Huysmans's Against Nature and Là-Bas. Kafka, Amerika; Gogol, Taras Bulba; Goncharov, Oblomov; Baudelaire, Paris Spleen. Also Robert Caro, The Power Broker; Rigaut, Suicide; Vaché, War Letters; Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland; Vischer's Auch Einer; and de Laclos, Dangerous Liaisons. Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time; Babel, Red Cavalry; Proust's Swan's Way; Diderot, Rameau's Nephew. Makarenko's The Road to Life, also. Music? The Misfits.
BR: You are also working on a follow-up project called Index. You are basically redacting the work of other artists, à la Rauschenberg's Erased de Kooning (1953). How much of that is homage? Is there an element of doing away with the competition?
MLN: [Laughter] There may be some element of truth to that, but that is for the psychiatrists to figure out! There is an apocryphal story about Picasso painting over a Modigliani when he ran short on canvas. Everyone claimed that he was out to get Modigliani or something and was destroying the work, eradicating it. But he said that he waspreserving it. The Index-ed pictures are like an archive; the artists are freely giving me a work to overpaint, leveling the aesthetic value of the artwork. The only signifier left to determine those works' value or importance relative to each other is based on the aura of the artist. Their aura, not mine. Stephen Prina's projects have involved something of this. John Baldessari burning his early work…Sherrie Levine's art "replicants." Looking at these non-images is kind of like that old question, "If a tree falls in the woods and no one was there to hear it, would it still make a sound?"; except here there is no tree, no woods. | <urn:uuid:47441839-bb9b-4d31-ade3-d712e57e280c> | http://www.culturecatch.com/index.php/art/michael-lee-nirenberg-interview | en | 0.96063 | 0.03381 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
on 1 comment
Hip-Hop Vs Rap
People who are die hard "Hip-Hop" heads will always hate on "Rap" artists like Waka Flaka. They feel like an artist like that is not a real lyricist. Which is true to an extent. You have to look at it like this, artists like Common and Waka are totally different. It is like comparing apples and oranges. Hip-Hop and Rap are just completely different styles that in the same basic genre. Why do people like "Rap" like a Gucci Mane or Waka Flaka? They like it because it is fun music, party music. Not everyone wants to listen to a song and be deep in thought. People want to dance and get a little wild. Sure the lyrical content may not always be there with these type of artists, but it is fun. I love all forms of Hip-Hop. Some songs suck on both sides but a good song is a good song. So the moral of the story is if you want to make intelligent type lyrical music with meaning then do it. If you want to be a little more loose and make fun, dance, get wild type Rap, then do it! There are fans for both and that is just how it is. Just do it to the best of your ability and do not cut corners with production and delivery in your music.
1 comment:
1. Great outlook & I totally agree. not everything is for everybody - but that's the beauty of opinion. ;-)
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I'm the king of my jungle
One of the most rarest sightings that you can have in Horton Plains National Park - Sri Lanka. In fact this is my first ever encounter of Hotron plain leopards and to photograph it. Mesmerizing greenery and the always gloomy surrounding added extra vibrant to this shot as I believe.
Why its hard task to spot leopards in Horton Plains National Park ? It's mainly due to two reasons,
1) Habitat - Lush tall green grass for any animal can easy hide
2) Access - Horton Plains consist of one main route that connect two ends of the park. Also no one is allowed wander off the road to any other areas of the park. (These strict rules are to protect the wildlife and it habitats)
In a vast plain that spread miles and miles with beautiful mountains that covers with tall grass and bushy type trees, misty weather, with no access to all the parts on the park and you have to use the main road to scan the area around, but yet spotting this elusive predator is always memorable feeling for anyone.
Location : Horton Plains National Park - Sri Lanka
Name : Sri Lankan leopard
Scientific name: Panthera pardus kotiya
Conservation status: Endangered (Population decreasing)
Date of Photograph : 16th June 2020
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Managing customer expectations
Managing Customer Expectations
Customer expectations are influenced by a number of factors, many of which are out of our control.
For example previous experiences with different products or service providers. Think about how Apple have reset expectations when it comes to technology retailing or how Starbucks have changed expectations around coffee and the cafe experience in the United States.
Companies that set the bar high recondition customers to expect that level of service and quality from other businesses they frequent.
The challenge is to keep up with those expectations or to manage them by clearly communicating how you will engage with customers.
Spelling out a customer service charter is one way to do this, it should be used to clearly set expectations around how you can be contacted, when you can be contacted, how quickly to expect a response and policies related to returns or service disputes etc.
Making these elements crystal clear up front and communicating them multiple times will help reset expectations in a way that matches your strategy and ability to deliver against them.
A great expression to keep this top of mind is “under promise, over deliver”
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Thursday, September 07, 2006
Ed Babinski, C. S. Lewis, and the Bible
Every word of the Bible is true.
Every sentence of the Bible is true.
Every verse of the Bible is true.
Every paragraph of the Bible is true.
Every chapter of the Bible is true.
Every book of the Bible is true.
The Bible is true as a whole.
Anonymous said...
I've decided to post on other Blogs again. If it appears that I say something out of character or demeaning about myself, I hope the reader will know that I didn't say it.
When I believed the Bible (as an inerrantist) I thought that the reason God didn't clear everything up into neat little packages was because he was just not concerned that everyone should believe the exact same things. He left room for people to disagree with each other so that they could "work out their own salvation" mainly in those areas non-essential to the faith. So he just wasn't that concerned to make the Bible appear to us as inerrant, even if it was.
But now I see a different side...the side that says the reason why the Bible contains inconsistencies is because it was written, transcribed, and canonized by people living in the past before scientific investigation and historical standards were in place like they are now. And the reason why people come to different opinions or interpretations of the Bible is simply because the Bible is a historical document, and any document in history is subject to the interpretations of the present day historian who is a child of his times.
Now I ask myself why God purportedly bothered with a historical document in the first place if 2000 years later Christians cannot agree on what it says? As Gotthold Lessing has said, "If no historical truth can be demonstrated, then nothing can be demonstrated by means of historical truths.” That is, “the accidental truths of history can never become the proof of necessary truths of reason.”
Here's a link to more. I really think Christians have not sufficiently dealt with Lessing on this issue.
Vic, what do you think about Lessing? Do you have a link to a rebuttal of what he wrote?
Mike Darus said...
I have an alternative to your inerrant past self and your current skeptical self. The reason why people come to so many different ideas about what they Bible teaches is that they are asking questions the Bible didn't attempt to answer. It is not a bad thing to do, but it is something that inevitably leads to differences of opinion. The Bible neglects to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's free will. But we want an explanation so we did until we think we have found it. I prefer your former attitude that celebrates the differences and embraces the diversity within God's kingdom. I also tend to see the glass as half full seeing much more agreement among Christians on the big issues than in the past. I sense a melding of denominational differences. There is a genius in the different flavors of Christianity.
Your question about Lessing and the value of revelation based on history is a good one. History no longer works as an apologetic. At UCSB my son learned that "History is Propoganda." It take this to mean that the modern abuse of history is to reconstruct it into whatever agenda you wish to promote. With tricks of word choice, selective memory, and citations of only those who agree with you, history is used to support any position. This does not mean that historical events cannot be meaninful in the pursuit of truth, it only means by abusing history we have made its truths harder to mine.
Mike Darus said...
Your description of inerrancy is a strawman. The Chicago Statement is a good place to start:
Article VIII addresses most of your concerns:
Regarding moral flaws, Article V is helpful:
We affirm that God's revelation in the Holy Scriptures was progressive.
Lewis is right that Ecclesiastes includes many wrong-headed statements as does Job contain a lot of bad advice. This does not surprise the advocate of innerancy. They will also admit that the Parables of Jesus are fictional accounts. The hard part about Jonah is that Jesus seems to have believed the story. I think you are right about Genesis that we try to make it answer modern questions that were not being asked at the time.
My view on innerancy is that it is a useful hermeneutical principle. When interpreting Scripture, it is helpful to be able to depend on the tense of the verb or whether the noun is singular or plural. Paul does this in Galatians when he discusses Jesus as the "seed" (not seeds) of Abraham.
Inerrancy is not for the arena of apologetics. It is a discussion between people who already believe in God, Jesus, and the reliability of the Bible. It is not a discussion between theists and skeptics. Once you agree that a loving God has reveled Himself through the Jewish prophets, Jesus, and the apostles, you can start talking about just how inspired the Bible is. Until you reach that ground, the discussion is meaningless.
Anonymous said...
If the Bible is not inerrant, then it's all open to interpretation. In which case, every person who reads it will have a slightly different interpretation.
At that point, what earthly good is it? You might as well refer to the prophecies of Nostradamus or Confucius' sayings for guidance.
Frank Walton said...
Ed Babinski also said that CS Lewis was a universalist, which is demonstrably false.
Jason Pratt said...
Ed Babinski says a lot of things, mainly whatever feels to him at the moment like it will oppose a strong believer. He has consistently treated me for years as if I _wasn't_ a universalist (which is also demonstrably false. {g})
The ref from Lewis' _Reflections on the Psalms_ is good, but could even be strengthened (from the same book): if Lewis goes out of his way to discuss the moral fault in expecting God to bless you for dashing a baby's brains against a rock, then whatever else can be said about him, he isn't simply ignoring morally flawed passages in Scripture. (But then, Ed also claims Lewis the former outspoken atheist and anti-ecclesiast was also head-in-the-sand ignorant of the sceptical and non-conservative writers of his time. After a while, one could almost get to the point of checking the sky if Ed says that it's normally blue... {wry g})
Actually, I agree with Mike (though I don't think what he was saying was actually an "alternative" to your "former inerrantist self", since after all he does go on to say he rather appreciates the kind of view you took at that time {s!}): the two positions you gave aren't irreconcilable. They do however mean more, practically speaking, than just that a hard inerrantist position is untrue. (See next comment, to Mike, which I think you'll appreciate. {s})
Also, I agree with Lessing (I think), that we shouldn't try to use historical arguments to reach metaphysical conclusions--something Christians have a bad habit of doing, even when we ostensibly know better. (Not exactly restricted to Christians, either--I've certainly seen sceptics apply it often enough, too. {wry g} But that doesn't make it any more proper.)
That being said, I would disagree that "no historical truth can be demonstrated". No historian of any stripe who studies the data, will reach any kind of valid conclusion that (for instance) GosMatt was composed anytime or anywhere other than the Mediterranean area sometime between 29CE and 129CE (at the ridiculously extreme outside ranges), or that Hitler lost World War II. I am slightly unsure whether this sort of thing can be _deductively_ proven instead of only inductively inferred; but even if only the latter case is possible, it isn't as though anyone (informed of the data) recognizes any liklihood at all that GosMatt was written in, say, the 3rd century BCE by Australian aborigines (or that the nations of the world swore fealty to Hitler in 1950 after he nuked Washington).
Still, I would agree that metaphysical positions can at best be _suggested_ by historical truths.
Actually, I agree with John. {ironic g!} While I'm sympathetic to many of the intentions in the inerrantist statement, I also question the practical point to calling the resulting position "inerrancy" at all. When church leaders nod their heads at this, and teach the qualifications when they _have to_, while also publicly teaching the same people that the scriptures are perfectly true and completely reliable throughout; then after a while, it starts to look duplicitous. (As a recent example, I know of one man, a relatively new convert, whom I haven't seen at church since our former pastor gave both sets of affirmations during a Greek class last year. If he left our congregation because of that, I can't say I blame him. {shrug})
I agree, of course, that inerrancy shouldn't be used as an apologetic tool; but that doesn't keep its theological use from being a tacit counter-apologetic, to believers and unbelievers alike.
(And, fwiw, I don't think the scriptures, as a group, are the same kind of thing as the Analects or Nostradamus' writings--not that aphoristic teaching and poetically worded prophecies aren't part of the package, too, but if that's what the whole thing was about, I'd probably ignore it. Didn't want "es" to think I was slighting him. {s!})
Jason Pratt
Anonymous said...
Wait just a minute. How are you to conclude that modern people abuse history? We interpret the past in light of the present. Who built the pyramids? Who killed JFK? What is history's verdict on the Watergate scandal? Who was Shakespeare? There is forensic evidence and DNA evidence to solve cold cases.
And when it comes to the Biblical past how do we do they were writing history? Their world was a superstitious world to the core. You simply cannot read this, and this and conclude anything else.
So we re-examine the past. And because our modern conclusions might not fit some preconceived notions that does not mean that our modern conclusions are an abuse.
Jason Pratt said...
Opps--composition error. The first ref to Hitler should read "or that Hitler won WWII".
Jason Pratt said...
I think Mike was actually trying to sympathize with you, and your reference to Lessing; otherwise he wouldn't have written "history no longer works as an apologetic".
It does highlight the problem with taking Lessing's position too rigorously, though, eh? {g!} A lot of your _own_ positions rely on agreeing with the notion that historical truth _can_ in fact be demonstrated in principle; the operative question being whether it has been accomplished in practice. The limitations and strengths both apply to Christians and sceptics equally.
(and now I'm off to do 'work' work for a while--I'll check back in later...)
Anonymous said...
The Bible is always open to interpretation, whether or not it is true. Every reading of the Bible is interpreted. In fact, you can't read the Bible without interpreting it since we don't have the original authors to consult. I believe the exception to this would be when God speaks directly to someone through the text of the Bible.
I suspect what you meant to say is that the Bible is meaningless if it isn't inerrant. But of course the question is what is inerrancy and what position did Lewis actually take etc.
Victor Reppert said...
I am inclined to say that it does not matter a whole lot whether one uses the word inerrancy or not. I think I prefer the term special revelation to inerrancy, simply because using the word inerrancy opens me up to people who want to say I have to believe in YEC, or I have to defend the Amalekite ban, or I have to believe in the big fish in Jonah, etc. On the other hand, the rejection of Jonah simply on the grounds that it involves God's supernatural intervention would be evidence that I somehow did not take the God's-word-ness of Scripture seriously.
So, being asked "Do you believe in inerrancy" is kind of like being asked "Do you believe in evolution?" Without a whole lot of clarification as to what you might mean by that, I don't know how to answer the question.
The real question is "What hermeneutical constraints follow from the status of Scripture as special revelation?" Can I believe that Scripture is special revelation and also believe that Ruth was fictional. If I can't, why not?
Anonymous said...
If the book of Ruth is a fiction, what entitles it to be called a special revelation of God?
Victor Reppert said...
Anonymous: The Parable of the Good Samaritan is fictional, and I regard that as God's special revelation.
Anonymous said...
Sure you can, just like you can think Job and Jonah are fiction, as is Genesis 1-11, since they are indeed fictional. But then what is your criteria for distinguishing fact from fiction in the Bible? The particular genre of a Biblical book will give us the needed clues, but if your criteria is the same as mine there is a great deal of fiction in the Bible.
The difference between us is between supernaturalism and naturalism. But between supernaturalists what is the difference?
Victor Reppert said...
So far as I can tell, the Chicago Statement is compatible with the view that Ruth is fictional. But as I pointed out, every inerrantist I know believes that the parable of the Good Samaritan is fictional. Have there been instamces of people using the Statement as a basis for saying that someone's interepretation of Scripture was not in accordance with inerrancy?
Mike Darus said...
You are right to question the label, “inerrancy.” It says way too much and way too little to accurate describe what is really being said. It is confusing to the faithful and sounds ridiculous to those outside. But most labels fall into the same rut.
As a counter-apologetic, inerrancy gets the most mileage from the skeptics. On the Infidels site, there is constant baiting of inerrantists by atheist because the smell an easy prey. It is an easy straw man. To the surprise of many, there is a scholarly version taught in seminaries by smart people who really believe it. Unfortunately, on the web and in the pew, we may only hear the popular version which is easily toppled.
I don’t think it matters if you approach the Bible from inerrancy or something else, interpretation is always an issue. I agree with Anonymous on this. This does not mean that every interpretation has equal validity. Among reasonable, honest interpreters there will be more agreement than differences. I don’t agree that the Bible is meaningless without inerrancy.
It seems you are close to a false dichotomy here between the objective history of the moderns and the superstitious writings of the ancients. We have alien versions of the pyramids, conspiracy theories of JFK, partisan versions of Watergate, debates about what Shakespeare wrote and who he was. Even modern history is not a scientific objective description of reality. We interpret history to learn lessons and anticipate trends. We even interpret purpose into the mechanics of evolution as it “seeks to preserve genes.”
The ancients told of real events, real places, and real people. They lived in the real world even as they interpreted events as the results of supernatural causes and purposes. Their shared memories of their history molded their identities and values just as the Boston Tea Party molds us.
I agree that not all modern re-telling of history is abuse. Only the parts on talk radio (grin).
Someday I want to defend the Amelekite ban. I think it is doable yet complicated. Today is not the day.
Victor and John (on Ruth and fictional genre)
We do not need to be afraid of fictional genre undermining the reliability of the Bible although I have heard some claim that all the parables of Jesus actually happened the way he said! The hard part is when the literature claims a specific time and place and references real, known people. If we conclude it is fiction, we can feel duped. The revelation feels less special if that happens. If Ruth claims to be non-fiction, then we conclude it is fiction, how can we believe anything in it? The value of genre is when it tips us, “Please don’t take this too literally. Just look for the main points.” We know that proverbs are not unbreakable laws. We know that parables are illustrations (We should also know that they do not need to walk on four legs and fly.).
One issue we need to grapple with is what tips a story from fact to fiction. If Luke gets Quirinius wrong, does that mean he is discredited? If we took the whale/big fish out of Jonah, would we have believable history? Is the only way to find the historical truth of the Gospels to edit out the miracles? If Deuteronomy includes an account of Moses’ death do we conclude that Moses had no part of the authorship?
Supernaturalists will permit miracles to be historical. They will also recognize allegory, hyperbole, parallelism, chiasm, poetry… But the reporting of the miraculous will not require categorization as fiction. The differences among supernaturalisms are usually about the level of literalness or allegory. Were the twelve stone pots just the number that were handy or do they stand for the 12 tribes of Israel?
Steven Carr said...
Of course Victor is right.
Most of the Bible was written by barbarians.
It is not a book to learn morality from.
Anonymous said...
I could certainly contest John Loftus' statement that Biblical times were "superstitious to the core". What exactly does that mean? If it means people had different religious views that is incontestable. But if it means that all people everywhere and always during biblical times kissed a rabbit's foot 17 times and danced the hula whenever they heard lightning, I'd certainly be skeptical. And I hardly think that posts by a blog called "debunkingchristianity" constitutes neutral evidence in this regard.
As a matter of fact the Prophets are full of indictments of superstition. The writers are constantly stressing that idols are made of stone and cannot save, that the people are deceiving themselves by following pagan rituals, and that their little talismans and trinkets will not save them from judgment.
Has anyone ever wondered why very few (if any, I haven't seen any) defenses of polytheism, animism or idol worship appear in the philosophy of religion journals, but Christian theism continues to be debated and defended? That is because Christian theism is a rational hypothesis concerning the best explanation of human experience, and even its opponents see the need to address it responsibly.
Other than to score cheap points against believing opponents, I have hardly ever seen skeptics defend a consistent, rigorous polytheistic or animistic worldview. It's just not a serious competitor to either scientific naturalism or Christian theism.
And to my fellow supernaturalists, I think that on the issue of inerrancy Emil Brunner has a LOT of light to shed on the issue. See especially his "Revelation and Reason", throughout but especially his section on "Holy Scripture".
Blue Devil Knight said...
Somehow, at debunking Christianity, I have ended up defending Christianity against some silly arguments. Go figure. I forgot how annoying and irrational the skeptical types can be (that's why I cancelled my subscription to all the skeptical/atheist journals after less than a year: bunch of religious nuts, they are).
JD says:
Based on statistics from English philosophy of religion journals in Christian countries, you want to say something about the superiority of Christian theology. Not parochial at all.
Anonymous said...
I did not try to draw any conclusion just from the fact that philosophy-of-religion discussion is dominated by Christian theists and their opponents. I did not say that "since there are more Christian theists than polytheists in philosophy-of-religion debates, therefore Christian theology is superior". In fact, my claim was just the reverse. BECAUSE Christian theism is more philosophically respectable than many other belief systems, it continues to dominate the philosophy-of-religion discussion. I mean think about it: do you really feel the need to debunk Australian aborigine shamanism in making your case for scientific naturalism? If not, why not? I claim that it is because Christian theism is a more 'worthy opponent'. And if you reject that claim and insist that all supernaturalistic belief systems are equally philosophically respectable, why isn't there more discussion and debunking of shamanism and polytheism in philosophy-of-religion journals? (And a simple appeal to historical contingency won't help here either; it is no answer to my question to claim that it just happened to be that Christianity dominated Western Europe until the modern age. You still have to account for why Christianity dominated Western Europe, and that involves the possibility that, uniquely among most belief systems, Christian theism has nurtured philosophy and science, albeit sometimes for its own purposes, and thus it constitutes a more serious contender with scientific naturalism than polytheism).
Note that I am not here trying to say something about the truth claims of Christian theism either. A belief system can be philosophically respectable and robust, and still be very wrong (which I believe is the case with scientific naturalism and atheism).
Mike Darus said...
You asked, "Have there been instances of people using the Statement as a basis for saying that someone's interpretation of Scripture was not in accordance with inerrancy"
In 2003 Clark Pinnock was the lightning rod. There was a move to expell Pinnock from the Evangelical Theological Society because his book, "The Most Moved Mover" went beyond what some considered inerrancy. The Evangelical Theological Society cites the Chicago Statement as their definition of inerrancy.
Part of the discussion is here:
Norman Geisler's involvement is here:
I find the link between Clark Pinnock's modified inerrancy and open theism interesting. He seems to be pushing the limits of genre to get to a place where he can more comfortably defend Christianity in the philosophical quagmire of free will and the problem of evil.
Anonymous said...
What entitles the fictional Parable of the Good Samaritan to be called a special revelation of God?
Steven Carr said...
And what entitles Revelation 2 to be called a revelation from God?
Did early Christians simply lie about having had revelations from Jesus after his death?
Anonymous said...
Go back to sleep, Steve Carr, this is an adult conversation.
Steven Carr said...
JD Walters demonstrates why American Christianity is so unappealing to secular Europeans.
Still, it was an eloquent admission that defending the Bible is an impossible task.
Jason Pratt said...
it isn't the label I object to, so much as a tendency to try to have it both ways (which the continued use of the label reflects. "Inerrancy" isn't a term with a lot of leeway built-into its face-value.) I dare say most of the highly educated doctors teaching at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville (to take an example) would agree to the qualifications of the Chicago Statement. Nevertheless, in order to teach at that university, they are also certainly required to sign and abide by a statement which puts the matter a lot more strongly than the qualifications of the Chicago Statement; and could in theory lose their jobs if they didn't routinley affirm the stronger statements in their teaching.
Not that I'm against a university setting standards for their professors to abide by, and expecting the professors to do so. But the result in this case is the sort of "two truths" situation which Lewis warned the Anglican seminarians about in his famous "Fernseed and Elephants" address.
I'm more familiar with Gregory Boyd as a systematic theologian who seems to accept a high inspiration character to scripture while also vigorously promoting open theism on both philosophical grounds and scriptural testimony. And I recall him getting into trouble with over this, too, like Pinnock, though not as recently. (His scriptural defense is at least interesting; though in my evaluation his metaphysical defense leaves much to be desired. I think he does properly address problems with traditional omniscience/predestination theory, though.)
Jason Pratt said...
Despite not being an inerrantist (except perhaps in whatever ultra-qualified way the Chicago Statement sets forth, which to me doesn't count as inerrancy {g}), I'm leery about calling Ruth, Job, Jonah or the parables "fictional"--and I would still be leery about calling them that if I was a rank atheist.
Few of the parables feature any details which render them certainly fictional. Some of the "exaggeration" parables probably count; where Jesus takes a humorous popular caricactured stereotype and applies it as illustration of a theological truth. But parables like that of the Good Samaritan, among others, strike me as being entirely plausible as events; and what preacher does not sometimes use real experiences he knows about to illustrate a point he wants to make? I do it myself not infrequently. (In fact, I briefly did it just now. {g!}) Do those parables _have to be_ historical? No, I agree they do not. But 'not necessarily historical' does not equal 'fictional'.
(One of our "Anon"s testifies, if a bit backhandedly, to the mundane character of the Good Samaritan parable, too. The answer to his question, of course, is that the "entitlement" hangs completely on the character of the reported speaker. The same is true, in principle, for the message Steven brings up from RevJohn: is Jesus someone who can be expected to send messages like this, and is the author of RevJohn someone who can be expected to receive them? The former question might be answerable in various ways, but we aren't in much position to answer the latter question anymore except by acceptance of church tradition--which was kind of iffy about RevJohn in the first place. {lopsided g} And I agree, Steven was being a flamebaiter when he asked that question.)
Similarly (back to the main topic), Jonah looks a lot like an extended parable to me. But I know from experience that a story like this can have a substantially historical core, even if the details are being exaggerated in service to the moral of the story. (The city takes three days to walk across; everyone in the whole city goes into repentence, due to the ridiculously minimial proclamation of the surly central character who doesn't want to be there doing it.) The "great fish" (the Hebrew is much vaguer than this) could be a fictional detail, or some kind of real (if possibly exaggerated) event, or a real miracle of some sort. It isn't incidental to the plot, though; so if there's a historical core to the rest of the story, I expect there's a historical core to this as well. (And Jonah himself does seem to have been a historical character; referenced in 2 Kings 14:25, a rather prosaic part of a document which serves very well by the standards of ancient Near Eastern chronicle.) Does the story of Jonah _have to be_ historical? I agree, no it doesn't. But I don't think it has to be strictly fictional, either.
Job could be entirely fictional, but whatever it is, it certainly isn't parable in its received form (though it might be greatly extended from one; the prologue and epilogue have a parabolic character to them.) And I really don't find any details in it which stand out as marking the document as ancient fiction. Some rich man in ancient Mesopotamia could easily lose his family and health to situations like this (though given a typical brush of Near Eastern exaggeration to hammer home the impact of what happened), and go into a near-suicidal depression; and get into a theological dispute with three friends (plus a young man who happens by and wants to give _his_ twenty paragraphs--my kind of guy {g!}) about why bad things happen to good people under Heaven. The job of a good bard who hears about this kind of thing, and sees the value of it, would be to render it stylistically interesting to his particular audience. The Jews then either pick it up when they return to the Mesapotamian area during the Diaspora (although if they did, they exercised a freakishly improbable level of restraint not to make it overtly Jewish, compared to the kind of thing we _know_ they were writing during and after that period); or it got passed down as an heirloom via Abraham, the patriarch who originally came from that neck of the desert. {g} Either way there are significant improbabiities (if it was picked up in the exile, why wasn't it Judaized?--on the other hand, if it was handed down in some form over centuries of Jewish development, and left untouched out of reverence for its antiquity, then why is mention of Job elsewhere in scripture limited to a rhetorical 'a fortiori' use of "these three men" in one prophecy of Ezekiel, so far as I can find? Itself a highly interesting usage reference, by the way.) Which leaves the work quite mysterious in its provenance; but not necessarily fictional in its content.
To finish out, I don't (yet) see the grounds for Ruth to be judged fictional. It's a romantic story, but romantic stories _do_ happen. I'm not aware of any clear anachronisms which would, by their centrality to the plot, tag it as a creation from whole cloth by a later writer. (In fact I'm not aware of any anachronisms at all in it, although in my case that doesn't go for much. {g} But even if there are, it isn't unusual for stories to be brought up-to-date a bit in terminologies for purposes of better audience assimilation, even in known histories by legitimate historians such as Josephus and Tacitus.) I suppose if David is fictional, then his great-grandmother must be fictional, too; but that depends on how one is prepared to regard various documents purporting to be regal chronicle (which Kitchen, no friend to "fundamentalists", has shown to be quite in keeping with reasonably reliable genre standards of that timeframe and general area.) That being said, I also suppose there is no reason why a story couldn't be sheerly invented about the real great-grandmother of a really real king, either; although given the gargantuan importance of David in Jewish culture, it would be surprising that this little romantic tale is all that someone thought was worthy of the (non-Jewish!) semi-distant ancestor of a king considered second only to the Messiah To Come (who also must be the descendent of this obscure pagan nobody-woman!) I mean, when the Jews want to invent a romantic tale about an obscure woman important to the Messiah's family tree, they can be demonstrated not to just fiddle around: they write an epic (and highly popular) love/theology poem like _Joseph and Asenath_! By contrast, Ruth looks like oral history handed down as a good short story, with emphasis on the romantic aspects certainly, but also without significant amounts of tweaking.
If I would be prepared to say exactly the same things about these works as an atheist (and I would be--I make a point of doing that as much as possible {g}); I don't see why I would have to be less than optimistically agnostic about their historicity as a Christian.
Jason Pratt said...
I agree that John was going rather off base in asserting that the world in ancient times was "superstitious to the core"--not that superstition wasn't rampant, but people, including religious authorities, did distinguish it; and superstition has very little to do with what historians look for when trying to find the extent to which an ancient author is trying to write history and generally succeeding at it.
But BDK is right that most English (and German and French and other European-language) philosophical journals, if not all of them, are primarily concerned with defending or contesting some variant of Judeo-Christian theism (when they do talk about theology); and it's hard not to link this with territorial importance. I expect agnostics and atheists put in their showing, just like we do, in the relevant philosophical venues of other cultures (Hindi and Buddhist come to mind.)
Besides, John of all people can't call irrational origins against it, even if that was historically the case--since atheism itself necessarily involves claiming that _all_ truth claims (including true ones) have inescapably non-rational foundations. {ggg!}
Mike Darus said...
The definition of inerrancy falls along a wide spectrum. I come from the perspective that the Chicago Statement is a very conservative definition and what most of the professors at conservative seminaries mean when they sign the statement. I think it is wrong to think that affirming an unqualified statement of inerrancy in a doctrinal statement is saying something different than what is in the Chicago Statement. I also expect that a discussion about the "wide" spectrum o opinions among inerrantists would be incomprehensible to those outside the camp. Steve Carr is completely justified in his interjections.
Jason Pratt said...
Speaking as someone who does occasionally defend Steven's remarks--the basic question was good. The sheerly rhetorical followups were not, and demonstrate that he never had any interest in listening to a serious answer in the first place. He was only flamebaiting, and abusing what would otherwise be a good question in the process. (Which is par for the course for him. Otherwise I might charitably suggest he was being impostured by a troll instead. {wry s})
There is no sane (much less complete) justification for claiming "defending the Bible is an impossible task"--even an atheist could fairly defend "the Bible" on hundreds if not thousands of discreet points. But that's the purely rhetorical (and unfair) spirit he was asking his question in.
As to the other, it's been a few years since I've read over the Abstract of Principles at LSBTS; so I went over this morning and re-checked--and indeed, either my memory is faulty, or they've dialed back the language since last I looked. So on that I (gladly!) stand corrected.
At LSBTS the Abstract on Scripture (currently) reads:
I agree, so far as I can tell this fits in entirely with the Chicago Statement.
As to whether affirming an otherwise unqualified statement of inerrancy at a university is _necessarily_ saying something different from the Chicago Statement, of course I agree it isn't necessarily different. And even if it was, by the intention of the affirmer, that could easily still be self-consistent, so long as he does not go on to affirm and play by the Chicago Statement _also_. (And, furthermore, a university with an otherwise unqualified statement would not be inconsistent to have professors of different positions concerning inerrancy teaching their positions.)
What I protest, is the practice of affirming qualified statements of (call it "limited") inerrancy _and also_ affirming the characteristics of scripture in maximally strong language. Well, that and calling limited inerrancy "inerrancy" at all... {g}
I grant a term has to be used; but I think nothing is gained other than for rhetorically useful promotional purposes, when a word with such a strong an internal face-value meaning as "inerrancy" gets spread across such a "wide spectrum". It certainly doesn't help make the meaning any more comprehensible to those "outside the camp". | <urn:uuid:142e1394-d7ac-4878-899c-61991fb5a037> | https://dangerousidea.blogspot.com/2006/09/ed-babinski-c-s-lewis-and-bible.html?showComment=1157732520000 | en | 0.968722 | 0.263134 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
My coworker, who sits right next to me, keeps mumbling to herself when she types or reads. It is a not-too loud, low-voice mumble that I can hear without understanding words.
It really irritates me and disturbs me from my own thinking, but I do not know if it is something normal to request and not come out as a rude person.
How can I ask her to stop without being rude?
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That is certainly related but in the linked question, OP didn't know that person. @Yohan, could you tell us more about your relationship with said coworker? Do you work together? Do you talk about personal stuff sometimes? Basically, how close are you with them? This information could really be helpful for answering the question. – avazula Jul 31 '19 at 7:12
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I'm too newbie to answer a protected Q at this site - but this is an issue that really goes into psychology. There are people who have an inner voice (most folks), or people that don't - the latter tend to mumble to themselves, either audibly or not audibly. I'm one of those that does it audibly. We are not silly, or weird in any way. We just don't have an inner voice and do it at audible levels. I can reference an awesome Sci Am issue on this. However, bottom line -- wear ear phones if you are in any way distracted by something as benign like this :) – AliceD Aug 2 '19 at 22:57
• @AliceD I have very sensitive ear canals and wearing ear plugs is painful and I also need to hear my colleagues if they want to speak to me. So it is not an option. Interestingly, I am also speaking to myself - but only at home when nobody hears! Yes speaking to yourself is helpful, but I am always conscious of how I behave in the public. Just my upbringing isnt letting me to do anything in the public that might disturb others. And it's very stressful to point such things to people because you will be seen as negative and even possibly passive-aggressive person.. – YohanRoth Aug 3 '19 at 2:41
My roommate does almost the same thing. Like everyone, he talks to himself, but at times in a very elaborate manner. He makes gestures, sometimes voice goes up, and sometimes giggles too. It was weird at first, because I never saw someone do that. But as time clarified, he grew up like that.
When I am doing something important and he might start mumbling, I would look at him as if he said something and I missed it. Sometimes I would say "Pardon?".
This makes him conscious that he is audible (but I clarify, not understandable) to me. And he either lowers his voice or changes his actions. Since he is an outgoing person, he doesn't mind doing it outside either.
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Outgoing person doesn't mean they like the outside. Outgoing means they are extroverted and like to be around people and are not shy. – Chloe Aug 3 '19 at 2:36
• @Chloe Haha, catch! At the time of writing, I thought it to be a mix of confident, not shy about this particular thing and comfortable doing this in public too. So if you get the gist, feel free to suggest an edit, I'll approve it. – ankii Aug 3 '19 at 3:46
I had something of a similar situation - I had a coworker who cleared his throat every 30 seconds or so. I once made a joke about it to him ("Hey you keep it down over there!" in a joking way) and he didn't get it because he didn't know he was doing it. So I bought headphones. I can't correct someone else's behaviour but I can control what I hear.
My suggestion is to get yourself a good pair of headphones or something similar (if you office allows it). If not, ask your supervisor or manager if you can either move, work elsewhere, or if you can be the exception to the no-headphones rule.
You could also ask your coworkers what they've noticed and subsequently done. It didn't change anything about the situation, but when I knew I had coworkers who felt the same way and could either tell me what they did to fix this, or commiserate with them when we were annoyed.
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If he / she didn't get it, maybe you should consider telling him / her directly instead? Making a joke out of it is a way for you not to have to tell directly - it is not particularly helpful for the person involved. "I can't correct someone else's behaviour" ... of course you can, to a certain point. – Maarten Bodewes Aug 1 '19 at 10:49
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You can’t correct someone else’s behavior, but you can suggest they do so. I say this without taking a position on whether you should. – WGroleau Aug 1 '19 at 16:25
The other answers seem to focus on personal experiences related to yours, I'll instead focus on my experiences from the point of view of your co-worker. I mumble/gesture/talk to myself often. It's who I am and it's how I work.
The first thing that you should realize is that she may be doing it unconsciously. Asking her to stop likely won't result in anything. Instead, she'll be silent for a day or two, and then regress back to the same behavior. Bringing it up further will make her conscious of her behavior, and will detract heavily from her job.
The second thing that you should understand is that this is the way some people work. The benefit to talking out loud to yourself is the fact that you use a 'different' part of your brain to analyze what you're doing. I (and I suspect your co-worker) am an auditory and spatial learner. What that means is that if I listen to something, or I somehow use my spatial recognition, I understand it much better than purely visual/textual. Thus, whenever working on a complex problem, I talk and use gestures to activate my auditory and spatial analysis.
Now, obviously if she's talking at a loud volume, I don't see the harm in bringing it up. But quietly murmuring I believe is a lot to bring up. If you do, I sincerely believe you'll be impeding her ability to work.
Some of the other answers have suggested playing music / other workarounds for this situation, and have been asked to provide a direct answer rather than challenging the frame of the question. My issue with this is the fact that as someone who understands your co-worker's idiosyncrasies, I only see confrontation ending badly.
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I can sympathize with both points of view. I myself am a sensory avoider, and my son, who has Tourette Syndrome, is a noisy sensory seeker. We both have to accommodate each other ... negotiate ... tolerate. This would be much more difficult if there weren't so much that we appreciate about each other.
In my answer, I will assume it is not possible for you and your officemate to be separated into different offices. I figure, if this were possible, you would have arranged for this already.
I will suggest a combination approach. I don't know exactly which of the following will be feasible for you, but I'll go ahead and write several options. Hopefully some of them can work for you.
• Find an alternate location to work in for some part of the day, e.g. conference room, unused office, etc.
• Gradually desensitize yourself to a background hum of human activity by spending some time regularly in a place that is not as quiet as you would ideally like. For example, do some email work in a coffee shop. Read a book on a bench at a neighborhood playground. It can be helpful to keep a log, including date, amount of time, and a rating of how much the background noise bothered you. Remind yourself from time to time that the ability to block out or shrug off background sounds will make life better for you over the long run.
• Get to know your officemate better. Find commonality on whatever level you can. Build a positive, mutually satisfying relationship with her on some level. Attune yourself to her preferences about what to talk about, where to talk (e.g. go for a walk? have lunch together outside? share a funny youtube clip when you are taking your breaks? ask her which of two pairs of shoes (you're considering buying) she likes better, etc.).
• Start with small requested changes, and offer options. For example: "I've got a tricky project to work on tomorrow, that will take about half an hour, and I'll need it to be quiet in the office. I've noticed that you talk often yourself through your tasks at your desk. During that half hour tomorrow, I'm going to need you to hold off on that self-talk, please. I could work on that project in the morning or in the afternoon. Is there a better time of day for that? In other words, do you have a preference for what time of day to have that quiet time?"
At the beginning of the quiet half hour, put up a piece of paper or card stock on the wall, with "Quiet Time" written with a thick marker. When the half hour is up, take it down and put it away until the next time.
Now, if she makes an effort during that half hour, make sure to show your appreciation, and give her positive feedback (even if her initial efforts weren't very effective).
(Depending on her make-up, 30 minutes might be too much for a first step. You might need to make it five minutes.)
During this phase, just pretend to be engaged in a tricky project. It's best to keep the stakes low in this first step.
• If headphones with music or white noise help you, great. I personally tried this when I was in a three-person office and was uncomfortable -- but I found that the headphones approach made things worse for me. That approach drew my attention more to the distracting sounds, so it turned out to be counter-productive for me. But if it works for you, great.
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Why You Should Move and Exercise With Your Feet Straight-(er)
Let’s just say it outright: having full access to your body’s potential is harder than it sounds. This is especially true as modern people. Let’s face it, sometimes it’s just not practical to squat barefoot on the subway or in the boardroom. In the well-defined tug-of-war that is nurture vs. nature, we can change the “nurture” to be “shaped by the environment” and “nature” to mean, what is it a human being is supposed to be able to do given our 2.5 million years old physiology? One thing we do know though is that the world’s fastest runners, highest jumpers, most successful cyclists all share one trait – their feet are straight when they move and exercise.
Use It or Lose It
One of the aspects of human physiology that is underappreciated is the dynamic relationship between the actual physical loads on the human body and how the body responds. The easiest place to appreciate this “nurture affects nature” dynamic is in the bones of the human body. In the late 19th century, German surgeon and anatomist Julius Wolff described how the bones of a healthy person reflected the loads under which they were placed. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading.
“Use it or lose it”.
-Wolff’s Law
We tend to think of loading as lifting weights or jumping. But loading can also mean the absence of strong forces in the boney tissues. In the 1990s, osteoporosis became a “public health crisis.” Originally we told people that were susceptible to bone loss to up their calcium and magnesium and to walk more. This, of course, turned out to be an incomplete recipe for correcting this problem. The real solution had to include higher than bodyweight forces. We needed to jump and land AND have the right substrates on hand in order for those bones to remodel and become stronger. Wolff’s law is the original “use it or lose it” philosophy. “But isn’t this article about foot position?” It is, but we need some context first.
“You are as old as your feet”
– Russian proverb
What is Normative?
As we begin to lay out our case for what “normative human function” is, we can draw from any number of sources. By normative, we don’t mean normal. We mean, the expected ranges of motion across the whole spectrum of human body type (without the presence of pathology or injury). For example, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons suggests that “standard” ankle dorsiflexion (flexing your foot towards your shin) should be expected to be 20 degrees. Standing requires zero dorsiflexion by comparison. If you were laying on your stomach and someone tried to flex your foot towards your shin, expected would be 20 degrees. The gold standard for physical therapy (Norkin and White) also suggests that 20 degrees are expected. There are a couple of other reference sources that suggest a bit more, but I appreciate that these values of ankle motion are a bit more on the conservative side. See fig (a) below.
Plantar flexion and Dorsiflexion
Standardized ranges of motion can be thought of as context-free “snapshots” of human capacity. Because these body measurements are observed without the context of the rest of the body and without actual loaded movement, they are useful but incomplete. Knowing how far the steering wheel will rotate when the car isn’t moving is nice, but it doesn’t really say anything about how responsive the steering is at speed or how well the car drives. It’s clearly important, but by itself, it’s incomplete information about the system as a whole.
If the expected range of motion when flexing the ankle with a bent knee is 20 degrees, the first question we should ask is, “what does squatting look like if I’m missing all or almost all of my ankle dorsiflexion?” You can certainly squat down partway with no ankle range of motion (your lower leg will be very vertical) and your torso will have to bend forward at the waist to stay balanced, but you can do it. This zero ankle motion squat will make it harder to be in very athletic shapes (tough to compete looking at the floor with your hips hinged into a deep hip hinge) and it certainly isn’t ideal for keeping a barbell on your shoulders for a front squat. I will repeat, it is possible.
It turns out, however, that being able to flex your ankle is actually quite useful for athletic movement and even activities of daily living, like squatting with 100 kg on your shoulders or squatting to the toilet. And, when you can appropriately flex your ankle, you can move and exercise with your feet straight…which is ideal…
Dr. Kelly Starrett coaching an athlete
Check out how I’m squatting with straight feet
We have movement genius built into our DNA
The next question sets itself up. Don’t people squat and move throughout their day just fine without having full access to their ankle range of motion? You bet we do.
Enter: Compensation. Humans are some of the most clever animals on the planet when it comes to creating viable solutions to complex problems. The human brain is the most complex structure in the known universe. It happens to be attached to a body that has been evolving for more than a couple of million years in its more modern form. We are built to move and move at all costs. Our bodies are extraordinary in their capacity to continue to move in even the most austere conditions. Our very survival used to be predicated on being able to hunt, fight, gather and carry sustenance, and reproduce. Our bodies aren’t fragile. On the contrary, our bodies get better and stronger when they are stressed. They are anti-fragile.
“Muscles and tissues are like obedient dogs.”
– Pediatric PT saying
There is also a flip side to the incredible adaptation abilities of our bodies. Remember when we described “nature” as “shaped by our environment?” The same mechanisms that allow us to adapt so easily to difficult environments and loads, can work against us if we don’t appreciate the implications of our anti-fragile selves. For example, if we fail to move in ways that are consistent with the environmental demands of our evolutionary selves, we may find that we may lose access to ranges of motion that aren’t regularly touched. Can you squat all the way down to the ground while keeping your heels on the ground? I bet you could when you were a toddler. It’s so common for children to be able to perform this simple movement, in fact, that it is a red flag if they are unable.
So what changed? Moreover, when did it change? Overnight? All of a sudden? Do you remember a moment when you no longer could perform this fundamental human movement?
The chances are that as you aged, your movement behaviors changed as you began to interact differently with the world around you. For example, you probably moved from ground-based play exclusively, to more time spent sitting in a chair at a table. You also moved from being barefoot nearly all the time to wearing whatever shoes your family provided for you. Were those shoes flat or did they have a thicker heel than they did a toe? Were you aware that you might have suddenly and radically changed not only how your feet interacted with the ground, but how far your heel was now off the ground?
While it may be difficult to imagine that these seemingly insignificant environmental nudges to your physiology actually aggregate into expressed changes in movement outputs, we must consider that they are potentially shaping us over a time span of years to decades. Imagine missing a night of brushing your teeth. This is quite reasonable if you’ve ever been to college and pulled an all-nighter studying, or worked a graveyard shift, or even taken a red-eye cross country flight. It’s probably not really that big a deal to your dental health. But, what would happen if you started missing days regularly, or even weeks? I bet the results would be pretty self-evident, and relatively quickly. The same feedback mechanisms, unfortunately, do not equally manifest themselves in the human body. We might begin to experience changes in our tissue systems and never really be confronted with the potential implications of these changes, sometimes ever.
Remember, human beings are savage survival machines. Our bodies are designed to last a hundred years, buffer the ravages and degradation of life and injury, and still function to the last. The problem with this incredible gift is when we come to believe that what we are doing and how we are doing it, or how we are moving or not moving, is sustainable given that we haven’t had any “problems”. Add to this a super-computer brain that is designed to make do with what it has to work with, and it’s easy to confuse “good enough” for “what is it I should be able to do again?”
Ora Reed-Holland, age 114
Ora Reed-Holland age 114
Imagine what an advantage it is to have a body that can cope with changes in its mechanical expression of movement by instantaneously creating workarounds. You’d still be able to walk around without any movement in your ankles (albeit with less efficiency, speed, and balance) for example. Kids with early signs of muscular dystrophy create brilliant solutions for getting up off the ground with straight legs and very little leg strength. In persons with cerebral palsy, altered changes in the brain’s ability to coordinate movement is overridden by the same brain, the body creates stability and again retains locomotion.
The former examples may seem extreme, but they illustrate how well our bodies can adapt to significant changes in our fundamental biology. What then is the body’s compensation or workaround strategy for missing ankle range of motion?
We turn our feet out. We walk like ducks and simply negate our missing ankle and foot function by walking around the ankle joint and rolling across the foot. As a survival strategy, this is pretty brilliant. But, it begs the existential question, “Is survival enough?”
Duck with straight feet
Even ducks actually move with straight feet?
The short answer is, sometimes? If I’m being chased by a hundred rabid chickens, I’ll use whatever strategy is available to me, thank you.
The rest of the time, survival as a baseline is a pretty low bar. And, it’s very short term oriented. If you ever want to run faster, farther, jump higher, cut quicker, or ride a bike faster, you are going to need to have your feet pointed straight ahead.
We recognize that full physiological function may not be on everyone’s priority list given that most of us just want to be able to go about our lives in a pain-free state. Heck, those bunions and demi-ankles may not ever really cause you grief. Go ahead and eat little chocolate donuts while smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes. I personally guarantee this won’t create immediate problems in your health. The operative word here is “immediate”. We should think about behaviors in the short term and in the long term. Sometimes it’s harder to do a better thing that ultimately pays off in terms of opportunity and potential you can’t yet appreciate.
Kid smoking sitting next to a chicken.
Please note that both the child and the chicken’s feet are pointed straight
Reality Check
We are forced to confront simple truths:
Do we accept lower levels of function because the potential down-stream consequences aren’t immediate?
Are we ok with the fact that survival compensation strategies limit force production, skill transferability, and movement economy, and potentially lead to dysfunction and pain?
Are we not sophisticated enough to adjust our environments to maintain the abilities with which nearly every child on the planet is born?
At The Ready State, we emphasize positions and techniques that maintain the full capacity of the human being. We have long maintained that the “best” athlete is the person that can pick up a new skill, the fastest. We choose shapes that reflect the full and normative expression of human physiology. We believe that technically good human movement is more robust than movements that contain survival compensations. We believe that movement skills are robust and that they should transfer across skills, sports, ages, and cohorts.
Missing ankle range of motion or having incomplete access to your physiology isn’t a value statement. It’s a reality. No one knows or can account for your personal injury history, environmental exposure, or movement learning. It’s not good or bad. But it is one or zero. This means you are either at full power and ability, or you have the opportunity to get even better (and believe me, I know lots of the world’s very best that can still get better).
In short, we believe and can demonstrate that moving, squatting, jumping, running, landing, and riding are all done better with feet that point straight ahead. Again, the best athletes on the planet move and exercise with their feet straight…did I say that again?
It may just be an issue of practice. And, it may be an issue of soft tissue restriction. Either way, muscles, and tissues are like obedient dogs. And, remember, at The Ready State, we have lots of content that can help with your tight ankles.
Feet straight-er, please.
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This was the final assignment for Foundation Year Spatial Dynamics class (Fall 2015). The assignment was to make a modular cardboard chair that can be reconfigured to create at least three different chairs with six of the same modules. All modular cardboard chairs were hand cut.
Each modular chair has a joiner inside the center which you can use to join one module to the other. It can be adjusted into different lengths
The joiner lives inside the internal structure of the module and can slide in and out both directions.
Here is the joint seperated from the modular chair. It can be taken in and out of the center, length is also adjustable
The module also has flaps that can be expanded and secured with detachable lids and supporters. The supporters help with providing more structure to the chair, the ability to expand the flaps also allow more variety on how to join the modules together.
Different chair configurations you could make with 6 of the modules.
Throughout the process of this project I made bristol mini modular models to explore the different ways modules could join to create a complex system, slowly evolving model after model until the final one.
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The Real Thing
Fully overcoming the weaknesses of small homes.
This design is so named to address the prevailing opinion that as housing gets smaller, they are considered progressively poorer places to live, like ersatz houses. At the same time most of the complaints about compact housing such as poor privacy, noise, cramped kitchens and bathrooms, lack of rooms for guests and storage or to work with tools etc. are in fact eminently soluble with appropriate design. This is my attempt to design a home that can compete with and maybe beat wherever physically possible a suburban detached dwelling. Plus being environmentally benign and affordable as I can get it.
Sorry about the lack of eye candy, but I hope the apartment that results from the design is the most operative concern here and I have very limited drawing capabilities with this computer. The drawings are very rough and only meant to convey the general concept and spacing, for full design see the detailed description. Some features I did not have time to draw in but are included in the description, and things like the thickness of shelves etc. are wrong. Sketchup files below.
This is made to keep whoever lives in it happy for the next 25 years while also meeting all of Graham's (and the sponsor's) requirements.
I'm going to borrow the storytelling approach from the 24/6 entry fellow.
8:00 Am
Graham and his Girlfriend wake up and get dressed using the clothes stored in the nearby shelf. They are chipper and well rested, having sleep soundly without interruption from neighbors or traffic, as always no matter how bad their luck is in the neighbor lottery.
8:10 Am
Graham sets the machinery of cooking in motion with extra ease because the appliances are ready to use just after opening the drawer. They enjoy a tasty and healthy breakfast as they catch up on the news on the TV. There is no work of deploying or stowing any apartment components to do these things, except maybe turning the 31" monitor around if they didn't last night.
8:30 Am
Either his Girlfreind has left or is in the bedroom, and having stowed the bed is sitting in the bedroom on the couch with her feet up on the Piego table that were under the bed ready to use. Either way they are both free to focus on work, because they both have acoustic and visual privacy.
12:00 PM
It's been a productive morning, as Graham readily achieved flow state, undistracted by any noises or screen glare. A few friends show up for lunch and he deploys the spare piego that is stored under the bathroom in a drawer and moves some futons and a stool over from the bedroom. He forgot to set the laundry going but he takes a second to do it now because the acoustic curtain blocks most of the noise anyway so it will not bother him or his guests.
6:00 PM
Our hero has braved downtown traffic with his perfectly functioning bicycle to buy food for a dinner party tonight and he appreciates having a real kitchen so he doesn't have to serve his guests re-heated catered food. He needs a few of the folding chairs stored in the ceiling, so he flips the switch and down they come to a convenient height. He grabs them and flips it again so the box returns to it's place automatically.
10:00 PM
Everyone has a ball without thinking about whether they might bother the neighbors. Even with 12 people in the room chatting away, conversation is easily understood, and everyone loved the food. Friends have been trying out the steam room, which seats 3 at once.
2:00 am
Grahams friend grabs something he wanted from the reuse bin that he saw on the blog where a record of the additions and subtractions from the bin are automatically recorded, thanks him for it and leaves.
6:00 am
Some friends decide they'd better not chance the subway and decide to stay the, uh, morning over here. They manage to deploy the hammock and sofa bed, and pull the acoustic curtain across to get some privacy and they appreciate the quiet it provides from Graham, who has an apointment on the umi and is presently causing breakfast to exist in the kitchen. He was able to go to bed at a more sensible hour because of the well sealed bedroom wall, and will not wake his friends from the office.
Several Years Later
Graham needs to move to another city and this jem is up for grabs. Mrs Smith has a look at the place and signs the lease. Mr. Smith groans when he hears how small it is. Neither of them cares about all this environment stuff, but she tells him size costs money. He expects this is the end of the ol' marriage though, they'll have 210 sq ft. each.
They move in and leave most of their stuff in a storage lot but are surprised at how much storage space there is. They both sleep well the first night and go to work.
Before long Mr Smith figures he's finally not got the short straw for once, because the neighbors here are saints; the never make a peep, and they say that they don't even notice when he turns the volume up on the TV.
Eventually Mrs Smith tries the office thing, though she was about to get rid of it, and realises how nice and quiet it is in here, probably quieter than anywhere she has worked before. Solid silence. With that funny curtain drawn just right she can do a load of laundry at the same time and the noise is hardly noticeable too. She has discovered there are plugs in the drawers so she "got lazy" and stopped taking the slow cooker, rice cooker bread machine etc. out of the drawer to use them.
One day they realize they haven't once felt the need to open the windows for fresh air, it just always smells so fresh and nice in here. Mrs. Smith decides to try telecommuting, now that she has this nice place to work and there are tax benefits. Mr. Smith thinks he's a real apartment ninja when he realizes the hook in the closet is a perfect place to put his bicycle instead of leaving it outside. He decides to spring for a nice bike and uses it more often as a result. They give away most of the stuff in the storage lot.
Smart metering has been implemented and they get their first utility bill, and think there has been a mistake. After casually grilling the building staff, Mr S is delighted to find out this stems from the design of the apartment, and they can enjoy the low bills guilt free as long as they live there. Their kitchen is even nicer to use than their old one. One day Mr. S wonders why dishwashing and clothes washing machines are not more common in apartment buildings, it sure is handy to have one, which he didn't in his last apt, and it saves water and energy too.
They are healthier than ever, sleeping and eating and exercising well, and in due course the Smiths are known for having the best parties around.
(also a good argument for including a user manual with housing)
A few MORE years later..... well you get the idea. Actually it does matter a lot, but I don't expect any end of lifecycle, renovation, etc. problems. The mechanisms are all durable and fairly simple too.
---------------------------------Full description----------------------------
Apparently it is not possible to upload documents here so I will have to put this in the description section.
I apologize for the lack of eye candy but I would hope that it is the resulting apartment that is the most operative concern here. I only have sketchup and a trackpoint, and it's the first time I've used sketchup. But honestly it seems to me like trying to design something so subjective without even knowing anything about Graham or even being able to even talk to him would lead to a lot of running around in circles. I spent the bulk of the design time here on things that are more behind the scenes, many of which are usually neglected yet very important. Unfortunately that has described energy efficiency to a T for the last few decades, and it usually still does, and we can see where ignoring it got us.
While the design below might seem complicated, I like the idea presented in a recent TED talk: Embrace complexity and you will see simplicity emerge from it.
Also, I didn't have time to add many of the features to the drawing, this document is the real design, and the drawings are very rough and just try to convey the general concept and spacing of the things, ceiling storage etc.
First of all, no interior design can cover up a noisy environment, one that lacks privacy from the neighbors, or poor indoor air quality (or is badly insulated). I assume the rocklathe needs to be removed for the superinsulation so that opens up the possibility of more economical installation of room-within-a room (including an extra set of interior windows, but an inexpensive single pane that can still be opened) soundproofing using recycled cotton denim as the added insulation and a 6 inch gap, and rubber joist caps providing about 60 STC of sound isolation from neighbors and more from the street due to the brick. Enough to really not be able to hear the neighbors or I believe traffic. A curtain with cloth on both sides and a 6.4 mm core of recycled rubber sheet from Audimute is used to reduce the noise of the washing machine, dishwasher and kitchen appliances. Owens corning 1280 rigid rockwool board (Made from basalt), applied with stand-offs so that the boards are mounted 2 inches below the ceiling in the main area and if desired on the celling storage unit though that would cost you another 4 inches of headspace,r is then covered in a very thin and attractive material, providing highly effective sound absorption for a unique and excellent acoustic environment, much better than what is provided by acoustic tile. It is very well suited to conversation at parties and enjoying multimedia entertainment.
Acoustic isolation provides a feeling of distance and size, so the interior curtain walls of the bedroom and office are made using QuietWood acoustically damped plywood, sanded both sides and painted to acheive the same appearance as drywall. It provides much the same soundproofing properties as the usual 5 inch thick drywall-stud wall at only 1/2 inch thick. It is also much lighter, making the wall folding mechanisms easier. For more soundproofing you could add quietrock or greenglue and Ecorock but that seems like overkill and could be added later if desired.
The door to the hallway would be a double door with appropriate seals and, with both doors opening outwards to free up space in the entrance area for boots and shoes. Single doors soundproof to 55 -60 db are available but they are very expensive. To be able close both doors after entering and open them both when exiting (since they both open outwards, closing the inner door first would make it impossible to close the outer door etc.) a suitable mechanism to connect the door handles so they rotate together is used, and door- opening force can be transmitted through it too.
Adding a vibration break to the floor for the bedroom with a caulked or recycled rubber sheet seam would reduce footfall vibrations within the same dwelling. The budget is very vauge so it is hard to decide exactly how far to go here. You can always have more soundproofing for a price.
Whatever desired Low VOC finishes should be used throughout. The north (the door) wall and the outer wall of the bathroom are painted with Rust-o-leum magnetic paint primer before the desired finish, so magnets can be used to attach pictures etc directly to the wall.
Restaurant food is still restaurant food, and one of the common complaints about compact living quarters is the "cramped" kitchens. So New York or not, I am not convinced that most users would find a miniaturized kitchen adequate. And this needs to be designed with a 25 year timeframe in mind, which means lots of other users besides Graham. A full sized sink and 4 "appliance drawers" in which the appliance remains plugged in, ready for use are provided. There is a safety cutoff switch that disconnects the power when the drawer is closed. A big cutting board is provided to cover the sink with if desired. The lower parts of the kitchen storage is all drawers not the usual cupboards because cupboards at a low level seem to me to be less space efficient and more difficult to retrieve/stow items in. After all required appliances and a (quiet model) drawer fridge under the sink are included, an ultrasonic washing basin is also included which can wash vegetables, or few dishes without detergent or hot water. If required a waste pump such as is often used for basement toilets can be used to transfer wastewater to the waste stack. Or better yet the water could be pumped to the Aqus water recycler in the bathroom, but since it contains food waste that may be inadvisable without a more sophisticated treatment system.
Countertops are recycled glass or varnished NFS plywood.
Robot servants reside in a hangar at floor level.
Clarification: to implement the appliance drawers, simply omit the back wall of the drawer and put a panel just below the drawer's floor to separate it from the one below to prevent anything from falling out the back from the upper drawer into the one below it. Then put a plug in the back panel of the drawer unit (it stays stationary) for that drawer and the safety switch. The appliances cord should probably be bunched up and tied with a twist tie to shorten it a bit.
The kitchen can be hidden with the acoustic curtain.
Bedroom and office
The walls of the bedroom and office can be folded away, freeing up extra space for the 12 person party. The 31" monitor and Amina speakers are mounted on a panel of the wall with non-damped wood or if more suitable for the speakers performance, glass or ecorock with a wood frame, and a double hinge, with one hinge axis along the left side of the panel that allows the panel to hinge on the left edge like a door, and another axis so it can also be turned around in place, either facing inwards to the office for work, or outwards for use as a TV, and redirected to face different areas of the apartment. It has acoustic door sealant material around the edges of the opening to maintain the acoustic seal. The speakers are enclosed on the rear with sanded and painted plywood to give a clean white look on all sides, taking advantages of the capabilities of the speakers.
The office unit rests on the ground normally for solidity, but it is an independent unit with wheels that can be lowered so it and it can be rolled to the left to free up space. It has it's own ceiling of 1/2 inch damped plywood that travels with it but no floor of it's own. Tracks on it's ceiling guide the motion of it's north wall with the 31" monitor in it while it's weight is supported by casters, and the 2 side walls swing in front of the desk, see drawings. It is where it is rather than against the east wall because the noise of a diesel truck going by may still be heard, and noise would enter the office, but in the present arangement some further soundproofing is added by the spacing and the office wall. When folded it is narrow enough it can be wheeled around to the south west bedroom by the window (the wall around the riser in the drawing is closer to the riser than shown) However natural light is let in and there is some view through large inexpensive single pane glass windows on all four walls, and the bedroom wall (you could use the glass from the old windows) which also have blinds for when desired.
The bedroom is where it is for similar reasons, as it is the quietest corner of the apt. The office and bedroom do not share a common wall at their interface either, they each have their own wall, again for soundproofing including privacy this time as 33 STC is only the onset of privacy, but with 2 such walls there is ample privacy. The wall has a double hinge (use rubber sheet over hinge to maintain acoustic seal) and folds to the west when the bed is stowed, or to the east when the office is moved out of the way. I couldn't get sketchup to draw the wall so this is one of many places you have to use your imagination.
The bedroom has a murphy bed but it is elevated off the floor far enough that it can be folded down without moving the peigo table beneath it, so it also doubles as a room for one of a couple to get away from the other, or for otherwise achieving privacy during the day. It might seem unnecessary, but there is also a curtain for the bed, because for sleep hygeine purposes it is important to have a bedroom of sorts that looks and seems different than other areas. Acoustic seals are achieved against the floor see drawings for details and the ceiling is easy, a lip/riser is added to accomodate the height difference between the east ceiling and the west while allowing the wall to fold both ways with appropriate rubber sealant material used, same as for doors in an industrial setting or home theaters. Acoustic louvres are used to allow airflow, and one of the fresh air outputs is located in the bedroom to provide the freshest air as directly as possible, increasing efficiency by reducing flow requirements for the same air quality. It is a sock type diffuse vent so there is no noise due to airflow, or draft. Acoustic silencing is employed in the ductwork with rigid fiberglass boards, and a fairly quiet fan, to eliminate noise from the fan.
A common concern about working at home is that people will feel tempted to go back to the office when at home, or use the remainder of the house during working hours. A time lock is optionally provided for the office door, and the X10 ( see below) can prevent the kitchen or other appliances in the home from being turned on during some hours. Or you have to enter a 200 digit pass code to at least take the impulsiveness out of it.
The bathroom is probably formed of a purchased steam room that is then modified, including more insulation if desired. A tankless wall mount toilet is used. The sink is reinforced to support the weight of an individual sitting on it. Wood panels fold down over the sink, with a suitable indent to accomodate the faucet, and below it, turning it into a seat for the steam room which along with a fold-down bench and the toilet seats 3. As mentioned in the thermal design section, in summer the heat is vented directly outside, greatly reducing the load it would add to air conditioning and the heat from the steam room (or sauna) is put to use heating the house in winter, so it's energy consumption is not as bad as it could be. The shower has a navy shower function in case anyone is inspired to use it. A panel by the wall then folds down over most of the wet floor so you don't have to wait for it to dry before continuing to use the bathroom for other purposes.
There is a liquid crystal glass window in the bathroom wall whose transparency can be toggled with a switch to avoid blocking the view of the window, a single pane and with a hinged plywood or foam panel 1.5 inches thick to cover it to reduce heat loss from the steam room, and for privacy while the bathroom is in use.
One of the ventilation air intakes is located in the bathroom, so it is by default held at a negative pressure compared with the rest of the house and it will dry quickly. A small acoustic louvre is used to retain acoustic privacy while allowing some airflow if the door is shut, though it should be normally left slightly open. The vents both have a handy hinged plywood panel to seal them shut when the steam room is in use, improving efficiency and preventing any large amount of water vapor from entering the ventilation system.
Water recycling
After water use in minimized, water from the shower, and bathroom sink is recycled with an Aqus water recycler, and held in a tank located behind the nearby shelving. A demand pump is used to repressurize this water for toilet flushing and also laundry. The water from the kitchen sink and dishwater is probably not recycled because it contains food waste and Aqus ($300) only chlorinates the water. I could not find a reasonably priced more economical system though you might be able to roll your own with ultrafiltration. I believe
chlorination is required in the US, unfortunately excluding the use of
a sink-direct-to-toilet bowl type system, but this way shower water is also be recycled (with a water saving shower head I do
not think the flow rate should be too high, (the aqus might need to be
installed behind the south wall of the bathroom and below the level of
the bathroom floor, and accessible with a trap door probably from the
bedroom)) if chlorinated the water can be stored for some time and it can
be used for laundry too.
The recycler tank should be insulated to prevent condensation from any cold water. Maybe a recycled old hot water tank.
Bike and shoes
Nearby, the bike storage area is on the left of the entrance, with a shoe storage area under a seat, and on the left is more shoe storage under the bathroom. The shoe storage shelf here is embedded in the front of a drawer, so the volume behind that wall area is not wasted. The rolling toolchest is stored in a cupboard to the east of the seating area.
Above the door opens outwards, freeing up some space that the door would otherwise sweep out, for storing winter boots and shoes, which may be snowy or otherwise wet. There is a hanger rod for coats above the seat and tool chest cabinet, and a curtain could be provided to cover this area when desired to conceal the coats for a cleaner appearance.
Roughly 350 cu ft of storage is provided total, and there is room for a storage unit or something if desired. A substantial amount is provided in 3 boxes, made of 1/4 inch ply or something similarly suitably, and 1.5 feet deep, that can be raised and lowered from the ceiling in the kitchen area by 3 separate electric winches, controlled by light switches in a nearby wall. Specific design on request. This alone provides 130 Cu FT and can easily be expanded greatly at the expense of headspace by increasing the height of the box walls. The ceiling is unusually high in this apt to begin with, so there is still plenty of headspace. The bonhomme in the picture is 180 cm tall. It is ensured during construction that the ceiling is of suitable strength in this area (room within a room, so the strength of the floor above is not available, staggered studs would be used instead).
The sofa deploys to a bed (could be a space saver one) and a well designed hammock and stand (or preferably the walls would be reinforced and attachment points used) is also provided, and acoustic privacy is provided by the acoustic curtain. See Your Complete Guide to going from hammock fear to Hammock Love . Hammocks are plenty comfortable if well designed. The acoustic curtain is stored to the right of the couch and the track runs between the storage boxes on the ceiling, and is stored to the east of the couch, the approximate track path is indicated by a thin red line. There is an alternate path it can also follow which allows it to go in a space between the laundry machine and the recycling center, blocking a lot of the noise from the machine. It can also be used to hide the kitchen, and muffles the sound of bread machines or other appliances. The drawing is very approximate, the tracks would be directly above the edge of the kitchen counter here.
Reuse and recycling
The reuse center is above the laundry and has a camera built in and every time it detects motion, a picture is automatically taken then posted on a blog producing a record of items added and removed that friends can peruse. Recycling, garbage and composting are located nearby and close to an intake vent.
A ventless washer/dryer is provided, I considered a centrifugal dryer, but apparently they wrinkle the clothes. One could be added later easily though. Vibration is not a problem, if the room within a room proves insufficient for the neighbors, a pneumatic cushion would be provided. Same with the dishwasher
Daylighting is bolstered with a light sill on the northeast window and the kitchen counter on the southeast. The sink is in the wrong place inthe drawing, it should be to the north so light reflects off the counter instead of going in the sink.
Bamboo floors, with tile in the entranceway but not the kitchen, where the floor is instead throughly laquered for a good seal.
Based on preliminary analysis I believe the radiators can be eliminated if the walls are insulated to R-10 ( saw Graham's post about not adding more than that due to potential problems with the brick exterior), and not replaced by any expensive under floor systems. Instead the ventilation air is heated a few degrees when required. If more detailed thermal modeling indicated it made sense, there would be an automatic proportional bypass in the energy recovery unit between the indoor fresh and outgoing lines which allows some of the air to be recirculated, so the airflow at the vents is adequate for heating in the worst case scenario without an uncomfortably high air temperature at the vent while at the same time not bringing in any more fresh air than needed (i.e. the ventilation system is capable of recirculating any desired fraction of the air). This would only be used on particularly cold winter days. Careful capture of the house's waste heat and incoming sunlight is important as they can provide most of the heat most of the time.
As x10 capable programmable logic controller with ethernet connection to easily adjust the settings by PC ($350) does all control logic including for home automation, the ventilation system can be turned down when the user is not home or less so when asleep ( determined from x10 motion sensors and time of day) which I think will make the house heat-passive most years (more detailed modeling is required to be sure, but it's pretty close anyway). Turning the ventilation system down in this way also saves a good deal on air conditioning requirements during some periods. A seasonal bypass valve is also controlled by the PLC, and the ventilation system turned up to the max during appropriate periods, providing cost effective reduction in the AC load, because the AC is needed later and is no longer required sooner in the season, and colder night air can be used to provide some cooling (same theory a whole house fan).
Ideally the temperature is allowed to fluctuate as much as you are comfortable with in the summer to improve the ability to store heat between day and night, and drop to some degree during the night in winter.
The waste heat of the ventless dryer is captured in winter using a container with 12 KG of PureTemp Vegetable based environmentally friendly encapsulated phase change material, then released at a suitable rate to use the energy effectively and avoid overheating the interior. In summer a manual valve is engaged to vent the air directly into the ventilation exhaust line, and the PLC will automatically engage the bypass, venting the heat outdoors. There is no lint in the exhaust because it is a "ventless" model so it is fine to pass it though the ventilation system.
The window blinds should be double sided, white on one side and black on the other, and switched twice a year, because it looks like this would make a substantial difference.
Even the smallest and cheapest air conditioner should suffice to provide the 30 Kw-hrs per day of cooling required. Heat pump functionality makes no economic and little environmental sense because so little heating is required anyway.
Two small electric instant hot water tanks are installed, one under the sink in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. Two separate ecodrain units are then used in the optimal position, before the hot water tanks, to provide probably >80% heat recovery. The heating elements might need to be sub-sized to meet the electrical limitations of the apt but that's fine because they only need to output 20%. Although I think the greenhouse emissions for electricity are higher in new york than for gas heat on a per Kw-hr basis, this system still has far lower co2 emission due to the high system efficiency. It also provides luxurious instant hot water.
Home automation
The X10 capabilities are also used for any other desired home automation tasks, maybe the mechashade curtains can be interfaced to it. Other home automation systems were considered but are more expensive and add little.
Ventilation: The healthy house standard apparently requires 0.35 air changes per hour(, but 1 or more is better (or 66 cfm), however ERV units are usually made for houses and can usually go up to 200-150 cfm. Ideally a cheaper but smaller unit would be found, but I could not find one, so the the Lifebreath is used, it has the best efficiency of the exchanger based ones, and a washable core. An HRV would make more economic sense though.
The extra airflow capability can be taken advantage of for cooling. The ERV and extractor fans etc. Are located in a unit above the bathroom and entranceway ceiling, which is soundproofed with greenglue and ecorock. The ventilation system bypasses air that is too humid, in case the steam room is run and the intake in the bathroom intakes too much water vapor. The ventilation outlets are flat sock type diffusers, one supply is in the bedroom, another is on the south wall by the office. Intakes registers are located in the bathroom and above the recycling and garbage area and a third above the couch to reduce the exchange rate requirements most of the time (closeable vents might be desired for the one near the garbage in case the system's recirculate function is used).
The bathroom and kitchen fans (required by code) are quiet and might be left on accidentally so they use wall timers instead of switches.
Plants are added as desired and the PLC can control watering with a small pump or solenoid valve over x10 and therefore be under the control of your PC, or some sort of reservoir would be built in to the plant pot.
Preferrably all wood should be NFS certified, and the drywall should be EcoRock for low embodied energy.
Importantly, the home needs to be satisfactory to subsequent users for the next 25 years. So the design should a least not lock the user into a specific lifestyle and more than it has to. For this reason I spent reletively little time on e.g. where the chairs would be stored or the wall color, but there is clearly sufficient space and I think a spare peigo would fit under the bathroom, and chairs can go in the bedroom. For cost, the folding walls are custom but they require only average handyman skills to produce so the cost is not too high. The most expensive part is the soundproofing, but it's I think the cheapest way to do it. Unfortunately soundproofing is expensive.
I didn't make use of the fire escape because I assume that is prohibited by the fire codes.
sketchup files :
Update: The ceiling mount boxes might for example be powered by an $80 ATV winch, with a pressure plate above them, which when pressed stops the winch. The winch already has a limit switch to stop it when fully unwound during lowering. With appropriate wiring and a DPDT wall switch that is all that is needed so they are not expensive or complex.
Also, I have been looking at the other designs. My interest in and knowledge of small spaces and the complaints about them comes from the "tiny house" movement which I have been interested in for some time. There is a whole community of people here living in small spaces successfully, and the criticisms and problems are of course much talked about, and I don't think it makes long term sense to ignore what people who are already living in this sort of space are saying. That's good on the ground information.....
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Categories: Digital Marketing
[Video] What is Programmatic Advertising?
Posted: September 6, 2018
Total U.S. digital ad spend reached a record-setting $88 billion in 2017, according to the IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report prepared by PwC US. That’s a 21 percent increase over 2016’s $72.5 billion and marks the first time that digital ad revenues have overtaken television (broadcast and cable combined).
“Digital advertising revenues have been steadily rising for several years and buyers continue to increase their investment,” said David Silverman, Partner, PwC US. “From mobile to video, consumers are constantly turning to digital, whether for information, entertainment, shopping, sharing, or more.”
As a result, programmatic advertising plays an ever-increasing role in how advertisers get their messages out to consumers.
Why? Programmatic allows advertisers to place targeted advertising on publishers’ websites automatically. Plus, it enjoys the richest targeting capabilities within the digital world.
VONT president Tom Gale takes a moment to explain how programmatic works and why it benefits advertisers.
About VONT Performance Digital Marketing
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Joker War: Why Batman's Worst Enemy Is Finally Ready to Finish Their Game
Batman is powerless to stop Joker's reign of terror in this epic new crossover.
DC is weeks away from kicking off what promises to be one of its biggest comic book storylines of 2020, Joker War. In this latest and greatest showdown between the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime, Joker has all the advantages. He knows Batman's secret identity and is finally ready to exploit that knowledge. Worse, he's managed to steal the Wayne fortune and turn all of Batman's resources against him. That's the premise fueling a massive crossover linking the flagship Batman comic with other titles like Detective Comics, Nightwing, and Batgirl.
We were able to chat with Batman writer James Tynion IV and Batman group editor Ben Abernathy to learn more about what Joker War holds in store for the Bat-family, including how new characters like Punchline and Clownhunter complicate an already dangerous status quo for Gotham City. You can check out our video interview with the duo in the player above, or read on to learn more about what could very well be the final battle between Batman and Joker.
Gotham City in Turmoil
Joker War comes roughly half a year after DC wrapped up its previous Batman epic, City of Bane. The climax to Tom King's long-running Batman saga, City of Bane saw the titular villain cast a broken Batman out of Gotham and take complete control of the city. Though Batman eventually toppled Bane's regime and confronted his father's dark doppelganger (otherwise known as the Flashpoint Batman), that victory didn't come without a heavy cost. The Bat-family was left to mourn the death of Alfred Pennyworth, while Gotham itself struggles to recover from the collective trauma of living under months of Bane's rule. Needless to say, those dark events are playing directly into Joker War.
"I've always been fascinated with Gotham City as a character, and how it reacts to all of these huge events that really, really rip it to its core," said Tynion. "Starting with my first issue of Batman, we started seeing how is Batman emotionally reacting to the death of Alfred and the events of City of Bane. But also very specifically, what was he doing to try to fix Gotham to prevent another event like that from happening."
Tynion continued, "This is not just a breaking point for Batman and how he's been operating as a crime-fighter in Gotham City but also, it's the story of how Gotham City is starting to react to all of this happening over and over and over again. And the ways in which it changes and the ways it starts to react. And that's why certain characters like Clown Hunter and Punchline - they speak to different corners of Gotham City starting to change in the face of living in a world with Batman. And that sets the stage for so much story that's really going to be our roadmap leading forward."
Why Does Joker Care About Batman's Secret Identity?
The idea that Joker now knows Batman's secret identity isn't necessarily a new one. At several points during writer Scott Snyder's New 52 Batman series, it was hinted Joker may have learned that secret years ago. But there's a reason Joker has never acted on that information before now. He only cares about Batman. Acknowledging the man beneath the mask would simply spoil their never-ending game. But as Tynion explained, Joker no longer cares about prolonging the fun. That's essentially why DC has been teasing this as the final showdown between Batman and Joker. Joker is ready to bring this age-old rivalry to its inevitable conclusion.
"The real heart of this is in the fact that I think he's bored with the game," he said. "And I think he sees that Batman is also at this turning point, where Batman needs to make a lot of decisions about what sort of crime-fighter he's going to be in the future. Batman has literally just started building crazy machines that can print Batmobiles. He's stepped up his game in this huge, huge way that we've been seeing. And now we're going to see that elevated even further, we are going to see all of that turned against him."
Tynion continued, "And really, that's the thing that Joker's doing, he's turning every aspect of the Batman mythos against Batman. And trying to prove how dangerous it all is, and how much of a hypocrite Batman is for having fought that way. Because he sees Gotham City as something that has been waiting to shed itself of Batman for a long time. So the real question is... and this is something that we'll see voiced by Punchline in particular, is Punchline thinks that Joker is done with that, that this is meant to be the final step in their battle, where basically he's going to make his final thesis statement, and then move on. And we're going to see how true that is. But Joker really has... What he is planning to do to Gotham City is devastating. And he's doing it to dig deep into the heart of Batman."
Explaining Joker’s Master Plan
Recent issues of Batman have established how exactly Joker plans to destroy Batman once and for all. Joker is using his knowledge of Batman's secret identity and a scheme first conceived by a villain known as the Designer to steal the Wayne fortune.
As revealed in Batman #93, Bruce has surprisingly little recourse for recovering his pilfered fortune. He's always kept the vast majority of his money hidden in offshore accounts and under false identities. While this has allowed him to fund his war on crime without prying eyes, this means he'll have a hard time proving the stolen money was ever his to begin with. Joker now has $100 billion to play with, access to the full Wayne Enterprises arsenal, and even control of Gotham City Hall.
Tynion explained, "In my first story arc, 'Their Dark Designs,' we see Joker having dragged up this case from many years ago, and this very frightening character, the Designer, he's unleashed this old plan against Gotham City, all as a kind of subterfuge to get the Wayne fortune away from Batman. And so now Batman has none of his resources, and Joker has all of them... Batmobiles, Batcycles, Baterangs are being handed to the most dangerous gangs of Gotham City, who have all joined Joker's gang. And on top of all of that, he is using the Wayne fortune to freeze City Hall, and basically make it so he can act with impunity. And this is definitely he's showing how dangerous all of that money can be right now. And that is, I think, the little "next" tag at the end of issue #93, which I loved, was “Joker's Billions.” [a callback to the classic "Joker's Millions" story] And we've never seen Joker this empowered and so ready to use everything."
A Batman Without Money
Batman is a hero defined by an ability to overcome his limits. He may not have superhuman powers like the rest of the Justice League, but a combination of willpower, training and incredible wealth has allowed him to become one of the greatest heroes in the DC Universe. In Joker War, we'll see what happens when the wealth is removed from that equation.
The goal isn't necessarily to transform Batman into a Peter Parker-like figure - a hero who struggles to pay his bills when he's not out on the street fighting costumed villains. As Tynion explained, it's more about bringing the character back to basics and reminding Batman he doesn't need those wonderful toys to keep Gotham safe.
Tynion said, "That's something that I think is really important, because when Bruce went around training around the world, he wasn't using his fortune, the world thought he was dead. And at many points during his career, he's operated in a much more streamlined, much more down-to-earth way. And this is something that, as much as the Joker is showing the ways in which he has over-relied on all of this technology, and the reach of the Wayne fortune, this is also meant to be this moment where he re-centers himself, and is just like, 'I do not need to be a billionaire to be Batman.' And that, I think, is an important moment, and I think is part of the core evolution of the character that we're hoping to play with here."
Where Is the Justice League?
Readers may be wondering where the rest of the Justice League fits into the Joker War puzzle. If Joker has taken control of Gotham and the Wayne fortune, why can't Batman simply call up Superman, Wonder Woman or Flash to help deal with the problem? To an extent, that's always a problem when it comes to shared superhero universes, but Abernathy points out that Batman sees this Joker problem as a personal mission only he can fix. And for that matter, Batman may still have an ace or two up his sleeve.
"My take is, ultimately, that I don't ever see Batman calling Superman or even the Justice League for help, necessarily, while he is still, essentially, has a play," Abernathy said. "Whatever the fight is, the Joker War, etc. Gotham City is his domain, the way I see it, and he handles his business there, as he has always done. I mean, if there's an extreme situation, obviously Batman has called Superman or the Justice League for help in the past, but this is a deeply personal battle, with him and the Joker. And he is going to see this one through to the end alone, or ultimately with the help of the Bat-family."
Tynion added that while Batman may not call on the Justice League in Joker War, he has other allies closer to home. The story will hinge on the Bat-family's willingness to put aside their differences and come together at long last. 2012's Batman: Death of the Family saw Joker drive a huge wedge between Batman and his allies like Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl, one that's never fully healed in the years since. Ironically, Joker may wind up being the catalyst that finally restores a united Bat-family.
Batman's Need for Accountability
There's another side to the "Batman without money" equation being explored in Joker War, and one that's arguably more relevant than ever in 2020. Is it right for someone like Bruce Wayne to use his wealth and play the role of a vigilante with no oversight or accountability? Should Batman have to answer to the law? The fact that Joker's plan has succeeded precisely because Bruce kept his money hidden in offshore tax havens suggests that maybe it's time for Batman to reexamine his methods and his relationship to the people he's sworn to protect.
"If you were a person living in the real Gotham City, how would you feel about someone having all of that power?" Tynion asked. "At the end of Joker War, as we're setting up the groundwork for the next year, I think that where this story takes Bruce is going to be a very interesting place, and I think it's going to lead to some really, really good stories."
He continued, "Because really, when Bruce became a billionaire, it was just because he used to be a millionaire, and then the word 'billionaire' became bigger than 'millionaire' and became more common, so then Bruce got bumped up to being a billionaire. But being a billionaire in the real world has a lot more connotations in all of that, and I think that to make Batman this paragon that we want to look up to, I think that we should be analyzing that, and we should be looking at it. But it'll be analyzed and looked at in the context of really exciting stories, and people in costumes punching each other."
How Punchline is Different From Harley Quinn
Joker won't be waging war on Gotham all by himself. In addition to rallying many of the city's worst gangs to his cause, Joker has a new partner in the form of Punchline. As we've already learned in the buildup to Joker War, Punchline isn't just a Harley Quinn replacement, but someone who sees herself as an equal partner in Joker's plans.
"I find Punchline a deeply fascinating character," Tynion said. "I laid it out the most clearly in the Joker 80th Anniversary Special, where we see who Alexis Kaye was before she became Punchline. And she is a very dangerous person, and dangerous in I think a very modern way. Because what I was interested to play with, with the character, is the idea of a young person who's been radicalized by a dangerous ideology. Someone who has found, through the internet, the ideas of the Joker. And now she's looking to embody those ideas. So her following of the Joker and her relationship with the Joker comes from this place of almost fanatical devotion."
Tynion continued, "And the thing that makes her really interesting, especially as a kind of dark mirror to Harley, is that Harley always believed that there was something at a core human and sensitive and vulnerable inside of Joker. Punchline has never believed that. She thinks there is this beautiful ideology inside of the Joker that the Joker embodies, and that he's looking to present to the world. The truth is, neither of those things are true. Joker is... He's the Joker card. He can assume any value against anyone to make him see what he wants them to see. And that's what makes him so dangerous. And seeing these two characters who come at the Joker with the different beliefs that made them essentially fall in love with the Joker, the idea of the Joker, come from such different angles. So that's the root, and that's what makes me so excited about her as a character, and that's what I think is going to make her a very dangerous and vibrant addition to the Batman Rogues Gallery moving forward."
Who is Clownhunter?
While Punchline has already debuted in the buildup to Joker War, this crossover will also introduce another important new character in the form of Clownhunter. As his name suggests, this new vigilante is firmly against Joker and his clown army, though he's not exactly on Batman's side, either.
"Clownhunter is a character I'm very, very excited about," said Tynion. "Clownhunter is meant to represent the voice of the people of Gotham City, the ones who feel like the city has reached a breaking point, and who feel like they can't wait for the Bat-family to solve their problems, they need to get out in the streets and solve them themselves."
Tynion also spoke about the unique visual design of the character, revealing he, Abernathy, and artist Jorge Jimenez have drawn as much from the manga realm as traditional superhero comics.
"Clownhunter is a character with DNA of a lot of my favorite media. Ben and I talked a lot about Akira when we were creating the character, and I think there's a bit of [Casey Jones'] DNA in there, and a little bit of Deadpool in there. We wanted to create a really interesting young character who doesn't necessarily agree with the core Batman ideology of not killing the bad guys. This is someone who's so sick of what's happening to his city that he's just going to go out there and he's going to kill some clowns. And his actions are their own condemnation of Batman himself as a concept."
On Artist Jorge Jimenez
Tynion has plenty of praise for artist Jorge Jimenez, who will be drawing all six issues of Batman during the Joker War crossover.
"I just want to say, overall, how freaking phenomenal Jorge Jimenez's art is on this entire story," said Tynion. "Jorge has been a rising star at DC Comics for years. I got to work with him a little bit on Justice League. I actually worked with him for the first time years ago on an X-Men issue, my only X-Men issue, but I'm not allowed to talk about that while I'm promoting Batman. But honestly, I think Jorge is one of the best artists in comics, he perfectly embodies the spirit of everything I'm trying to bring to the book, the youth, and vibrancy that I think is evident in Gotham City, and that's why we're introducing new, young characters, it's why we both have strong influences from manga, and we're both drawing those influences in."
And as Abernathy noted, having one artist draw the complete storyline is a novelty for a series that tends to rely heavily on a rotating art team to accommodate its twice-monthly shipping schedule.
"I'm incredibly, incredibly proud of Their Dark Designs, but sometimes necessity means that a big storyline that is double-shipped, you've got to work with an army of incredibly talented artists, but Joker War is drawn by Jorge Jimenez... Jorge's work has been phenomenal. I've known Jorge for at least 10 years, and I like to think that the last 10 years have been literally preparation for Joker War, and his coming on Batman, because the guy is phenomenally talented, I think he works seven days a week, he is committed and he's just an amazing collaborative partner for James, and to be able to edit the two of them together, I won the lottery, the Batman lottery, so it's been amazing."
Joker War: How the Bat-Family Fits In
While the main Joker War storyline will be chronicled in Batman #95-100, many of DC's other Batman-adjacent titles will be taking part in the crossover, most notably Detective Comics and Nightwing. DC will also be publishing an anthology special called Batman: Joker War Zone that spotlights other important players.
Abernathy explained, "While the Joker War core story is in Batman, there's a lot of important beats that will be taking place in the other titles... with Nightwing and Batgirl, and some big things happening in Detective Comics, Red Hood #48 in particular as well, so they are looking at Joker War from the different perspective of the different characters, and where they are this year, and how will the events of the last years have put them on different paths."
JokerWarChecklist (Hi Res)-page-001
Readers may be wondering how Joker War connects to other major Batman projects in 2020, like the recently launched Dark Nights: Death Metal, the limited series Batman: Three Jokers, and the indefinitely delayed Batman/Catwoman series from Tom King and Clay Mann. The short answer is that each project is telling its own story."
Abernathy said, "The Joker War is a specific mainline Batman event. What Jason and Geoff are doing in Three Jokers is its own thing, what Tom and Clay are doing in Batman/Catwoman, their own thing, what Scott and Greg with Death Metal... I mean, it's amazing for readers to have such amazing content, but none of them connect to the Joker War puzzle at all, this is our story, this is the main Batman story, and as a fan, I'm looking forward to reading all the other titles for sure, and be sure to check out Death Metal, because that first issue was bonkers fun."
But while there may not be any direct connections between these different Batman epics, Abernathy noted the goal heading into 2021 is to foster a greater sense of inter-connectivity and focus among the various Batman titles.
"Me as a fan, but me also as the group editor, I like the inter-connectivity and cohesion between the line," he said. "Not saying that it's rigid in how everything operates or balances out, but I definitely want to send some connectivity in the line that it matters, that there is a common vision to what we're doing, and how that impacts the characters going forward."
Tynion teased readers will get a sense of what the future holds for the franchise when Joker War wraps up in Batman #100.
"Issue #100 is a huge climactic issue that sets the stage for everything that follows. It is a big, exciting comic book. And there's going to be a lot more about it as we move forward. I'm also very excited for everyone to see the cover for it, because when it first showed up in my inbox, I lost my mind."
Joker War will begin in Batman #95, which will release on Tuesday, July 21.
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Welcome to Conservation Gateway
Chapter 11: Design Ecoregional Portfolio
Higgins, Jonathan; Esselman, Rebecca
Standard 11: Design ecoregional portfolios/biodiversity visions to best meet goals for all conservation targets/ biodiversity elements, using the principles of efficiency, representation, irreplaceability, and functionality. [PLAN]
Ad-hoc conservation is blind investment and lacks context. A comprehensive vision (portfolio) should identify a suite of places that contains occurrences of biodiversity targets/elements that are necessary to conserve biodiversity representative of an ecoregion. This vision/portfolio should ensure that the relative contributions of an investment strategy are understood in a regional context. Conservation assessments need to be current to define the present arenas for actions in a comprehensive yet efficient way to inform our actions and those of partners and stakeholders given the changing landscape of biodiversity patterns, threats, and conservation opportunities. In addition, visions/portfolios are the framework for measuring conservation progress within an ecoregion.
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• Description of design goals, criteria, approach, methods, assumptions, tools and rationales.
• Assessment of the conservation management status of lands and waters (e.g. IUCN protected/managed area categories, management strategies such as fire and sustainable water management, invasive species control, etc.).
• Approaches and tools used to generate vision/portfolio (e.g. expert workshops, optimization tools such as SITES, SPOT, MARXAN, EPAT) and rationales.
• For cases where optimization tools have been used, clear descriptions and rationale for inputs and values such as cost surfaces.
• Shape files and maps of areas of biodiversity significance and patterns of threats. Include alternative risk and updated scenarios where available.
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How to make Note Card Confession style videos with your class…
This would be the last post post in the trilogy of “Is this what learning looks like?” series. Part one can be found here, and part two can be found here. What I am grappling with here is an end product that clearly does not have much specific content, is mostly emotional, and leaves the kids room to “be wrong” in their interpretation.The unit we just finished ended with the kids making Note Card Confession style videos. If you are not familiar with them here is an example (many more can be found by going to youtube and searching “note card confessions”
I’ll start off with an random example from our class below:
The unit was on Jacksonian Democracy and focused on the classic question, “How democratic was Andrew Jackson?” We twisted the question…the kids are very familiar with the terms bully and ally. We turned the question into “Was Andrew Jackson a bully or ally to the American people?” Which most kids twisted simply into “Was Andrew Jackson a bully or an ally?” I’ll give a super quick day-by-day, and then go into more detail about the video at the end. I don’t normally go into the history and sources we use to get t o a final product, but I will for this. For note card confession videos I think it is very important that they follow an in-depth look into the topics they will cover. As you can see in the video above, they are more “emotional” than content. They are the kids attempting to put themselves into the shoes of the people they studied. They are not writing about them, but attempting to be them. Not something you can do by just using a chapter from the textbook. So what follows is not all the sources and activities, but some that stand out for me…and the ones I can provide a link to a digital copy. Again…just a quickie look at each day…
Day 1 I simply sit in a chair and tell the story of Andrew Jackson from parents’ immigration to becoming President. I simply love telling this story! Kids think its pretty awesome too. Now I do tell it in a way that every kids believes that anyone who was penniless, homeless, and parentless at age 14, became a lawyer, married his true love, became an American war hero, and then threw a huge White House party must become an ally to the american people! I do love telling the story of his duels…like detailed stories, not just “he had some duels.” You have to be there… We then discuss how a person’s past makes them who they are today and how it influences future decisions. How people’s actions are based on past experiences, nature vs nurture, and then I ask the kids “What experiences made you who you are today…list three experiences….how are they responsible for making you who you are today?” How can this information change how you interact with someone? Is someones actions excusable based on their past? When is it? What we do based on our decisions? Are we in control of our actions?Do we make decisions or are we simply programmed by our past? and finish with “Will this man grow up to be the ultimate bully, or the ultimate ally?” At this point 80% of each class believe he will be revealed as an Ally to the American people.
Day 2 We start off going over some of the questions they still are haggling with from day 1 and then watch a 30 minute clip from the History Channel video on the War of 1812 (partial clip). After that video Andrew Jackson wins even more support from the class. He assembles a motley crew and defeats the British.
Day 3 We start off with this source and kids start having a few doubts…Maybe the brave boy of the Waxhaws wasn’t going to be such an ally… We then move into the Election of 1824. Watch a common craft video on the election, read a summary from a secondary source, and then take a look at this. The corrupt bargain is pretty interesting…and confusing to them :0
Day 4 We go over changes in voting rights that are occurring, who supports and doesn’t support Jackson, and then into the election of 1828 with this. Nope, not going to let you continue reading until you go back and click on that last link. That is an awesome source. Whoever made it was giving a deep message to the people in the community. Won’t tell you how or what, you’ll have to figure it out like the kids…and the broom is not the deep message!
Day 5 We go over Jackson’s inauguration (source and source) , what a fun story. And then we sing Andrew Jackson’s campaign song and discuss…yep, I play the guitar, and we sing it! If time allows I like to also play George Washington’s and compare.
Day 6 What does a person owe to those that support them? Child? CEO? President? We cover the Spoils System (source and source). I should add that they cover some topics mostly on their own, one example is the Nullification Crisis. At this point, after we take a vote at the end of each class the vote is getting closer to 50/50 on bully/ally.
Day 7 We cover Indian Removal Act, read Jackson’s own words, Calhoun’s words, and examine some maps.
Day 8 We do a reader’s theater with a story from the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Sorry for the audio, I forgot to turn the mics on and only the camera mic in corner recorded. The reading of the source starts around 2:10, I had a student leave to go to the bathroom and was trying to stall for him!
I do love the silence that follows the reading….every time. The video does not capture the mood in the room. The document we read is here. I took the source and broke it up for reader’s theater. Then we read some sources, examine some images, discuss bias in the images between artists. You can see some of the images at the end of the preso below:
Day 9/10
Intro to their essay, worked on it in class. Essay was a very straight forward “Was Andrew Jackson a bully or Ally to the American people?” We do body paragraphs first. Then intro and conclusion. When they are doing the body paragraphs at first they might not have a thesis set. This forces them to take each topic and analyze their evidence carefully before jumping to a conclusion. Please try not having the kids create a thesis and then trying to research and write to prove that it is true. Let the writing be part of the investigative process. The essay had to be done before they could start the note card confession video, this way I knew they were entering the video process with the appropriate background knowledge.
Day 11(which I think was really day 9…somewhere I screwed up!) Introduced Note Card Confession Video Assignment by first showing some examples from youtube…WARNING…you cannot just open youtube and start showing examples, you must preview them first. There are some very powerful videos out there, there are some hoaxes, and there is some junk. You need to pick some appropriate for your kids…and and the culture in your community. I showed these three:
And then handed out the assignment:
Note card Confessions by
I showed then an example that group did in a previous unit (video below). They were making cards for something totally different, we filmed the cards, and put them into a video to edit, but when we hit play we decided to add music and leave it as is. So in a way, these two girls are responsible for this post! This was for a unit on the Monroe Doctrine that was supposed to be for the songs posted here.
Day 12
We had a weird schedule. We had a ninety minute block of time in which I took three classes down to the library all at once and gave them time to work on their note cards. some kids were also able to film.
Day 13 This is the ultimate day of chaos. You have kids still writing, kids filming, kids editing movies, and all the kids with the flu returning. The only thing that made this possible was that the IT department finally downloaded movie maker the day before so I could take the file from the camera and put it onto a shared drive and have the kids make their own videos in the library. I created directions for the kids that were self-explanatory because I knew I would have no time to help anyone edit video in the chaos. If you steal one thing from this post, steal those. They really helped. if you have Windows 7, the new Movie Maker is a very kid friendly editor that is sooo much better than the old version.
We learned from making our RSA style videos that we can’t stand with our cameras and stay still. So kids found some fixed object to lean on.
Note Card Confessions
Some kids worked individually, some in pairs, and some in threes. No matter how big the group you need three people to film. One to hold the cards, one to film and make sure person with cards keeps their fingers out of the way and stays in the same place, and a third person to read the cards and tell them when to flip. The third person MUST have never seen the cards before. Some groups realized early on that if group members read the cards they were too familiar with them and read then faster than their audience would. If you watch a final video that moves too fast, I can almost guarantee it’s because they did not heed that advice.
Note Card Confessions
It helped if each kid picked a place to hold the card. So in front of belly button, at waist, etc.
Note Card Confessions
I gave the kids a site to use for music, some groups brought their own in. Music is so important to video, I cannot stress that enough. Give them enough time to pick the perfect music. One of our simple rules is that if the viewer notices the music it’s the wrong song.
Great music becomes a part of the video and cannot be separated from the content. In any movie, you usually notice when themusic is awful, but never when it is awesome.
Note Card Confessions
Day 14
(Again, not day 14…somewhere I screwed up with days!) We came in and some kids who had problems finished editing, some had to re-record, and many other little issues were also taken care of. One of those days that is always needed at the end of a project because not all kids work at the same speed, have the same luck, or had partners not impacted by that nasty bug going around our school.
This is a project I will do next year. It could fit into any unit, and kids of every single ability level were able to grasp what they were suppose to do. Kids at one end has some serious thoughts and ideas that really showed an empathetic re-telling of history, and kids at the other end…while there might have been small historical errors like dates, grasped how the event impacted people. One thing that did not work was doing the work in the library with 75 kids. I think a space in which they could “go into a corner” and be quiet would have resulted in more empathetic writing, and simply allowed them to get into their characters head.
Supplies…we had four flip style cameras from the library and two point-and-shoot cameras. I had an extra SD card so when a kid was done filming I took their card out to take file off of it, and put in the extra and sent the camera back out. I also had three tripods that many kids used to balance the cameras…one actually works and we were able to attach a camera to it. Keep in mind that because the audio on the recording is going to be muted, you don’t need silence when recording. We had access to computers in the library, but the editing is so easy that having a computer per group is not necessary. The editing time could be cut by 50% by having the kids write-up a title card instead of doing it on the computer…wish I thought of that ahead of time.
Tips…A sturdy setting for the camera…unless the kids are super careful just skip the hand help option. A third person to read the cards and tell person when to flip. Unless your kids are experienced, keep the editing minimalist. With a title card, kids just pop in video, pop in music. Give the kids one website for music, If you have the time great, but if you want to do editing in one period keep it simple.
What to expect…Now listen…I have heard a bunch of folks complain (comment) recently on twitter that only the best stuff gets shared on the net. It think it is important to not look at what someone else’s kids do, but think about what your kids can do with the idea. So if you see something incredible, your kids might not be capable of that and it’s ok. If you see something cruddy, don’t write off the assignment, what can your kids do with it? If you think these are cruddy videos, there is still an idea here that you can morph into something. One day I watched a science teacher take his class outside. They laid down and went eye-to-eye with a dandelion…and just watched it for three days. After I saw that it took me two years to take that idea and morph it into this, and that morphed into the idea in this post. So don’t expect to take this idea and do it as it…what can you morph it into? (Morph isn’t a word, or is it?)
When your kids finish these you will have a wide range of video quality. This assignment is harder than it looks. Putting yourself into someone else’s shoes is hard–just ask @woodenmask‘s kids (John’s kids are doing this). To stretch and attempt to do that will cause the kids to make mistakes. Some will get lost in their story and add things that never happened…no matter how many times you say stick to using the facts to make your fiction 🙂 The video at the top, and the next three are the only ones that are uploaded (rest are stuck under the snow at school). You will see a wide variety, and if you knew the background of the kids you would be very understanding of the mistakes, and very happy with the quality. I will include a playlist at the bottom next week when the rest are published.
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also enjoy these:
Making RSA style videos
Making Common Craft Style videos
And some other crazy ideas can be found here and here
And click here for 15 Assessments that don’t suck!
And let’s not forget to give credit to the guy who really started the style
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Simple Green Ideas
Bottle tops, what can be done with plastic bottle tops:
Make a curtain…
How simple is that?
8 responses to this post.
1. It’s a good one but I have up bottles a long time ago! Mind you wine corks might do the truck!
2. I’m not sure about this one: it’s kinda ugly.
3. Love your attitude and your stuff! Think I’ll follow along for awhile…
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Showing posts from December 5, 2019
Donald Trump as AGENT ORANGE, und Putin too - By Michael Novakhov - 2:43 PM 12/5/2019
President Donald Trump attends the NATO summit on Dec. 4 in Watford, England. New Morning Consult polling shows the president's approval statistically unchanged over the course of the past two months, amid a House impeachment inquiry. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Donald Trump as AGENT ORANGE
He suffers from chloracne which are quite visible, and he hides it with heavy make-up and regular frequent tanning by artificial UV light.
One of the possible hypothetical reasons - his refusal to pay Deutsche Bank loans made before early 2000-s. He sued them back, and no one really knows how he managed to convince them to back off. I think he threatened (practically blackmailed them) to reveal, that it were the Germans and the Deutsche Bank, who were behind 9/11, and that it was the New Abwehr's Intelligence Operation. Until now, the content of his blackmail remains essentially unknown. However, it was very effective: the Germans backed down, suddenly fell in love with him, and started to lo… | <urn:uuid:5bdf0248-6788-4c08-a0f6-efca916d85e6> | https://fbinewsreview.blogspot.com/2019_12_05_archive.html | en | 0.971619 | 0.018237 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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PASEO Program Adventure- Day 5: Huanchaco, Peru
Today happened to be one of the calmer days in my schedule, so I’ll keep today’s post short, so as not to bore any reader more than usual. Today’s class focused on Spanish grammar, which I’m still trying to wrap my head around, so I’ll save that for another day.
Upon waking up in the morning, I went to the local gym and purchased a month-long membership. I don’t know if there’s something in the food that’s promoting fitness, or the hard toilet paper that causes this motivation to be more active, but I promise I’m going somewhere with this train of thought. Self-care is an important facet of life that so many of us tend to overlook during our day-to-day hectic, jam-packed, stressful lives. (The list of adjectives could go on, but seeing as this is life and nearly everyone can relate, I think you get the point.)
If we don’t look out and care for ourselves, how can we expect to do so for others? If we are continuously running on empty each and every day, how can we realistically expect to give the most of ourselves to those around us? Think about it this way. If your child, parent, grandparent, significant other, or close friend spoke about feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, what would likely be your initial response? Probably something along the lines of, “You need to take some time for yourself to relax and do the things that you enjoy.” Tell me this. Why is this any different for us?
Why is it that more often than not, we are able to be a helping hand to those around us who are experiencing difficulties, yet we can’t find the means to give ourselves the same level of care and support? Granted, just about everything in life is easier said than done, but it’s truly interesting if we really take the time to think about it. If we can give such great advice to those around us, why can’t we do the same for ourselves?
You’ll have to excuse the fact that this post is seemingly all over the place, but after testing out this new gym (which includes a personal trainer everyday), I feel sore in places I didn’t even know exist. Maybe that will explain the lack of organization and cohesiveness in today’s post, but there is a message (or at least I think there is).
Think about advice you would give to a loved one. We each deserve that same level of care, support, and love in our lives as well. And somewhere along the way, it has to start with self-care and treating ourselves as well as we would tell loved ones to treat themselves. We need to make time for ourselves so that we don’t run on empty. Because as harsh as it may seem, no matter how hard we may try, we can’t be of any help to anyone else if we don’t help ourselves first. And with that, I’ll leave you with a picture of a dog sunbathing by the beach because even he knows the importance of self-care. | <urn:uuid:e49d2af7-b1c6-4199-9cc8-ff8582d6a2f4> | https://hurdlestohappiness.wordpress.com/tag/advice/ | en | 0.967562 | 0.05893 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Richard Burgess: From Folkways to A2IM
[An edited version of this story was published in Music Week]
By Emmanuel Legrand
A2IM's Richard Burgess
One weekend in April 2016, Richard James Burgess is back in Washington, DC for a few hours. The recently-appointed CEO of New York-based US independent labels' organisation A2IM is the guest of Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA). Burgess is quite familiar with DC: He's spent the past more than 15 years in the US capital, working for the Smithsonian Institution as the head of its non-profit heritage label Folkways Recordings.
Burgess now spend most of his time in New York, steering an organisation that has been crucial to the visibility of the indie community in the past decade. He is the third person to helm A2IM in the past 12 months, following the departure of Rich Bengloff, who held the job for a decade, and Molly Neuman, who did the interim and is now with Kickstarter. He was appointed CEO of A2IM on January 5 of this year. He is quite familiar with the organisation as he served as chairman of its board for six month before taking the job.
Born in 1949 in London, Burgess has been in the music business all his professional life. His parents moved to Christchurch in New Zealand in 1959 and he still has a hint of accent from his stay down under. He was an alumni from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and later worked on a PhD in musicology. He started his career as a musician -- a drummer first with such bands as the Buggles, but also as a synthesizer pioneer (Roland and Fairlight), with his landmark album From the Tearooms of Mars... to the Hellholes of Uranus --, songwriter, performer (as a member of the band Landscape who scored a hit in 1981 with Einstein A Gogo) and producer (Spandau Ballet's To Cut A Long Story Short, but also Kim Wilde and Adam Ant).
Burgess talks fast, layering thoughts one after the other, sometimes going into tangents, but always focused on trying to convince his audience. At the MEIEA meeting, Burgess message to the teaching community is quite simple. He wants the industry to work in a more cohesive and united manner, in order to fix its problems; and he is convinced that indies labels are the lifeblood of musical diversity, especially in the US, where companies scattered throughout the territory, and cover all music genres.
One of his pet talking points is about the value gap. “Value has been created by music but has been channelled away from artists,” he tells these educators in the room and his message seems to resonate with them. Many of the question after his speech were about how could music reclaim its prime position in the cultural and in the creative economy. These are themes that are close to the heart of Burgess.
A2IM is having a few busy months ahead. The organisation is putting together the now well-followed Indie Week (June 13-16 in New York) and is also preparing the next edition of the Libera Awards (June 16), the ceremony celebrating the achievements of the indie community.
You have been in the job now since January 4. How has it been so far? A learning curve?
Richard Burgess: Great and intense. Not so much of a learning curve in the sense that I was on the board [of A2IM] and I was chairman for six months before I started. So in the sense of do I know what the issues are, not that much of a learning curve. In a sense of rebuilding, it feels like fixing the bike while we are riding the Tour de France honestly. I’ve had to re-staff because we were down to three people and now we are about to get back up to six people.
Did the board give you a specific brief as to where they want the organisation to go to?
Richard Burgess: Well, I was part of the board, so I was part of that evolution of that brief and the brief really is growth, but not growth for growth's sake. It is growth because we want to mark out that indie sector; we want to make sure the indie sector is secure and not disadvantaged. We would like it to be done in a way that everybody is on board with it. We don’t want to be fighting with other segments of the industry but at the same time we want what is rightfully ours – the independent sector. Growth is really important and I think prominence and visibility also because the average person on the street doesn’t have a real strong awareness of what independent means. In fact a lot of the times I always joke that indie means a sort of skinny kid, male or female, with a guitar slung look, because that is indie rock, and unfortunately the two terms get conflated. I think that indie means – in terms of labels – anything at all. It means hip-hop, it means EDM, it means all kinds of different music. I’m determined to fix that perception if I can. And I'm determined to consolidate the indie position in the industry. Frankly, with the RIAA [Recording Industry Association of America], and other people, we have some very positive conversations. I think that other entities in the industry realise also that we each bring something different to the table and the indies bring a little bit of credibility, and a little bit of respect.
What are the hot potatoes that you have found and that you had to deal immediately with?
Richard Burgess: I think the biggest hot potato was the staffing. First off, Rich [Bengloff, the former CEO of A2IM] was a very good friend of mine and I really like Rich and he really had everything under good control, so losing someone like Rich, with that much expertise, is always a blow to an organisation. Second thing was Jim Mahoney, who was the second in command there, and was in charge of member relations. Jim was a huge asset to the organization as well. Trying to replace Rich and Jim is not such an easy thing. The downside of having to rebuilding an organisation is you have to rebuild the organisation, and the upside is you have the opportunity to rethink the organisation a little bit. To that end I’m not changing very much right now, but I am bringing in a marketing person because we could do better in terms of awareness of disseminating the information about what we do. In terms of real hot potatoes, the transition happened right during this Web 4 hearing submission [for sound recordings rates], so we were basically battling for the lives of indies in terms of whether we would wind up with two separate rates, one for the majors and one for the indies. That was pretty stressful and that was even before I became CEO and was still chairman.
You now sit on the board of SoundExchange. Do you think that the CRB rates are going to be affecting SoundExchange’s bottom line?
Richard Burgess: SoundExchange was not happy with the Web 4 rates setting. We would always want to see them a bit higher, but on the other hand some people pointed out that there was a 20% increase so it wasn’t the end of the world. But do I think that the CRB rates are going to affect SoundExchange? I think that I would be more worried about massive direct deals with the services than I would be about the CRB rate.
There is the perception that [indie collective agency] Merlin screwed up for the whole industry by dealing lower than market rates with Pandora. Is that a good perception or is it unfair?
Richard Burgess: I’m not here to defend Merlin and A2IM is not Merlin. First of all, the deal that Merlin struck was better for the indie labels that signed onto that deal than not doing the deal. The idea that it was lower than the rate is not really factual because this speaks to the problem with the way that the Copyright Royalty Board judges looked at that deal. They completely ignored the extra benefits of the deal and the truth is, labels that signed onto that would make more money under the Merlin deal than they would if they just accepted the statutory rate. If the judges have looked at the revenue share portions of the deal and various other perimeters that surrounded it, which were available to them to look at and they chose not to, they would have not made the decision they made and they wouldn’t have pointed the finger at Merlin. I think it was an unfair characterisation of that deal especially because they could have made the same characterisations of a number of other direct deals that were done by the majors and by individual indie labels as well.
It is interesting to see that the share of SoundExchange revenues into the mix of revenues of record labels has increased over the past ten years in an incredible manner. Do you think that this is something that will be sustainable and and will continue?
Richard Burgess: I think it depends on a lot of things. I thought at the time the DMCA was a wonderful thing in part because it paid 50% directly to the artists, which I think is a good thing, and that is outside of recoupment. Many of our labels don’t agree with that and I have to represent both points of view, but personally I think that the DMCA fundamentally was a good thing, but the 'notice and take down’ process turned out not to be a good thing because of the way technology developed. I don’t think anybody could have reasonably predicted that. In terms of SoundExchange and the future, I would say that SoundExchange is the sound recording equivalent of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, and the publishing industry has thrived over the past 100 years with those kinds of collection societies. I think that because of the low level of transactional costs, having an organization like SoundExchange is really, really valuable for the industry. I know there are very many competing opinions even within my own organisation. The idea of a completely free, negotiated, direct deal environment is a little bit intimidating to me because I feel like the bigger players will crush the smaller players and I think transactional costs will become disproportional to the value for the smaller players. The bigger players can absorb the transactional costs and it becomes less significant in the overall economic package, but the small players' transactional costs are huge.
Indies are the lifeblood of SoundCloud and yet they are more interested in doing a deal with the majors. What does that say about the status of Indies?
Richard Burgess: I don’t know how that will work out for SoundCloud, and I hope it does. I think that SoundCloud is a very useful organisation and we, as a sector, are pretty forgiving. You get organisations that come over from the dark side, that are stealing copyright, that are using unlicensed music for years and then when they eventually decide to go straight, we generally embrace them. I think that’s the right way to approach it, personally. We are not in direct competition with the majors in the sense that I have utmost respect for what the majors are doing, they should get their share as much as we should. My only concern is that we get a fair share.
The class action suit against Spotify over un-licensed mechanical rights – is that something you follow?
Richard Burgess: It doesn’t directly affect us as labels and as A2IM, but I think we are concerned about that. There are a couple of things. One is that many of our labels are also publishers. This is where I talk about the zero-sum game. For instance, if the publishers got a better streaming rate from Pandora but it has reduced the sound recording streaming rate, that wouldn’t make any sense because it would be a zero-sum game. Rights holders need to do better. I support the idea that mechanicals need to be paid. I support the idea that pre-72 copyrights need to be paid for. I support all music creators and copyright owners in getting a rightful share of it because without the creators and the copyright owners, we don’t have a music industry.
In your MEIEA speech, you said that the industry should be more united and speak with one single voice in order to be taken seriously, especially by legislators. It looks like there is more and more of a divide rather than some sort of united front.
Richard Burgess: I see that, but at the same time there are conversations that go on behind the scenes and what I hear that make me feel encouraged about this. I’m not going to say that there isn’t going to be the temptation for people to take advantage and to squeeze that extra fraction of a percent of market share, just for their own benefit. I think that everybody is interested in growing the industry pie. There has never been a time when people listened to music like this. If everybody I’m talking to on all sides of the fence is sensible enough – it’s not about ideology, it’s about doing better for us all and making more money and being more successful – we can grow the pie jointly. I feel like we are dealing with very intelligent people, even the people that are on the absolute diametrically opposite side of the fence from us, they are smart people. If we are able to convince tech companies that we can fill their pipelines up with even more stuff and find even more ways that music can be monetised, these could be fractions of pennies and if there is enough fractions of pennies, it could work out. I don’t care about the actual number, what I care about is that musicians, artists, labels can gross enough each year to stay afloat and keep doing what they want to do.
In your speech you said that the industry is probably delusional in thinking that the government could fix the situation.
Richard Burgess: I was juxtaposing that with the idea that we speak with several voices, therein lies the problem. The government will not fix anything for us as long as the publishers are going in and saying one thing, and the labels are saying another and then the artists are saying another. Given that Congress is somewhat gridlocked as it is, how is it going to work if you have three or four different entities going in from the same industry saying 'well but the major labels are ripping us off,' with the artists saying 'we are not getting paid enough’ and you've got the publishers saying 'well wait a minute our streaming rates are too low on Pandora and the labels are getting more than we are and we want some of theirs,' and you have the label saying 'we are not getting paid on terrestrial radio'… All of which is true and I am sympathetic to those perspectives. The question is, can we fix those problems within the industry so we don’t have disparate factions in our own industry speaking out against other factions in the industry? Can we de-factionalise the industry effectively and can we then, as an industry, speak to government and say this is what we need to fix? I think a perfect example is this DMCA notice and takedown, with over 400 organisations/entities that had signed on to these comments. So if there is a common problem, we will speak to it with one voice.
If there was one thing that needed to be urgently fixed by the government, what would it be?
Richard Burgess: Performance rights for sound recordings on terrestrial radio. I mean, it is just an egregious wrong. Some people feel like by the time we get there it will be too late and there won’t be any terrestrial radio, but this is a good example of growing the pie. The broadcasters want to activate the FM chips in phones and I think the music industry will probably be very proactive in [letting them] doing it if we were able to get paid. But you know what’s going to happen, if that FM chip gets activated in the phone, labels are not going to get paid, artists are not going to get paid. When Respect gets played in your FM chip in your phone, Otis Redding is going to get paid for the song, but Aretha Franklin is not going to get paid for performing it, and that is just plain wrong. There is no justification for that, and I know the argument over the years is that it’s promotion. It’s promotion if you have a new Ariana Grande track out or some new or whatever the latest top ten record is out, you definitely get promotional value from getting your record played on the radio. If they are playing a forty-year old record on a 60s channel or on an oldies program, no one rushes out the door to buy that album.
You can still argue for fairness, even if its promotion.
Richard Burgess: Well I think so and the point I make here is, why don’t the promoters that book the Verizon Center say this is great promotion for your band, that will help you sell records and people will stream it more. So where does that stop? Here is the thing – and I have said this my whole life as a musician – I very rarely played a gig for free even as a kid because I stuck to this rule: if someone is getting paid I want my fair share of that. I don’t see how anybody can say that that is unreasonable. There is always someone getting paid. So the point is that if someone is getting paid, there is money being generated. Even if it’s a dollar then it should be split between everyone who is contributing.
Going back to your Smithsonian days, the label itself is an odd one in terms of where it’s hosted and what its purpose is. What did you learn, from a business perspective, when you were there?
Richard Burgess: From a business perspective, not very much because I was the one who brought the business perspective to Folkways. I came in and there really wasn’t anybody there who had music business experience to speak of besides me. So, if anything, what I did was reorganise Folkways to be more like a record label, because it is record label and it functions just like a stand-alone independent label at the Smithsonian. What I really learned at Smithsonian though, which was a good lesson for me to learn and I think set me up well for this organisation, is about dealing with larger organisations and bureaucracies and reporting to people because I had really always worked for myself. Obviously there is always somebody to report to, if you are a producer you are effectively responsible to the artist and responsible to the label and so on and so forth. But it is another thing when there are 6,000 people at the Smithsonian and it’s a large bureaucratic organisation. So I had to learn how to sort of manage up, manage across, manage down, and how to deal with the bureaucracy and get things done in a system that fundamentally doesn’t want to do things and wants to say no more than it wants to say yes. I very much am a say yes person, so learning how to get people to say yes when they actually want to say no is a real big lesson and a useful one.
How about your perspective on the music itself, on the repertoire, and the heritage role that you are playing there?
Richard Burgess: That was phenomenal. That was what took me there really. I was not looking for a job when I got the job. I was very happy doing what I was doing, I was managing, it was a good job, I was making money, it was a lot fun and a lot of freedom, but when it came up I thought to myself, I will never have another chance to work with a collection like this. This is very unique collection and I had been influenced by that collection when I was a kid. I remember holding a record in my hand, standing in the world record club store in Christchurch in New Zealand listening on the turntable. They would play you records on headphones so you could see whether you wanted to buy them or not. It was one of the Leadbelly albums on vinyl. Just to be able to work on a collection that had had a direct influence on my life and my career... I remember those thick black cardboard library folders with wrap-around stickers and everything like that. It was really the quality of the collection and what Moses [Asch, who founded Folkways Records in 1948] did too, and that I didn’t fully understand until I got there. Once I got there, I said 'I’m going to read everything there is about to read about Moe and talk to his son and talk to everyone who knew him' and that was a great learning experience. Moses Asch was a brilliant man.
Which brings us back to the ethos of Indie labels. They are mostly built around one or two persons – Atlantic with Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson, Blue Note with Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, Verve with Norman Krantz, and countless other. That’s the essence of independent labels: Strong people with a vision of what they are doing. When you have all these people around on your board, it must not be very easy to navigate, is it?
Richard Burgess: That’s an interesting thing because that was the best board I was ever on and I’ve been on quite a lot of boards in my time. The interesting thing is that it can get quite heated at times in terms of people having different opinions, but it’s incredibly collegiate. The thing about entrepreneurs is they are very pragmatic they just want to get it done. They don’t want to faff around, they don’t want to talk about it for the theory so much as they just want to get it done. I have to say every single person on that board I have respect for in one way or another. So that was one of the things I thought about going into this job, was will I report to this board but it’s a great board to report to. My gut feeling is that everybody who runs an independent label to a successful level has certain common characteristics: they are pretty obstinate, they are pretty opinionated, and they are really good at what they do and they really know music, they love music, they love their independence. Those are good people to be around. They are inspiring to be around and I like that. One of the things I always say is that it is good to surround yourself with people who are better then you, to be the least good person in the room as it were. So I feel that way about these people, they are really something else. There are a number of people I can call to say - what do you think about this, how do you feel about that - and I know that they aren’t going to shuck and drive; they are going to actually tell me what they think.
How do you see Indie Week evolving? Is that going to be the forum for all matters related to independent labels?
Richard Burgess: I hope so. That is definitely how we would like to see it. What struck me as being amazing about Indie Week is that it’s so high level. The fact that it is so cutting edge is really valuable. We also try to have a level for younger labels or less experienced music industry people, who can come in and kind of learn the basics of how things work. We don’t want it to turn into a consumer level conference because there are enough of those and they are very good, but that is not what we do.
What are the bridges between A2IM and AIM in the UK?
Richard Burgess: They’re pretty strong. The bridge now would be WIN – the World Independent Network. Alison Wenham who did run AIM, is now going to break away and run WIN. I wouldn’t say we talk everyday by any means but we talk on a frequent basis and we are very aware of what they are doing and I think they are very aware of what we are doing. We actually have common board members as well, so if you have a label based in the UK and a label based in the US you can be a member on both boards. We don’t do everything the same, there are a quite a few things that are quite different about what we do and what AIM does, but obviously AIM was the first of this particular set of trade associations, so there is a really good relationship there.
Are there any things that they are doing that you would like to implement here?
Richard Burgess: Yes. There are a few things. A really big difference between what they do there and what we do here is simply the environment that they’re functioning within because the European legislative environment is incredibly different than the US legislative environment in so many ways. You have got layers there, you have got national governments, and then the European government and then you have also got this sort of ethos. There is a completely different ethos in Europe. Everywhere there is a ministry of culture, it is a more sort of socialist way of approaching the world — government money spent on boosting various programs in the arts, which we do not have here. Funding for instance is very different for them then it is for us. But we are okay with that and we acknowledge the differences and we think that we can do very similar things to what AIM is doing.
What are you going to be focusing on in the next few months?
Richard Burgess: Next few months the sort of immediate priorities are getting Indie Week established. With the Liberas we are starting to move it now from a straight presentation of awards to industry people with more performances. On the policy side, obviously we have to respond to the issues that are occurring. I’m really pleased to say that the entire community, including the RIAA, has been really together on these last three or four filings and that’s pretty exciting to me because I wasn’t seeing that before. Outside of that, my number one priority is servicing our labels better because even on the best day ever, I never feel like we are quite there yet. So those can be quite small problems sometimes, and sometimes they can be gigantic ones like legislative ones. | <urn:uuid:a731d880-48fc-44b7-a18f-28e7fce75ee4> | https://legrandnetwork.blogspot.com/2016/06/ | en | 0.983165 | 0.018346 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
KotahiNet: Lidar Distance Measurement
Lidar (invisible light) used for accurate distance measurement of up to 3m with readings sent periodically via LoRaWAN network.
Category: Tag:
Supplier: KotahiNet
Frequency: Any LoRaWAN band
Sensors: Lidar (940 nm invisible laser)
Measures distance such as for liquid level in a tank, object detection, and surface change. Accuracy depends on lighting, typically ±2 mm.
Set or change “over the air” how frequently data is measured, typically every 15 minutes or 1 hour.
Fully self-contained, battery lasts 5-10 years.
Price: NZ$ 245
View on supplier’s website
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Graham of Anywhere
Graham's blog: politics, poetry, and introspection
Local Trusts — a very rough concept for voluntary taxation
This is a very rough think piece, coming from someone with no public policy experience. In fact, I don't imagine anyone else is ever going to read it, let alone think about it, so I dump it here purely as part of my own thought history.
In the current climate of chronic underfunding of local authorities (LAs), regional services and investment are being stripped back to, and beyond, the minimum required levels. Making progress on infrastructure or social issues in any given locale is, I assume, most plausible when your project is not reliant on the local council for funding. Perhaps, then, it’s time to look at constructing new and alternative funding models.
One such model might involve voluntary taxation. It would provide a means for people to invest in their local area, and develop projects that otherwise would be unlikely to come to fruition.
The Trusts
Local Trusts would be established to promote projects and manage funds. For every local authority, there would be a Trust. Every Trust would control several funds:
• A local authority-level fund, perhaps termed a City fund, Borough fund, or Region fund depending on LA
• Neighbourhood funds, one per electoral ward
Trusts would be managed by directly elected trustees, and overseen by the LA which would provide legal and administrative support. They would publish lists of projects by priority for the next financial year. Money raised in the current financial year, plus any surplus at the end of the current financial year, will form the basis of the budget for the following financial year. Trusts can only spend money they have raised, as they cannot borrow.
Tax payers could donate to any funds of their choosing, pre-tax through PAYE. Using an online portal, such as Government Gateway, tax payers could opt-in by specifying a percentage of their pre-tax salary to be paid to specified funds.
For example:
0.5% Neighbourhood fund — Edinburgh Almond ward
0.5% City fund — Edinburgh
These allocations can be changed at any time on the portal and changes will be reflected on your next salary, allowing for a processing period. There would be no limit to the number of funds a tax payer can choose to pay into, although there would be a minimum percentage per fund of 0.1% and a maximum total percentage of 100%. This would allow any individual to donate their entire income, after all other deductions, should they wish.
There should also be a mechanism for businesses to donate, pre-tax, to funds of their choosing.
It would also be permissible for Trusts to receive ad-hoc donations and to organise fund-raising initiatives to bolster their budget within the current financial year. This would be the only mechanism for dealing with cost overruns, as Trusts would not have the ability to borrow. Should a Trust’s cash flow run dry, any current work will stop. New income will need to be used to pay creditors before being allocated to new spending.
Trusts would be required to disclose the names of any entities donating more than a set amount per year.
The expectation is that funds will be used for projects within these categories:
• urban realm improvements (such as paving, lighting, planting, signage, street furniture)
• infrastructure (such as new paths, capital expenditure for schools (new computers, new facilities), new public buildings, transport)
• social (such as charities, events for schools, co-operatives, community buy-outs)
Trusts would be responsible for ensuring consistency between wards when similar projects are tabled, and for ensuring that projects work in tandem with LA priorities. Trust projects should not contradict or undermine LA initiatives or policies.
Clear guidance would need to be created to define what is out-of-scope for Trust funding. For example, maintenance of a local A Road can only be funded through LA budgets and maintenance of a local motorway can only be funded through central government budgets. It will be important to ensure LAs to not defer responsibility to Trusts for areas that are clearly within its own remit.
Projects for the following financial year and the priorities thereof would be decided democratically by public votes held annually, which would primarily be achieved through the government portal. Trustees would be responsible for working with the LA to approve projects and for publishing the decision reasoning.
Neighbourhood budget disparities
Inevitably, certain Neighbourhood funds will attract less income from voluntary taxation due to the socio-economic makeup of their wards. Such wards could, however, petition individuals, businesses and organisations to donate to their fund based on their prioritised projects. Businesses developing their Corporate Social Responsibility strategies, for example, may be more likely to donate to more deserving funds as opposed to well-endowed funds.
Trusts will have the ability to redistribute surpluses from funds to other funds under their control at the end of each financial year.
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Docilian Dreams and the COVID-19 Nightmare
Last year I wrote the only way to solve the present precautionary policy disaster is to “wait until the bodies start piling up”. With locusts ravaging East Africa and a coronavirus plague shutting down Western economies, maybe it is time to go back and see how the precautionary principle has fared as the (only) risk management tool in our policy toolkit. With a population naively assuming they were living risk-free lives having been reassured how their personal safety was managed by others, the coming crisis is going to hit hard.
Handle with Precaution
When you’re out of bullets… Run!!!
100% Safety … Guaranteed!
Shit happens
The worst sheep are the naturopath gurus who act like wolves
Docilians are sheep.
Image source: Screenshot from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
17 Comments Add yours
An interesting blog on risk management and the Coronavirus.
It goes totally counter to Rupert of Extinction rebellion Who seems to want to shut down so many things. But he is just anti-risk
1. RiskMonger says:
I think Rebellion Rupert is almost a caricature of the forces demanding only precaution. He deftly switches between fear-monger (hundreds of millions will die from COVID-19 if we don’t stop all transportation immediately) to responsible “Talebian” risk specialist to empathetic citizen. What an opportunistic charlatan – unable to ban cars and planes with XR, he morphs into public health expert to package the same vinegar in new wine bottles.
2. Frederik Cyrus Roeder says:
Great stuff!
Liked by 1 person
3. Richard Joyce says:
Excellent article. The weirdest element about all this is the hording of toilet paper; is there anyone who can explain it?
1. RiskMonger says:
It has to be a certain panic response amplified by social media – so many shares. I was in the supermarket today and just wandered around to see what others were hoarding (pasta, rice and sugar shelves were empty). Other things strangely were not (like dried biscuits, dried fruits, processed foods…). For the record, I bought extra toilet paper so as much as I can laugh at them, as much as I understand the speed of our logistics system to restock, I also fell into line.
4. Jonathan Bagley says:
Very good read.
5. J Duarte says:
I’m sorry but this time you are completely wrong.
This is not like the flu. We can’t afford to simply wait for a vaccine (if one truly effective ever appears).
Closing down everything is the only thing that really stopped the virus. See how some Asian countries responded to the pandemy vs Italy. And compare the results. In Italy people as young as 60 are left with no treatment because there isn’t one available anymore.
1. RiskMonger says:
Closing down entire economies is the last thing that should have been done, not the first and only thing. Shutting down the US to outside flights and trade will have serious consequences. Today the Philippines used this as a means to effectively declare martial law. People need to take care of themselves properly so as to avoid clogging up the hospitals. South Korea cut the transmission rate by providing available, free testing kits so people could know and then self isolate – The US has provided 5 tests per million people – solution – lock down of an entire country. Call me wrong, but the consequences of this total lack of risk management (turning to precaution as the only tool) will lead to more severe consequences. Locking everyone down does not provide a credible means to protect the vulnerable people (it just impoverishes a system they rely on).
1. JD Ferreira says:
Well the US is a case study in what not to do.
Hong Kong and Macau closed down. They stopped the virus. The economic consequences of the month long lock down will still be much lower than the ones borne out inefective measures. Again look to Italy. In a few days look to Spain.
Locking down flattens the epidemic curve making sure that the Health Systems are not overworked and making sure that the people that need treatment get it.
If you want to compare this with flu… well:
Fatality rate at least 10 times higher than seasonal flu.
Transmission rate between 2 to 4 times higher than flu.
Critical cases… at the very least 10 times higher than flu.
2. RiskMonger says:
As I had written, we should have never got to the point of needing to lock-down large populations. Rest homes and hospitals should have been firewalled, not locking populations together in the same viral soup. There needed to be triage so the stronger did not clog up hospital ERs. In Belgium they closed the schools so what are parents doing with their children when they have to go to work? What they always do … leaving them with the grandparents! How do you spell “Stupid”??? Now the seniors have lost their life savings as the lock-downs kill the economy … Risk managers are supposed to protect the vulnerable, not cough in their faces!!!
3. JD Ferreira says:
So how do you propose the epidemy was stopped without large scale quarantine?
Closing the schools work. We know that. It isn’t done just because. And yes you are right a lot of kids will be staying with their grandparents but in normal conditions a lot of kids already do that regularly (or the grandparents live in the same house). And in COVID kids are a lot of times assymptomatic. You could have an entire school infected before you knew it.
I don’t think you understand just how much the Italian health system exploded. It’s not a case of bad triage. There are not ventilators enough for everybody that needs them. You don’t triage that. Either you get one or you die.
You also have no ideia how much work it is to trace contacts. It just takes one asshole that doesn’t give a fuck (i’m sorry for my language but i’m really angry right now) that goes gallivating all over the place that everything goes to hell. If places that are not essential (bars, disco, etc) are closed even if people don’t care their contacts will be reduced a lot.
Covid 19 has just the terrible conjuction of enough assymptomatic cases and enough critical cases to be extremely serious. If you don’t believe me see all the scientific articles being published right now.
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Henry IV Part 2
First folio
Modern text
Key line
Enter Rumour.Enter Rumour, painted full of tonguesinduction (n.)
old form: INDVCTION
opening scene [of a play], initial step, preparation
2H4 induction.1
Open your Eares: For which of you will stopOpen your ears, for which of you will stop 2H4 induction.1
The vent of Hearing, when loud Rumor speakes?The vent of hearing when loud Rumour speaks?vent (n.)aperture, opening2H4 induction.2
I, from the Orient, to the drooping WestI, from the orient to the drooping west,drooping (adj.)[of the sun] moving downward2H4 induction.3
(Making the winde my Post-horse) still vnfoldMaking the wind my post-horse, still unfoldpost-horse (n.)pony-express, express speed2H4 induction.4
still (adv.)constantly, always, continually
The Acts commenced on this Ball of Earth.The acts commenced on this ball of earth. 2H4 induction.5
Vpon my Tongue, continuall Slanders ride,Upon my tongues continual slanders ride, 2H4 induction.6
The which, in euery Language, I pronounce,The which in every language I pronounce, 2H4 induction.7
Stuffing the Eares of them with false Reports:Stuffing the ears of men with false reports.false (adj.)wrong, mistaken2H4 induction.8
I speake of Peace, while couert EnmitieI speak of peace while covert enmity, 2H4 induction.9
(Vnder the smile of Safety) wounds the World:Under the smile of safety, wounds the world; 2H4 induction.10
And who but Rumour, who but onely IAnd who but Rumour, who but only I, 2H4 induction.11
Make fearfull Musters, and prepar'd Defence,Make fearful musters, and prepared defence,muster (n.)(plural) enlistment of soldiers, mobilizing of troops2H4 induction.12
fearful (adj.)
old form: fearfull
causing fear, awe-inspiring, terrifying, alarming
Whil'st the bigge yeare, swolne with some other griefes,Whiles the big year, swollen with some other grief,big (adj.)
old form: bigge
pregnant [with], swollen
2H4 induction.13
Is thought with childe, by the sterne Tyrant, Warre,Is thought with child by the stern tyrant War,tyrant (n.)pitiless ruffian, cruel villain2H4 induction.14
And no such matter? Rumour, is a PipeAnd no such matter? Rumour is a pipematter (n.)reason, cause, ground2H4 induction.15
Blowne by Surmises, Ielousies, Coniectures;Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures,jealousy (n.)
old form: Ielousies
suspicion, mistrust, apprehension
2H4 induction.16
conjecture (n.)
old form: Coniectures
suspicion, misgiving, evil doubt
And of so easie, and so plaine a stop,And of so easy and so plain a stopstop (n.)means of closing a finger-hole in a wind instrument2H4 induction.17
That the blunt Monster, with vncounted heads,That the blunt monster with uncounted heads,uncounted (adj.)
old form: vncounted
uncountable, innumerable
2H4 induction.18
blunt (adj.)stupid, obtuse, dull-witted
The still discordant, wauering Multitude,The still-discordant wavering multitude,wavering (adj.)
old form: wauering
inconstant, fickle, capricious
2H4 induction.19
still-discordant (adj.)
old form: still discordant
always disagreeing, perpetually quarrelling
Can play vpon it. But what neede I thusCan play upon it. But what need I thus 2H4 induction.20
My well-knowne Body to AnathomizeMy well-known body to anatomizeanatomize, annothanize (v.)
old form: Anathomize
dissect, reveal, lay open
2H4 induction.21
Among my houshold? Why is Rumour heere?Among my household? Why is Rumour here? 2H4 induction.22
I run before King Harries victory,I run before King Harry's victory, 2H4 induction.23
Who in a bloodie field by ShrewsburieWho in a bloody field by Shrewsburyfield (n.)field of battle, battleground, field of combat2H4 induction.24
Hath beaten downe yong Hotspurre, and his Troopes,Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops, 2H4 induction.25
Quenching the flame of bold Rebellion,Quenching the flame of bold rebellion 2H4 induction.26
Euen with the Rebels blood. But what meane IEven with the rebels' blood. But what mean I 2H4 induction.27
To speake so true at first? My Office isTo speak so true at first? My office isoffice (n.)task, service, duty, responsibility2H4 induction.28
To noyse abroad, that Harry Monmouth fellTo noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell 2H4 induction.29
Vnder the Wrath of Noble Hotspurres Sword:Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword, 2H4 induction.30
And that the King, before the Dowglas RageAnd that the King before the Douglas' rage 2H4 induction.31
Stoop'd his Annointed head, as low as death.Stooped his anointed head as low as death.stoop (v.)
old form: Stoop'd
kneel, submit, bow down
2H4 induction.32
This haue I rumour'd through the peasant-Townes,This have I rumoured through the peasant townspeasant (adj.)country, rural, backwoods2H4 induction.33
Betweene the Royall Field of Shrewsburie,Between that royal field of Shrewsbury 2H4 induction.34
And this Worme-eaten-Hole of ragged Stone,And this worm-eaten hold of ragged stone,hold (n.)stronghold, castle, fortress2H4 induction.35
ragged (adj.)rough-hewn, dilapidated, rugged
Where Hotspurres Father, old Northumberland,Where Hotspur's father, old Northumberland, 2H4 induction.36
Lyes crafty sicke. The Postes come tyring on,Lies crafty-sick. The posts come tiring on,post (n.)
old form: Postes
express messenger, courier
2H4 induction.37
tiring (adj.)
old form: tyring
exhausted, worn out from riding hard
crafty-sick (adj.)
old form: crafty sicke
pretending sickness
And not a man of them brings other newesAnd not a man of them brings other news 2H4 induction.38
Then they haue learn'd of Me. From Rumours Tongues,Than they have learnt of me. From Rumour's tongues 2H4 induction.39
They bring smooth-Comforts-false, worse then True-wrongs.They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true wrongs.false (adj.)wrong, mistaken2H4 induction.40
smooth (adj.)pleasant, welcome, gratifying
Exit.Exit 2H4 induction.40
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Probate procedures in TexasLosing a loved one is one of the toughest challenges many people experience. Whether it was a sudden and unexpected death or there was time to prepare, the aftermath can be highly emotional. In some circumstances, there may also be legal difficulties that must be dealt with, especially when they involve assets and debts in the deceased's estate. That’s where the probate process comes in.
Here’s what you should know about Texas probate, how it works, and how to get an attorney who can help you with the process in your time of need.
What Is Probate?
Probate is a legal process in which the state acknowledges the death of a person and allows for the transfer of property so that his or her assets, such as money and property, can be distributed to heirs or beneficiaries and any remaining debts can be paid.
There are two types of probate in Texas:
• Independent administration. When there is a correctly-executed will left behind that names someone as executor to the estate, it’s most likely that the estate will go through the simpler probate process of independent administration. With this type of probate, the estate’s personal representative or executor does not need a surety bond and has a fair amount of independence to finalize the estate as he or she sees fit.
• Dependent administration. The court will appoint an administrator to handle the process, since there is no will to name an executor. The administrator needs to obtain a surety bond (as a form of insurance) and will need to seek the court’s permission before performing certain actions.
Note that not all estates will need to go through probate. A small estate affidavit can allow an estate of $75,000 or less in value to avoid much of the time and expense of probate, as long as certain requirements are met. A judge may also grant an order of “no administration” for a smaller estate and allow assets to pass directly to the spouse or non-adult children.
The Probate Process
Going through probate is a multi-step process that takes time to complete. The typical procedure to begin probate for an estate starts with:
• Probate application. Regardless of whether there is a will, an application must be filed with authorities in the estate where the deceased person lived.
• Validation. There will be a delay of two weeks before a probate hearing is held to allow anyone who may object to the will or to the administrator. Then a judge will review the case. If there's a will, the named executor may accept or reject the job of completing the estate. If there isn't a will, or the named executor refuses, an administrator is appointed by the court.
Once an executor or administrator is granted authority to do the job, the majority of the work begins. He or she needs to:
• Create an inventory. This is a list of all assets and debts of the estate. However, not all assets need to go through the probate process.
• Notify heirs and beneficiaries. The executor must contact any heirs or beneficiaries named in the will, or as determined by state law if there is no will.
• Publish a notice to creditors. This is typically done through a special notice in a local newspaper. This notice must be published for a certain amount of time to allow any creditors to make claims for payment against the estate.
• Distribute the assets. If there are any conflicts or disputes regarding the will or estate, they must be resolved before assets are distributed. Then heirs or beneficiaries can receive assets left to them.
Executors are also entitled to a small percentage fee of certain transactions the estate performs, except for the final distribution.
Get Legal Help With Probate
Going through probate can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. A probate attorney can be there for every step of the process and help ensure the last wishes of your loved one are met.
When you're ready to get the help you need, the experts at Miller Law Office will put their experience on the line to help families after the loss of a loved one. We look forward to serving you in your time of need. Reach out to us by phone or through the contact form on this page to arrange a consultation about your probate case today. | <urn:uuid:3eafd406-65ee-48af-b316-6cc20193cf82> | https://www.aaronmillerlaw.com/library/how-probate-works-after-losing-a-loved-one.cfm | en | 0.94366 | 0.018721 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Motley Fool
Is Buying Oversold Stocks an Effective Strategy?
There are many different investing strategies that investors can apply, and I’m going to look specifically at buying oversold stocks, or buying on the dip. The big danger with this is, of course, that a poorly performing stock will only continue to plunge in value. However, if you buy near the bottom, the stock could net you a significant return.
Over the past several months, I’ve identified many stocks that were oversold, and now I’m going to look back to see how some of those shares have performed since.
Back in September, Sierra Wireless, Inc. (TSX:SW)(NASDAQ:SWIR) was oversold with a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of just 28. At that time, the stock was trading at just over $26 and would go on to rise to a high of over $30 before dropping to a low of $24.
Currently, the stock is still over $26, as it has been stuck in a range for the past several months. The problem is that Sierra’s stock has been oversold multiple times over the past year, and a low RSI level may not mean as much to investors anymore.
Keyera Corp. (TSX:KEY) was even more oversold at the time, as the stock was at an RSI level of just 26. The share price would go on to rise from under $36 up to a high of over $39, but it too would eventually follow a similar path to Sierra’s.
Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) was oversold back in August when its RSI was just 22. Since then, the share price has also been volatile, but it would have yielded you a return of over 5% if you’d held on to the stock until today.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc. (TSX:VRX)(NYSE:VRX) was at an RSI of under 30 in September when it was trading at just over $16. The share price has gone up more than 80% since then, although not before briefly dipping.
However, Valeant got a boost in its share price when it announced it would be restructuring its debt; otherwise, the returns would not be as significant, and so it would be hard to credit the stock being oversold as the catalyst behind the rise in value.
Does buying oversold stocks work?
This is a small sample size, and each of the stocks listed above did go up in price after reaching an oversold status. So, in that sense, the RSI did work in communicating that a reversal could be likely, but investors should be careful not to expect too much from the technical indicator.
What are the takeaways for investors?
There are some important conclusions we can come to despite this small sample.
The first is that RSI has value in indicating when a stock might be due for a recovery, but don’t expect that it will tell you when it will happen or how long it will last.
Second, if a stock has reached a low RSI number (less than 30) multiple times in the past year, then it crossing over into oversold territory is less significant than for a stock that previously had not been oversold.
Finally, investors should use technical indicators like RSI in conjunction with fundamental analysis. Investing based on technical indicators can be dangerous, and by investing in stocks that have strong fundamentals, investors will be less exposed to those risks.
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Fool contributor David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. David Gardner owns shares of Canadian National Railway and Sierra Wireless. Tom Gardner owns shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool owns shares of Canadian National Railway, Sierra Wireless, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Canadian National Railway is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.
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• Woodrow Wagaman
The Meeting with Bishop Dunlop
On September 4th, 2018, I had a meeting with Bishop James Dunlop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. I shall show the conversations as my points, and his counterpoints concluding with his emotional appeal. This should not be mistaken fro a literal dialogue OR direct quotes. It is merely a summary of the most relevant parts of the conversation. The Counterpoints are ideas after the fact, and Bishop Dunlop was not informed of these counterpoints.
Point 1: Background Checks for All
Make Congregations Safe: Background Checks should be mandated for all volunteers in a church, not just those who work with children.
Bishop James Dunlop: Background checks are a complicated issue. Right now many people are suspicious of the government and may resist such a measure. This could damage our volunteer numbers.
Woodrow's Counterpoint: Seriously? Do you really want people frightened of the government decided how church money is to be spent? This response cannot be taken seriously. "Let's not do something because the conspiracy theorists might object." Uhh, ok.
Point 2: The Synodical constitution could be changed
Bishop James Dunlop: This would take a lot of effort and time.
Woodrow's Counterpoint: Then why wasn't this process started years ago?
Point 3: If mandated background checks were real, Joseph Thornton would not have been able to corral all of the boy participants at a confirmation retreat into the kitchen together.
Bishop James Dunlop: Not necessarily, pastoral experience shows that congregants will take it upon themselves to corral people inappropriately. Joseph Thornton could have still shown up at Camp Nawakwa even if he did have a background check.
Woodrow's Counterpoint: So what you are claiming is that Camp Nawakwa is not secure for children. It is a huge problem if a youth retreat camp is not secure from outsiders who may not have been checked for prior child abuse. That is a disaster waiting to happen.
Finally, after this back and forth, Bishop James Dunlop claimed that I am the only abuse victim in the 30 year history of the synod. He claims to understand that I am passionate about this issue, but the time and energy is not worth exercising on something that is not high priority.
This leads me to believe that it would take more than one ruined life for James Dunlop to do something to close the Child Abuse Loophole. My pain and suffering is not enough to motivate the Lutheran Church to fix an issue, and this sank me into the depths of despair. I was willing to sacrifice myself to protect other children, could they not sacrifice some time to keep it from happening again.
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29 Sec PSA: Retired Command Sergeant Major Christopher K. Greca (Audio Described)
As a senior noncommissioned officer, retired Command Sergeant Major Greca did not recognize the subtle signs and symptoms of his physical and invisible wounds. Hear how CSM Greca realized that it takes strength to recognize the warning signs, and to seek support from military health resources. | <urn:uuid:414e6846-fdc4-4460-8c5c-d4dee6c8d17d> | https://www.realwarriors.net/personal-stories/greca-short-psa-audio | en | 0.918533 | 0.524837 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Envy - Consciousness
Contributor: To Be Magnetic
Photographer: To Be Magnetic
Don’t worry, we’ll get back to the last pillar of magnetism next week.
This week, I’d like to focus on a topic that has been surfacing quite a bit in my practice. It’s important that when I see a collective of clients experiencing a similar issue, I address it - because most likely a lot of you out there might also be feeling it, or can surely benefit from it. And when this particular emotion is charged, it’s imperative to harness and direct the energy of it as it’s a very powerful force when re-processed through a different lens and acted upon. Lastly, it correlates to the Magnetism workshop, for you will learn how to begin reprogramming so that this emotion naturally doesn’t come back up for you much anymore.
The emotion I’m referring to here is envy. It’s an emotion that I’ve had a very close parallel to in one way or another throughout my entire life. Not to be mistuned with jealousy, for the two do differ. Jealousy is fear of losing something that you have. Envy is wanting something that someone else has. See the difference?
Now, here is the rather beautiful Manifestation aspect of envy and why you attract envious situations into your life. In one way or another, you’ve called them in to be one of your Expanders. Wait, what? You heard me right. So, for all the clients that are having a hard time “finding” Expanders, whenever you’ve stumbled upon something on Instagram, your social circle, TV, press, blogs… and you find yourself peeved for no reason as to why you’re activated and riddled with judgement and envy, it’s because you are witnessing an Expander (i.e. something you are capable of).
Everything outside of us is a projection of all the information we’ve collected along the way projected onto everything and everyone else. This is why no two people will ever have the exact same perspective or recap during the exact same experience. Therefore, when you are envious of someone, it’s actually your shadow projecting onto them elements of what you desire - recognizing through the envious subject or situation - that you are capable of the same.
Expanders are literally in your life to expand the limiting beliefs that you have rooted in your subconscious creating space for an intention of yours to come through. In short, they are expanding your beliefs.
So, the next time that you are activated by envy, PLEASE harness this energy and direct it in motion rather than wasting it on useless victimization, pity, and stress – which aren’t really true anyway - and focus its power into action.
Example: say that you are scrolling through Instagram and you see that someone you admire is on a trip, or bought your dream house, or got press in your favorite catalog, and envy begins to strike.
i. Pause.
ii. Get quiet and get out your journal and free form answer these questions. What is it about the trip, house, or press that is making me feel so bad? Of course, the first surface answer you’re going to come up with is that you aren’t doing or getting the same. Keep going. Get to what is beneath it. TRIP: Is your soul crying out for more freedom and exploration? HOUSE: are you feeling the need to lay down roots, get creative with your interior, or entertain? PRESS: are you needing more recognition?
First, it’s important to get down to your soul’s expression. When you have that answer, start mapping out the baby steps you need to take to obtain the same feeling. For instance, more freedom. What does “freedom” mean to you? Where are you lacking freedom in your life? How can you make those aspects of your life freer? What are the ten steps you need to take in order to create more freedom? Map out how you can achieve each in the next sixth months.
iii. Lastly, and most importantly, this person or situation has come up to expand the limited belief in your subconscious as to what is possible for you. Now go collect as many Expanders as you need until there isn’t a doubt in your mind that you can go on the same trip, buy your unique version of the same house, or get your unique version of the same press.
I’ve been lucky in my life that envy naturally hasn’t been a very strong emotion for me. At my core, I truly do believe and champion everyone getting exactly what their heart desires. Clearly, I’m in the right line of work. And I’ve weirdly always been pretty intuitive that if I’m seeing it, and I believe that I’m worthy of the same, my version will come too (in time). Not to say that I’ve never been envious. That’s just part of the human experience. But it’s rather rare, and I very quickly spin it into the above.
However, even at a young age, I have been the source of others’ envy often, and it’s a very overwhelming, uninvited, painful thing to be when it comes to people I love or admire. Because it’s stirred up a lot of shame for me, I’ve had to reclaim a lot of aspects of myself that I rejected believing that they contributed to others envying me. In my youth and early twenties, I would often dim my light in order to allow others to feel brighter. However, as I got older I’ve had to let go of many relationships due to envy, for it can breed the most painful dynamic in a friendship - someone that I love no longer having my best interest at heart and actually reveling in my pain instead, which for me was unacceptable. It felt unsafe, untrustworthy. Especially because I let very few in close and once you’re in, I’m your biggest cheerleader and the most loyal and generous person you’ll ever meet.
About a year ago I began the practice that I’ll be teaching you in the MAGNETISM workshop, which I still continue today, and it’s melted away layers upon layers of programs, blaming, rejecting, and pain I’ve felt surrounding the dynamic that envy can lead to. I stand in a place today where I feel a ton of forgiveness, personal accountability, and understanding of where others were coming from during their actions. Even more so, I feel a lot of love for them. For me, my personal growth, and most importantly, unblocking for my Manifestations, this has been very important. Some relationships have mended from it, because the other party also grew immensely, and some are still boundaries for me since the other person is still orbiting in the exact same way, which is fine and beautiful and exactly where they are at. On their own personal journey, which I lovingly support them on from afar. | <urn:uuid:633aa666-ef58-4eab-8ba0-a709449f34ab> | https://www.saffronandsageskin.com/blogs/news/envy-consciousness | en | 0.959864 | 0.036383 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Tourism Industry Should Help the Environment
Michael Trout - Sep 30, 2013
Although it is no longer rare to find on a hotel bed a sign asking the guest to reuse his/her towel or to accept having sheets changed once every three days rather than once a day, many people still wonder if tourism is an environmentally friendly industry. Due to past mistakes the public is often cynical about tourism and it is not unusual to hear people wondering out loud if the desire to change sheets once every three days is more about saving the hotel money then about saving the environment. There is no doubt that tourism, at least in the past, has not always been environmentally friendly.
There are many reasons why we in the tourism industry must face numerous challenges when it comes to proper stewardship of the earth. Travel is hard, and people on vacation or a business trip want to be pampered. Many visitors believe that part of the fun of traveling is leaving cares and concerns behind and enjoying those little extras luxuries that are not part of most people’s everyday lives. Thus, when on vacation we tend to use more towels than necessary, and are not always as conscious of our ecological responsibilities as we should be.
Furthermore, most travelers never consider that even though they are not paying for the water in a hotel, on a macro level its usage has a major environmental impact. Restaurants, hotels, and attractions often keep their air conditioning at sweater weather conditions. Attractions and transportation centers often stay lit up all night long, adding to the earth’s light and energy pollution. The problem with this attitude is that when we move from the individual to millions of individuals, then the collective damage becomes severe.
Another problem in keeping the world green is the over use of concrete and the lack of plants and beautification projects. Too many urban areas have become fields of concrete held together by rivers of asphalt. These area are not only visually unappealing, but tend to hold heat in causing higher air conditioning usage. Plants are nature’s way of turning carbon monoxide into oxygen and are the planet’s living lungs. Cities that create green spaces not only add beauty to their visitors and citizens’ lives but also help to replenish our oxygen supply and green spaces are an easy and inexpensive way to lower crime rates.
Tourism and travel then are faced with the issue of balancing the needs of the environment with the needs of its customer base. If travel becomes too hard, then it may lose its enchantment and glamour; if on the other hand it does not respect the Earth then there may be no place to which to travel! Here are some of the ways that we can turn travel and tourism from a polluter and energy waster to a green commodity that is elegant, gracious and enchanting.
• Promote hotel sensible laundry policies. For example do not only employ such tried and true methods of washing sheets every three days rather than every day, but also consider the use of new technologies such as light bulbs that save on light/heat pollutions.
Develop a green tourism measurement scale for your community. Because most communities have no overall environmental plan, few locales know how well they are doing in creating green tourism. Develop an overall city plan that includes such things as: traffic control, transportation issues, water usage, pollutants emitted into the atmosphere and natural water resources, animal protection, garbage disposal, paper usage. Make sure to tailor your measurement scale to the needs and challenges of your community or location, and weight those factors most heavily that have the greatest impact on your community or location. Take the time to review your tourism area. Is it easy or difficult to throw away rubbish? Is protection provided for sensitive foliage? Are people made aware of what is harmful and what is permitted? Remember that in a multi-national, multilingual world signage must be understandable not only by those who speak the native language but also by foreign guests. Also remember to inform while guarding against noise and sign pollution.
Remind people that good security begins with a sense of environmental pride. Many tourism security professionals emphasize that good security starts with beautification projects and good environmental control. For example, New York City learned that by cleaning up the trash, fixing broken windows, and getting rid of graffiti that it was able to lower its crime rate considerably. In a like measure the more any of us care for our environment, the more pride we have in it and the lower the chance of crime.
Think sensibly. Sometimes the least innovative is the most ecologically friendly. For example, paper towels in wash rooms come from renewable resource, tree farms, but electricity is not only expensive to produce but also its production is environmentally unfriendly. Replace electric hand drying machines that not only are ecologically unfriendly but also tend to spread germs with paper towels made from tree farms.
Restaurants can exemplify good environmentalism. Restaurants can be careful to use soaps that pollute less and serve water only upon request. There are a numerous washing devices on the market that use less water and less power than hand dishwashing. In fact, washing by hand is often less ecologically friendly, uses more pollutants and requires more hot water than does an eco-friendly dishwasher.
Be eco-friendly at your car rental places. Attractions and car rental companies should switch to electric cars as soon as possible and instead of running buses for local transport, use mini-vans, golf carts or other vehicles that tend to use minimum of fossil fuels.
Turn your environmentalism into a form of marketing. All too often people in the travel and tourism industries forget that a clean and healthy environment does not take away from the bottom line it adds to it. Do not define “green” in its most narrow sense of the word, but rather in its broadest sense. Few people will spend a lot of money to eat over a garbage dump, but many people are more than willing to spend top dollar to eat in a charming setting, be that setting a table overlooking an ocean, a crystal clear lake, a beautiful garden, or a forest.
By promoting green and by finding innovate ways to protect the environment, tourism is assuring that it will continue to offer products that are pleasant to the eye, and good for generations that are yet to be born. The wise travel and tourism marketer promotes the ecological health of his/her area in all written, oral and visual marketing efforts.
By Dr. Peter Tarlow
Dr. Peter Tarlow is the president of Tourism & More and speaks throughout the world. He publishes a monthly newsletter for tourism professionals called Tourism Tidbits. You can reach him via his website:
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Add Comment | <urn:uuid:da2c7440-2512-46eb-bd05-44132d4a37c9> | https://www.tourism-review.com/travel-tourism-magazine-tourism-and-environment-what-can-we-do-article2204 | en | 0.952744 | 0.02569 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
In Southern Germany, Laurelweizen would be a breakfast beer.
An opaque and golden brew, Laurelwood's Bavarian wheat ale is a cold, bubbly cocktail of banana and clove—a glimmering, mostly authentic example of the extremely quaffable pale wheat ales perfected by German brewers over the past several hundred years. In Munich, the style often doubles as a second breakfast, with locals enjoying a half liter of the stuff with some veal sausage or a pretzel around brunch time.
But a couple years ago, when Laurelwood's former head brewer, Vasili Gletsos, first told fellow brewer Shane Watterson he wanted to create a traditional-style hefeweizen, Watterson was skeptical.
"How do you expect us to do that, exactly?" recalls Watterson, now head brewer at Laurelwood.
Even now, regardless of the consistently tremendous results Laurelwood has enjoyed brewing the style, Laurelweizen is perhaps the brewery's biggest technical triumph.
Laurelwood, like most craft breweries in the United States, has an English-style brewing system, designed to hold the mash of each ale or lager at a single temperature for extended periods. But to brew a German-style wheat ale the traditional way, the brewers needed to hit multiple temperatures over time, which, according to Watterson, "our mash tun is not built for in any way, shape or form."
"It's a beer that we shouldn't really be able to make," the bearded brewer says, chuckling at his desk inside a makeshift plywood office above the brewhouse while two staff brewers work below.
From the initial idea to the first successful pour, it took a while for Gletsos and Watterson to leap the hefeweizen hurdle. And there are still some bumps they will never be able to iron out, due to the layout and equipment at the 15-barrel brewpub.
Years after the first batch, each shift brewing Laurelweizen takes about four hours longer than normal.
By now, the brewers have learned to expect the mash tun to clog about a quarter of the way into draining into the kettle, at which time they have to shovel it around to get it to drain.
But they make it work. They use boiling water to sweep through proper temperature ranges, boil, cool and pitch a borrowed German-style hefeweizen yeast from the folks down the road at Occidental. By the time the beer hits taps a little over a week later, it is perfectly fresh—a bready glass of wheat beer that stands up to the finest commercial examples from around the world.
Watterson counts the beer among his proudest achievements at the brewery.
Laurelweizen doesn't sell better than hoppy beers or keep better than dark ones; it is not an ale that rewards its brewers with massive sales or overwhelmingly positive responses in the market. But, for people who know about the style, it's a must-drink, a tasty homage to brewing heritage that doesn't go unnoticed.
"The brewers really love drinking this stuff," Watterson says. "The Germans got that right." | <urn:uuid:042a6a89-f7fd-4514-b978-f48e3eb0459c> | https://www.wweek.com/bars/beer/2016/02/23/5-laurelweizen-by-laurelwood/ | en | 0.954749 | 0.053298 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Indications He Desires A Lengthy Term Union Vs. He Simply Would Like To Hookup
Dating in the world that is modern we reside in today is very hard. You aren’t alone if you have been finding it truly hard to inform who is simply inside it for the hookups and who is really nowadays trying to find a genuine relationship.
If he’s more feely that is touchy you.
This is not a large indication he’s just inside it for the hookup, nonetheless it really can be an idea. Some dudes are much more touchy feely if they’re wanting to hookup with some body because that’s the way that is easiest to exhibit your interest while making real contact to see in the event that attraction will there be.
If he does not familiarizes you with their family and friends.
This really is a pretty clear one. Everybody knows that relationship and family members are two of the very most essential things in every man or woman’s life if you’re undoubtedly unique to somebody, they will wish the folks closest in their mind to learn you. Therefore you out for drinks with their buddies or don’t invite you to the family holiday party, it’s a pretty clear sign they’re not looking for a serious thing with you if they never invite.
On social media if they don’t show that they’re with you.
So that you two head out to a pretty restaurant and you post an image of him together with food on your own Insta tale but he only posts a photo associated with the meals? Yeah, he is most likely doing that on function. He doesn’t desire everybody else on their social networking to understand in regards to you because he understands it is not a long-lasting thing.
You are told by him he is perhaps maybe perhaps not trying to find any such thing serious.
This might look like a fairly one that is obvious many people. Then he obviously doesn’t, right if he tells you he doesn’t want a serious relationship? But us girls are typical in regards to the signs that are nonvocal that’s how exactly we frequently communicate, therefore we immediately genuinely believe that they need to suggest something different behind the language. But don’t think if he was straight up with you he’s probably being honest about his intentions and won’t change his mind that you can convince him or that eventually he’ll want a relationship because.
If he functions such as a gentleman if you are together.
This may be any such thing from keeping the doorway available you a drink at the bar, and holding your hand in public for you, buying. It really is usually the straightforward, small things which make the largest declaration which he undoubtedly cares so it is constantly a great concept to concentrate on their actions over their terms.
If he makes plans to you as time goes on.
If he makes plans with you significantly more than per week or two ahead of time you understand he is contemplating the next with you. For instance, you he definitely expects you two to be together then if he buys tickets to a concert in 3 months time for both of. Or if perhaps you two speak about traveling together next summer and begin making severe plans.
If you are active for each other’s social media marketing.
If you are liberated to publish photos associated with the both of you together on all of your social networking reports and then he does exactly the same, you then know you have a significant thing going. Being active on social networking together is actually just like having ‘the talk’ into the world that is modern reside in at this time.
You how much they like you if they tell.
A different one which should be pretty apparent, but often is not. If some guy lets you know he really likes you and actually enjoys investing a great deal of time to you you have to know which he’s severe. it’s not constantly simple for dudes to start up and extremely be seduced by thereforeme body so then they really do mean it if they’re saying they like you.
At all if he doesn’t try to get to know you.
If he is not expressing any type of desire for you, he then most likely is thinking about setting up. Then chances are he doesn’t care about any of that and is only interested in sexual chemistry if he doesn’t ask about your childhood, your biggest fears and your hopes and dreams.
If he does not often initiate the conversation.
You a good amount of distance from you if he isn’t initiating the conversation very often, chances are he’s trying to keep. He does not desire such a thing serious so he is attempting to not show an excessive amount of interest, simply sufficient you know he is thinking about setting up.
If he attempts to keep consitently the discussion intimate.
You demonstrably can not often be maintaining the discussion intimate, that’s essentially impossible. But then you know what’s mostly on his mind when you two are hanging out if you’re talking about your day and suddenly he’s trying to steer the conversation to the bedroom.
On your appearance if he only compliments you.
You probably can not get wrong with offering compliments to somebody. But once the subject of these compliments are often exactly how look that is hot exactly exactly exactly how amazing the couch appears in your jeans then chances are you probably understand that he is only enthusiastic about the human body. Then your body if he was interested in more than hooking up he would compliment your personality more. | <urn:uuid:99ffc491-7b4f-465d-a208-80cba9bd6ae7> | http://dcapitale-vinhomes.com/indications-he-desires-a-lengthy-term-union-vs-he/ | en | 0.972263 | 0.022622 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Monday, November 16, 2015
Saturday, July 11, 2015
There are some words that are dear to the hypnotist's heart, and few as much as the word TRY!
"Try to keep your eyes open.."
"Try to remember the number.."
"Try to feel the pain of your injury.."
But what makes it such a power word? Well, yes, it implies failure, and it's a sneaky command to do the opposite of what we seem to be asking the client. We don't say "Keep your eyes open" when we want the client to close his eyes, even though that is usually how the client perceives it. (And isn't it terrible that when a kid is having trouble in school we tell him to "TRY HARDER!!" Think about it).
On a deeper level, though, it's more than a covert reverse-suggestion.
When we use the word TRY, we're really telling the client to begin to substitute our suggestion for their own empirical experience. "Try to open your eyes, and you'll find you can't." Words like try reprogram, for a little while, the clients perceptions of his own experience in a way that make those experiences seem to support and reinforce the truth of OUR suggestions.
Powerful stuff.
What other treasured words can you think of that will also encourage the client to accept our suggestions over their own experience?
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Did You Ever Have This Dream?
In a psylocybin induced dream, I sat in a cafe, with my best friend from the other side, the place of disincarnate souls where we all live eventually or once upon a time, and he, never having incarnated, asked me incredulously why I would want to spend a lifetime with so many limitations -- limited by space and time and gender -- when, in the pace we come from everything and everyone, all of real existence, occupies the same place and moment, where nothing and nobody is ever out of reach, where the answers come with the questions, where there aren't any beginnings or ends, unless you want them, and then you get them all together. I know what I told him, but what would you say? | <urn:uuid:12be0079-47b9-4ac8-84d5-b2b17195c9bf> | http://successworkhypnosis.blogspot.com/2015/ | en | 0.97197 | 0.180427 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Old Users Guide:Radiotherapy General Concept
From Wiki OpenGATE
Revision as of 14:46, 2 October 2017 by Albertine.Dubois (Talk | contribs)
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General concept
The Radiotherapy and Dosimetry reference paper GATE V6: a major enhancement of the GATE simulation platform enabling modelling of CT and radiotherapy is available (here).
A list of radionuclides is availabe at NUCLEIDE.ORG.
The concept of Actors is very important for the simulation of radiotherapy treatments and dosimetry. Actors and Filters are tools which allow to interact with the simulation. They can collect information during the simulation, such as energy deposit, number of particles created in a given volume, etc. They can also modify the behavior of the simulation. There are different types of actors which collect different types of information, however some commands and behavior are common to all actors. To use selection criteria, it is possible to add filters.
Insert a CT image in the therapy simulation
For a realistic radiotherapy simulation, one wants to use a patient CT image as the voxelized phantom. For that, the following steps must be followed.
Step1: convert Dicom image to Analyze image file format
The VV, the 4D Slicer software can be used for this purpose. It opens the DICOM image and saves it as a header plus raw data. It can also resample the image.
Step2: define HU to materials conversion
The following macro can be used to generate Hounsfield Unit (HU) to material conversion.
/gate/HounsfieldMaterialGenerator/SetMaterialTable MaterialsTable.txt
/gate/HounsfieldMaterialGenerator/SetDensityTable DensitiesTable.txt
/gate/HounsfieldMaterialGenerator/SetDensityTolerance 0.1 g/cm3
/gate/HounsfieldMaterialGenerator/SetOutputMaterialDatabaseFilename myimage-HUmaterials.db
/gate/HounsfieldMaterialGenerator/SetOutputHUMaterialFilename myimage-HUmat.txt
Step3: insert image as a volume
/gate/world/daughters/name patient
/gate/world/daughters/insert ImageNestedParametrisedVolume
/gate/patient/geometry/SetImage myimage.hdr
/gate/geometry/setMaterialDatabase myimage-HUmaterials.db
/gate/patient/geometry/SetHUToMaterialFile myimage-HUmat.txt
/gate/patient/placement/setTranslation 0 0 0 mm
Dose distribution (Dosimetry)
GATE allows to simulate the dose distribution in a phantom during radiotherapy (therapy with photons) and hadrontherapy (therapy with hadrons : proton, Carbon...). It also allows to perform other radiation simulations such as brachytherapy, dose deposited during x-ray imaging... Figure 1 shows an example of a dose distribution map obtained after radiotherapy treatment on a phantom.
Figure 1: Dose distribution after radiotherapy treatment on a phantom.
The DoseActor is the tool that is used to store the deposited dose in a 3D matrix which size and resolution can be specified. It can also be used for 1D and 2D dose maps. It can store dose, edep or number of hits and computes associated statistical uncertainty. The DoseActor is attached to a volume which can be voxelized or not. | <urn:uuid:b22fcff9-2e6c-40ff-a959-eb90a987e13a> | http://wiki.opengatecollaboration.org/index.php?title=Old_Users_Guide:Radiotherapy_General_Concept&direction=prev&oldid=1230 | en | 0.843124 | 0.051212 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Why Men Pull AwayConversation Chemistry2nd ChanceThe Get a Great Guy GuideMake Her Crave You
Meet Your Sweet
Why Men Pull AwayConversation Chemistry
2nd Chance
The Get A Great Guy Guide
Make Her Crave You
Articles for Affiliates
Below are some articles that you can use to promote Make Her Crave You. You can post these to your website or blog, or any similar promotion method.
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Feel free to rewrite the article in your own voice, or add to it as you wish. If you'd like us to write a specific article for you, email affiliates@meetysweet.com (include information about your audience etc).
Why Men Pull Away
How Ditching The Rules Can Get You More Dates
How Ditching The Rules Can Get You More Dates
If all of the things those authors have tried in their own lives have worked for each and every one of them, why do their books cancel each other out??
There can be only so many versions of the truth out there; it can drive an average guy NUTS.
Well, this is where your INNER VOICE comes into play. It's really up to you to decide which piece of advice would work BEST with your unique circumstances.
And there are a lot of useful books out there that offer SENSIBLE, REAL-LIFE guidance on not only having an awesome love life, but a great lifestyle in general.
If you want such a guide to help you make sense of things, you should check out the definitive guide for guys:
You need to pick this up if you want to be at your best, most authentic self that the ladies will fall for.
Yet, there are a lot of so-called dating experts who are - honestly speaking, pouring POISON into the collective ear of the male population. I mean, there's just a TON of B.S. floating around on the web as well as in print media.
The stuff I'm talking about here is RULES. Strict, rigid rules that will only curse you to singlehood 'til kingdom come.
I have to tell ya, a lot of my own friends have been badly burned from following a bunch of arbitrary 'dating laws'.
What you might not know is that these rules only serve to make clueless guys even MORE narrow-minded than they were before.
I get where these rules are coming from though. With dating, so much can go wrong; believing that certain regulations within a clearly-defined system could somehow bring order to a chaotic environment.
And from a theoretical standpoint, following rules will safely keep you out of harms way (such as being rejected, getting dumped, etc.).
However, real life doesn't work like that.
Personally, I'm more of a 'go with the flow' kinda guy. I like to size up a situation and respond to it accordingly without a bunch of rules dictating my every move like I was some machine.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you can't put the world of relationships into neat little compartments as if it was a science experiment. Some people look at social dynamics in the same way as a computer program driven by inflexible rules (read: NOT true), and so they repeatedly run into DISASTER.
The thing is, a healthy, stable relationship (long-term or otherwise) isn't brought about by religiously adhering to these 'laws' like your life depended on it.
Adaptability, creativity and RESPECT towards women will give a set of dumb rules an ass-whooping any day.
Most of these 'unbreakable' rules revolve around game-playing, manipulation and utter disregard for a woman's sensibilities. Let's take a look:
• The best way to bring a woman down a couple of notches is to take a few pot shots at her ego. The more beautiful she is, the more aggressive your disguised insults need to be.
• Before you get involved with someone new, you first need to give yourself an allowance of X number of years or months after breaking up with your previous girlfriend.
• After a date, wait X number of days before calling her back.
• You'll need to approach a woman within X number of seconds of spotting her.
What a doozy huh? If I didn't know better, I'd be following these rules like crazy before I ultimately run my love life to the ground.
The people who came up with these rules are probably projecting their own experiences. Therefore, its basically made to serve their OWN needs rather than every guy out there.
Everybody's situation is different, so you can't expect to use these rules as a one-size-fits-all kind of glove for the ENTIRE dating scene. These laws won't work for every single guy in the known universe, so it's really pointless to follow them to the letter.
It's more important to have a PERSONALITY that's suited to the dating world. The truth is that you can't substitute your real self with these rules.
A personality defined by self-confidence and non-neediness will be your best guide to making the RIGHT DECISION.
Rules don't really capture the spirit of healthy dating. They MIGHT work for you this one time, but it doesn't follow that your precious rules will get you consistent results!
On the flip side, I can honestly appreciate the IDEA behind these rules, which is to prevent you from getting burned. Yet, narrowing general guidelines down to extremely specific tenets simply won't work for all situations.
For instance, pinning down the exact number of days before calling ANY woman you date is just plain silly. I mean yeah, you don't want to look super EAGER or NEEDY, but don't you think the level of attraction will VARY from girl to girl?
Maybe a certain date of yours seemed really interested to see you again, while another woman wasn't all that receptive to your advances. That simply means you can't expect to apply one rule to two different people.
Since I'm feeling like a nice guy today, I'll give you some quick pointers on the ideas BASED on the rules we talked about:
• Don't act like a woman's approval is your sole reason for living. Seeking validation from someone other than yourself is NOT attractive.
• If she catches on that you're so DESPERATE to be in a relationship, you might end up driving her away.
• Don't make a big deal out of approaching a woman. You'll be severely wrecking your chances if you hover around her, acting all jumpy and jittery.
Nonetheless, save the algorithms for other things, like rocket science. You can't possibly reduce social dynamics down to a mathematical equation.
No computer can intelligently decipher the complex patterns of human behavior ' your BRAIN is the only tool that can do that.
Sure, rules may help you out when you're new to the dating scene, but in the long run you'll need to cut the umbilical cord and come into your own. Eventually, you'll have to be someone that has a good amount of common sense and good judgment and won't need a bunch of rules to tell him what to do.
Furthermore, these rules pale in comparison to simply being a man who oozes with HIGH VALUE'instead of pretending to be one.
You can only get so far with pre-packaged templates for how to act around women. In fact, putting up an act will put you at risk of women seeing right through the smoke and mirrors (which is what the rules are all about).
Instead, you're better off cultivating a genuine personality that's consistent in word and deed. Saying one thing and doing another is NOT the way to relationship bliss.
Thus, you should be focusing on developing attraction by investing in the self-confidence that's *already* lurking within you.
And in order to pull that off, drop by and check out this course:
I highly suggest you check this out BEFORE you fall into the trap of playing deceptive mind games with your woman. This is your best bet to becoming the ideal version of yourself that'll leave the ladies swooning.
This article comes to you courtesy of www.meetysweet.com
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How To Meet Women Through Social Networks And Friends
How To Meet Women Through Social Networks And Friends
Despite what your grumpy, pessimistic inner critic is telling you, you're already a GREAT guy to begin with. But can the ladies SEE that?
This is where a lot of guys need help with. All things considered however, you're still in a good situation because it's just a matter of UNLEASHING something that's already there.
Want to know how? Check this out:
Let me ask you something: does meeting quality women on a REGULAR basis feel like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack?
If you're like most guys, you've probably gone down the beaten path known as 'Hitting The Clubs'. You know what I'm talking about: you and your buddies head to the nearest bar, have a few drinks, and wait for a group of eligible ladies to come your way.
Some seduction experts use these venues as their so-called 'training grounds' to get their pupils' feet wet. The eager hopefuls proceed to test their newly-learned skills on the unsuspecting female population.
Although this seems like a sound plan, the women at these places are already EXPECTING to be approached during the night (especially the hot ones!). Then, there's the possibility of running into a girl who happens to take pleasure in shooting down guys' ego.
If you're lucky enough to meet one of these she-devils in disguise, well'don't say I didn't warn you.
This is probably why the most obvious choice ISN'T always the most effective one.
I mean sure, approaching several strangers in one night will help you get over your fear of interaction. However, this is NOT the only way to meet women and you shouldn't limit your options to this familiar route.
I want you to step back and look at the big picture. LIFE in general is just BUZZING with opportunity.
There's more than one path to success, so you should get used to changing your sails if the prevalent winds aren't in your favor.
It may make you feel uncomfortable to try a different, unfamiliar approach to getting what you want, but this is a GOOD thing. Being uncomfortable means you're leaving your safe, secure little zone of comfort and doing something NEW.
This means you're evolving as a person, gathering valuable experience and LEARNING something new in the process.
So repeat after me: DISCOMFORT IS GOOD. THIS is the mindset you should have when getting into dating.
Maybe you're thinking ALL the hot women hang out in the same places. Well, that's a big negative.
It may come as a big surprise to you that NOT all gorgeous and brainy women (read: the ones you're after) are packed like lemmings in bars or nightclubs.
Wouldn't it be nice to meet a nice girl WITHOUT the pre-packaged pressure that comes with the usual places?
Think about it: there's already a heavy context involved with walking up to a woman in a bar. Like it or not, but a lot of movies and TV shows have caused us to permanently associate these places with picking up women.
I mean, they've practically ETCHED that notion into our collective consciousness'chances are you're already broadcasting TOO much interest before you've even opened your mouth.
Thus, I'd like to talk about the backdoor to the world of seduction. Luckily, these alternate paths to meeting women aren't some big secret. They're in plain sight and all you need is to BROADEN your perspective on things.
For instance, your FRIENDS are an often overlooked avenue to dating bliss. I'm not talking about rounding up the boys for a night out on the town, but rather your overall SOCIAL CIRCLE.
This includes, colleagues, high school/college buddies, co-workers and so on. Just think that you're smack-dab in the middle of a very LARGE web of people who in turn have 'webs' of their own.
This is a vast field of opportunities that's just waiting to be tapped. I'd bet you that a sizeable chunk of these people happen to be (or know) women who fit your preferences.
This is where the expression 'all the good women are taken' fizzles into the sweet reality of ABUNDANCE. In other words, quality women are hardly in short supply my friend.
There are a lot of advantages to be had from taking this route. First of all, your friends can provide the social proofing which you would have to build on you own in a different setting.
Having a friend to introduce you to a promising candidate is a great way to be pre-qualified without having to open your mouth! Don't get me wrong, you'll have to carry a good conversation on your own after the introduction, but at least it won't look like you're bragging when your friend is telling her good things about you.
Also, being in the company of friends greatly cuts down on the awkwardness factor. Imagine being in a relaxed setting where your end goal is to have a good time ' and not getting her phone number right there and then.
Think of it as a 'pre-first date'; you get to see how she's like in social situations, and it's much easier to ask her out later on since you have the chance to build some rapport first. Plus, you don't have to worry about keeping one person entertained the whole time either.
Most of all, you'll get to gauge the level of interest between you two ' helpful information before taking things up a notch. Sounds like a sweet deal, right?
You get to have a good time while investing in your love life at the same time. If it doesn't work out, you'll still have fun so there's NO PRESSURE to succeed right here and now.
To get into this kind of situation, you can tell your friends outright that you're on the market. Ask them to bring along any single friends of their own but it doesn't have to be a blind date.
In fact, avoid blind dates altogether because it defeats the very purpose of going out with friends (the lack of awkwardness and pressure). Instead, just ask your pals to bring along anyone to your group outings.
They may even invite you to meet someone who they think might be a good match for you (provided that it's NOT an actual date). There's no shame to be found in asking for their help; chances are they'll be more than happy to set you up.
To keep things light and fun, remind your friends not to tell those ladies that you're on the lookout. All you need is the introduction so you can take it from there.
Then, there's the added dimension of extending your circle of friends into the virtual world. I don't have to tell you that we're living in the age of the Internet because that's the very reason why you're reading this in the first place.
Therefore, there's a huge chance you and your friends (and their cute friends) are probably part of an online social network such as the insanely popular Facebook. Sites like these are an excellent place to complement your dating pursuits.
If you're already on one of these sites, check to see if your existing profile needs to be polished. This is a key component of your online efforts because your profile acts as a sort of social resume which should complement the most attractive aspects of your personality.
As a general rule of thumb, your profile should have just enough information to give everyone a hint of what a great guy you are, but not too long that it becomes boring to read.
In the description, avoid putting anything cheesy or pretentiously highfalutin. It's especially bad to make any direct or indirect references to sex because that just screams 'DESPERATE'.
The vibe a reader should get is that you're a cool guy who does and likes a lot of things. So include information about your hobbies, interests, passions or anything else that makes you a balanced and interesting kinda guy.
As for the relationship status, go with 'single and looking to date' or any similar option to that effect. You obviously don't want to keep any prospects away by choosing a status that casts doubt on your availability, such as 'it's complicated'.
Of course, any self-respecting social networking site will allow its users to post photographic evidence of their hip and happening adventures in the offline world.
Whether it's mountain biking in the great outdoors or having an awesome time with your friends, your pictures should feature you in various upbeat social situations for evident reasons. Think along the lines of parties, concerts, comic book conventions and any other events which look interesting.
Now that you've sorted out the groundwork, it's time to put yourself out there. Once your friends introduce you to someone that you find attractive, casually ask her if she's on one of those sites.
I'm betting your mutual friend has Ms. Attractive on his/her contact list anyway, so this shouldn't be a problem. After you've added her up, wait for a couple of weeks before you start interacting with her online.
For starters, make a brief but funny comment on one of her pictures or status messages. While this is subjective ground to walk on, a lot of people will have the same idea of what's annoying, creepy or stalker-ish (which is what you'll want to AVOID here). Remember, it needs to be light-hearted and casual at the beginning.
After some time, you should be able to create enough comfort to ask her out on another group outing. Take the initiative to invite her to an event that you and your mutual friends are going to.
For example, if there's a really cool band playing in the area you can tell her that she should come along because it's going to be a lot of fun. Try something like, 'Hey there, we're going to watch _________ this weekend and I thought you might want to check them out as well.'
Eventually, you'll be able to casually establish just the right amount of familiarity with your friend's friend. If you're feeling bold enough, take the chance of asking her out on an exclusive date.
Now, don't get any images of candlelit dinners or sappy stuff like that just YET. You don't want to make the transition too jarring for her, right? Start off with something as simple as asking her to come with you to check out some new releases at the record store or drop by the upcoming art exhibit at the museum.
As casual as these dates may seem, it gives you an edge because again, she's not pressured into a romantic scenario. At the same time, it gives you plenty of time to have shared experiences with her.
Who knows, one thing may lead to another in due time. If things start to develop between you two, it transpired in a totally relaxed setting.
As far as the feminine perspective is concerned, this is PERFECT. Who is she to deny fate if the lucky girl ends up being attracted you along the way?
Besides, she'd be blind not to SENSE your lingering interest behind the invitation. The cool thing about it is that you're not telegraphing your interest too LOUDLY or HASTILY.
If she does agree to go out with you, she's either on the same page as you are'or is WILLING to see what happens at the very least.
Otherwise, be cool about it and move on with your life. Whatever happens, you'll still end up with another friend in your life. Take comfort in the fact that your flourishing social network is chock-full other people you can meet.
THIS knowledge will keep you from pressuring yourself ' OR her.
Just remember that social networking sites are NOT a replacement for a healthy social life. They're only a means to meet great women in PERSON, and not merely exchanging emoticon chats or 'pokes' with them.
It may take a while for you to develop your network of online AND offline friends, but you just need to invest enough time and effort to make it WORK for YOU. Once you've reached a level where you're always going out and meeting new people, all you need to do is MAINTAIN it.
The bottom line is that it's NOT HARD at all to get your foot in the door. You just have to open your mind to the possibility that ending up with your dream girl can happen in the most casual or everyday kind of circumstances.
One last thing before I let you go - if you want to know more about projecting an alpha-male personality to your friends (and incidentally, THEIR beautiful friends), and taking your winning confidence to the next level of attraction, you should definitely take a look at 'Fireworks With Females':
This course is packed with a CRAZY amount of information designed to BLAST though the barriers keeping you from greater success with women. I suggest you check it out TODAY ' it'll go well with your social circle-expanding efforts!
This article comes to you courtesy of www.meetysweet.com
Innovative Ideas For Dates She Will Never Forget
Innovative Ideas For Dates She Will Never Forget
These often overlooked avenues are GREAT ways to smoothly transition from acquaintances to friends'
'and hopefully, into potential lovers.
However, it's cool if you're the kind of guy who likes to do cold approaches on total strangers in everyday places like bookstores, record bars, convenience stores and so on. After all, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Personally, the dating method I recommend is a gradual, multi-tiered approach. What I mean by that is I take things one step at a time, continuously gauging and ESCALATING a woman's interest little by little.
You see, a successful pursuit is the result of mastering the COURTSHIP PROCESS whose length depends upon a given woman's disposition. If you plan your dates around this basic context, it won't be long until she'll be chasing after you like a lovesick puppy.
So let me break down the dating structure I've successfully adapted over the years. Initially, you'll need to know her better in a one-on-one environment before taking things up a notch.
That's why your first date with her should be a RELAXED social affair. There shouldn't be any pressure at all at this point (although a little sexual tension is fine and even expected), so keep things light and FUN.
You know the typical scene in a TV show where the leading lady is flustered over what to wear on the first date? Don't put your woman in this predicament.
This clich' has been done to death and you should be SHAKING THINGS UP with her. If you want to break the mold, you're going to have to skip the typical romantic date routine and be INNOVATIVE.
How do you do this? Simple ' instead of asking your lady out to an expensive restaurant, meet up with her at a casual public place like a coffee shop or a juice bar.
This is an excellent way to minimize the natural jitters that come with a first date (for BOTH you and her). While you'll NEVER really get rid of all those fluttering butterflies, you'll have an easier time focusing on HER and have a good time all around.
After all, the point of going on a date is to ENJOY her company, and not treat it like it was a job interview where you have to prove yourself to her. Don't fall into that NEEDY mindset.
Furthermore, innovative first dates like these happen to be VERY budget-friendly. NOT that I'm saying you should be a cheapskate, but splurging right at the beginning screws up the courtship process.
This isn't about doing the 'pulling-out-all-the-stops' kind of stuff, but rather doing them at the RIGHT TIME. In her mind, these things will have way more impact and value if they're given as a reward rather than something that doesn't need to be earned.
Besides, romance has a much easier time to blossom when you're not projecting any expectations.
(I'm not saying though that it's not possible for the sparks to fly so early on')
In case that it does, your lucky date will feel like it's the most NATURAL thing in the world because she wasn't FORCED into it.
With that said however, going on a low-pressure date doesn't mean you shouldn't plant subtle hints of romance in her head.
But we'll save that for later ' right now, let's talk about setting up the first date.
I'm assuming at this point that you've already made initial contact with her (either through your friends or on your own) and have obtained that ever-important phone number.
If at all possible, call her at HOME so she'll have a better chance of writing down the details. Emails as well as voice and text messages are at risk of being accidentally deleted or overlooked. Even calling her mobile isn't a good idea because she may be distracted or won't have anything to write with.
If there's one thing you should know about inviting her, it's the importance of having a DEFINITE PLAN with specific details (i.e. the time and place where YOU want to meet). The worst way to do this is blurt something out like, 'Hey there, remember me? Why don't we grab a bite at any place you want'any time is good for me too''
Remember, women appreciate a guy with a firm masculine essence. If you're gonna call her up and sound unsure, it's a HUGE giveaway that you're not really in control of your life.
Is she prejudging you? You better believe it. Don't tell me that your own brain isn't running in the background when you're checking out potential women to approach.
That's just the female mind at work, brother ' sometimes, it's better to go with the flow than against it.
As much as you can, suggest a place you're already familiar with so you have the homecourt advantage. Like I said, you might feel antsy anyway, so you might as well pick a comfortable spot.
It's only natural for anyone to have a sense of uneasiness when they're on unfamiliar ground. Keep this at bay by inviting your girl somewhere you'd feel at home.
Keep in mind that your time and venue should be at a place convenient not just for her, but for you as well. It's ok to be reasonably flexible about setting up a date - but not to the point where you have to travel half across town or cancel other important appointments just for her.
Once you've agreed to a date, it's time to run you through the basics. As mentioned earlier, you're going to have to get a head start on creating romantic thoughts swirling in that brain of hers.
The cool thing about the 'casual' first date is that you can totally accomplish the said objective under the radar. In such a relaxed context, she won't know what hit her!
So how do you create this effect? Well, it's done through the little things.
When I say 'little', I'm referring to fleeting little indications that you're into her. You don't want to push her away by telegraphing TOO much interest early on, so you can do it in smaller, bite-sized chunks of subtlety.
When it comes to conversation, a woman will want to experience positive feelings while she's talking to you. Making her feel good during a conversation is essential to generating major attraction.
The feminine essence is all about emotions; if you can trigger the right ones within your date, she'll pin them on you. Play your cards right, and she'll inexplicably be feeling very good the next time she thinks about you.
A good way of doing this is by telling her about the time you got into a funny situation but came out of it OK. The point here is to give her an idea that you're a relatively optimistic guy who can keep his cool and take the bad stuff in stride.
Her subconscious needs some assurance that you can handle life's curveballs because you'll eventually have to protect her from the same stuff later on. It's simply her feminine side seeking the rock-steadiness of your masculinity.
So obviously you should skip any subjects that could bring down the good vibe. Conversation no-no's include ex-partners, political affairs, anything related to bodily functions (not even as a joke), violence and any other negative stuff that will turn her off.
(This also lays down the foundations for the latter stages of courtship, but anyway')
Let me give you an example: 'You know, I think it's weird in a cool way when two people just connect and sort of fall into their own little world. I mean, one minute you're baring your souls to each other and then it's back to reality the next. The transition can be jarring but exciting at the same time. Have you ever felt like that?'
Good conversationalists make it a point to look into the other person's eyes while she's talking. It's OK for your gaze to be elsewhere as you're talking (while occasionally looking at her), but look into her eyes with a reassuring smile when it's her turn to speak.
Trust me - your undivided attention is one of the most powerful tools to win her over. While you're at it, don't be stingy with the compliments. LISTEN to what she has to say so you can appropriately praise something important to her.
When she says, 'I'm more comfortable doing freelance work than being in an office all day', you say 'That's cool, I've always admired women who can earn their keep on their OWN terms rather than marching to someone else's beat.'
While the rest of the guys out there are giving compliments about her looks, throw her off by praising something OTHER than her body. She'll appreciate you for it.
Remember, the general goal is to establish yourself as the guy that'll make her think 'Hmm, this guy seems interesting ' let's see what happens''
You don't have to make her fall in love with you on the spot'you just have to lead her in that direction.
The things that we've talked about so far are meant to arouse this curiosity ' not to mention keep you FAR away from the 'friends zone'.
Lastly, you'll want to keep the time on your first date to a maximum of one hour so you can wrap things up while the getting's good. It may sound counter-intuitive to leave when the chemistry is at its peak, but think about the benefits of ending on a good note.
Try telling her, 'Oh man, I d really like to stay longer, but I have an appointment to go to'maybe we can get together next week?' When you introduce a time constraint, she'll savor your moments together and will actually be SAD to see you go.
When you call up your girl to ask her out, make sure you give her the impression that you have somewhere else to go after the date. This way, she won't have to worry about things dragging on in case (heaven forbid) that the date doesn't go too well.
(No pressure, remember?)
Just to remind you of course, that you have every intention to have a good time with her. You're only putting a time limit on the date so she'll WANT to see you after it ends.
I've advised a lot of my friends to go with this general dating plan and they've yielded very favorable results.
(The occasional flaky chick notwithstanding, of course ' hey, life's funny like that sometimes!)
Speaking of great results, remember that this is only the opening act. Once you've had a good feel of her personality and the things that she likes, you'll be able to zero in on what you can do the next time around.
Perhaps she needs a couple more of these quick coffee shop dates to really set the stage, but eventually you'll have enough leverage to take things more seriously.
Once you're ready to go to the next level, up the ante by putting together a bunch of activities you can do in the span of a day (as opposed to just an hour). Your previous dates should give you the 'intelligence' to help figure out what things you can do on your next 'assignment'.
Whatever you have planned, your follow-up dates should allow you both plenty of time to chill out and bond throughout the day. If you plan things correctly, you'd be surprised how long even ONE day will seem to her.
Create enough noteworthy experiences in her mind, and she'll carry those memories for a long time to come.
Having said that, do your homework and have a backup plan ready to prevent any unforeseen factors from raining on your parade. And if your date doesn't exactly go according to plan, don't flip out.
It's not cool to blow a gasket in front of her because she'll be looking to you for direction and initiative. If you blow it off like it's no big deal, then she'll follow suit.
This book is your direct link to the masters of seduction because they've put down the techniques and attitudes they've used in their own romantic pursuits.
As a bunch of wise men once said, 'You wanted the best, you've got the best!'
This article comes to you courtesy of www.meetysweet.com
Tips For Getting And Keeping The Body Women Love
Tips For Getting And Keeping The Body Women Love
FACT: your BODY is an ESSENTIAL part of being attractive to women.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about this matter. There's no getting around to maintaining a great body that'll keep women interested in you.
But before you start panicking, let me just say that it's NOT what you think.
Maybe you're already spiraling into a heap of self-pity at the thought of perfectly sculpted male models flaunting their brawn in magazines. Perhaps seeing those flawless celebrities on TV with screaming women in the background will lead you to think that you can't possibly measure up to them.
Perhaps you want to scream, 'Crikey, hot women will ONLY go for men like THOSE'how could *I* ever hope to date chicks of that caliber?!'
Well my friend, I want you to gather all those pre-conceived notions you have about physical looks and take a sledgehammer to them.
It's all part of reprogramming your ideas about seduction and attraction, which begins with Meet Your Sweet's groundbreaking book for men:
Got it? OK'
So: if you believe that you have to look like those guys in order to be outrageously attractive, you're dead wrong. Look at the world around you and you'll know I'm right.
Take a stroll around the shopping mall, a park or any other populated area. You'll find average-looking guys who DON'T look like an actor are holding hands with the hottest babes in the vicinity.
I'm talking about the men who make you think 'HOW in the hell did she end up with HIM?'
Are you going to tell me that those men are just a fluke? Are you going to deny the fact that they simply know something that you DON'T?
Take the shutters off your eyes and realize that you too can pull this off! If a regular guy (on the outside at least) can date beautiful women, you can surely do the SAME.
The good news is that your less-than-perfect body is VERY much capable of attracting hordes of gorgeous women.
Even rock stars who dress like they crawled out of a dumpster are able to draw women like moths to a flame. Well, maybe they're a freak exception because of the baked-in charm that comes with being in a band.
Those guys live on another plane of reality, so the non-rock star demographic can still score big with the beautiful and brainy ladies.
First of all, you need to wrap your mind around this basic truth: the ability to attract women NEVER comes from an outside factor. It's already within you, and all you need is to get accustomed to using these inner traits.
Thus, you need to STOP comparing yourself to other men. Doing so is the path to madness.
OF COURSE there's going to be someone who's thinner, brawnier, richer, taller, or stronger than you.
BUT does that have anything to do with your own attractiveness? Does the existence of 'better' men statistically reduce your chances to have a sizeable piece of the action?
That's a big 'N' to the 'O'. There are literally millions of women out there, and at least a handful of them will find you attractive.
Yes, YOU. They can AND will see you in an attractive light if you unlearn whatever standards of physical beauty you've been made to believe in.
Don't fret about losing ALL the good women to other guys; there's plenty enough to go around for everyone.
The problem with us guys is that we're primarily into the visual aspect of attraction when it comes to selecting a partner. Before a man finds a girl attractive, she's gonna have to fit into his particular set of criteria.
This is why some men automatically ASSUME that women think the same way.
REALITY CHECK: NOT all women need their man to have impossibly good looks to feel attracted to them.
Look, I'm not saying that better-looking guys don't have an advantage. But what I am saying is that YOU don't need those things to attract women yourself.
And I'm not trying to contradict myself by saying that looks ARE important. It's just that it's not important in the way you might THINK it is.
Let me re-frame your concept of looking good. Physical attributes matter in a 'I-look-after-myself-and-care-about-being-a-clean-presentable-man-who-is-serious 'about-meeting-women' kind of way.
In other words, it's more of showing everyone that you have the HABIT of looking the very best you can.
Even a naturally handsome guy would horribly lower his chances if he let himself go. You know: not taking a shower, not shaving, letting his fingernails grow disgustingly long, and so on.
Basically, you're gonna have to be at your physical best, regardless of the mug you were born with. NO ONE is exempt from this ' well, at least those who want to meet and date women.
Let's get the matter of fitness out of the way. Even guys who are overweight can get beautiful women, but you'll have an easier time if you have a relatively proportional body.
Besides, ANY guy will stand to benefit from working out on a regular basis. But it doesn't have to be like the inhumanly merciless exercise program that the cast from '300' had to go through.
You don't need a six pack, nor are you going to war with the Persian army.
All you need to do is come up with a reasonable schedule (like 2-3 times weekly) for cardiovascular activity. Don't let the age-old 'I don't have time' excuse get in the way.
Even if you weren't trying to attract women, working out regularly has been clinically proven to greatly reduce the risk of getting all those life-threatening problems you always hear about.
Not to sound preachy, but if you're not going to do it for the ladies, at least do it for your own well-being. Any guy who stuck to a fixed workout schedule is bound to lose a few pounds at the very least!
Just as a warning, don't try one of those fancy-schmancy diets you might have heard about. It's not a good idea to shock your system by radically changing your eating habits.
You're better off consulting with a licensed dietician, nutritionist or physician for sound and realistic advice on eating healthy. You could probably stick to working out, but improving your diet (read: not starving yourself) is going to give you quicker results.
Ok, now we move on to DETAILS. Women love a guy who pays attention to details, so I'll give you a quick walkthough on this matter.
Let's talk about HAIR. Get a reputable stylist to sit you down and figure out which style TRULY matches your facial features and the general shape of your head.
For instance, guys who are balding should just go all the way and shave their thinning dome. Don't let errant, lingering, hairs dampen your sex appeal (think about Bill Murray's character from the movie 'Kingpin'!).
Beards and other forms of facial hair are fine as long as they're trimmed and properly kept under control. Unless you're only interested in fans of 'Lord of The Rings', don't think that sporting a Gandalf beard is going to improve your chances.
The same goes for hair from the chest downwards. Modern technology has made it easier for guys to trim these areas, so invest in an electric razor or any other method that will help you in this regard.
Would you want your date to neglect her nether regions as well? Didn't think so. Be a pal and return the favor.
Additionally, watch out for any stay hairs coming out of your ears or nostrils. Clippers and tweezers don't cost much, so pick one and get to work.
Your finger and toenails need to be short and free of any grime underneath. If you have the budget for it, go to a men's salon because they often include a foot scrubbing service along with the package. Otherwise, a pair of clippers isn't going to break the bank.
Crooked or yellowish teeth need to be treated as well. Check with a specialist on which option will work for your budget. There are plenty of options out there, such as kits you can use at home, or setting an appointment with a qualified dentist.
Trust me, a polished smile is eye candy to women and they'll definitely NOTICE it. So make the effort to do something about this matter.
Clothes are a bit of a tricky subject because everyone has different ideas about fashion. On a basic level however, your appearance must tell women that you took the time to look good by choosing threads that work best on your frame.
(Again, NOT about physical perfection')
Generally, clothes with holes and torn seams are a no-no. Shirts and pants that are old and worn out give the impression that you're immature and don't care about looking nice for the ladies.
When it comes to picking out stuff that'll look good on you, ask your friends and sales staff to help you make a decision. Sometimes it takes another pair of eyes to REALLY figure out the exact kind of clothes that suit your specific body type.
While your socks, shoes, belts, and wallet need to look crisp and neat (no scuffs or other battle damage please), they don't exactly have to cost you a pretty penny outright.
Plenty of quality stuff is on sale in most shopping malls, so start looking there. There's always a good bargain to be found if you take the time to look!
Lastly, don't overstuff your pocket. Try not to put anything in there except for your wallet, cellphone and car keys. The less bulkier your pockets are, the sharper you look.
And that about does it. Remember, setting aside enough time for these things will benefit you greatly because it will manifest in how you look.
Women will see AND appreciate the effort you've gone through. If we're defined by what we do repeatedly, then imagine what a habit of good style and grooming can do for you.
They don't even have to say it ' you'll find that they'll naturally be more open to chatting with you and you'll have an easier time approaching them.
Furthermore, knowing that you're at your best will greatly BOOST your self-confidence.
I mean, wouldn't you feel more RELAXED and LESS ANXIOUS because you're aware of how well-put together you are?
In case anyone hasn't told you, it's this exact kind of attitude that makes you more eye-catching to women.
Neglecting your looks will make you tense and even apologetic for the very space you're occupying. That's not a very attractive vibe to give off, now is it?
If you really want to seal the deal however, might I recommend an excellent book to bring out your seduction skills and self-confidence to the fullest:
This empowering guide is a must-have for any guy who wants to be THE MAN when it comes to dating. The cool thing about it is that it'll also improve the other areas in your life.
After all, having a confident personality will help you succeed in ALL of your pursuits, whether it's your career or a relationship.
This article comes to you courtesy of www.meetysweet.com
Using Romance To Get A Woman's Attention
Using Romance To Get A Woman's Attention
NOTE: There's no manual to achieving a happening love life ' well, until now at least. What if I told you that you could have this PLUS a kick-ass life in general?
The answer to your prayers is right here:
Now I want to rearrange whatever concept you may have about ROMANCE. I think that a lot of men are blowing their attempts to win over a girl because of the misconceptions they have about this matter.
Why? Simple'she's cornered, pressured and rushed into feeling things that are forced upon her'
'INSTEAD of being made to experience these intended emotions on her own.
The key to this is in optimizing your overall attitude and mindset for romantic awesomeness. Being romantic is not just some mask you can put on and off when needed.
It's a genuine part of your personality that is present in the different situations you'll get into with her. Whether you're approaching her for the first time or out on the hundredth date with your girl, romance should be ingrained throughout.
But what does being romantic TRULY mean? Right from the get-go, she needs to feel your ATTRACTION for her.
Otherwise, you're at risk of being thrown in with the rest of the other guys who've been banished to the PLATONIC FRIENDS zone. Trust me, getting out of the Bermuda Triangle will seem easier by comparison.
Since you want to make it known that you're into her and that she's hijacked your brain, does that mean you have to be crass, vulgar or PUSHY about it? Of course not.
Romance is a matter of ESCALATION. Start off with ambiguous hints about your true feelings until such a time that you can build enough familiarity and comfort to take things further.
As the saying (appropriately) goes, you get the chick by hatching the egg ' and NOT by smashing it. Going the traditional route of overkill on the first date is a prime example of 'smashing the egg'.
Baby steps never hurt anyone AS LONG as you're consistent with your efforts to turn up the heat'
'and NOT giving the connection a chance to fade away.
A skilled blacksmith knows he can't hope to make something worthwhile if you strike the iron long after it's cooled down!
Just make sure it's not the self-depreciating kind of humor because it's not a good thing for her to laugh (too much) at you. Sure, it's fine to make fun of something funny that may have happened to you in the past, but don't make jokes about 'what a loser you are' (or anything else to that effect) ' she just might believe you!
Learn how to push the boundaries just a little bit. You can do this by teasing her, making fun of her, and giving her 'a hard time' in a funny and sweet way.
Many women appreciate it when a guy pokes lighthearted (read: NOT mean-spirited) fun at them. When he's not afraid to test the waters, it says a lot about his self-confidence.
Don't be afraid to discuss sexual matters as long as it's within good taste and in the right context. Of course, you'll want to handle this with a bit of caution.
Just keep in mind not to be graphic and don't flinch or look uneasy when you do talk about it. The point is to let her know that the topic doesn't terrify you.
Besides, this is all part of building up the tension to a nice, simmering boil. This is where the term 'slow burn' takes on a positive meaning.
Talk about emotions. Women have a natural affinity for expressing and discussing their feelings, whether it's joy, sadness etc. Use this to your advantage by getting her to talk about her ROMANTIC feelings.
This is a great way for her to associate you with the emotions you want her to feel. When she thinks of you, you can bet that it'll be in a romantic light.
Find a reason to touch her. Again, this must be done in good taste especially if you're just getting to know her. By this I mean touching only non-erogenous zones that won't get you in hot water.
For instance, guide her with your hand on the small of her back (but no lower than that) if she's going to sit down. Also, touch her hand (just) a FEW times when you're stressing a particular point during a conversation.
The idea here is to get her used to physical contact with you because building COMFORT is the key to romance. A line from the movie 'Pulp Fiction' says it all:
'This sensual thing's goin' on that nobody's talkin about, but YOU know it and SHE knows it''
Ain't that the truth! Just because you're touching her somewhere perfectly neutral doesn't mean it won't reverberate deep in her subconscious.
There's certainly nothing wrong with a healthy dose of ambiguity. In a woman's mind, red-hot attraction begins with thoughts along the lines of 'IS he or isn't he into me??'
While the cheesy notion of romance is out, chivalry is still in style. Make it a point to open the door for her, whether she's getting in and out of the car, or going in a restaurant (hopefully not the kind that costs and arm and a leg, but anyway').
Order for the both of you by recommending a dish or drink that you think will suit her taste. Don't make a big deal if she prefers something else; let her order what she does want, but do take the initiative to make a decision (in a non-pushy way of course).
There's a little caveat to all of this though: your gestures should match the level of interest between you two. If you're on the second date, it's a good idea to hold a bit back on the mushy stuff. TEASING is more appropriate than going all out with the romance.
If you're already sleeping together, then it's pretty safe to say that you can go for the bigger measures of romance. You've already reached a significant milestone so your girl now has greater access to your soft side (as compared to when you just met).
(Of course, you're NOT going to tell her you can't do stuff for her because she doesn't deserve it yet'unless you want to end up single real quick. Just give out the necessary amount of affection depending on the time!)
In general, you'll want to make her feel SPECIAL in a way that's appropriate to the current state of things between you two. It does take a bit of an eye to spot these subtle differences, but in time you'll develop a sixth sense about these things.
If you want to accelerate the learning process however, here's the quickest way to MASTERING the fundamentals of sure-fire seduction and really get the fireworks firing:
With practice makes perfect.
This article comes to you courtesy of www.meetysweet.com
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Early changes of dental fricatives: English and Frisian compared
Research output: Contribution to journalArticle
Dental fricatives [θ ð] develop along similar lines in English and Frisian throughout
most of the Middle Ages. The consonants were retained in about equal measure, but
alterations occurred when next to other consonants. A way of explaining the changes
in both languages is by invoking complexity of articulation, a notion that finds empirical support. The parallel developments of English and Frisian undermine the idea that Old English evolved differently from other Old Germanic languages during its earliest stages. However, from the late fourteenth century, Frisian took on a different trajectory of change due to new social circumstances connected with increased language contact and bilingualism, especially with Dutch and Low German.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)243-265
Number of pages23
JournalAmsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik
Issue number1-2
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Early changes of dental fricatives: English and Frisian compared'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
• Cite this | <urn:uuid:a7647c28-7d3a-4000-b997-86359ca2ee3c> | https://kyushu-u.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/early-changes-of-dental-fricatives-english-and-frisian-compared | en | 0.896857 | 0.029742 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
In 1899 Liepāja became the first city in the Baltics with an electric tram line which was the most modern mode of transportation at the time.
There is currently one 15 km long tram line in the city, its tracks meandering through most of the city. The 30-minute trip from one end to the other allows you to see not only the centre, but also residential and industrial areas of the city. Remember to get off the tram at the last stop and purchase a new ticket before heading back!
By booking in advance, it is possible to take the tram with a guide who will tell you about the city.
A certain part of Liepāja’s history can still be enjoyed by taking a ride on one of the current trams while the tram tracks are still being reconstructed and the new low-floor trams have not yet been purchased. | <urn:uuid:86e7efca-51f4-4913-8b64-7122bc49fcb7> | https://liepaja.travel/en/see-and-do/liepaja-tram/ | en | 0.90806 | 0.090453 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
January '20
Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1195953
Contents of this Issue
Page 30 of 172
28 • RV PRO • January 2020 rv-pro.com RV O R I G I N A L E Q U I P M E N T antennas: indoors and outdoors, and two basic types of antennas: omni-direction and directional," Sampson says. He says the company's Paper-Thin antenna models are popular with RVers who don't want their antenna to take up much space. "They're very popular in the RV and trucking industries because it's as simple as using the included suction cups or sticky strips to attach the antenna to a window when the RV is parked," he says. "It offers 360-degree reception within 15 to 35 miles of towers, depending on the model. You don't have to do any drilling or installation (in the RV). You just connect it to the TV and then you can put it on a wall or window around the camper." Indoor models include omni-directional (meaning all direc- tions) and directional, both of which take up minimal space inside RVs. All campers must do is search for local towers, point their antenna that direction (if directional) and run a scan on the TV. A directional antenna has the benefit up picking up towers farther and with stronger signals than omni-directional, but it must be pointed in the direction of the tower(s). Omni-direc- tional antennas will pick up towers in any direction, but don't have as far of a range. "Many campers prefer our UFO models, as I call them, antennas because they don't have to do much, other than get near to the tower(s)," Sampson says. "If they want to reach towers 70 miles away, they would have to get one of our directional antennas and point it in that general direction." The Big Boy antennas are larger models (as evidenced by the name), and they have a general range of 70 to 85 miles, with a 120-degree reception range or spread from the front of the antenna. "I think there is an application for all of them," Sampson says of the company's antennas. "If you live where you have towers all around you, omni-directional is great. Especially if you are in an RV someplace where there are towers about every 50 to 80 miles. Just park your RV within range of the towers and something like the UFO model would get great reception. If you're not regularly within 15 to 35 miles or able to get closer to the towers, you might want to park and raise the Big Boy antenna. Some RVs have a mechanical arm that lifts the antenna up. "We have a lot of customers with toy haulers going out to places like empty riverbeds and dunes to take their buggy that love still being able to get a signal from 75 miles away," Sampson adds. Antop has developed its own technology, like the Smart-Pass technology, which allows a customer to decide whether their antenna is in "amplified" or "passive" mode. If an RV doesn't have Antop manufacturers both indoor and outdoor antennas and two basic types of antennas: omni- directional and directional. Pictured above left is an omni-directional antenna, meaning it will pick up signals from towers in any direction, but doesn't have as far of a range as a directional antenna. Also pictured is a signal booster, which can assist with digital TV reception.
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Obama To Rolling Stone: We’re Not Going To Legalize Weed Anytime Soon
From Politico:
124 thoughts
1. It doesn’t matter that he can’t change it alone…no shit, thats not the point..don’t let him distract you with that. If he was a real man and a patriot he would say what he feels. All we’re asking is for a debate, just admit you know it should be legal..thats it, then you have your opinion..and as a leader of our country some people will take that opinion seriously and do some research..then they realize the law is flawed and wrong.
2. When will you ppl realize its US against THEM? Republicans arent going to fix it, nor are Democrats, or liberals or conservatives or any flavor above. Its all divide and conquer and this thread is proof of it. We ALL agree we would like some legalization of marijuana yet we continue to disagree as to who did what and what someone has done or not done to make it happen.. So, divided we FALL. Both parties have been in office at one point or another and neither has done diddly to advance what WE THE PEOPLE have clearly stated and the STATS show that even those who are not advocates, agree it makes NO sense to put someone in jail at an average cost of $40-60grand a YEAR for simple possesion or even dealing in small amounts. This being the case, we have to take from each lemon (government official) we squeeze what we can and continue to take babysteps forward if need be. I also am dissappointed in Obama and the ONLY reason I voted for him was because I thought, just maybe this black man will do something different then the many wealthy white men ahead of him did and make a stand. Well, I didnt count on him being so concieted and thinking he was the golden child and could make both parties play nice when he had the house and senate in his hands. Now that he doesnt, NOTHING is getting done, accept they are still collecting their checks, still getting cost of living increases and low and behold even were able to be friends long enough to pass a law that THIER kids do not have to pay back their student loans even! Wake up and smell the coffee ppl. Get out and VOTE for those who have the courage to say, ON THE RECORD that they oppose criminal consequences and ON THE RECORD that they dont actually agree with it, but, jailing ppl for it makes no COMMOM SENSE. When you sit here and birate ONE GUY and think he is the cause of all this and not the system thats broke (on purpose) then you show your ignorance and they have won.. again. BTW. I am long term pain management, am prescribed 120mg of methadone/day and 40mg of Hydrocodone and yet just recently my doctor who IS not against my self medicating with marijuana as it hasnt proven to be a problem in the 7yrs he has treated me, was just sent a letter by my comp carrier asking that I be urine tested. Since I have always been honest with MY doc, I told him it was a setup and he was naive and told me they were just looking for coke or heroin. I agreed to take it for HIM and that I would test pos for MJ. Well, I did, and next thing he knows, the Ins Carrier is pressing him on what he plans to do about my ILLEGAL use and poppin off article such and such of the National Pain Management guidelines and in short threatening his license if he doesnt take appropriate action. I am on day 14 of being “clean” so in another 30 days I can give him a “clean” test that shows ONLY my current hard core prescribed drugs. So, this while thing is near and dear to my heart. I have 2 kids in college another teen on the honor roll, been married for coming up on 30 yrs. Refused full disability and retrained for computers so I could show my kids I didnt need a hand out until I could REALLY no longer make a living. I do work for police depts, banks and lawfirms and have many good clients who work with me and my bad days.. Yet here I am, having to take a month off because without my little bit of smoke to help with nausia and deep nerve pain, I cant get it together enough to do much of anything.. so, please, if you can offer any info or GOOD advise, I would appreciate it. The only reason the Ins carrier did this, and by the way this is the second time, the first they were successful in getting me expelled from a diff doctor I was otherwise good with, is so they dont have to pay the small bill I cost them each month. I dont do a ton of doctors. Just the one I need to carry on with life, pain management. Once again.. its US vs THEM.. and anything other then that is but a diversion of whats important and does more harm to the cause then good. Keep it focused ppl and have a great day!
3. While Congress does need to get involved to “free the plant” and it’s users legislatively, the combined DEA / IRS raids that have occurred under Obama can be changed administratively. All Obama needs to do is to command, by Executive Order, that the DHHS & DEA follow 2 separate DEA Administrative Law judicial decisions that would shift cannabis (the plant) into the same or lessor CSA Schedule classification that Big Pharma has been granted for their synthetic THC “products” to provide relief for medical marijuana patients.
But for Obama to do that, he would have to be willing to surrender a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the Medical Industrial Complex and the Prison Industrial Complex. He would also be signaling to the Bankster Cabal that their free ride with laundering $100’s Billions of drug cartel profits per year. Obama is an authoritarian who is always trying to grab more Executive power, not yield any of that power back to We the People.
Obama needs to go — either by impeachment or by defeat at the ballot box. So does every Congressman and Congresswoman, Democrat or Republican, that continues to support cannabis prohibition AND the police state. They have all violated their oaths of office, willfully and repeatedly.
4. Shouldn’t be a legal anyways since Religions are Invovled. Its Freedom of Religion Right.And Technichally What does the Constitution say if the goverment commits treason
5. I think we all know that President Obama can’t, by himself, make marijuana legal. He could use his power to get the ball rolling in the correct direction. I am disgusted by his stance on this subject and feel betrayed; as I’m sure many millions of us that voted for him feel.
It is truly sad that the Republican party is just as bad or worse regarding ending this idiotic prohibition.
As I approach age 60, my hope for ever seeing justice and real freedom in America during my life is rapidly dwindling…
Amen.. I couldnt have said it better. THAT is where the focus needs to be placed and in a unified way. Ousting JUST Obama wont do a thing. Romney will be no better and may not even concede the VERY little Obama has been FORCED to. The problem goes further then party lines and even beyond marijuana reform for that matter. The Police State that is happening on an alarming incline is what should scare the bejesus out of you and at some point we may loose the abilities we NOW have to unite and move forward on the issues. btw, sorry to have babbled on about my own problems, I just wanted people to know how to the heart this entire thing goes and give some perspective that there are some of us who’s quality of life and our families are truly at stake and its not just a matter of tokin up here.
7. The Supreme court wrote that, ‘the federal government is currently blind to the wisdom of medical marijuana, but this may change sooner than later’.
I take this as admission the supreme court *does see the wisdom* of medical marijuana and just wanted to pretend they don’t have the authority to send the law back to congress and have them fix it now. Failing that, declare it null and void.
Earn your money folks. Pretending marijuana isn’t important is a pipe dream. Do your jobs and provide for the people.
8. VOTE RON PAUL!!! When are you guys going to get it???? The only way he doesn’t get elected is IF YOU DO NOT VOTE FOR HIM! He is the only candidate you are likely to see in your lifetime that has stated plainly and clearly that THE DRUG WAR has to end, and that he would do everything in his power to end the federal war on drugs. Obama has shown that he wants to, and WILL CONTINUE to prohibit the American people from smoking Cannabis! The president has far more jurisdiction over drug policy than he would have you believe.
If you really do want to end the war on drugs, you need to do everything possible to help Ron Paul get elected!
Ps. If you want to understand where he really stands on the issue, and would like to know everything he has had to say about it, go to Youtube and watch a few of the videos people have put out. Many have Ron Paul speeches and interviews that will eliminate any doubts you may have about him, or his policies.
9. Why not? Those are poor excauses and just a waste of time and money. then again tha’s the goverment, a waste of time. If you good make money of something and great jobs won’t you?
10. There’s no way he will work towards legalizing it during an election year. It can make him seem vulnerable toward mid-right leaning voters. I think there just MAYBE a chance that after the election is over, he will ease up on the federal crackdowns or maybe even use executive power to move it down to schedule II. Even if he doesn’t we really don’t have a choice, because what do you think Romney will do? According to him drug dealers are “Narco-Terrorists” and he may use the same rules for weed dealers and possibly users as he would for Al Qaeda and lock them up indefinitely without a trial. We can’t vote our way of this either. It has to be beaten like the Alcohol prohibition was by mass civil disobedience.
11. Obama doesn’t care who’s live are ruin because they smoke a little weed. This great Nation would be out of Debt in a few years as long as our government don’t send our tax money to other Countries or for Illegalls. Now they go after Richard Lee in Oakland, CA who has done wonders for the City of Oakland. Wow!! Eric Holder, what a joke..if he worked for any company he would have been FIRED long ago. They don’t want to go after the real Threat. The Mexican Cartels or other illegal drugs. Why buy it from people that you don’t know where it is grown or packaged from the black market and keep them rich. Stay away from the synthetic pot products, too many people having bad experience. The Cannabis that is grown in Harborside is safe. Great organization, keep it going Steve.We the people need to end the Drug War. We vote the People in Office…there is over 75% of Americans that would want Cannabis legal for the people who are in PAIN & Suffering & then there’s Hemp that we can make rope,lamp oil, cloth to make clothes. There is so much farmers can do with HEMP. I don’t understand our Government the Money that could be Made with Hemp. George Washington, our First President grew it on his plantation. Why are w letting Canada grow Hemp and not us? We could have so many Jobs behind this. If we the Peolpe want to stand up for something, this should be One…plus drill in our own Country. We have so any resources here in America & our Big Gov’t is keeping this from us. I think they want us poor so we have to depend on them like Russia & China. I say HELL NO!! They want us hooked on those big pharm drugs like Oxycontin, Percocet, & other hard narcotics that will kill your kidneys & liver over time. I would rather smoke or eat cannabis for my pain then to have to fill my liver & kidneys with all those hard pain medications. We need to keep Cannabis users out of Prison. That is no place for people who just smoke the weed. Ty
12. Pres Obama can change weed from a schedule 5 drug to a schedule 2 drug without congress. That will give the states the right to allow and control it.
13. We’re not going to see marijuana legalized in the US in our lifetime. Just look at the war FDA is currently waging with tobacco now that it falls under their oversight. No new tobacco products have been introduced on the market in the last 3 years b/c other than whats currently on the market, everything else requires FDA approval first now. And guess who sits in control of the Centre for Tobacco Control at FDA…a bunch of anti-tobacco public health figures. So what makes any of you think that marijuana is going to get legalized?
The only thing prohibition successfully
15. What does he mean he can’t change the law? He has told the Border Patrol to stop deporting illegal immigrants. THAT is in direct violation of a federal law
He hides Holder behind the vail of “privilaged information”.
Obama is breaking one law after another. If he wants to do something that is against an existing law, he just uses his executive privilage to shape the law to suit him.
Washington DC, a few blocks from Pennsylvania Ave., is opening medical marijuana dispensaries. Why are they so different than the rest of the country?
16. If canabus could just be legalized there wouldn’t be all this money going out on trying to catch people and arrest them for having it and they could tax it and there would be so much more money put into the government ….. I mean it’s legal in Washington d.c !!!and colorado already for recreational use I mean really come on now people its just a natural plant nothing but mother natures gift to us ….
17. U never hear of people getting high and fighting, killing, or causing any kind of bad behavior like people do on alcohol . I think it’s way safer .
18. look the govt is messed up any ways look at tis how they gettin payed $250000 a year for wat sayin no to tis an that. wat has the govt done good latley ill wait for a answer????? nothin at all. we have no jobs like our parents an grandparents had they graduated highschool mgo work some where for 20 years an retire. we dont have that privalage best job now a days is walmart haha. just legalizing weed would create jobs revenue and who knows wat else. just like tis bamboo is a resource that grows back within 7years it takes a tree double that if not longer. bamboo is stronger than wood so why not use bamboo ill tell u why the govt’s wallet is backed by timber companies an oil companies until shit changes up at the top nothing will get better. the richer get richer while the poorer get poorer. i know there is a bunch of garbage surronding the legalization of weed they (govt) saywell the mexican cartel will attack an we will have problems like the people in california. the reason people r dying over weed out there is cause u goin to legalize it in one state but not others. of course people r goin to attack. now if u legalized nationally all at once an all stores open at once u goin to solve 2 problems wit one stone. no more weed dealers an no attacks. the govt has taxes on tobacco an alchol which kill more americans dailey than bad weed deals thats the only way a person dies from weed bad deals. but in my mind if the govt wants to SAVE AMERICA they have to legalize weed. weed its the only thing we have left that can make a profit for the govt an solve a bunch of issues at once.hey they can even use weed to get people off of mental meds that r bad. but in my mind the govt will never legalize weed cause they are more worried about their (govt) money then the american people they could care less about us. but dont know where it says the american people have no rights and the politicans have all the rights. the american people are slaves and the politicans are our owners. nothing like being the govts bitches. all well life goes on peace out yall
19. No yall need to legal weed. In ever state. And how is it against the law , if it a plant that grows on the ground. It was put on this earth for a reason, cause if it wasn’t here,then how did it get here on earth.you dont know were it came from. Cause you know god didn’t put it here on this earth.
Now in my opinion why have guns if there here to kill people. An all you do is smoke weed and relax. An chill and word.cause you kno cops smoked weed an the gorerments to some were in line.and as in kids you should be only allowed to have two to 3kids and thats its.and out there to all them girls out there layin on your back get ****** by ever dude and having kids for noreason. Thats not kool thats i believe is a *****.that is stupid as **** why do you wanna have some many damn kids..about that baby thing after the girl haves two to 3kids tie her tubes and make it were she cant have anymore kids. Then they would be able to **** an not have no kids.
As in you obama, have you ever smoked weed before if not or if so i want to smoke weed with you and see why you hate weed so much. And why what do the government has says in it OBAMA your the president. Why is that you got the government sayin you cant legalise weed. When your the president anit. That saposte to be the kind of the world . I dont understand why yall make it so hard for people in life . LOOOOk weed =money and you know what that means more money an it will get all that **** taken care of.
I had wrote more down but its getting late so if yall wanna know more from. Me look me up on fb dooley bowman. Do you not kno how much the earth would be much more prettier. Im one for right now so write me on facebook. Cause i can keep on writing an telling you things. Ill try to make weed legal… Og Dooley Bowman
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Can You Name the Capitals of the World's Largest Countries?
By: Heather Cahill
6 Min Quiz
Image: Wiki Commons by Rizky Maharani
About This Quiz
Some nations have only one, some have two, and others can have too many to count! When you travel around the world, these may be the places you want to visit, or that are on your bucket list. And it's always good to know a little bit about the countries you are planning to visit. How many cities do you think you can name around the world?
The largest countries in the world are filled with incredible cities bursting with architecture, landmarks and gorgeous cityscapes. Most have a rich history behind them that made them into the cities they are today. Capital cities are often highly administrative and governmental, being the hub for all things politics. If you were to visit only one capital city, which one would you choose? Maybe the capital of Russia, the largest country in the world, or perhaps the capital of Namibia is more of your style.
Countries and their capital cities are very important to the world as a whole. So, if you consider yourself to be a world traveler and think you know all about the largest countries in the world, then you'll have to prove your knowledge. Take the quiz to see if you can score it!
Home to the White House, this city is the capital of the United States. What is it?
Washington is a popular name in the United States. It is used for a state, monuments, and of course for the very first president of the United States, George Washington.
Mali's capital city is what?
Bamako is one of the largest cities in West Africa and lies along the Niger River. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the country, and with it being so close to the river, fishing is a big part of this.
Australia might not have the capital city you think! Do you know which city is the actual capital?
Canberra may seem like it would not have been the first choice for a capital city because it may not be considered as well known as other cities in Australia. In fact, it wasn't always the first choice. The famous cities of Melbourne and Sydney were also considered for the prestigious title of capital city.
What is the capital city of India?
New Delhi became the capital city in the 1930s, years after the city was built. There was even a stamp to commemorate the event with the country's emperor, George V.
The capital city of Argentina has interesting architecture. What city is it?
Buenos Aires is actually a shortened name for the city. The true name of the city is Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, which is also shortened with the abbreviation, "CABA."
The Democratic Republic of Congo's capital city is known for being the largest in the country. What is it?
Brazzaville is known for many things such as its large arts scene and World War II history. The city was founded in the 1800s and it is located very close to the Congo River.
What is the capital city of Kazakhstan?
Astana is one of the largest cities in the country, and it also has quite the unique looking skyline. If you're ever in the area, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is a must-see that you won't want to miss!
The capital city of Brazil is part of the administrative region. What city is it?
Brasilia is a very important city in Brazil. It is one of the most populated cities in the country and it is known for its beautifully designed buildings that line the streets.
This capital city is in the North in Algeria. Do you know which city it is?
One unique feature of the city is the many white buildings that line the streets. They're part of the reason that the city gets its unique nickname, "Algiers the white."
What is the capital city of Indonesia?
Jakarta is one of the largest cities in the world, and it's only getting bigger! Did you know that the city is not actually a city? It's a province, but still considered the capital of the country.
You'll find the tallest building in the country of Greenland here. Do you know which city it is?
Nuuk is quite scenic as you can see the view of a beautiful mountain in the background of the city. The mountain is known as Sermitsiaq mountain, which is on its own island right near the city.
A province shares its name with the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Do you know what it is?
Riyadh is home to the Al Faisaliyah Center, which is a beautiful and unique looking skyscraper. There are many facilities of worship in the country! Did you know that the city has over 4,000 mosques?
It shares its name with the country of Mexico. Do you know what the capital city is?
Mexico City is an important city in the country of Mexico. Its history has spanned more than 600 years, and since then, the city has flourished. Now, it is home to over 8 million people, up from the 100,000 thousand that lived there upon its discovery.
What is the capital of Sudan?
Khartoum is unique in that the two Nile Rivers connect near the city. The city was founded in 1821 by Muhammad Ali, but we don't mean the boxer! It was actually the King of Egypt's son.
This Canadian city is known for its many important government buildings. What is the capital of Canada?
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and home to the famous Parliament Hill. It is very bilingual with the city being a short drive from Quebec, which speaks mostly French, one of the country's official languages.
What is the capital of Libya?
Tripoli has been inhabited since the B.C. years and it was once part of Roman territory. There are some beautiful structures in the city including the Corinthia Hotel and Tripoli Cathedral.
Golestan Palace is in this capital city of Iran. What city is it?
One of the best places to visit in Tehran is the Grand Bazaar. It is a huge market where you can buy all kinds of goods, all while enjoying your time out on the town.
A large percentage of the population of Mongolia resides in the capital city. Which city is it?
Ulaanbaatar is a very important city to Buddhism. The city was a major player in being a hub for the religion, while today it also boasts many monasteries for practicing the religion.
South Africa's capital city is what?
Pretoria is just one of the official capitals of South Africa. There are actually two others in addition, which include Bloemfontein and Cape Town. The more, the merrier, as they say!
Peru's capital city is known to be a desert city. Which of the following is the capital?
Lima gets its name from people visiting the area who used the word "limaq" for it. Did you know that Lima is known as the "City of Kings?" The flag even has a lot to do with kings as well.
Chad's capital city sits along the edge of the country. Which country is it?
N'Djamena is home to the Chad National Museum, which still has some artifacts. Unfortunately, a civil war caused the loss of some of the historical items in the museum.
Niger's capital city is what?
Niamey has a unique bridge called the "Friendship Bridge." It marks a great relationship between Niger and China due to China's funding of the bridge. China has also funded many other bridges in the country.
It's a noble and loyal city. Can you name the capital city of Colombia?
Bogota is home to the El Dorado Airport, which is named for the famous mythical city. El Dorado is known for its abundance of gold which at one time, made it quite profitable to search for.
Here you'll find Independence Square. What is the capital city of Mozambique?
Maputo was once known by a totally different name. Lourenco Marques was its name from its founding in the 1700s. The real Lourenco Marques was the explorer who came to the area previously.
It's sometimes called the "City of Humans." Can you name the capital of Ethiopia?
Addis Ababa is home to the government of the country. That explains why it is often known as the "Political Capital of Africa!"
Bolivia is a country that has two capitals! Which of the following is one of them?
Sucre is one of the capitals of Bolivia while La Paz is the other. In Sucre, you can attend a world-renowned university called San Francis Xavier University.
It's hot in the capital of Mauritania! Do you know what it is?
Nouakchott is right in the Sahara Desert and along the Atlantic Ocean. After you're done visiting the historic city, Cape Verde is just off the coast of Nouakchott. But who would want to leave the beautiful city when you can visit places like Gallerie Zeinart to visit?
What is the capital city of China?
Beijing is not only China's capital, but it is also one of the largest cities in the world. Over 24 million people live in the city, which is also quite historical. It dates back to 1045 BC, after all.
This city is quite large. Do you know what the capital of Egypt is?
Cairo is known for its beauty and history that dates way back to the BC years. You can even catch a glimpse of the famous Pyramid of Giza from inside the city. It's a view like no other in the world!
Tanzania's capital city is what?
Dar es Salaam was once the famed capital of Tanzania, but the country decided to change it to Dodoma. One of the most famous sports in the city is football, which you can catch many people enjoying on a beautiful day out!
Not technically a city, what is the capital of Nigeria?
Abuja is the place to be if you are in Nigeria and want to get a taste of beautiful architecture. While you're there, Aso Rock is one unique attraction that is sure to amaze you!
Angola's capital city is what?
Luanda is right along the Atlantic Ocean and is the hub of the country. Being along the ocean, it is located in the perfect place to act as a port for boats carrying goods and people to the country.
Cierro El Avida is very close to this capital. What is Venezuela's capital city?
Caracas is the major hub of the country of Venezuela. It's the best place to be in the country for almost any aspect of life. Working, learning and playing in this city is an experience like no other.
Home to a permanent spring, what is the capital city of Namibia?
Windhoek didn't always go by this name. Natives in the area have different names for it as well such as Ai-Gams. It's also a smaller city population wise, as there are just over 300,000 people who live there.
You might know that the capital city of Russia is home to Saint Basil's Cathedral. What city is it?
Moscow is the capital of Russia, and also the place to go if you want to experience the incredible culture of the country. The streets are lined with beautiful buildings, and many areas around the city are blooming with trees and plants.
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Latest hurricanes aren't rewriting the record books, says official keeper of weather extremes
Skip Derra
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma decimated Florida and the Houston area with destructive winds and torrential rains. These intense hurricanes leave everyone drained, but there is more. A third storm, Jose, is brushing the Atlantic seaboard. A fourth, Maria is lashing Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before it turns north towards the U.S.
So what’s up with the weather? Are these storms the most intense faced by the U.S.? Are they being amplified by climate change?
NOAA's GOES East satellite captured this infrared image of Hurricane Irma in the Bahamas on Sept. 8. Photo by NASA/NOAA GOES Project
Randy Cerveny, a climatologist and an ASU President’s Professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, says that although these storms are huge and impressive, they are not rewriting the record books. Cerveny is the rapporteur on climate extremes within the United Nations-affiliated World Meteorological Organization. He literally is the keeper of Earth’s weather extremes, recording and verifying (or repudiating) weather extremes as they are reported around the world.
Cerveny talks about Harvey, Irma, Maria, a warming planet and the effects of human activity on the Earth.
Question: Was Irma a record-setting hurricane?
Answer: While Irma was without question nasty, it wasn't globally record-setting. The world’s records for most intense hurricane (by wind speed) remain tied: Sustained winds of 215 mph for Typhoon Nancy (1961) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and Hurricane Patricia (2015) in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Irma’s 185 mph winds were some of the strongest recorded in the Atlantic. Irma also sustained those winds for a very long time, and we will be evaluating the data to see if it set a record for the Atlantic basin in terms of longest sustained winds. However, there have been two previous Category 5 hurricanes that were Category 5 at the time they made landfall in Florida: The 1935 Florida Keys “Labor Day” hurricane, and Hurricane Andrew, which hit Dade County, Florida, on Aug. 24, 1992. Irma was a Category 4 storm when it made landfall.
Beyond Florida, the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U. S. (and the only other Category 5 hurricane to make landfall as a Category 5) was Hurricane Camille, which hit Mississippi in 1969.
Q: With Harvey, Irma and now Maria, are we experiencing more hurricanes now than in previous years?
A: No. This is the normal time (early- to mid-September) that we have the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Over the last couple of years, the Atlantic has been relatively quiet due in part to the extraordinary El Niño episode in the Pacific. However, this does demonstrate the accuracy of our long-term seasonal hurricane predictions as this year was predicted to be an above-average hurricane year.
Q: The hurricanes seem bigger and stronger than previous years. Is that true?
A: There is some theoretical research suggesting that with global warming, hurricanes may increase in size and intensity, but there is still much debate about that in the scientific community. In general, hurricanes have not changed much in the last few decades in terms of size or intensity. The last hurricane of Category 5 strength to hit the United States was Andrew (1992). The difference is the coverage of tropical cyclones (via 24/7 news and social media) that brings tropical storm activity much more into public attention.
Q: Might climate change make these storms more severe?
A: A lot of things impact hurricanes but, yes, in general, a warmer climate produces hotter ocean surfaces and more evaporation. Because it is water that powers hurricanes, hotter oceans and more evaporation should produce, in part, more intense hurricanes. The problem is that there are many other factors that also impact hurricanes. For example, “wind shear,” the variations in wind speed and direction with height, can also cause storms under certain circumstances to weaken or to intensify. The impact of climate change on those many other factors is still being studied.
Q: What is fact/fiction in terms of climate change making storms worse?
A: In general, hurricanes are producing more rain due to climate change. Warmer warms and more evaporation put more moisture into the atmosphere, so increased precipitation can occur. With that said, Hurricane Harvey’s incredible rainfalls were primarily the result of the hurricane abruptly stalling along the Texas coast (due in part to a giant ridge of high pressure in the Southwest). That lack of movement allowed for continued rainfall over many days — and that led to massive flooding.
It is always difficult to attribute one storm’s impact to climate change. Just as it is absurd to say that a single major snowstorm in the winter contradicts anthropogenic global warming theory, it is equally absurd to say that one hurricane in summer confirms global warming theory. Climate is “long term,” while meteorology is “short term.” As climatologists, we look at long-term (years to decades) averages of hurricanes (size, intensity, frequency), for example, to establish the impact of climate change, not single storms.
Q: What types of weather are we experiencing a spike in?
A: Most computer climate models indicate an overall increase in precipitation for a warming planet. Again, that generally is the result of warmer ocean temperatures leading to greater evaporation and, consequently, more fuel for heavier rains. Conversely, most computer climate models also indicate shifts in circulation patterns that might produce greater droughts for regions of Earth. So in general the models are indicating an overall greater variability in some aspects of climate (greater floods but also more intense droughts) with a warming planet.
Q: Is there anything else we should know about the current state of weather and how human activity might be affecting it?
A: One thing that is important to realize is that we are influencing climate and environment at allscales, not just the global scale. Some of the really big problems associated with Hurricane Irma, in terms of damage and flooding, can be attributed as the direct result of human activity over the last 50 years — not so much at the global scale but at local and regional scales. By changing the environment from the Florida marshlands (e.g., Everglades) to massive urban and suburban landscapes, humans have dramatically increased the damages associated with hurricanes. This is because the marshlands have, in the past, acted as critical barriers and reservoirs for storm-surge flooding and rainfall associated with hurricanes like Irma.
In addition, the leveling and paving of roads and housing developments doesn’t allow the rains to run off as they would in natural marshlands. Sustainability with regards to climate change isn’t just at the global scale; it really begins at the local and regional scales. | <urn:uuid:d4f71e97-0259-4cd1-b32a-2573aed31476> | https://sgsup.asu.edu/latest-hurricanes-arent-rewriting-record-books-says-official-keeper-weather-extremes | en | 0.937818 | 0.136578 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Comprehensive Script Analysis
Comprehensive Analysis will reveal several possible creative options and threads that may be added to enhance the story marketability. Along with suggestions that will get the script professionally ready to submit to friends/agents/contests/producers/investors. The analysis will reveal what is and isn’t working with the characters and the story. I will correct anything in the script that is not up to current script-writing industry standards. It also will provide a great deal of creative knowledge specifically applied to your story that can’t be found in books and seminars.
I’ve read, analyzed, and critiqued over a thousand scripts and NONE were so good they couldn’t be greatly improved. To get your script noticed in a sea of over 100,000 yearly submitted scripts, your script must be flawless. ‘My Screenwriting Credits on IMDB’
Original Screenplay
Critique: ′Bull Dancing′ Highlighted possible problems
Analysis: ′Bull Dancing′ Pointed out General/Specific problems & how to correct them
Rewritten Screenplay
Master Document: ′Courage Master Document′
Screenplay: ′Courage′ Turned Screenplay into a powerful compelling story on women empowerment
For $250, this service includes the following:
OVERVIEW: A summary of impressions of the strong and weak points of the writer and of the script along with the merits of the script in general.
GENRE: Determine the movie’s category type(s)and explain why it fits into this category. I also state any mix of genres that may apply.
THEMES: Expound on the abstract ideas and values that permeate the story and expose the big concept and/or universal THEME threaded throughout the story.
STORY: Discuss the cohesiveness of the plot: what is there, what is missing, and how to make the script powerful.
STRUCTURE: Detailed analysis on the inner workings of the story, its pacing, relationship of the subplots to the main plot, and the proper order of structural steps that the protagonist should be taking in their transformation while advancing the conflict toward the plot’s resolution.
CHARACTERS: Observations on how well-defined the characters are regarding needs, wants, motivations, character traits, and flaws. Do they act and speak in keeping with their intentions, drives, and motivations? Are they sufficiently different (unique) from each other that one would know which one is talking without a character label? Are they believable?
RELATIONSHIPS: How well do the relationships portrayed in the story work? Is there sufficient conflict in each one to create and maintain your story argument while sustaining a forward thrust to the story? Also, I take a look to see if there is sufficient Protagonist/Antagonist bonding through conflict that leads naturally to climax. Is there sufficient internal conflict created within the main character from the tug-of-war battle between Conscience Character and Tempter Character?
DIALOGUE: Examine the voices of the characters with the idea of making each unique to their gender, age, and relationship in the story. And I talk about why voice is important.
WRITING STYLE: Correct and point out, poor grammar, punctuation, spelling, passive verbs, non-dramatic description, telling without showing, etc. and how to correct these fundamental errors and how to evoke emotion and passion without distraction. The writing requires a certain kind of immediacy in its expression. The writing should be crisp, efficient and evocative to capture the readers attention. led out and suggestions on how to edit your script.
FORMAT: Is the screenplay formatted according to current industry standards? I’ll mark and correct improper or antiquated formatting.
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS: Write the exact thoughts, ideas, responses, reactions, suggestions, criticisms (things that work; things that don’t work) that come to me while reading your script 2 times. Comments/Suggestions are my unadulterated thoughts and impressions at the point where I have the thought. It is valuable for you to know what thoughts come to a reader as he reads… let you know what he likes, what he doesn’t understand, and what takes him out of the story. Many of these comments will be used to spark your own imagination.
CRITIQUE: Detailed line by line suggestions and corrections to your script.
Included with the written Comprehensive Analysis is a free 30 minute phone discussion with me to ask any questions you may have regarding the analysis. $50 an hour for every additional 30 minutes.
Email script in (PDF/FINAL DRAFT/DOC/DOCX/TXT) format to
Then Click on the “Buy Now” button below and follow instructions | <urn:uuid:7eb0f3d0-60cc-4d24-93ef-5ba3572b3269> | https://thescriptsavant.com/comprehensive-script-analysis/ | en | 0.914864 | 0.038158 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Training Grounds
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Apprentices are trained here with their mentors. SkyClans birch forest makes it easy to train apprentices for climbing , although being hidden while hunting is more needed than it is in thicker forests.
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Database Activity Monitoring Can be Accomplished Without Performance Overhead
Historically, database auditing and database performance have been like oil and water; they don’t mix. So auditing is often eliminated, because performance drag on critical systems is unacceptable.
In the past, native database auditing was the only option for monitoring database activity. While able to do the job, it added a tremendous amount of overhead to servers - resulting in a negative affect on configuration, management, separation of duties activities and, more critically, on database performance. High levels of native auditing leverage the same disk I/O as the production databases they’re designed to audit. This, coupled with the possibility of downtime due to data mismanagement, leads organizations to give up on auditing - and run mission-critical systems with virtually no visibility into the actions of authorized users.
How does an enterprise integrate a high level of auditing to meet regulatory requirements for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLBA) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), protect sensitive information and still maintain the high-performance databases that serve the business needs of end-users?
Fortunately, auditing activity no longer requires native tools. Database activity monitoring (DAM) tools are now being used to audit and report on data activity. These solutions can accomplish detailed auditing of database very effectively without slowing the performance of databases or other systems. DAM technologies enable multiple methods of activity monitoring (not always with the same solution) including network protocol monitoring, agent-based and agent-less auditing. They are used to audit and report on activity for regulatory requirements, like privileged user activity for SOX (while maintaining separation of duties) or monitoring access to cardholder data for PCI. They’re also capable of detecting anomalous activity with data - nearly impossible to find with native tools.
The least intrusive approach to DAM is passive network monitoring via a network appliance. Several solutions use this approach. Software-based solutions are also available. Passive network monitoring examines a database protocol - such as Oracle or SQL Server - usually via a switched port analyzer (SPAN) or mirror port (a capability contained in most enterprise-level network infrastructure equipment). This allows the network to send copies of the SQL activity to and from the database server to a monitoring device. Network and security engineers typically utilize sniffers or intrusion detection systems (IDS) in this manner. It allows a device, other than the database server, to see the SQL traffic without service interruption or additional latency. Inline capabilities also exist, via network tap or by placing the network appliance between the network infrastructure and the database server. This approach can be effective in certain circumstances but latency, scalability and throughput issues must be considered.
Once the protocol is decoded by a DAM solution, it is examined and stored within a database on the appliance. In the newest generation of DAM, this is accomplished very quickly. DAM also allows you to be selective about what you’re auditing. If insert/update/delete against a certain table from the typical client-side application isn’t relevant, then you don’t need to capture it. But what if that access comes from an unapproved application?
DAM policy engines vary, but targeted auditing should be a considered a minimum requirement - providing audit records specific to the data of interest (without utilizing native audit capabilities in the target platform) such as: host and server username; client and server IP addresses; server TCP port; server-side application (i.e., Oracle, DB2, Sybase); Client-side application used (i.e., Toad, SQL*Plus, Clarify); complete SQL command ; success/failure of the command executed; and data about the response: size in rows, bytes, etc.
Network-based monitoring, can adress more than 90 percent of the activity monitoring required in a typical client-server deployment. There are some exceptions, such as standalone deployments, where the application and database server are on the same hardware, direct console access or encrypted sessions.
Once network auditing is deployed, you will need to select a local auditing option. Local auditing is needed to meet compliance requirements and better protect data by monitoring the most privileged users - like DBAs. There are two main approaches to local auditing: agent-based and agent-less. They each have their advantages.
Agent-based local auditing comes in two flavors. The first is an all-purpose agent, which reviews both local and network-based activity. These agents utilize a mix of monitoring approaches, like sniffing on the local Ethernet interface and parsing the native audit logs (like the redo or transaction log, etc.). While effective, they require a repository to store audit data. This is typically a relational database just like any other database that exists within your environment. However, because the agents are gathering data from the transaction log and the database itself, they can add value by allowing for the viewing of sessions encrypted with a database application’s native encryption capabilities after they have been decrypted and by allowing for review of the previous values within a field.
Network monitoring does an excellent job of capturing client-server traffic destined for the database server from other hosts in the environment, but what about the ad hoc database access that takes place on the system console? The second type of agent-based deployment is a lighter weight agent that complements the network monitoring approach. The agent reflects console activity to the monitoring appliance so that it can be reviewed. The agent could also be leveraged to capture more than just console activity. For instance, if IPSec encryption is used between an application server and the database, a lightweight agent could be used to forward that activity to a monitoring solution after it has been decrypted. This closes the gap left by the network monitor by allowing the same monitoring host to review both host- and network-based activity.
There are situations where agents are not the best approach - like when system administrators have so many agents running that they don’t want to introduce another piece of software and possibly risk into the system. In this scenario agent-less auditing, can provide value. There are many knobs and switches in database platforms’ native auditing capabilities that can be tuned in order to capture specific activity. For example, SQL Server Profiler can be configured to capture only local activity. Native auditing could also be expanded to capture a greater amount of activity, depending on the auditing requirements of the environment. However, this needs to be done with great care: too much native auditing could create performance problems. Very selective native auditing can be used to capture privileged activity, console activity, etc., that may not be visible via network monitoring.
When looking at monitoring for compliance and data protection, it’s important to remember that the technology landscape has changed dramatically. We no longer have to live with performance and management overhead to gather the data required by a multitude of entities. We can leverage tools outside of the database, such as network, agent- and agent-less monitoring, to capture the data without impacting users.
In any DAM deployment, we want to maximize flexibility. What may work well for one enterprise may not work well for another. So finding a solution that can utilize any combination of network monitoring, agent-based or agent-less auditing helps maximize the value that can be extracted. DAM solutions help the business protect its core data assets and be more limber at the same time. It’s no longer a choice between database performance and auditing. We can finally have our cake and eat it too. | <urn:uuid:f3351f2e-ebc4-4e66-9b03-0166c898a283> | https://www.dbta.com/Editorial/Trends-and-Applications/Database-Activity-Monitoring-Can-be-Accomplished-Without-Performance-Overhead-52025.aspx | en | 0.920224 | 0.041314 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Aid to Africa
In 2001 Doctors For Life International (DFL) initiated the medical program ‘Aid to Africa’, to reach out to Sub-Saharan developing countries with free medical relief. Medical teams travel to isolated and remote areas with short term missions in order to deliver free medical care and surgery in areas where there is little to none available. The long term goal is to establish permanent medical facilities we identify in needy areas. These will be used as a base to take medical assistance deeper into these regions. DFL’s first permanent medical clinic and maternity ward was built in Zavora, Mozambique.
This medical program fits in with the vision of the organization i.e. to protect and enhance life in its broader context through the implementation of strategic projects. DFL members regard the many factors that threaten human life in Southern Africa as both a challenge and an opportunity to invest both time and professional expertise in developing communities.
The Aid to Africa project aims to offer the following services in Sub Saharan African countries:
• Provide free medical examination and supply of medical treatment, through short term mobile medical clinics.
• Provide free surgery in remote and needy regions
• Construct and manage permanent clinics/hospitals/maternity wards.
• Facilitate free medical supplies to needy medical health facilities
• Build relationships with communities and their local leaders
• Facilitate primary health education in communities.
• Establish a Memorandum of Understanding and a working relationship with the National Governments and Departments of Health of the countries we work in.
• Facilitate training for health care workers
DFL has gained valuable experience in Southern Africa over the past 25 years which we would like to offer to other needy communities. As the specific needs become clear, DFL would also implement some of our other successful projects.
DFL has been involved with bringing free medical assistance to South Africa, Lesotho, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana and Mozambique. Angola and Malawi have offered DFL land to start medical facilities in remote regions there too. | <urn:uuid:36e34bd6-5428-481f-be82-b1ee2c7779ba> | https://www.doctorsforlife.co.za/aid-to-africa-2/ | en | 0.943529 | 0.028176 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Amidst the almost constant news about job cuts at pharma companies, there are certain positions that seem impervious to change. There will always be a need for brand marketers. That said, the opportunity is especially rosy in the specialty pharma niche since most industry trends are predicting accelerated growth.
Those interested in entering this small niche or making a transition from traditional to specialty marketing, however, should be prepared for the unique differences between the two. Based on our experience, we’ve identified five differences that marketers should keep in mind before considering a job switch.
1. Be prepared to work with smaller budgets. The target audience is smaller, the physician groups are more specialized, and the company tends to be smaller and new to the market, so don’t expect a large budget. In fact, you may have to “justify” every tactic, depending on the product. To push brands, marketers will need to be more creative and selective with their budgets. Additionally, the sales force team tends to be smaller. While they’ll need you to develop the marketing materials, don’t expect too much since they’ll be stretched thin.
2. Have a strong skill set in advocacy relations. Typically, advocacy is not considered a priority at traditional pharma companies. At times, it’s also one of the first tactics to be eliminated. In specialty pharma, advocacy may be the No. 1 most important strategy marketers execute. Usually, there is very little data on the small patient base. Physician specialists are also active in these communities. Advocacy groups can play an influential role in drug approvals, patient education, and potential physician buy-in to specific therapies. Those who have a track record of building cause-related partnerships and advocacy relationships possess priceless skills.
3. Know the drug approval requirements of various countries. Start studying. The drug approval process for the United Kingdom differs from that of France or Germany. Even next-door neighbor Canada has a different procedure for drug review and approval. Marketers interested in working for a global specialty pharma company should have a strong understanding of the different regulatory requirements for each country to establish an appropriate regulatory strategy. If you don’t have a good grasp of the requirements, brush up before the interview.
4. Get ready to work long hours. In general, smaller companies require more investment in time so expect the work hours to be more than the standard 9 to 5. However, those who choose to work in specialty pharma tend to be more satisfied with their careers. The benefits of working in this niche may outweigh the negatives. For example, marketers can walk into a president’s office and express their concerns directly. Decisions are made by a few or by the marketers themselves, instead of layers of committees. Greater job autonomy may mean roles outside of the traditional marketing function. Despite the long hours, marketers in these niche companies truly believe the hard work is worth it because they’re making a difference in people’s lives.
5. Understand that the compensation package may be different. While salary in this niche market may be comparable to traditional pharma, the compensation mix may differ. Depending on their size and the stage of their product development, the comprehensive package may include tiered revenue milestones, stages of approval, or equity. Savvy marketers may be able to help shape their own compensation mix.
• Steve Murdock
Steve Murdock is Managing Partner for the Seattle office of Allen Austin Global Executive Search. Murdock was a key contributor to some of the healthcare industry’s biggest brand success stories, including the development, launch and growth of Cialis, Celebrex and Ambien. For more information, visit
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M&A Activity: Disrupting Healthcare Advertising
In July 2018, UDG Healthcare announced the acquisition of Create NYC, a New York-based ... | <urn:uuid:5007f8b0-62dc-4c01-a17a-078aeaecf288> | https://www.pm360online.com/wanted-specialty-pharma-marketer/ | en | 0.948559 | 0.039577 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Braze API - SDKs
The Braze REST API tracks users, sends messages, and exports data. API access is done using HTTPS and App Group REST API Keys are available. Developers can integrate user data, messaging, email sync, export, campaigns, and email templates into customer engagement applications. Braze was formerly known as AppBoy. Braze provides growth marketing automation and mobile marketing CRM services. | <urn:uuid:c7e53a22-fe19-4680-9a92-aabd122efe00> | https://www.programmableweb.com/api/braze/sdks | en | 0.881322 | 0.810368 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Glossary - print - King Oyster Mushroom
King Oyster Mushroom - Glossary Term
view glossary term online:
King Oyster Mushroom
King Oyster
King Oyster Mushroom
Royal Trumpet
(Scientific Name: Pleurotus eryngii) A variety of mushroom that grows in clusters developing a trumpet-like shape and appearance as a wild or cultivated mushroom. With a blunt cap above and a stout stem beneath, the King Oyster mushroom develops a thick, white flesh that is firm-textured and meaty from the base to the cap. Also referred to as the King Eryngii, Eringii or Royal Trumpet and a trademarked variety known as Trumpet Royale, this mushroom receives some of its names from its shape. The King Oyster is typically harvested when the stems reach a length of several inches, but can grow to a size of 6 to 8 inches in length. As the mushrooms age for several days and depending on the storage provided, the flesh may darken or turn slightly tan to brown in color, but the quality of the mushrooms should be unaffected.
When preparing, this mushroom can be braised, broiled, grilled, sautéed, or stewed to be added to soups, stews, sauces, pasta, vegetable dishes, meats, and seafood. If prepared whole, allow a longer cooking time for this meaty mushroom, cooking it until it is nicely browned. When storing, place in a paper bag and refrigerate for use within 10 days. If necessary, Matsutake mushrooms can be used as a substitute. | <urn:uuid:41eb7830-626f-4b62-a2a9-a9c594cdabfd> | https://www.recipetips.com/print-term/t--38088/king-oyster-mushroom.asp | en | 0.912886 | 0.057067 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
3 Questions to Ask at the End of Every Job Interview
So, you go on a job interview. You are prepared and polished and it goes well. At the end of the interview, the interviewer asks, "do you have any questions for me?" You can always say, "no;" or "Ill follow-up if I think of anything;" or "you explained everything so perfectly I couldn't possibly have any questions." But it's even better if you do have questions. This moment is an opportunity: an opportunity to learn more about the place where you might work, and by engaging in more of a conversation and putting the interviewer into the hot-seat it's also an opportunity to change the conversation's dynamic as well as the interviewer's perception of you. Furthermore if you have no questions, you run the risk of seeming disinterested.
Moral of the story? Come prepared with questions to ask at the end of your interview. Here are a few fool-proof ones.
1. What do you think are the most important qualities a person needs to excel in this role?
It's a great question because the interviewer likely has skills in mind. If those skills don't match up with your skills, then it's safe to say this isn't the job for you. You can also use it to get good practical information about the position that's not listed in the job description.
2. What is company culture like?
This will give you a little more of a window into what it's really like to work there. If employee happiness isn't prized, it'll likely be easy to tell from the way the person responds to the question. Also, there's a chance that the person you're speaking with will lovingly describe a company culture that just doesn't sound appealing to you. That's important information to have too.
3. Is this a new position? If not, what's been the trajectory for those who've previously filled it?
This will answer the question of whether promotions happen from within the company, or not. It will also answer important questions about what people in the role did after leaving it — and if whatever they did next sounds interesting to you. | <urn:uuid:9a9bb5d4-1964-4cdf-b3f6-3dc83b7f5572> | https://www.sapling.com/13400440/3-questions-to-ask-at-the-end-of-every-job-interview | en | 0.975097 | 0.953421 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Sally Hemings
Raising a Family Amidst the Brutality of Slavery
As an enslaved person, Sally Hemings struggled to improve her family’s prospects as she labored under the institution of slavery. By dividing her life into four major stages, students will encounter the difficult choices forced upon enslaved women by an evil institution.
• 1 class period; 90 minutes
• Students will be able to evaluate the choices available to enslaved women like Sally Hemings.
• Students will use the four essential themes to analyze and discuss Sally Hemings’s impact on her family and plantation community at Monticello.
• Either individually or as a group, students will present and support their theme and its relevance to Sally Hemings’s life in a cohesive and factual statement using information and knowledge gained from class materials and discussion.
Students need to understand who Thomas Jefferson was and the basic outline of plantation life and slavery in Virginia. The information below is an example of a short tutorial or lecture that can be provided to students to provide background information.
Life in colonial Virginia, and most states throughout the South, provided few options for enslaved people. The law recognized their owners’ rights to their bodies and labor without regard for the humanity of the enslaved. In addition to recognizing slaveowners’ claims, America’s legal system acted swiftly and decisively in their favor. In accordance with partus sequitur ventrem, a Latin term meaning “that which is brought forth follows the womb,” children followed their mother’s status – free or enslaved. Once a person found themselves inside the institution, they had few legal options to gain their freedom or to demand respect from white Americans. In most cases, even in the northern states, the law forbade African Americans from voting, serving on juries, testifying in court, or defending themselves against abuse from whites. The system served to place even the lowliest white citizens above any African American, free or enslaved.
The situation proved even more tenuous for enslaved women as they were exposed to additional cruelties and harassment. All slaves were in constant danger of humiliation, physical violence, unrequited toil, and sale to distant lands. In addition to these concerns, women on rural plantations also found themselves having to deal with the sexual advances of their owners. Again, the law provided no recourse for these women as they were recognized as property. As a result, many women were forced into sexual relationships by their masters. For their entire lives, the enslaved population on rural plantations, especially women, were required to make a series of life-altering decisions.
Due to Sally Hemings’s enslaved status, her children with Thomas Jefferson were considered slaves. Despite the prestige and reputation of their revolutionary father, or perhaps because of it, they had little support after they gained their freedom. At several points in her life, the institution of slavery forced Sally Hemings to make difficult decisions that put the lives of her and her children in danger. Although her position as a favored house servant prevented her from some of the most egregious abuses committed on field workers, her duties required her to constantly live amongst her enslavers. Therefore, her position allowed her to avoid most of the physical violence associated with slavery, but her status as property left her vulnerable to her master’s whims.
Teacher will need access to a projector for discussion questions and any other information. In addition, teachers will need to have electronic or paper copies of the Life Stage Information Sheet. There are four stages and teachers need to ensure that there are sufficient copies for all group members. Finally, computers or tablets will need to be available for additional research.
Opening Activity: 10 minutes:
Begin the lesson with a class discussion using the questions below in order to introduce the students to the effect that slavery had on those forced to endure it. For this exercise, divide your students into pairs (Pair Share) to consider and answer the discussion questions.
Discussion Questions:
1. What were some of the aspects of slavery that made it so atrocious to human nature?
Possible Responses:
• No freedom to move where you want, marry who you want, or maintain a family
• Forced to work without compensation
• Forced to work long hours without rest
• Provided insufficient food
• Vulnerable to physical violence and beatings
• Vulnerable to sale by the owner away from other family members
• Forced to mate with other enslaved people or the owner
• Humiliated on a daily basis and made to believe that you lacked humanity and dignity
• Constantly watched and monitored
1. How do you think the enslaved population resisted these measures?
Possible Responses (From Passive to Active Resistance):
• Learned to Read and Write
• Worked slowly
• Broke tools
• Destroyed Crops
• Pretended to not understand various tasks
• Negotiated for the rights to form families, keep extra earnings, and practice their religion
• Sued for Their Freedom
• Hid Away for Long Periods
• Ran-away
• Poisoned or revolted against the owner
1. How would you maintain your humanity in the face of such brutality?
2. How would you have responded if not only your life, but those of your children (born and unborn) hung in the balance? How might that change your decisions?
Developmental Activity: 50 minutes:
For the primary learning activity, the students will work cooperatively to complete a Jig Saw activity. Sally Hemings’s life will be divided into four (4) separate stages where she encountered a series of difficult decisions. The class will be evenly divided into the four (4) groups and the students will read their particular Life Stage Information Sheet. Each of these information guides are roughly a half-page to one page that describes Sally’s environment and the difficult choices confronting her. After the students have had roughly ten minutes to read and discuss their stage of life, then set-up the sharing portion of the activity. They should be relaying the particulars of their stage to their classmates along with the difficult choices that confronted her or her family at that moment.
At the end of ten minutes, half the members of each group will remain at their designated table while the other group members will move one-at-a-time to meet with the other groups. Allow 5 minutes for each table discussion session. Rotate every five minutes until every student has heard the content and discussed the issues facing Sally Hemings at all the stages of her life. Move the students in a clockwise or counterclockwise pattern to prevent confusion. Also, do not allow students to move groups before the timer runs out to prevent congestion.
Four Stages:
1. Born into Slavery and Inherited by Jefferson
2. Travels to France and Consents to Return to Virginia
3. Children with Jefferson
4. The Children Gain Their Freedom
Bring the students together for a whole group discussion.
Discussion Questions:
1. During what part of Sally Hemings’s life did you believe she confronted the most difficult circumstances? Provide one or more examples to explain your reasoning.
2. Making life decisions is hard for everyone, but how did slavery make everyday decisions for Sally Hemings extremely important? Provide at least one example to explain your reasoning.
3. Unfortunately, master and slave relationships were an all too common occurrence for enslaved women. Historians probably know more about Sally Hemings and her family than any other enslaved due to Jefferson’s status and the illicit rumors of their relationship in the early nineteenth century. Most women became victims of slavery and their stories were never heard again. After examining Sally Hemings story, however, do you have a higher degree of respect for what enslaved women were forced to confront? Why or why not?
4. What questions do you still have about the lives of everyday enslaved people and how they strove to overcome its brutality to maintain their own humanity?
Closing Discussion and Activity: Impact of Sally Hemings: 30 minutes
To mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment in 2020, the National Women's History Museum (NWHM) has created connective, thought provoking and essential themes to take students beyond studying women in history to analyzing and discussing how women have impacted history.
• Expanding Roles
• Defying Expectations
• Breaking Barriers
• Creating Momentum for Change
Discuss with your students that as an oppressed group, women have had to work to expand their role and rights throughout history. As a class, discuss the four essential themes and identify key characteristics the students believe define each theme: what it means to expand roles, defy expectations, break barriers, or create momentum, or push for, change. Through class discussion, students will explore the concepts and determine how the actions and achievements of women, especially enslaved women like Sally Hemings define or exemplify each of the key themes.
After the class has come to a consensus, divide the students into four groups.
• Assign each group one of the four essential themes; allow 10 minutes discussion time.
• Each group will discuss how and why some part of Sally Hemings’s story, or the experience of enslaved women in general, connect to their assigned theme; employing the attributes developed in the class discussion.
Next, bring the class together and invite each group to define their theme and describe how enslaved women in general or Sally Hemings in particular fit that theme. The groups may choose one spokesperson or assign each group member a topic or idea.
• Query: After completing the activity, would students broaden the theme’s parameter? Why or why not?
Final Discussion Question:
1. How do you believe enslaved women were shaped by the institution of slavery?
2. How did women like Sally Hemings also shape the institution of slavery?
Assessment / Homework
As a closing assignment, every student will attempt to put themselves into the shoes of women who endured the horrors of slavery and fought to create a better life for them and their families.
• Pretend you are an enslaved female worker in early nineteenth-century Virginia. You will be writing a diary entry detailing both the horrors you have endured in slavery, but also your hopes for the future. In your entry, you can imagine and create what your life was like and what had happened to you. You can also include what your master was like, your treatment, your work responsibilities, and your family (or lack thereof). Also, include what hopes you have for the future. How do you plan to respond to your enslavement? What factors might go into your decision (family, potential punishment, or anything else)? Write at least one or two pages to demonstrate that you understand the experiences of enslaved women. You can focus more on one specific aspect of this letter but attempt to both reflect on your experience and speculate on the future.
(This assignment can be done at the end of class or for homework)
Future Research / Resources
For an extension activity, the teacher could assign the students to research the lives of other members of the Hemings family and other enslaved persons who lived at Monticello. is an excellent resource that has all the known information about every member of the Hemings family and many others that lived on the plantation. Follow the link through to search for specific members of the Hemings family. The link below is from the Monticello website under the People Enslaved at Monticello tab. From that point, the instruction and assessment can take various forms such as a short research paper that answers the research questions below.
Specifications: Teachers can use these or adopt any additional requirements:
1. 12 Point Font, 1-inch margin, Double-spaced, and 1 Page in length
Research Questions/Prompt:
1. Did they ever gain their independence? If so, how?
2. How were they treated by Jefferson and his family?
3. What were some of the most important experiences of their lives?
4. Did any plantation staff or visitors ever comment on their presence or appearance? If so, what did they write about them?
The response should be detailed and provide evidence of contextual understanding of the period.
Common Core Standards:
C3 Standards:
• D2.His.5.9-12. Analyze how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives. | <urn:uuid:bda9ec65-3f23-4b74-b408-79aa286a36eb> | https://www.womenshistory.org/resources/lesson-plan/sally-hemings | en | 0.948145 | 0.292587 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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categories / Anxiety / Ashwagandha
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Ashwagandha works as an adaptogen, promoting the body's ability to maintain homeostasis and resist stress.
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Ashwagandha contains chemicals that might help calm the brain, reduce swelling (inflammation), lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.
Talk with your health provider.
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The appropriate dose of ashwagandha depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for ashwagandha. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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Ashwagandha is a plant. The root and berry are used to make medicine.
Do not use ashwagandha if:
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• You have an immune system disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions called "autoimmune disease."
• You are scheduled for surgery in the next two weeks. Ashwagandha might cause excessive sedation if combined with medications used during and after surgery.
Pregnancy/Lactation: Abortifacient properties have been reported for ashwagandha. Avoid use.
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Third Age Group ©
by H Marshall
Weel done the Dundee Courier!
Thanks to their determination to publicise the financial irregularities found in the running of Henry McLeish's constituency office and the Fife Council (where Henry McLeish's wife worked), the allegations of malpractice were exposed, and Henry McLeish ignominiously resigned as First Minister of Scotland.
Huv ye' aw' heard aboot the Group Third Age?
They din'nae exist but they still get paid.
Who gies them oor money?
Who sanctions the lease?
Would you believe it?
It's the family McLeish!
Noo oor Henry telt us it wis'nae a fiddle,
It's easy explained - it wis only a muddle.
He could'nae come clean!
He could'nae be true!
But hiv ye noticed?
He's no First Minister noo!
Henry's wife called Julie is aff oan the sick,
We've aw' seen that afore, that's an auld trick.
Tae avoid investigation,
She hid from the search,
But very soon she too
Will be knocked aff her perch!
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Epaxial muscles of the trunk
Other Terms: Back, Back muscles, Muscles of the back
The epaxial muscles, or vertebral extensors, develop on the dorsal side of the vertebral column and skull. These muscles develop from the myotomal epimere of all the trunk somites and are found along the entire length of the vertebral column and back of the occipital bone. They comprise the intrinsic muscles of the vertebral column, which are often referred to as the “true back muscles.” The vertebral extensors form four distinct muscle groups. These groups are, from superficial to deep, the spinotransversales, the erector spinae, the transversospinales, and the intersegmental muscles. However, each of the four groups does not extend the entire length of the vertebral column, so in some regions not all four layers are represented. It is also important to recognize that muscles from the upper limb and caudal branchial arch migrate superficial to the epaxial muscles and completely cover them. In general, the epaxial muscles vary in length and attach between different vertebrae along the length of the vertebral column. Some of the shorter, deep muscles originate (attach) on one vertebra and insert (attach) onto an adjacent vertebra or the skull, thus spanning only one intervertebral joint. On the other hand, the longer superficial muscles might span numerous vertebrae and produce movements at multiple intervertebral joints. While the majority of the muscles attach from one vertebra to another vertebra, some also attach to the occipital bone at the base of the skull (a bone with the same developmental origins as the vertebrae) or to the vertebral ends of the ribs. All of the muscles in this group share a common nerve supply; that is, they are all innervated by the posterior (dorsal) rami of the spinal nerves.
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Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Frank Drowns In His Own Blood
This synopsis is a coping method for oral surgery I have coming up at the end of the week, also an excuse for Danny DeVito or a willing impersonator to swallow more fake blood than is probably good for them. It is available for sale to anyone who wants to produce something with it. Very reasonable rates, not even Green Man rates. Just use the contact form and keep it short because that #$!@ing form screws up everything.
Paddy's Pub
8:01 a.m.
On a Tuesday
The Gang is back on their bullshit when Frank enters and immediately starts taking shots. Under questioning he explains that he's got to go to the dentist and he needs to get good and wasted first. Charlie warns Frank away from dentistry in general, claiming it's all a scam and that dentists murder their patients. Mac reminds him about the time Charlie started pulling his own teeth out "like Goddam popcorn kernels" but Charlie's adamant, and the Tooth Fairy gave him five bucks a pop. Dennis wants to explore that but Charlie blows him off to tell Frank not to go to the dentist. Frank admonishes him, it's a routine cleaning, what could go wrong?
TITLE CARD: Frank Drowns In His Own Blood
Later, in the pub. Frank is gone. Sweet Dee enters the bar excitedly and shows the Gang an open audition for models for a dental advertisement. Dennis wonders how a giant bird with no teeth can make the audition. Mac reminds Dee that she's a crackhead and her teeth have to be terrible, which Dee and Dennis both take offense to. Mac stands by his argument and opines that his "superior dentition" would make him the perfect candidate.
Dentist's office. Frank's getting examined by a hot dentist because of course he found one. He hits on her, she hooks the shit out of his gums, notices that he still has his wisdom teeth. "Of course I kept them, they're mine. I should give them to some little shit in Somalia?" The dentist lets that pass but informs Frank that all four of the teeth are cracked and impacted. He's gonna need surgery.
A pharmacy. Dee and Dennis are looking for whitening products and anything else to make their teeth look good, to put Mac in his place. They bullshit over the various options and ask the pharmacist what they should use. The pharmacist, who has no time for them at all, recommends a bleach rinse. Dee tells her to piss off but Dennis tells her to reconsider, saying that if a respected chemist is recommending it it might have merit.
Charlie's apartment. Frank comes in ready to bunk in for the night and tells Charlie about his surgery tomorrow. Charlie freaks out and begs Frank not to do it, he'll die! But Frank blows him off and hits the shitter. Charlie whispers to himself "I won't let you die Dad. Frank."
Charlie's apartment the next morning. Frank wakes up spewing blood all over the bed and freaks out thinking he's dying. Charlie wakes up and explains that he did Frank a favor by yanking his teeth out in the middle of the night. Frank goes off between spit tanks, especially when Charlie shows him the teeth. They're not even close to the right ones.
Dee's apartment. Dee's getting ready to try the bleach rinse idea. Dennis hypes her up for it. Dee slugs the bleach and immediately spews it out cursing. Dennis laughs, saying he knew it wouldn't work but he wanted to see if Dee would do it. Dee chews him out. Dennis suggests a great way he knows to improve their dental hygiene, because it makes their teeth feel all tingly and leaves them grinning tightly: crack. Dee's on board.
Outside Charlie's apartment. Mac pulls up in his car wearing ridiculous dental headgear. Charlie asks for a ride to the hospital as Frank continues spitting up blood, which is why they can't get a cab. Mac's not cool with the idea and asks why they can't call an ambulance. Charlie explains they won't come out anymore because Frank called too many times for rat bites. Mac forces Frank to lay his shirt on the seat before he gets in.
The audition office. Dennis and Dee are loaded on crack and wearing crazed fixed grins. They try to sell themselves as new talent but the guy running things explains that he's looking for people to get dental X-rays for a class. After a beat Dennis and Dee ask how much it pays - $50 a head. Dennis and Dee declare that's beneath them and storm out, haranguing the poor guy for lying.
The hospital. Dennis and Dee are walking out, admitting that it did seem odd the audition was being held in a hospital. Frank staggers into the shot and falls to the floor, screaming that he's drowning in his own blood. The Gang regards him in the spreading pool of blood - nobody wants to touch him and they're in a hospital, right? Might as well bail, he'll be fine. Dennis, Dee and Mac exit, Dee asks what the hell Mac is wearing. Charlie lingers while Frank begs for help. "Yeah Frank you know I'm gonna go find someone to pick you up I'll be right back" and Charlie leaves to put Frank's teeth down for the Tooth Fairy.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Potomac Dream
I've dreamed of the future since elementary school. For the record, it's a useless talent. When your days tend to blur together, dreaming of the future normally amounts to a faint sense of déjà vu when real life catches up to the dream. (This is not uncommon.)
Dreams are fleeting things, experiences that fade in the light of the morning sun. But a recent dream rather seared itself onto my consciousness.
I sat next to a bridge in Washington, D.C. on the edge of the Potomac. The ground was green with grass. A podium was set up with the river behind it, early in the morning. It's Inauguration Day.
I sat in the second row of a children's choir. I was full-grown so I have no idea why. Richard Nixon was sitting next to me. I knew it was 2017 and Nixon looked as old as he would have been if he'd lived this long.
The Rock got up to speak, and went on a rant about the evils of Obamacare. (Is Dwayne Johnson a conservative? Has he spoken on the ACA? I have no idea.) I saw Paul Ryan standing in the background. His eyes were a pure black, save for yellow pinprick pupils.
The Rock finished speaking and Nixon stood up to accept the Presidency. He turned to me then, and shook his head before he walked to the podium. He spoke for a bit, stated that he was resigning effective immediately, and walked away. Then I woke up filled with a certainty that Donald Trump would not finish out his term.
I'm not a skilled oneiromancer and, let's face it, this is all probably conjecture based on a bad Chipotle dinner. But this was a couple months before the Rock started joking about politics, and I don't trust Paul Ryan one bit. There's some new bit of nastiness coming from that man, mark my words.
But the main thing is it was a hopeful dream, in its way, and hope is a precious thing. Maybe it'll amount of nothing. But maybe, just this once, the tide will end up sweeping the big monster away before it can do too much damage.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
On The Firing of James Comey
Current mood: Makoto Niijima
I didn't plan to resurrect this blog for a political post, but I need a place to go over the last 48 hours in long form so I can get all the madness straight in my head.
Yesterday President Trump started his day by demanding Congress ask Sally Yates, under oath, how classified information was leaked to the press after she discussed it with White House counsel (sic). He did this with both his personal and official POTUS Twitter accounts, after reported attempts by his staff to pressure the Senate to cancel her appearance before a judiciary subcommittee. Trump’s tweets alone could be considered tampering with a federal witness testifying against him.
Sally Yates did testify and confirmed that she warned the Trump administration that Michael Flynn, who was Trump’s national security adviser, was lying to them about his conversations with the Russian Ambassador and that he could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Russian government. In short, he was compromised.
A report by NBC News the same day revealed that President Obama had also personally warned Donald Trump not to hire Michael Flynn. President Obama had previously fired Flynn from his post as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Former DNI James Clapper also testified before the Senate on Monday, and stated he was unaware of the FBI’a investigation into contacts between Donald Trump and the Russian government during the 2016 election. His prior statement that there was no evidence of collusion between Trump and the Russian government was rendered invalid. Despite that, President Trump repeatedly asserted Monday that Clapper testified again that there was no evidence of collusion. This was a lie.
Republicans on the subcommittee did not concern themselves with the fact that the Trump administration was directly warned that Flynn was compromised and refused to fire him for two weeks, and only after this fact was revealed to the press. Instead they questioned Ms. Yates on the leaks that led to Michael Flynn being fired, and her refusal to defend Trump’s travel ban as acting Attorney General, for which she was removed from her post. Ms. Yates acquitted herself well.
That was Monday. Today, Tuesday, President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who was in charge of the Trump-Russia investigation.
He did so on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had previously recused himself from the Trump-Russia investigation because of his own ties to the Trump campaign and conversations with the Russian Ambassador. Today he recommended firing the man leading the Trump-Russia investigation, an act that has almost no precedent in American history. (The last FBI director to be fired was fired for multiple ethics violations, and was the first FBI Director to be fired in U.S. history.)
President Trump claims Comey was fired* because of his aggressive handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails, an action he previously claimed was being "soft" on Clinton and which he had previously praised Comey for.
What it actually looks like is that President Trump, after attempting to quash Ms. Yates’s testimony, is firing Director Comey to replace him with a surrogate who will end the Trump-Russia investigation. This amid breaking reports that grand jury subpoenas have been issued regarding Michael Flynn's business records, and with Director Comey scheduled to testify in a closed session of Congress on Thursday.
This sort of thing has happened before.
Trump's actions today are a blatantly impeachable offense, the latest in a long list of offenses against decency, honesty, and reason by the Trump administration. This is an unacceptable abuse of the President’s power, and it must end.
I will be calling my Senators and my Congressman tomorrow morning to request the following:
1. That they demand an independent commission to investigate President Trump's ties to Russia.
2. That they refuse to confirm any nominee to replace Director Comey who will not pledge to recuse themselves from the Trump-Russia investigation and appoint an independent investigator to complete it.
3. That they demand the immediate resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions for violating his recusal and interfering with the ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign.
4. That they draw up articles of impeachment against President Trump for interfering in an ongoing investigation into his own campaign.
I strongly encourage all those reading this to do the same, and to continue to pressure Congress to act until we no longer have an Administration that abuses its power at every turn for its own benefit. As much as this was ever a question of party, President Trump has pushed us beyond that point today. He must be held to account.
This is going to get worse before it gets better. But we have to keep working to make sure that it does get better.
One day, if we don't weaken.
*Fox News reports Comey resigned, which he obviously did not. Thank you Fox News.
Monday, January 2, 2017
GOP Pigs At The Trough
Tonight Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R, VA) introduced an amendment to the House rules package that moves the Office of Congressional Ethics under the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee. That means:
1. The Office of Congressional Ethics, now the Office of Congressional Complaint Review, is no longer a bipartisan, independent office. It is under GOP control.
2. The Office can no longer investigate anonymous tips against lawmakers.
3. The Office can no longer disclose any of its findings to the public or other government entities.
The Republican conference passed the amendment 119 to 74. It will be voted on by the full House tomorrow as part of the Rules package. It will pass.
It's not even the first day of this Congress, Trump is not even in office, and the GOP are already acting like pigs at a trough. If you agree this is a problem, give Rep. Goodlatte a call at (202) 225-5431, and maybe call Speaker Ryan at (202) 225-3031 and your own Representative, and let them know how you feel. | <urn:uuid:2f6af407-bff5-45ff-acc0-d8caf4141476> | http://www.davidearle.com/2017/ | en | 0.976148 | 0.021268 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Friday, 29 March 2019
Busting Vaccine Myths
Ooooooh boy. I have no idea what kind of rabbit hole I'm entering here, and this may end up being the 1) longest, 2) least read, and 3) most unworthwhile (yes, it's a word) post in the history of blogs. But fuck it, I'm doing it anyway.
If you've landed on this page, one of three things has happened:
1. You've been a loyal reader, got an email notification about this post, and you clicked it.
2. You searched the internet for "docbastard vaccines" for some stupid reason, or
3. I or (hopefully) someone else referred you here from Twitter because you made some bullshit argument about vaccines.
If it's #3, there is at least a 99.21% chance (I calculated it) that you haven't even read this far. But in case you have, please immediately refer to the number I listed so you can quickly find out why you're wrong here wrong.
If that last sentence doesn't make sense, just read on. Everyone else knows it will all come together by the end.
My Twitter life has devolved into arguing about pseudoscience, and that has devolved even further into mainly arguing about vaccines. I have officially gotten sick and fucking tired of answering the same stupid points repeatedly, so I have decided to make this handy dandy little (not-so-little) compendium of Answers To Stupid Antivax Talking Points. These are the same tired old arguments I have heard over and over and fucking over again, and that I have refuted over and over and fucking over again. So instead of repeating myself, I can just point people here and thus assure myself that no one will ever read this ever in the future history of ever.
Image result for that's just your opinion man
If you're expecting any of the answers to be just "NO", then prepare to be sorely disappointed, because what I will not do is simply say "NO". What I will do is say "NO" and explain why it's NO while citing sources, so you can't just say "WELL THAT'S JUST YOUR OPINION". Let me stress here that almost nothing here is "just my opinion".
I'm going to place a handy little (and now-alphabetised) table right about here with all the arguments I'll be assassinating discussing for easy reference.
100% effective 100% safe 72 doses Aborted foetus Allergies Aluminum
Antivax doctors Autism Autoimmune Bill Gates Bloodstream Cancer virus
Cause cancer CDC Compulsory Contamination Cutter Didn't exist
Didn't save us Flu sheds Flu shot Flu shot causes flu Formaldehyde Gardasil
Gay GBS Genetic drift Harmless Hep B Herd immunity
Insert Low prevalence Measles doesn't exist Mercury MMR kills MMS
Money MTHFR My choice Natural immunity Never flu No measles deaths
Not antivax but Only MMR Peanut oil Pertussis POF Poling
Polio DDT Polio renamed Polysorbate 80 Protects cancer Religion Safer vaccines
Safety study Sanitation Schedule Seizures Shedding SIDS
Simpsonwood Squalene Survivorship Too many too soon Toxins Unavoidably unsafe
Underreported Unvax healthier Vaccine court VAERS Vax vs unvax Vaxed outbreaks
Wakefield Waning immunity Why unvax threat Zimmerman
And with that out of the way, let's get started.
1) If you want to pump your kid full of massive amounts of toxins . . .
Stop right there. This is almost universally the first argument I see, almost like it's the antivaxxer fight song. This is what antivaxxers seem to think vaccines look like:
See the terrified crying child? The big syringes full of a large amount of scary yellow stuff that looks like apple juice? Multiple injections at one time? I could call this a lot of things - fear mongering, scare tactics, hyperbole. But a far more accurate term would be BULLSHIT. Here is what an actual vaccine injection looks like:
Calm baby, tiny needle (which you can't even see because it's so small), tiny amount of clear fluid. The actual volume of a vaccine is 0.5 ml. That's 10 drops. TEN FUCKING DROPS. So don't talk about pumping massive amounts of anything. There is no pumping, no massive, and no toxins.
2). . . toxins like mercury
Sigh . . . "toxins". There is no elemental mercury in any vaccine, nor has there ever been. What you are referring to is thimerosal, which is approximately 50% ethylmercury. And while the word "ethylmercury" has the word "mercury" in it, that does not make it either mercury or poison. Think of it this way: the word "chair" has "hair" in it. That doesn't mean it's made of hair.
Ok, that is admittedly a terrible analogy. How about this: sodium is a metal which explodes when exposed to water, and chloride gas is highly poisonous. But when you (well, not you exactly) combine the two into a compound, it produces ordinary table salt (which can still be toxic, but that's a subject for another time). This is basic chemistry. Basic. Heh. Yes, that was a chemistry joke.
Anyway, ethylmercury is not the mercury found in thermometers. It is also not the dangerous mercury compound found in fish. That would be methylmercury, and though it is only one letter different than ethylmercury, it is an entirely different compound with entirely different metabolism and effect on human physiology (just like ethanol, which is the alcohol found in your wine, and methanol, which will kill you if you drink it). Studies have found that ethylmercury is readily metabolised and excreted so does not increase blood mercury levels, while methymercury lingers for much longer and is much more toxic.
This all ignores the fact that ethylmercury was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2001. I will address this point further later.
3) . . . and aluminum . . .
Aluminum salts have been used as adjuvants in vaccines for decades. Adjuvants increase the immune response, increasing the chance that a vaccine will grant immunity. The exact mechanism by which it does this is still not clear, but what is clear is that aluminum salts have been extensively studied and found to be safe. This is an excellent review article which documents the excellent safety profile and the minimal risks (including macrophagic myofasciitis) of using aluminum salt adjuvants. Yes, they have risks. But they are very small.
4) . . . and polysorbate 80 . . .
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier used in innumerable foods, cosmetics, eye drops, mouth wash, etc. It is also used in some vaccines as a stabiliser, but in such tiny amounts as to be negligible to human physiology.
Let's do a comparison, shall we? The HPV vaccine contains 50 microgram of polysorbate 80, while a small scoop of ice cream contains about 170,000 micrograms, or 3400 times as much polysorbate 80. (reference) It has also been studied in infants given vaccines with and without polysorbate 80, and it has been found to be safe.
5) . . . aborted foetal tissue . . .
This one usually makes me laugh. Antivaxxers make it sound like aborted babies are ground up and placed in a vaccine vial along with other assorted toxins. But no babies are aborted to manufacture vaccines. A few vaccines are grown on cell lines derived from a foetus that was aborted years ago, because viruses grow better on the type of cells that they normally infect. The vaccine is then washed, eliminating all but a trace of the growth medium. So no, there are no dead babies in any vaccine, and no new babies are aborted to make vaccines.
6) . . . formaldehyde . . .
If you have used this stupid argument, then you have displayed your ignorance of human physiology. Formaldehyde sounds scary - "THAT'S WHAT THEY PRESERVE CORPSES WITH!" - but it is actually a very normal part of human metabolism. As you sit there steaming at me, your cells are creating way more formaldehyde than could be found in any vaccine. In fact, in the 30 or so seconds it took you to read this paragraph thus far, your liver has metabolised about 11 mg of formaldehyde, which is over 10 times as much as an infant could ever receive from even multiple vaccines (0.7 mg). In the time it took you to read that last sentence, an infant would have already metabolised all the formaldehyde from their vaccines twice. If your infant read that last sentence, however, then Mensa would probably like to have a word with you. And her.
7) . . . cancer virus.
Oh, you made the SV40 argument. Yes, many thousands of people unknowingly received a polio vaccine that was tainted (or contaminated, if you'd prefer) with SV40. And that is truly unfortunate. However, SV40 was not discovered until 1960, whereas the polio vaccine was first produced in 1955. It was simply not known. But once it was discovered, it was removed from the polio vaccine (obviously). Still, by the time it was removed in 1963 about 90% of children had received a polio vaccine contaminated with the virus, which causes tumours in animals. Of course the fear was that it would cause cancer in humans, and it is true that SV40 has been found in various human cancer cells. However, it has been extensively studied, and while the virus has been found in human cancers, a review of the evidence has shown that SV40 does not cause cancer in humans. It has been studied for over 50 years, and no association has been found. It also hasn't been in any vaccine since 1963, so there is no cancer in any vaccine.
8) Vaccines cause autism!
I knew you would get here. The short version is "NO THEY FUCKING DON'T", but that won't satisfy you. Actually, nothing will satisfy you but I'm going to continue anyway. Vaccines have been studied extensively for their possible role in causing autism. There are exactly ZERO large studies that show any association between vaccines and autism, and while I'm thinking about it there are exactly ZERO small studies which show it. Wakefield's original 1998 bullshit fraud was only 12 patients, if you didn't know.
On the other hand, there are multiple studies of tens or hundreds of thousands of children from various countries around the planet (so you can shove your "But the CDC is corrupt!" conspiracy theory up your ass), each of which show no association between vaccines and autism. Here are a few of them:
1) Danish study of MMR and 537,000 children - no link
2) Finnish study of MMR and 535,000 children - no link
3) US study of MMR and 95,000 children - no link
4) UK study of thimerosal and DPT/DT and 109,000 children - no link
5) Danish study of thimerosal-containing vaccines and 467,000 children - no link
6) US study of thimerosal-containing vaccines and 124,000 children - no link
7) Danish study of MMR and 657,000 children (including high risk children) - no link
That last one was just published March 4, 2019 and represents probably the largest, most comprehensive study which shows absolutely no link between MMR and autism. They even looked at children who had siblings with autism and other risk factors that would make them high risk for autism, but they still found no link. The conclusion speaks for itself (emphasis mine):
Conclusion: The study strongly supports that MMR vaccination does not increase the risk for autism, does not trigger autism in susceptible children, and is not associated with clustering of autism cases after vaccination. It adds to previous studies through significant additional statistical power and by addressing hypotheses of susceptible subgroups and clustering of cases.
Oh . . . I suppose I accidentally emphasised the entire conclusion completely on purpose. That's because it should be fucking obvious by now. That's 7 huge studies and over 2.5 million children vs your anecdote or Wakefield's bullshit. So stop already.
Just fucking stop.
9) But only MMR has been studied!
I will refer you back to response 8 above. You can clearly see three studies (4, 5, and 6) which looked at children who received thimerosal-containing vaccines. Antivaxxers seem to think that every vaccine ever produced has several tonnes of thimerosal in it, but in reality MMR never contained thimerosal. Not "but trace amounts", not "but it was removed" - never. NONE. So yes, other vaccines have most definitely been studied, and they all show the same thing - that those other vaccines also do not cause autism.
10) But MTHFR!
I've asked every antivaxxer who has mentioned this to tell me in their own words what MTHFR is and how it relates to vaccination without looking it up, but not a single person has other than to call it a mutation. Strange. MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. It is a gene on chromosome 1 which encodes an enzyme that catalyses 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (which has to do with homocystine metabolism and is some pretty goddamned fancy science). There are many polymorphisms (ie variations) of the genes, and some are incredibly common (for example, 10% of the North American population has 2 copies of a specific polymorphism). Preliminary research shows it may increase the risk of schizophrenia or dementia, but no research shows the gene has anything to do with any vaccine side effect. MTHFR is a polymorphism, not a mutation. Those two words are not synonymous.
I know you think citing MTHFR makes you look smart, but it has the exact opposite effect. If you didn't understand the above paragraph but still think MTHFR is a mutation which causes autism, it isn't and it doesn't.
11) But Hannah Poling!
Hannah Poling had a very rare mitochondrial disorder, so rare that its exact incidence is unknown. She received her normal series of vaccines at 19 months old (DTaP, MMR, HiB, varicella, polio), and two days later was lethargic with a rash. She was diagnosed with vaccine-derived varicella, and several months later continued to have delays in her neurological development. Ultimately she was diagnosed with encephalopathy, followed by language, behaviour, and communication problems. Though mitochondrial disorders can appear quite similar to autism, her parents (including her father, who is a neurologist) took her case to the Vaccine Court and won.
Well, no. Dr. Paul Offit has reviewed this case in very specific detail here, but I'll give a short summary nevertheless since I can't expect anyone to click on a link and read something: Infections are known to exacerbate encephalopathy but vaccines are not. And children with mitochondrial disorders are at a higher risk of infections, which can exacerbate encephalopathy (didn't I just say that)?
So did vaccines cause Hannah's autism? No.
12) But Dr. Andrew Zimmerman said vaccines cause autism!
This is a rather recent antivax talking point. Andrew Zimmerman is a paediatric neurologist who co-authored a case report in 2006 which documented a child with a mitochondrial disorder who developed autism after being vaccinated (sound familiar?). While this is being translated by antivaxxers as "SEE? VACCINES CAN CAUSE AUTISM!", these people are merely cherry picking and completely missed Dr. Zimmerman's full statement: "There may be a subset of children who are at risk of regression if they have underlying mitochondrial dysfunction and are simultaneously exposed to factors that stress their mitochrondrial reserve (which is critical for developing the brain). Such factors might include infections, as well as metabolic and immune factors, and vaccines".
In other words, children with these extremely rare disorders may be predisposed to developing autism or autism-like symptoms if they are exposed to some environmental trigger. Vaccines may be one of them, but there are many others as well. Keep in mind that children are exposed to thousands of antigens every single day of their lives. Unless they are kept in a sterile bubble, the risk with these children is way higher with infectious diseases compared to vaccines.
13) Dr. Wakefield was exonerated!
First of all, it's Mister Wakefield. He lost his licence to practice medicine and thus should not be called "Doctor". Second, no he wasn't. Charges against one of his co-authors, who has stated both his continued support of MMR and that their paper did not establish any link between MMR and autism, were dropped on appeal. Mr. Wakefield, on the other hand, lost his license due to his elaborately fraudulent paper which involved paying children at his kid's birthday party £5 for blood samples, without permission from an ethics committee. Oh what's the matter, you didn't know that little detail? Shame. I suspect you also didn't know that Wakefield was trying to patent his own single measles vaccine by tarnishing MMR. What, you didn't know that either? Well now you do. Your hero is an unethical asshole.
Wakefield was not exonerated. He never won any appeal and he did not get his licence back. He now spends his time in the US making bullshit antivax movies and talking antivax bullshit to impressionable immigrants and causing outbreaks of measles. In short, Andrew Wakefield is an asshole and a menace to society.
14) CDC whistleblower!
Speaking of elaborate, this one is merely an elaborate conspiracy. It involves a team of CDC researchers, including William Thompson, supposedly throwing data in the garbage can (literally) which purportedly showed that black children were more than three times more likely to develop autism as a result of vaccines. This was supposedly found after a non-scientist named Brian Hooker re-evaluated the data.
Well there are a few problems with this: first, who keeps paper data anymore? Data is all digital and backed up repeatedly in multiple locations. If they didn't then they are shoddy researchers who should not be trusted with anything. Anyway, I literally laughed out loud when I read the part about throwing data in the bin. Second, William Thompson is still employed by CDC. Anyone ever heard of a whistleblower still being employed by the company (or agency) against whom they blew a whistle? Third, the re-evaluation by Hooker was completely incorrectly done, using the wrong statistical analysis to evaluate the data. And fourth, even if the re-evaluation were true (it isn't - read here), it only shows an increase in risk in one demographic (black males). It did not show any increased risk in white boys or girls. This would mean that vaccines STILL do not cause autism in every other demographic.
15) Why is my unvaccinated kid such a threat to your vaccinated kid if vaccines work?
This argument is so stupid that I'm surprised anyone still uses it. First, no vaccine is 100% effective. The closest is measles, which is 97% effective after two doses. Second, not all children can be vaccinated. Third, some children are too young to be vaccinated. Are you telling me that you don't give a fuck about an infant suffering from a disease she's too young to be vaccinated against? What kind of monster are you? Actually I'll just let this handy graphic explain the rest:
Image result for why is my unvaccinated kid risk
16) These are all just harmless childhood diseases.
What kind of "harmless disease" continues to kill over 100,000 children every year? There has only been one year on record that measles has killed fewer than 100,000 children (2016). Does this still sound harmless? Between 2000 and 2017, global measles vaccination increased from 72 to 85%, while during the same period measles rates decreased 83% and measles deaths fell 80%. Let me repeat - measles deaths fell 80%. And before you even say "But not in my country!", well fuck you. Fuck you for not caring about children dying in other countries just because they don't live near you and look like you. Fuck you.
Regardless, that's just for measles (which seems to have become the poster child for "harmless" vaccine preventable diseases), because this stupid argument also completely ignores all the other various deadly and/or debilitating diseases for which vaccines exist (hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenza, meningitis, polio, etc). Even chicken pox. Yes, chicken pox, which used to kill about hundred kids in the United States alone each year before the vaccine. Is 100 dead children enough for you? And after the vaccine was introduced, this happened:
Image result for chicken pox mortality rate
Is that clear to you yet? And I swear to fucking god, if you try to say "But the Brady Bunch . . ." I will somehow find you and slap the shit out of you. The Brady Bunch was a fucking sitcom, produced to make people laugh. It was not a documentary on the supposed (but nonexistent) benign nature of infectious diseases. Did you expect them to show the graveyards of children killed by disease? I don't think the ratings would have been very high if they showed this:
which shows two young cousins age 4 and 7 who died within 2 days of each other from diphtheria. Which is preventable with a vaccine.
Or this:
which shows two brothers and a sister, ages 7, 10, and 11, who all died within about two weeks of each other of diphtheria. Which is preventable with a fucking vaccine.
There are graveyards filled with the corpses of children who died of vaccine-preventable diseases. So fuck you for not caring about them.
17) But there are too many vaccines on the schedule. 72 doses!
You probably sent this graphic or a similar one:
This is supposed to scare people into thinking "HOLY HELL! LOOK AT ALL THOSE SHOTS!" But look closer - in 1960, there were only three shots which prevented 5 diseases (polio, smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus). By 1983 this had been expanded to include 3 more diseases (measles, mumps, and rubella), and studies had shown that efficacy was much better for several vaccines when boosters were given. By 2016 we were now able to protect children from flu, rotavirus, chicken pox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza, pneumococcus, and meningitis. And you think this is a bad thing? Preventing debilitating and/or deadly diseases is somehow wrong to you? Yes we give children many more shots now, but only because we don't want them to suffer or die the way so many others did.
I had chicken pox as a child because there was no vaccine for it at the time. I remember it vividly because it was unquestionably the worst week of my life. I wouldn't wish chicken pox on my worst enemy (not even you, antivaxxer), so it's fortunate we now have a vaccine for it.
How much do you have to hate children to want them to suffer from these diseases? I watched my sister almost die from H flu meningitis when she was a toddler (also no vaccine at the time). She survived and recovered fully, but the kid in the adjacent room was not so lucky. He's in the fucking ground now, from a disease we can prevent.
18) Well then there are too many vaccines too soon.
Are there? According to whom, you? There is no evidence to support such a statement. You have been led to believe that children's immune systems are not developed enough to be able to handle the antigens in a vaccine, but somehow you believe they can handle all the other thousands or millions of antigens they deal with every day? Have you ever seen a baby? You know infants put everything right in their mouths, right? That teething ring your little angel just put back in her mouth was sitting on the floor that you walk on. Did you sterilise your shoes this morning? Did you even realise you stepped in dog shit? No? Well your child's immune system can handle that, so it can handle a few antigens in a few vaccines, even at the same time.
Oh and before you claim that I don't have any evidence, yes I do. Here it is. Enjoy: On-time vaccine receipt in the first year does not adversely affect neuropsychological outcomes.
19) But the vaccine schedule has never been tested.
Yes it has. The fact that you don't know it has is your failing, not anyone else's. Here is one such piece of evidence. And here is a study of macaques who were given the full infant vaccine schedule and observed for 5 years (keep in mind that autism generally manifests around 2 years old), and there were no neurodevelopmental problems. The best part of this study was that it was funded by antivaxxers who were expecting to find problems, but they didn't. This study proved them, and you, wrong.
20) But the vaccine court has paid out billions. This proves vaccine injury is real and vaccines are dangerous.
No, it proves that vaccines are not 100% safe, which is fully acknowledged by anyone who knows anything about vaccines. The only people who say anything about vaccines being 100% safe or 100% effective are antivaxxers, but always in the context of "But pro-vaxxers say vaccines are 100% safe and effective!" which is not remotely true. We do not say that. You say that. (More on that later)
Regardless, let's actually look at the numbers from the vaccine court, shall we? According to the latest statistics (July, 2018) between 2006 and 2016 a total of 3,153,876,236 doses of vaccines were distributed in the US. Over that same time period, there were 3727 compensable claims in the vaccine court amounting to $1.74 billion (the $3.5 billion number being bandied about is the total amount give by the court since the inception of the vaccine court in 1989).
$1.74 billion! HA! You lose!
You didn't let me finish. Let's do some fun math here - 3727 claims divided by 3,153,876,236 doses of vaccines amounts to 0.000118%, which is just over 1 compensable claim per million doses. Hm, one per million sounds vaguely familiar. Anyway, the amount the vaccine court has awarded seems huge, but it is far less important than the actual number of cases, and the number of cases is far less important than the proportion of compensable cases compared to doses given.
I'll repeat - one per million.
As for the claim that vaccine manufacturers are immune from being sued, no they aren't. While it is true in the US that you go through the vaccine court first, it is still possible for the manufacturers to be sued. And this is of course ignoring the fact that the vaccine court (and NCVIP) only applies in one country on the planet.
21) But only 10% of vaccine reactions are even reported! The real number is much higher!
I'm not sure where that estimate came from, but you sure do like to repeat it. Regardless, of course most adverse events aren't reported, because most vaccine reactions are mild and self-limiting (injection site pain, swelling, and redness). My arm was a bit sore after my last flu shot. Technically that is a "vaccine reaction", but did I report it? No. The serious ones get reported.
22) It's my child, so it's my choice.
Well that's a rather stupid thing to say. Of course it's your choice, and no one is saying it isn't (except the truly hardcore vaccine proponents, who may overstate things about child protective services and all that bullshit). But what if you choose to beat your child with a plank of wood? Is that your choice?
Yes, how you raise your child is your choice. No one is trying to take your choices away from you. If you want to feed your kid nothing but organic, free range, sugar-free, gluten-free, GMO-free kale, that's your prerogative. You'll probably end up with a malnourished (and picky) (and very angry) kid, but that's completely up to you. And sure, not vaccinating your child is also your choice. No one is going to force you to take your kid to the doctor for her shots no matter what antivax (or pro-vax) fear mongers want you to believe, and no one is going to snatch them away and do it without your knowledge or consent. But if you are making that choice based on misinformation and fear, then you are making the wrong choice.
23) Compulsory vaccines are wrong.
I suppose that depends on your definition of "wrong". If you mean it violates your civil rights or civil liberties or personal medical liberty or whichever other buzz phrase you choose to use, well no it doesn't.
Yes it does!
No it doesn't. If you still think it does, then you happen to disagree with the United States Supreme Court which ruled against you in Jacobson v Massachusetts.
But that was only one ruling!
Then you must not know about Zucht v. King, in which the Supreme Court ruled that schools may refuse admission to children who are not vaccinated.
There are currently mandatory vaccination laws in Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Latvia, Pakistan. Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine (no, the US and Canada have no federal law mandating vaccines, though all 50 states and 3 provinces require children to be vaccinated prior to starting school).
It is legal and it is constitutional. You just don't like it. That makes it neither wrong nor illegal.
24) Unvaccinated children are healthier.
HAHAHAHAHAHA no seriously you actually said this? Really? Extra points off if you cited the retracted-then-published-in-a-predatory-journal Mawson questionnaire (not study) from Journal of Translational Science or the German homeopath Bachmair questionnaire (not study). Fortunately there are actual studies that look at the health of vaccinated vs unvaccinated children, such as these:
Vaccination Status and Health in Children and Adolescents
Early-life determinants of asthma from birth to age 20 years: A German birth cohort study
The effect of vaccination on children's physical and cognitive development in the Philippines
Vaccinated versus unvaccinated children: how they fare in first five years of life.
High Intensive Care Unit Admission Rate for 2013–2014 Influenza Is Associated with a Low Rate of Vaccination
Guess what they show? I'll give you two guesses.
Did you guess "Unvaccinated children are NOT healthier but contract vaccine-preventable diseases at a MUCH higher rate than vaccinated children?"
No? Then you're fucking wrong. Because that's what they all say.
25) But there is no true study of unvaccinated vs vaccinated children!
True, because that would be unethical.
Because the study you're looking for would purposefully withhold vaccines from 50% of the study participants (you know, those vulnerable children you think you're trying to protect). A "true" vaccinated-unvaccinated study would observe tens or hundreds of thousands of children from birth through adulthood, with only half of them getting vaccinated, leaving the other half vulnerable, though no one would know which half was which. While I'm sure some of you True Believers would recklessly volunteer your child to be in the unvaccinated arm of such a study, that's not the way these double-blind studies work. First, there would be a 50% chance that anyone else's child would be in the unvaccinated arm, leaving them vulnerable to various diseases, and no reasonable parent would consent to such a study. Plus, there would be a 50% chance your precious snowflake would be in the vaccinated arm. You ok with that?
Regardless, no researcher with any sense of ethics would allow such a study to be done, knowing that so many children are being left unprotected from so many preventable diseases, and no institutional review board would allow such a study to be proposed, let alone done.
26) According to VAERS . . .
I'm not going to let you finish that argument, because if you are using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System in your antivax argument, I have calculated a 99.9923% chance that you have no fucking idea what VAERS is or how it works. Anyone can report any adverse reaction in VAERS. I'll repeat - anyone can report any adverse reaction in VAERS. There are several children who have died in car accidents in VAERS:
There was also (for a short time) a report in VAERS of Dr. James Laidler receiving a measles vaccine, and the following day his skin turned green, his muscles grew, and he displayed uncontrolled rage: signs that he was turning into The Incredible Hulk. As Dr. Laidler wrote,
And before you ask, that's not a joke. I mean the "reaction" was clearly a joke, but the fact that Hulk is in VAERS is not. It just underscores the worthlessness in using VAERS as evidence that vaccines are unsafe. Do not misunderstand me, VAERS is extremely important because it can help scientists track side effects from various vaccines. But make no mistake: VAERS is not evidence that "vaccine damage" is real or that vaccines are dangerous.
27) But vaccines are not 100% effective.
Well no, no they aren't. Has anyone ever claimed they are? If so, he was lying. Seat belts aren't 100% effective either, but you should still fucking wear one. And before you say, "Well vaccines don't work that well anyway!", let's just see how well they do work:
Incidence of tetanus: decreased by 96%
Incidence of pertussis: decreased by 86%
Incidence of measles: decreased by over 99%
Incidence of hepatitis B: decreased by 87%
Incidence of diphtheria: decreased by 100%
Not effective? Really? How much more effective can you possibly get?
28) But vaccines are not 100% safe.
Nothing is 100% safe. When discussing severe side effects, vaccines are approximately 99.9999% safe (1 severe adverse event per 1 million doses). If I told you that the severe complication rate from a "routine" surgery was 1/1000, would you run away screaming? Probably not, but that is the true number for "routine" gall bladder surgery, and it is literally one thousand times higher than the risk from any vaccine. And while many severe surgical complications result in death or permanent disability, the overwhelming majority of patients with severe adverse reactions from vaccines recover completely.
29) The flu vaccine is worthless.
I will agree that the flu vaccine is the least effective vaccine available, and the efficacy varies from year to year depending on how close the vaccines approximate the prevalent infecting strains. As opposed to the ones above, the average efficacy is around 45%, which at first admittedly sounds pretty terrible. But look at it this way - 45% is literally infinity times higher than 0%, which is exactly how effective not getting a flu shot is.
30) But the flu shot causes Guillain–Barré syndrome.
GBS is a known complication of the flu shot - an extremely rare one. The relative risk of GBS after any flu shot is 1.41 (1.84 after pandemic flu shot, 1.22 after seasonal flu shot). However, the risk of GBS is significantly higher (about 1-8 cases per 100,000 population) after actually getting infected with the flu (or other infections).
The risk of GBS after flu vaccination is less than 1 per million (there's that damned statistic again), and the vast majority of cases of GBS recover fully.
31) But the flu shot causes the flu.
No it doesn't, and it never has. Not occasionally, not sometimes, NEVER. The flu shot is a dead virus vaccine, meaning it is 100% biologically impossible to get the flu from a flu shot. Feeling a little crummy for a day or two after a flu shot is not the flu - that's your body's immune system reacting to the shot, meaning it is doing what it is supposed to do. If you got the actual flu immediately after getting a flu shot, you had either 1) probably already acquired the virus but hadn't shown symptoms yet, or 2) picked it up wherever you got the shot.
Note this refers to the flu shot, not the flu mist, which is an attenuated vaccine.
32) Oh yeah, the flu mist sheds!
Yes it does, but it is only for about a week and at very low levels. And there are exactly 0 reported cases of actual illness from this virus. None. Zero. It has never happened.
33) Genetic drift means the attenuated flu virus can change back to wild-type and cause infections.
This is absolutely true. In fact, this most probably will happen. And the odds are about 1 in 100 quintillion replication cycles. For those of you unfamiliar with that number, it's 100,000,000,000,000,000,000. When you do the math, it will take approximately 1000 years for this to happen, and hopefully by then all infectious diseases (and antivaxxers along with them) will have been eradicated.
34) I've never gotten the flu shot, and I've never gotten the flu.
Well isn't that nice. I have no idea what you think that proves, but let me pose this scenario: I put a banana in my fireplace every night before I go to sleep, and I have never had a bear break into my house. So does that mean the banana prevents bear attacks?
Ok ok, I'll give you a slightly less silly analogy - I've never gotten into a serious car accident and I don't wear my seat belt, so I don't need to wear a seat belt. Or consider this - I do not have a smoke detector in my house or a fire extinguisher, and I have never had a fire in my house, so I need neither a smoke detector nor a fire extinguisher. Or how about this - my kid has never crashed his bicycle and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and he never wears a helmet, so he doesn't need to wear a helmet.
Now do you see how stupid that sounds?
The fact that you've never gotten the flu despite not getting the flu shot doesn't mean you don't need the flu shot, it just means you happened not to need it before. It doesn't mean your immune system is better than anyone else's or that you are better than anyone else. It only indicates that you have been lucky so far.
35) How could you possibly give a 1-day old baby a hepatitis B shot?
Hepatitis B is not just an infection of IV drug abusers and prostitutes. It is an extremely serious infection worldwide, with nearly 300 million people suffering from it. An estimated 2 million children worldwide are infected with hep B. The big problem is that when contracted as a child, hepatitis B is much more likely to develop into a chronic disease, resulting in cirrhosis or liver cancer. It can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, or from child-to-child from bites or other bodily fluids. No one is saying your precious flower is going to be shooting up heroin at age 3, but can you guarantee the little shit next door who is unknowingly and asymptomatically infected isn't going to bite your kid and give him an instant death sentence?
The great part about the hep B vaccine is that it is extremely effective, with a 72% worldwide drop in prevalence due to widespread vaccination. That should also put your "A one day old baby's immune system isn't ready for a vaccine" bullshit to rest. But wait, there's more! The best part is that the vaccine has been shown to last for at least 30 years, with no boosters needed after the initial 3-shot series. In other words, a vaccine given to a newborn child will last well into and through their doing-stupid-shit years.
Tell me again about vaccine immunity waning.
36) Yeah, vaccine immunity wanes!
Sigh. Sometimes, yes it does. However, if it waned significantly, we'd be seeing epidemics of diphtheria, polio, and measles in previously vaccinated adults. Have you heard of any of those?
I'm shocked.
If you're still arguing, see #37 below.
37) The pertussis vaccine doesn't work.
You're wrong here, but I'll grant that you're very slightly less wrong than before. Let me fix it for you - the pertussis vaccine doesn't work as well as the previous one. The original pertussis vaccine was a whole cell vaccine, meaning the entire B. pertussis bacterium (inactivated) was used, and it was extremely effective. However, due to a relatively high rate of local adverse reactions (pain, redness, and swelling), it was swapped for an acellular vaccine, which contains only pertussis toxin or other various components of the bacterium and not the whole organism. However, not only is the acellular vaccine more expensive, but the local side effect rate is about the same as the whole cell version. To make things worse, it is not as effective as the whole cell vaccine, and immunity tends to wane within 5-7 years. But immunity to the tetanus portion of the DPT combination vaccine also wanes in about 5 years, so boosters are recommended. Huzzah! Science!
Yeah, that's the end of that story. It works, but not as well as the previous version, and not as well as it should. A better vaccine is necessary. Don't worry, I'm not entirely satisfied with that answer either.
38) Natural immunity is better than artificial immunity.
That depends on your definition of "better":
-Longer lasting? Sure.
-Doesn't require a scary shot with scary-sounding ingredients which are not actually scary once you understand them? Most definitely.
-Requires you to suffer through the disease AND SURVIVE in order to gain immunity? Fucking yes.
I'm not sure why you think suffering through a disease is better than, you know, not suffering through a disease.
Plus, I am also baffled why you think "natural" is somehow better. Belladonna is natural, but it will kill you. Tornadoes are completely natural, but they will kill you. It doesn't get much more natural than the Sydney funnel-web spider, but it will fucking kill you. Natural does not necessarily mean better. At all.
39) I've never met anyone who has had any of these diseases.
Well isn't that nice. You don't even see the irony of this statement, since it implies that the vaccines you eschew actually work extremely well.
All condescension aside, vaccines are a victim of their own success. Because they work so well and have nearly eradicated so many previously common diseases, doctors in practice now have probably never seen most (if not all) of them. The memory of children dead or disabled from polio, the vision of rows upon rows of children in hospitals in iron lungs has faded to the point where you actually believe it is relatively harmless. The fact that smallpox hospitals, entire hospitals dedicated to treating smallpox, no longer even need to exist because of vaccines is lost to the ravages of time. No one remembers the parents waiting in line to get their kids vaccinated against measles. You probably think these lines don't exist.
Fortunately you don't have to remember them, because here is photographic proof that they existed and still exist:
The fact that it doesn't happen where you live or that you've never seen it does not mean it does not happen.
40) But the number of cases of these diseases were all falling before vaccines!
I was wondering how long it would take to get to this one, which is commonly known as the "VACCINES DIDN'T SAVE US" argument, and it is 100% FALSE.
I absolutely agree - look at it, because it is plainly obvious that you never have. at least not carefully. It says right on top "Mortality Rates", and as we can all plainly see the mortality rates were indeed falling since the turn of the 20th century to the point where the mortality was near 0 for most of these diseases.
No, I admitted that mortality was falling. During the first half of the 1900's there were huge advances in medical science, including supportive care, antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, etc. So of course mortality of everything would improve. Life expectancy in the US in 1900 was 47 years for a white man, and by 1950 it had increased to 65.6 (an improvement of over 28% in just 50 years).
But the number of cases of these diseases (ALL OF THEM) did not fall until the vaccines were introduced. Since you like graphs so much, take a look at these:
These are the disease rates of polio and measles, and you can once again plainly see that the rates DID NOT FALL until the vaccines were introduced. And as each vaccine was introduced, that disease rate fell.
I'm sure your next argument will be "But clean water and sanitation caused disease rates to fall, not vaccines".
41) But clean water and sanitation caused disease rates to fall, not vaccines.
At least you're predicable. If that is truly what you believe, then you'll have to explain why:
• diphtheria rates waited to decline until the 1930's after the vaccine was introduced, and
• polio rates waited to decline until 1955 when the vaccine was introduced, and
• measles rates waited to decline until 1963 when the vaccine was introduced, and
• rubella rates waited to decline until 1969 when the vaccine was introduced, and
• chicken pox rates waited to decline until 1995 when the vaccine was introduced, and
• rotavirus rates waited to decline until 2006 when the vaccine was introduced.
You'd have to be pretty daft to think clean water and sanitation could be so sneaky as to wait just until the vaccine came out to start decreasing those particular diseases. That damned sneaky sanitation and clean water. Do you think that clean water and sanitation suddenly improved in the US in 1995 or 2006 when the varicella and rotavirus vaccines were introduced?
Furthermore, while the mortality graph sure makes it looks like the mortality rate of these diseases was 0, it was not. Not remotely. Hundreds of children in the US still died every year of measles. Yeah, you know measles - that "harmless childhood disease":
Notice this graph starts in 1950, after the mortality rate had dropped so close to 0 according to your graph. That "so close to 0" still translated to 400-500 dead children in the US every year. And once the vaccine was introduced, then and only then did it actually drop to 0.
42) Vaccines cause SIDS.
No they don't. In fact, if you have made this argument, it only shows your stunning ignorance of this entire issue. At least with autism there was a bullshit paper published in 1998 which suggested a link (that's Wakefield's bullshit, in case you didn't catch the reference), but with SIDS, you have it entirely backwards: vaccines reduce the risk of SIDS by 50%.
In case you think I just pulled that number out of my ass, this is based not just one one paper, not two, but a meta-analysis of nine case-control studies looking at the relationship between vaccination and SIDS. And it found that vaccination decreases the risk of SIDS by half.
43) But SIDS is listed on the package insert as a potential side effect!
Oh, you mean this?
Read that carefully. It says, "Adverse events reported during post-approval use". It also says "Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequencies or to establish a causal relationship".
The vaccine insert is a legal document, and vaccine manufacturers are legally obligated to list every adverse event that has been reported, regardless of whether or not the vaccine has caused it. That's also why you see "autism" on that list. It has been reported in children who have gotten that vaccine. But autism has also been reported in children who have not gotten that vaccine, though there is no legal document for that. The vaccine insert does not state, imply, or in any other way suggest that the vaccine caused it. Any of it.
I also think it is extremely ironic that you don't trust Big Pharma at all, until they publish the words "autism" and "SIDS" on one of their legal papers, and then you treat what they say as gospel.
44) No one has died in the US of measles since 2003.
If your point was to make yet another testament as to the effectiveness of the vaccine, I think you nailed it. Unfortunately, this is also demonstrably false, since a woman in Washington State died of measles-related complications in 2015, two people died of measles in 2010, and two people died of measles in 2009.
45) But over 100 people have died of the MMR since 2003, so more people die of the vaccine than the disease.
This "100" figure is derived from VAERS, which as you learned in #26 above is not designed to track that kind of data. So, there is no way to determine if this figure is even remotely true, though I highly doubt it is even close. There are about 4 million children born in the US each year, and since median vaccine coverage is 94.3%, that's 3,772,000 children getting the measles vaccine each year. As we know the serious adverse event rate is around 1 per million doses, so that would be between 3 and 4 serious adverse events annually, and most children recover completely. Even if they all died (they don't), that would be 16 years x 3.7 children = approximately 59 deaths, not 100. And that's if they all died, which they most assuredly do not.
So, no.
46) Doctors even admit that vaccines are dangerous.
Do they? Which ones? How many of them? This is just another form of "Some people believe . . ." If I were to say, "I believe the sky is purple", I could then logically go on to say "Some people believe the sky is purple". Is the sky purple? Does that make the sky purple? Of course not, but some people believe it is, so that means it might be true! Except that it doesn't.
What you're saying is that some doctors believe it, or at least they say they do. These are fringe doctors who are members of fringe groups who believe fringe things. So the important question is, what other beliefs do these doctors espouse? If you look hard enough you can find paleontologists who believe earth is less than 10,000 years old (like this guy who has a Ph.D in paleontology from Harvard. Seriously). I will grant that there are a few doctors who are antivaxxers, the most prominent and/or vocal being:
• Joe Mercola, DO, who also believes that sunscreen causes skin cancer, homeopathy can treat autism, and HIV does not cause AIDS; and who has an online store;
• Sherri Tenpenny, DO, who also believes an earthquake could cause California to fall off North America and sink into the Pacific Ocean, and who missed her entire third grade because she was too sick; and who has an online store;
• Toni Bark, MD, who also practices homeopathy, and who has an online store;
• Russell Blaylock, MD, who also believes in chemtrails, that aspartame causes multiple sclerosis, and that MSG is toxic to the brain; and who has an online store;
• Tetyana Obukhanych, PhD who is not a physician but does have a Ph.D in immunology, who believes that immunology has no evidence-based explanation for immunity due to vaccines, that vaccines compromise our "natural immunity", and that homeopathy works;
• Jack Wolfson, DO, who touts himself as a "holistic cardiologist", charges a $2800 fee for an initial consultation, and who believes children should get measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox because it is "their right"; and who has an online store;
• Kelly Brogan, MD, who is also an HIV-AIDS denialist, advises diabetics not to take insulin, and who has an online store;
• Suzanne Humphries, MD, who believes homeopathy works, who believes pertussis can be treated with vitamin C, and who believes the bible is a reason not to vaccinate; but who does not have an online store
• Andrew Wakefield, who HAHAHAHAHA just kidding, he's not even a doctor anymore. Fuck that guy.
Yes, there are a handful of quacks out there who believe and endorse the same bullshit you do. But these are charlatans who are seizing on the very fear you are propagating to sucker in gullible people and make money. That's why these people almost invariably have online stores, and why Mercola brings in about $10 million per year from his bullshit website.
Keep in mind that every single major medical association in the entire world supports vaccines. Every. Single. One. And before you mention the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons, despite their official-sounding name they're one of those fringe groups I mentioned who have advocated such beliefs as AIDS denialism and abortions causing breast cancer. Quacks, all.
47) Vaccines cause autoimmune diseases.
There are a few known associations of vaccines increasing the risk of certain autoimmune diseases, such as the flu vaccine and Guillain-Barré and MMR with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). And it makes sense that vaccines could potentially cause autoimmune diseases, since they are designed to stimulate the immune system, and autoimmune diseases are disorders of that immune system. However, studies have shown that these are very rare. Using MMR and ITP as an example, there is an increased risk. However, that risk is lower than it is with measles infection, the clinical course of ITP after vaccination is less severe compared to ITP after measles infection, and 90% of children resolve completely within 6 months.
And before you tell me how risky that is, the actual risk in that study was 23 cases in 700,000 children. Do the math, and . . . you know what, don't. I've done it for you - it's 0.0033%.
As for other autoimmune diseases (like ASIA), these occurrences are so rare that studying them is difficult because of their rarity, and some researchers do not believe ASIA even exists. An excellent review article can be found here which details pretty much everything I just said.
48) Vaccines cause seizures.
Hooray! You finally said something true!
See? I told you vaccines were dangerous!
Oh don't worry, you aren't nearly as correct as you thought you were. Febrile seizures are a well-known and relatively common side effect of vaccines, but they are also a well-known and relatively common side effect of many other febrile illnesses. That's why they are called "febrile seizures" - it's the fever that causes them. The other reason you're wrong is that they aren't nearly as common as you think - this study found a risk of 1 febrile seizure per 3,300 vaccinations even when multiple vaccines were given at the same time. Keep in mind that 3-5% of children experience a febrile seizure each year that are unrelated to vaccines, so a busy paediatrician seeing 500 infants each year would see one vaccine-related febrile seizure every 5-10 years.
And here is the main point - just like any other febrile seizure, the seizures associated with vaccination do not cause or increase the risk of life-long seizure disorders. And this long-term follow up study of children who had febrile seizures showed no difference in academic performance compared to their peers.
49) Vaccines cause allergies, asthma, and eczema.
I'm assuming you're referring to the supposed epidemic of food allergies, peanut allergies, atopic dermatitis, etc that you believe are all caused by vaccines, because in your mind vaccines cause everything bad in the world and nothing bad every happened before vaccines were invented. Unfortunately, your belief is not supported by, you know actual data. This study of thousands of children across 97 centers in 10 countries showed no evidence that any vaccine is associated with food allergies, airborne allergies, or eczema. This study of over 1000 children found - gasp - the exact same thing. And this British study of over 29,000 children found - are you sitting down? - the exact same thing. And this study of nearly 15,000 children across 5 countries found - let me know when you tire of this - the exact same thing.
So who are we to believe - your unsubstantiated story of your kid developing a peanut allergy after getting vaccinated or multiple studies of tens of thousands of children across dozens of countries around the globe which all refute you?
50) What about the Cutter Incident?
This is one of those terribly unfortunate tragedies in medicine that should never happen but still did. A batch of live polio vaccines made by Cutter Laboratories in 1955 were not properly inactivated, and at least 120,000 people received them before they were recalled, now known as the Cutter Incident. This caused about 40,000 cases of mild polio, 56 cases of paralysis, and 5 deaths.
There are other medical tragedies, including the production and distribution of blood products tainted with HIV prior to the virus having been discovered, Dr. Mengele's horrific human experimentation during the Holocaust, and similar ghastly experiments on humans in Japan's Unit 731. But perhaps the most notorious is the 1932 Tuskegee Study, in which black men who were already infected with syphilis were knowingly not treated for the infection, even after penicillin was proved to treat it successfully in 1947. The investigators withheld both treatment and information about that treatment until a whistleblower finally blew the lid off in 1972. The fact that this continued for 40 years only compounds its utterly unethical nature, and it has fueled a deep distrust in the medical industry which continues to this day.
These occurrences are rare but terrible. There is absolutely no doubt that they should never happen. But they have, they did, and they still do. However, this is hardly a reason to argue against vaccination in general. Incidents like these should be taken as very difficult lessons from which we can learn and then prevent anything like them from ever happening again.
51) And the Simpsonwood meeting . . .
And here is where we start diving into Conspiracy Theory Land. This CDC conference ("Scientific Review of Vaccine Safety Datalink Information" actually happened in 2000. They reviewed the data regarding the possible link between thimerosal and autism and ultimately refuted any link, obviously. Enter your hero Robert F. Kennedy, Jr who wrote an article in 2005 (that was retracted by Salon) alleging the conference was intended to hide the evidence and that the lead author, Thomas Verstraeten, altered it.
Well there are a few problems with the bit of bullshit - first, the entire transcript of the meeting is freely available (for example here) (warning, it's really long), and there is no evidence of any conspiracy to cover up or change any evidence. Second, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions reviewed the entire affair and found no evidence of any impropriety by either Dr. Verstraeten or the CDC. In fact, they concluded "Instead of hiding the data or restricting access to it, CDC distributed it, often to individuals who had never seen it before, and solicited outside opinion regarding how to interpret it".
That doesn't sound like anyone trying to hide something.
52) Well we just need safer vaccines.
I wish I could just say "Obviously" and leave it at that. We need safer everything - safer cars, safer bicycle helmets, safer sports gear, safer lawn mowers, safer lithium batteries, safer home wiring, safer food, safer schools. Everything around us should be safe, and everything around us (for the most part) has been designed specifically to be as safe as possible with the available technology. As safer technology evolves (think seat belts followed by air bags), products get ever safer. The same goes with vaccines. As vaccine science has evolved, the number of antigens in vaccines has decreased dramatically even as the number of vaccines given has increased:
And as the science continues to evolve, the products will continue to become safer.
53) Measles protects against cancer.
This ridiculous claim is based on this one article (I can't even call it a study) from 1998 (does that year ring any other antivax bells?) in which anthroposophic practitioners (I can't even call them doctors) in Switzerland conducted a questionnaire and supposedly found that the number of febrile illnesses (ie measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, pertussis, etc) was inversely proportional to the risk of non-breast cancer. Why is this such a bullshit claim? To start, anthroposophic medicine is an alternative practice based on occult bullshit, risible bullshit, homeopathic bullshit, and other assorted bullshit. As an example, Rudolf Steiner, one of the founders of anthroposophic medicine, believed 1) that the sex of a baby was determined at conception by the alignment of the stars, and 2) that the heart was not actually a pump, but that instead blood circulates via its own "biological momentum". If the founder of such a cult (I can't even call it a form of alternative medicine) can't even understand concepts as (relatively) simple as genetics and the circulatory system, I can hardly expect his devout followers to understand something as complex as running a scientific study.
And this was in fact not a scientific study. It was merely a survey of anthroposophic practitioners with all the inherent confirmation bias and observation bias one would expect. This is similar to the Bachmair questionnaire where only home-school mothers were surveyed by a homeopath. It begins with a biased premise and just goes off the rails from there.
The main reason this article is completely worthless is that it has not been replicated despite 20 years of opportunity to do so. This sort of information should have elicited an "AHA!" reaction from the medical world. Instead, there has been nothing. No replication, no confirmation, nothing.
54) People who get vaccines shouldn't be around sick people because they shed.
You probably flashed this graphic from Johns Hopkins:
This was indeed the recommendation by Johns Hopkins as a precaution prior to actual information being gathered. However, this issue has now been extensively studied, and Hopkins has revised their statement:
The recommendation now is "Close contacts of patients with compromised immunity should not receive live oral poliovirus vaccine because they might shed the virus and infect a patient with compromised immunity. Close contacts can receive other standard vaccines because viral shedding is unlikely and these pose little risk of infection to a subject with compromised immunity."
There are rare reports of various live virus vaccines shedding:
A child vaccinated with rotavirus vaccine (which sheds in stool) infected his unvaccinated older sibling, who did not require admission to hospital and recovered.
A child vaccinated with MMR came down with a mild case of vaccine-strain measles over a month after vaccination. All symptoms resolved within 5 days.
In short, yes some live virus vaccines shed as these case reports prove. However, the cases are milder than wild-type infections, and they are extremely rare. Millions of doses of these vaccines are given every year, so this argument only strengthens the argument that vaccines are extremely safe.
55) The flu shot has never been tested for its ability to cause cancer.
You obviously posted this graphic:
Here is the reality - all vaccines (ALL OF THEM) go through pre-clinical toxicology testing for safety, including mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. But the problem with the flu shot is that the component for each year's shot is different, so each year's shot cannot possibly be tested prior to being used. But the data from several decades' worth of flu vaccination is that it does not cause cancer.
56) Bill Gates said vaccines are being used for depopulation.
This is the misinterpretation that just won't die. This is NOT what he said. Here is the quote taken WAAAAAAAAAAAAY out of context:
First, we’ve got population. The world today has 6.8 billion people. That’s headed up to about nine billion. Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that by, perhaps, 10 or 15 percent
See! He wants to reduce population by 10-15%!
No he doesn't. As I said, this quote is taken out of context. He is talking about ways to reduce the creation of carbon dioxide, and one of those is to reduce the rate of population growth, not to reduce population. THAT is what he meant by "lower that by 10-15%". He has said repeatedly that as vaccination rates go up in developing nations, infant mortality goes down, and as more children survive, parents don't feel the need to have 8 or 10 children anymore (emphasis added):
"A surprising but critical fact we learned was that reducing the number of deaths actually reduces population growth. […] Contrary to the Malthusian view that population will grow to the limit of however many kids can be fed, in fact parents choose to have enough kids to give them a high chance that several will survive to support them as they grow old. As the number of kids who survive to adulthood goes up, parents can achieve this goal without having as many children."
"When a mother can choose how many children to have, her children are healthier, they’re better nourished, their mental capacities are higher—and parents have more time and money to spend on each child’s health and schooling. That’s how families and countries get out of poverty. This link between saving lives, a lower birthrate, and ending poverty was the most important early lesson Melinda and I learned about global health."
There is no eugenics conspiracy, no depopulation, no agenda 21, and no conspiracy to decrease the world population to 500 million.
57) Vaccines are contaminated with harmful particles.
Really? Which is it, aluminum, mercury, animal DNA, antigens, or nanoparticles which are so harmful?
Anyway, you're talking about Antonietta Gatti's rather silly evaluation of so-called contamination of vaccines with nanoparticles which backfired. First, you'll notice the paper is on Medcrave, not Pubmed. That should be a huge red flag, and if you don't know why, then you have no business trying to evaluate a scientific paper. Regardless, Gatti and her partners found varying numbers of inorganic particles when they evaporated 44 samples of 30 different vaccines and looked at them under an electron microscope. And they found tiny particles of various substances including tungsten, gold, aluminum, etc, ranging from two to 1821 particles per 20 microlitres of fluid. While that seems scary, that is an incredibly small amount of these substances compared to the amount of the vaccine, which is itself very small.
They didn't use any controls, so there is no telling how many of these particles would be found in tap water or sterile saline or distilled water or anything else. The bottom line is that nothing is completely pure, but this study actually shows that vaccines are very, very pure.
58) But Gardasil . . .
I'm going to stop you right there, because you said either "premature ovarian failure" or "kills" or "maims" or some other bullshit. I'm sure you probably mentioned some scary-sounding anecdote about a young girl getting her Gardasil shot and then becoming lethargic or wheelchair-bound or dead. Right?
Ooooh wait I know, you said that there are no Gardasil safety studies. Right?
Oh, you said there are no placebo-controlled safety studies, right?
Wrong, wrong, and wrong. In fact, here is a review of 109 safety studies across six countries including over 2.5 million subjects which showed only an increased risk of local injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), but no increased risk of any of the various things supposedly attributed to HPV vaccines, including demyelinating diseases and neurological syndromes.
And here is a study of nearly 1 million girls in Denmark and Sweden which shows no increased risk of autoimmune, neurological, or thromboembolic events.
59) Gardasil causes premature ovarian failure.
Sorry, I left that out the last one. There are case reports of teenage girls developing primary ovarian insufficiency after HPV vaccination. But these are mere anecdotes, and even before HPV vaccination there was a 22/100,000 rate of primary ovarian insufficiency, so it has always existed. But this study of nearly 200,000 girls showed no increased risk of primary ovarian insufficiency after HPV vaccination.
60) Herd immunity doesn't exist.
Sure it does. It's been demonstrated numerous times, but I think one of the best examples was this study from Burkina Faso, in which nearly 90% of the population at risk was vaccinated for meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis serotype A, or NmA), and 13 months later when the subjects (both the vaccinated and unvaccinated) were resampled, exactly ZERO still carried NmA. As the authors conclude, "The disappearance of NmA carriage among both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations is consistent with a vaccine-induced herd immunity effect".
That's just one example. There are many others.
61) X didn't exist before vaccines.
It doesn't really matter what you said didn't exist before vaccines, unless you said "herd immunity". I've seen various claims here, but the most common ones are autism (of course) and SIDS. Leo Kanner first described autism in 1943 before all but two vaccines (smallpox and diphtheria) were invented (diphtheria antitoxin was invented in 1901, and Hans Asperger was lecturing about a group of children with autism in 1938, but the vaccine didn't come out until the 1920's). And Eugen Bleuler first used the term "autism" in 1908. That is a very long-winded way of saying yes, autism actually existed before vaccines. Except smallpox, but I haven't seen a single person arguing that the smallpox vaccine causes autism. Probably because it doesn't.
As for SIDS, "crib death", or "cot death", the term was first coined in 1969. However, there are many descriptions of sudden infant death all throughout history. For example, this researcher found evidence of SIDS in the 1800'sAnd several examples of SIDS as far back as the Middle Ages and even from the bible (if you choose to believe it) can be seen here. Besides, the rate of SIDS has been dropping since it was discovered that putting infants on their backs decreases the risk.
A line graph showing the rates of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death from 1990 to 2013. The Y axis shows deaths per 1,000 births and ranges from 0 to 1.8. The X axis depicts the years 1990 through 2013. Total SUID deaths declined from ~1.5 in 1990 to 1 in 2013. Total SIDS deaths declined from ~1.3 in 1990 to ~0.5 in 2013. Deaths from unknown causes held steady between 1990 and 2013 at a rate of ~0.2. Deaths from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed rose from ~0 in 1990 to ~0.2 in 2013.
Do you know what else decreases the risk of SIDS? Anyone? Beuller?
62) Polio never went away, it was just renamed transverse myelitis or GBS or acute flaccid myelitis.
Take a look at this:
Image result for polio virus
Any idea what it is? If you said "That's a polio virus", then chances are you are not an antivaxxer, because that is, in fact, the polio virus. I only say that because if you're an antivaxxer you probably couldn't tell a polio virus from a volleyball. You see, polio is a viral disease, and all those other things are not (as far as we know). Polio virus can be isolated from a patient with a paralytic disease. It cannot be isolated from Guillain–Barré syndrome, because it does not cause Guillain–Barré syndrome. It cannot be isolated from transverse myelitis patients, because it does not cause transverse myelitis. It cannot be isolated from acute flaccid myelitis patients, because it does not cause acute flaccid myelitis. See where I'm going with this? While we don't know what does cause acute flaccid myelitis, we do know it is not polio.
There are several different, distinct paralytic diseases, and they all present differently. That's why they are different, distinct diseases. Polio is polio, and not polio is not polio.
63) There have been measles (or pertussis or mumps) outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations.
Yes there have, because no vaccine is 100% effective. All this does is underscore the need for both 1) better vaccines (especially pertussis), and 2) herd immunity.
What you are ignoring are the far-more-common outbreaks (and subsequent deaths) in unvaccinated (or undervaccinated) populations. And no, I'm not going to use the Disneyland outbreak in 2015, even though 45% of the patients from California were unvaccinated while only 7% were fully vaccinated (the rest were either undervaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status).
Oops, I guess I am going to use that as an example. An even better example is the 2019 Philippines outbreak, with nearly 15,000 cases and over 230 deaths (so far as of this writing), 65% of whom were unvaccinated.
Another example is the current outbreak of measles in Ukraine, with 24,000 cases and 9 deaths
And an even better example is the ongoing outbreak of measles in Madagascar, where they have had over 82,000 cases and about 1000 deaths, two-thirds of whom were unvaccinated. If you aren't seeing a pattern here, then you're even more intellectually dishonest than I could have predicted.
64) Squalene something something Gulf War Syndrome . . .
I would have put this up in the "toxins" section, but I don't see it terribly often, so I decided to put it waaaaaaaaaaay down here. Squalene is not an adjuvant by itself, but it is when emulsified with surfactants. It is only added to certain flu vaccines in Europe and one for seniors in the US, so it is not present in any childhood vaccine. The reason for the fear is the supposed presence of anti-squalene antibodies found in American soldiers with the so-called Gulf War Syndrome.
A few problems with this:
1. Squalene is a naturally occurring substance, and your liver is making it right now as you read this;
2. Anti-squalene antibodies have been found in people who have never receive any squalene-containing vaccine;
3. Squalene was studied and found not to cause anti-squalene antibodies to be created.
It isn't squalene. At all. This is just another example of you being scared of something that sounds scary.
65) Peanut oil is used as a vaccine adjuvant and is causing the peanut allergy epidemic.
A peanut oil adjuvant was tested in the 1960's, but it was never approved for use and is currently found in exactly 0 vaccines anywhere on the planet. While it is (probably) true that peanut (and other food) allergies are increasing in many countries, it isn't vaccines causing it, because much like the mythical truly well-informed antivaxxer, peanut oil adjuvants do not exist.
What is causing it is (probably) the attempted environmental sterilisation that too many parents undertake to keep their kids "safe" from germs. Unfortunately this practice appears to be preventing the normal development of the immune system and is increasing the risk of food allergies. In case you think I'm just pulling this out of my ass (which I admittedly was when I started talking about it over a decade ago), recent evidence fully supports this notion.
66) Measles virus doesn't even exist.
This one may sound completely batshit insane, but that's only because it fucking is. This ridiculous mind-bending claim comes from ultra antivaxxer Stefan Lanka, who bet 100,000 euros that no one could prove the measles virus exists. Of course someone (Dr. David Bardens) proved him wrong beyond any reasonable doubt, and a court ordered Lanka to pay up. But the decision was reversed on appeal, judging that the evidence Bardens provided had to live up to Lanka's expectations. Bardens could probably have invented a machine to embiggen the virus to 2m in diameter and shoved it in Lanka's face, but so deeply entrenched are his rabid antivax beliefs that he would have still denied its existence.
Yeah, measles virus exists. Here it is.
67) We never had all these vaccines when I was a kid, I got all these diseases, and I'm fine.
Congratulations! You just described survivorship bias. Because there are literally millions of other people who contracted these exact same diseases and are now dead because of them. No vaccine-preventable disease is anywhere close to 100% fatal (except rabies), so of course most people who got them survived unscathed. This doesn't make the diseases benign (see #16), it just makes you one of the majority who made it. Not every kid is as lucky.
68) Vaccines make you gay.
If you believe a word that comes out of Alex Jones' mouth, then you are quite literally a lost cause. There really isn't a refutation to this, because it is actually that risible.
69) Polio was caused by DDT, not poliovirus.
This is just an example of germ theory denialism. It is true that DDT was used to try to prevent the spread of polio, because at the time (mid 1940s) it was incorrectly thought that polio was transmitted by insects like mosquitoes or flies (it is actually faecal-oral).
The big problem with this hypothesis is the timing. The first polio epidemic in the US, for example was in 1894, and the polio virus was discovered in 1908. DDT, on the other hand, was invented in 1874 but was not discovered to be an insecticide until 1939, well after polio was harming children.
70) There hasn't been a vaccine safety study in 30 years.
I see you are a fan of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr's brand of antivax bullshit. This claim has been wildly twisted from its origins and stems from a 1986 US law (NCVIA ring a bell?) which, among other things, required that HHS report vaccine safety studies to congress. But somehow even though the reports were done, they were not all properly filed. Let me repeat - the studies were done, they just weren't properly reported. In fact, here is one now.
Do not misunderstand me, the law was not followed here, and that's not a good thing. I don't know why the reports were not properly filed, and I don't know why HHS didn't present the information to congress as they were supposed to. Regardless, safety studies have been done, task forces have regularly met and reported on vaccine safety, vaccine safety oversight committees have been formed and reported to HHS, the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment project was started in 2001, etc etc etc.
The evidence shows that vaccines are safe, that evidence just wasn't reported properly to congress. That does not mean it does not exist.
71) MMS can cure autism.
No. It. Can. Not. There is literally no evidence to support such a ludicrous claim, so I can't even cite anything refuting it. And if you really think giving your child chlorine dioxide (an industrial bleach), either orally or rectally, can cure his autism, then you are even more evil than I could have imagined.
72) I'm not anti-vaccine, but . . .
If you start a statement with "No offence, but . . .", you can be assured that the next thing out of your mouth will be offensive. By the same token, any sentence starting with "Not to sound racist, but . . ." is guaranteed to be followed by something racist. Similarly, if you start with "I'm not anti-vaccine, but . . .", there is at least a 99.9974% chance (I calculated it) that yes, you are anti-vaccine.
No, you are not "pro safe-vaccines", because vaccines are already safe. No, you are not "pro medical autonomy", because no one is forcing you to vaccinate yourself or your children. No, you are not "pro informed consent", because informed consent is already done prior to vaccination. What you are is doing using these excuses as excuses.
And what you are is anti-vaccine.
73) Vaccines are against my religion.
Unless you happen to be a Christian Scientist or in the Dutch Reformed church, no they aren't. There are exactly zero major religions on the planet that have any doctrine, law, or rule against vaccines. This review article lists all major religions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism. Not even Catholicism forbids vaccines, despite some of them being grown using cell lines from an aborted foetus. According to the National Catholic Bioethics Center, if there is no alternative, "One is morally free to use the vaccine regardless of its historical association with abortion. The reason is that the risk to public health, if one chooses not to vaccinate, outweighs the legitimate concern about the origins of the vaccine."
Besides, Christian Scientists believe that disease can be cured through prayer and the Dutch Reformed church believes vaccines interfere with "divine providence", whatever that means. So no, your religion does not outlaw vaccines.
74) Vaccines are injected directly into the bloodstream.
This is a rather strange claim that seems to be pure and unadulterated fear mongering, because so fucking what if they are? There are lots of things injected directly into the bloodstream: saline, anaesthestics, pain medicine, antibiotics, anti-convulsants, sedatives. You know those vitamin drips that are so in these days? Yup, directly into the bloodstream. Are any of you demanding to know what's in your regenerative vitamin B infusion at the vitamin bar? Are any antivaxxers demanding that their anaesthesiologist list the ingredients in their magic sleeping potion? I didn't think so. Regardless, do you know what is not injected directly into the bloodstream? Come on, I'll give you one guess.
That's right, vaccines. There are exactly ZERO vaccines that are injected intravenously. None. Zip. All vaccines (other than oral polio and intranasal flu) are administered into the muscle (intramuscular), skin (subcutaneous), or dermis (intradermal). If you are getting a vaccine directly into your bloodstream, then whoever is giving it to you is making a mistake.
75) Vaccines are unavoidably unsafe.
Yes they are.
No you don't, because if you use this argument then you don't know what "unavoidably unsafe" means. All it means is that there is no way for the manufacturer to make them 100% safe and prevent any side effect.
This term comes from the Restatement (Second) of Torts, which was written by the American Law Institute in 1965, 1977, and 1979. In it, an "unavoidably unsafe products" is described as "an apparently useful and desirable product, attended with a known but apparently reasonable risk." You can read a thorough explanation here.
Medicines have side effects. This is a well-known fact that is not disputed. Vaccines are medicines. This is also a well-known fact that is not disputed. Therefore, vaccines will have side effects, including serious side effects such as anaphylaxis. There is no way to predict who will develop such a reaction, so there is no way to make the vaccine safer in that regard. However, as we have learned above the risk of such serious side effects is about 1 per million doses, so the benefits far outweigh these risks.
76) Vaccines are just ways to make money.
Vaccines are made by pharmaceutical companies, and pharmaceutical companies are designed to make money. This is not even debatable, because it is fact. However, according to the World Health Organisation vaccines comprise less than 2% of pharmaceutical companies' revenue. These companies make far more with blockbuster medicines like Lipitor or Viagra. Vaccines, on the other hand, are just not big money makers.
But doctors make a ton giving vaccines!
Most doctors make exactly fuck all from giving vaccines. In the UK, doctors don't get paid any extra for giving vaccines. Exactly 0. In the US, studies have shown that paediatricians make little-to-no money giving vaccines.
But American doctors get a $400 per patient bonus for giving vaccines!
You seriously believe that? How many paediatricians do you know driving Aston Martins home to their enormous mansions? That "bonus" you've heard about does exist, but it is not a bonus per shot, it's a small bonus given to a doctor by an insurance company for their entire cohort of patients if they immunise above a certain percentage. That is one bonus per doctor for all their patients, not for each one. After all, it's far less expensive for the insurance companies to prevent a disease than to pay for treating it, and just like pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies are also in the business of making money, not paying for medical care.
Take for example this case of tetanus in an unvaccinated 6-year-old boy who spent 8 weeks in hospital at a cost of over $811,000. On the other hand, a tetanus shot costs $64 in the US, £52 in the UK, and $0 in Australia. I've done the arithmetic once again, and treating the disease cost the parents' insurance company (assuming they were insured) 12,671 times the cost of the vaccine.
Now tell me more about vaccines being all about the money. Go ahead. Just try it.
- - - - -
That's all I have at the moment. I'm sure there are myriad other bullshit anti-vaccine claims out there, so if I missed any good ones please comment below.
1. They are probably out there but I've never heard of anyone who has a problem with getting a tetanus shot.
1. anti tetanus people absolutely exist. see Oregon tetanus case from 2017
I've got them in my town.
2. Here you go
3. Well, I do. I mean, I'm in favor of them in a general sense, but I try to avoid getting a tetanus vaccine myself because I seem to react rather strongly to the vaccine, have a lot of pain, and a day or 2 of not being able to move my arm. So, I won't get one unless I have an incident that puts me at high risk for the disease. (if I'd been that kid in the OR case, I'd have gotten the damn tetanus shot. I also would have been sutured by a DOCTOR, not at home)
4. Oi. There was one tetanus-vaccine refuser visiting the comment section of Orac's blog, somewhere two weeks ago.
Bit of a troll, although he seemed seriously claiming that just letting his children free-ranging was enough to get protection against tetanus 'naturally'.
Other people refuse the tetanus vaccine because they are not living in the dirt like some common people from a sh!thole country. Or because it's not contagious.
Some years ago, tetanus refusal was the fashion, because, you see, it's almost impossible to develop a natural immunity to it, so how can a vaccine do it? (short answer - an inactive toxin isn't busy killing you while your immune system is figuring out how to catch it)
5. the story of the kid in Oregon: a year in the hospital and over a million dollars spent keeping him alive - and his parents are still antivaxxers.
and yeah, I'm a bit lazy about keeping up on my own boosters. but when I'm reminded I go do it. it hurts less each time.
6. The parents of the child that recovered from tetanus in Oregon after over a month in ICU refused a tetanus shot before and after that.
7. I'm embarrassed to be an Oregonian at times..
I was in Seattle on vacation when measles became the new craze in Oregon.
My goddaughter lives in Clark County in Washington and she is vaccinated, I still worry about her because they are dealing with an outbreak for the last few months..
Darwinism comes to mind. Playing Russian roulette with your kids being the only player makes you a shitty parent..
8. There are also people that say : "You can't get immunity from naturally contracted tetanus, therefore the tetanus vaccine can't possibly work !"
(except that it is because you can get sick from few tetanus toxins, not enough for the body to develop immunity ; but the vaccine use enough neutralized toxins for immunity to happen)
(I don't remember seeing this argument in english though, maybe it's from our batshit crazy french/belgians antivaxxers.)
9. A friend of mine did doctors without borders and when she was in africa a year and a half ago she had to watch a poor young boy with lockjaw pass away from complications caused by tetanus. She said it was the single most horrible thing shed ever seen in her entire life. It shook her to her core.
10. Lots of antivaxxers are against the tetanus vaccine. I was in an "argument" a while back who was really proud of himself because he had written a letter to a bunch of bishops in Africa. In the mail he claimed that there was proof that the vaccine was part of a birth control scheme and that the women that received the vaccine became infertile. My claim was that he was an idiot...
11. that's not just a lie, it's an obvious lie.
12. I almost put that in here, but I already had one farcical entry and didn't want a second.
2. Standing ovation, Doctor. Thank you.
3. This is an incredible resource, Doc. Thank you.
4. Really good and comprehensive post. One more thing I'll add: I love it when people say "When I was a kid in the '70s, we only got a few vaccines and now there are just so many!" Well what a shock, in 40 years we've come up with more good options. Most people are not clamoring for the good old days of the 1970's in any other aspect of health care. I don't think anyone shows up at the ER when their parent is having a stroke and say, "Forget about these new treatments, manage them like it was 1975!" Or if their kid tears up their knee, they would say, "No arthroscopic surgery for my kid, I tore up my knee in the 70's and I can still walk - treat them like that!" Do you really think that every other area of medical care has improved but vaccines reached perfection in 1975.
5. There are many documented cases of homosexual people and autistic people having been vaccinated. The human brain is getting smaller, Not due to our bodies being smaller, But vaccines. Vaccines can be very detrimental to the brain which is why brain size is shrinking. What is also interesting is that the homosexuality rate has also been raised since vaccinations were invented. There has also been an increase in documented cases of brain disease in the past 100 years. Therefore, It is reasonable to assume that vaccinations can cause changes that make you homosexual, Autistic, Or cause other brain diseases. This is not confusing cause and effect, It is the cause. Have you ever heard stories about children getting vaccinated when they are 18 due to anti-vax parents? Autism. Also were vaccinations in the bible? Didn't think so. The conclusion is don't vaccinate your children unless you want them to be homosexual, Autistic, Have a smaller brain, And worship satan. Thank you and goodbye.
1. holy. fucking. crazytown. Doc you're going to have to add "brain shrinking" to this list.
thank you for putting this all together.
2. You have no scientific background aside from being a housewife.
3. "Therefore, It is reasonable to assume that vaccinations can cause changes that make you homosexual, Autistic, Or cause other brain diseases."
Homosexuality is not a brain disease, bigot.
Also, you propose a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy. Learn what that is, and how it applies, then try your argument again.
4. The Anonymous post from March 29 2019 at 20:16 must be snark because it's too stupid to be a real opinion.
5. This post has to be a joke...right? I mean people aren't capable of being that seriously stupid...can they?
6. I'm going to assume that this comment is pure satire.
7. When you introduce vaccine into the child, the child then grows and tries to find its own personality, and if this is inhibited by mercury or other substances present in the vaccine which enter the brain, the child becomes gay. The problem will especially be present in the next generations, because when gays have children, the children will carry along with them the DNA of their parent’s illness. Because homosexuality is a disease, even though the WHO has decided that it is not. Who cares! The reality is that it is so. Each vaccination produces homosexuality, because it prevents the formation of one’s personality. It is a microform of autism, if you will. You will see how many gays there will be in the next generation, it will be a disaster. That is the truth!
8. I present the anon as proof that people's brains are getting smaller. I also present the fact that there are people who think not getting vaccinated is a good idea. obviously people are getting stupider.
9. I am still assuming this is well-executed satire.
10. I hate this whole idea people have that theres something causing all these mental health problems showing up. "People didnt get them 100 years ago!" BECAUSE WE LITERALLY DIDNT HAVE PSYCHOLOGY! If someone heard voices or saw crazy things, they either heard the devil or were a prophet of some kind.
If they had siezures it was either posession or communing with God or some other bullshit.
Julius Caeser had epilepsy. They didnt call it that however. The term is recent. THE FUCKING DIAGNOSIS IS NOT!
"But why are there so many gays now?" Because up until the 90s it was still not considered ok to be gay. Heck to lots of assholes like anon here it still isnt. If you came out as gay 50 years ago, bare minimum your parents kicked you out of the house.
In Great britain it was illegal to hold a job without being on special drugs to try and change them. This happened to Allen Turing.
People are coming out as gay suddenly because people are finally saying its ok
11. I assume this was cut/pasted from The Onion but I'm too lazy to Google it.
12. Has to be satire, from that last line on the OP. I can't read that line and think anyone was seriously trying to make a point. What scares me is that someone is bound to TAKE it seriously and build an anti-vaxx case from there. Human stupidity has no bounds, and that is one of the saddest things I can think of.
BUT! With resources such as THIS amazing blog post, we can safely disregard disregard such stupidity. Any antivaxxer who refuses to read this, or remains unconvinced afterwards, isn't worth our time: we KNOW that they're just willfully stubborn and have decided to become ignorant. Propagation of this blog post might do a wonderful job of finally ending the antivaxx flaming discussions and wars, because anyone who's STILL antivaxx after this is a terminal case.
A vaccine against stupidity would be a fine thing. Sigh.
Oh wait, we do have one, it's called the brain. Wonder why so many people refuse to use it.
13. sadly, antivaxx really is that persistant.
14. What in the actual fuck did I read x2?
Anon threw the sanity right out the window and swallowed a jug of stupid before he posted that batshit crazy shit..
I have heard crazy conspiracy theories but this Anon said hold my beer I can show you real crazy thoughts..
I am dumber for reading that, his stupidity shrank my brain..
Doc with people as stupid as SatireAnon, how do they not forget to breathe and just slowly suffocate to death? I get the brain stem has it's roll but you would think people this stupid wouldn't believe in their brain stem and would try to bypass it to show the world how wrong every medical argument is and they would forget to breathe and suffocate.
Why do some medical things apply but yet others just as researched and proven effective for years not apply?
I can't get this Anons level of stupid to understand..
15. Anon, don't you DARE call me a disease! There isn't anything wrong with me, I am not a symptom or a side effect, being gay is not some condition to be cured.
16. Please don't get too riled up over some idiot's words on the internet. I sympathise with your feelings, but look at it this way: if you let him affect you that much, he's won. He's not worth your anger, your time, your energy, your acknowledgement. If someone wants to rile you up, getting riled up means he's won. Don't give him that pleasure.
Besides, he's lumped that "pseudo-factoid" in with so many other ridiculous claims that credibility went out the window. Don't worry.
17. Peter i think its moreso we get riled up to help prevent others for falling for this drivel
If we stand by and let this asshole preach his poison and do nothing, That is letting him win. As there Will be people who rally to his damn cause.
Oh also its rather cathartic to scream "you fuckhead"
18. Hang on, vaccines cause homosexuality and autism? K but I’m vaccinated and neither of those things. Am I doing something wrong?
I’ve also heard that gay people and autistic people breathe in oxygen. If there’s a correlation between inhaling oxygen and being gay and/or autistic then that’s a risk I don’t want to take!!
19. Also Sarah everyone who has ever breathed oxygen has a 100% mortality rate. Poor bastards.
6. Fix for #62 "polio virus image" link not working.
7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
8. Wow, thank you! (Not sure if those who need to read this actually will though.)
9. Impressive, thank you! Maybe I missed it somewhere above, but one of the common concerns I hear is that vaccines are just a big money grab for the manufacturers. Thusly, they are the ones pushing the CDC, etc. to force all of these shots onto all of our children.
1. It is a big money grab for big pharma. Even doc owns big pharma stocks so he has to protect his interest.
2. I work in an Emergency Department. Couldn't even venture to guess how many doses of Tdap I've administered over the years, but I can tell you exactly how much it has affected my bottom line - not at all. I've heard this one a lot from the anti-vax crowd, it's dumb.
3. Irrelevant.
4. dose of flu vaccine: $10.00
course of tamiflu: $1,000.00
even at a 40% effectiveness rate, that's still a $970.00 loss for every three doses of vaccine.
5. Yeah such a big money grab, that clinics give shots away for free to the poor low income no insurance families.. Free is a hefty price, I had to mortgage my house to afford the pricetag of free..
I broke my eyes rolling them, I have now strained my eyeball muscles rolling them for I don't know, the 1000th eyeroll at some of these Anons..
6. Yes. They get kickbacks for every flu shot the give. That is why they are practically beating our door down trying to get us to come get one. I have gotten them some years and others not, but the money part is true. We the taxpayers are funding those "free" flu shots.
7. "Beating our door down"? I get more of that from religious people than medical people. :)
But seriously, you seem to have a hold of some facts. Could you please share them with us, along with a reliable source for them? After all, we all read DocBastard's blog post, and everything he claims is backed up by a number of reliable medical and scientific sources which he shares.
In that spirit, could you please share the source of those "kickbacks" they get for every flu shot? How do you know it's "true"?
The thought occurs that if they ARE beating your door down it might be because they don't want you to get sick, on the general basis that medicine is based around that concept, and that if too many people get sick at the same time it might lead to an epidemic which might adversely very many things. But yeah, this is just conjecture, based on things like the hippocratic oath, the price of vaccines vs the price of the medication, and knowing how an epidemic can, off the top of the head, negatively impact tourism and working ability of the resident population which strikes an immediate economical blow. Nothing concrete, you see.
8. so now big pharma is paying doctors to sell vaccines for ten dollars a dose... because that makes it profitable for big pharma?
think how rich they would be if they weren't really really bad at business.
10. Re #10
"I know you think citing MTHFR makes you look smart, but it has the exact opposite effect."
Indeed. I encountered such a smart guy a few months ago in some comment section. He even gave a citation toward a scientific study about this polymorphism.
Just reading the abstract of the article was enough to see the article wasn't supporting his views in any way. In the conclusion, the authors were advising pregnant women with one polymorphism type to have more folic acid in their diet, IIRC.
Not a word about autism, vaccination, or ponies. It was disappointing.
11. paralaxvu@sbcglobal.net29 March 2019 at 22:44
I can't wait for the next time one of the rabid antivaxxers on my local community chit chat page speaks up again. And they will, of course. Of course, they also won't read your blog when I post it, either because they have a 10-second attention span, they can't read, or they're too busy listening to Jenny McCarthy. But that's ok, others will read it, copy it, and plop it down on their own community's chit chat page. Thank you so very much!
1. Jenny is afraid of vaccines, but has no problem at all with silicone.
2. Ken..
Or VD, seriously..
Jim Carrey supposedly tested positive for:
erpes I and II; Gonorrhea; Chlamydia; and Genital Warts?
After his relationship with Jenny, you kind have to wonder what all they were sharing outside of bunk science and scaring the public with their antivax BS..
She went on to cry about doing a kissing scene with Sheen and how stupid she is to how HIV is spread..
3. an expression I picked up in college: "don't touch it, you know where it's been."
12. This is probably the most comprehensive thing I've seen on vaccines. Thank you!
13. Thank you. This was educating and interesting. I'm going to send it to my daughter who's pro/vaccine and is not afraid to say it.
I asked our doctor to skip the pertussis component of the DTP when my son was getting his vaccines because he had such a bad reaction. 11 years later he got whooping cough. I would never want anyone to go through what we went through.
14. This is one of those pages that should be preserved for all posterity and instantly come up or be referenced whenever anyone expressed any sort of disquiet over vaccination. Wonderfully documented, excellently written as always. If you took out some of your frustrauted jabs at the antivaxxers it could (should!) be on every major medical paper and website on the planet. But if you DID take those jabs out, it wouldn't be really a DocBastard thing, and I like DocBastard just the way he is. :)
I wish this post went viral. Insert pun as you see fit.
15. The majority of vaccine pushers are foreigners with financialinterest in the vaccine trade.
1. Back that with evidence. While you're at it, define 'foreigners'. Foregn to where?
16. The one I didn't see that I get is "But why are there no double blind placebo studies?". Love this list!!
17. With regards to #15, I created (though I admit I may not have been the first) an analogy about it. If I take an Olympic level swimmer, and throw them into the middle of the ocean, do you suppose they'll make it to shore safely? Probably not. It's the same with a person's immune system. The vaccine trains it to fight off infections, but if everyone around is contagious with that disease, the person's immune system will still be swamped, and unable to fight it off.
1. I don't think that's a good analogy. It sounds like the immune system isn't strong enough and cannot cope with the number of attacks.
Herd immunity doesn't rely on the strength of the immune system. It relies on the immune system having nothing to do.
Imagine, every time you meet someone you both take a single coin out of your pockets. If you both produce the same coin (penny, nickel, dime, etc) then you are safe; if the coins are different then the infection is passed on [assuming the other person is infected]. With the first person you meet you may be lucky (same coins), but as you meet more and more people the likelihood of being lucky every time gets smaller and smaller.
It only requires one person to be infected, then it will be passed on to almost everyone they meet. And then most people they in turn meet. Very soon everyone is infected.
Now imagine that people are asked to empty their pockets. When you meet someone they have no coins so the coins can't be different and you're safe.
But, suppose some people can't (or won't) empty their pockets ... perhaps one person in every ten. When you meet someone there's a 90% chance that they don't have any coins and you're safe. But 10% of the time they'll have some coins; you may draw the same coins and stay safe or you draw different coins and any infection passed on.
When the first person is infect, there's a chance that everyone they meet has empty pockets and the infection goes no further. Or they may meet a few people with coins and the infection is passed on. These infected people may not meet anyone with coins and the infection comes to a halt. But if too many people still have coins the infection will continue to spread.
In this example, emptying your pockets is like being vaccinated ... you can't get infected, you can't pass on an infection. If everyone has emptied their pockets an infection cannot spread and comes to a halt. If some people still have coins (aren't vaccinated) then the infection can spread. Whether it spreads or is contained depends on how many people still have coins (aren't vaccinated) ... only a few an the infection is contained, too many and it spreads.
In the real world, some people cannot be vaccinated (too young or immunocompromised). And the vaccination may be less than 100% effective.
18. MTHFKR clearly stands for Motherfucker doc
Also its been shown that unvaccinated children are less likely to be diagnosed with autism. Because autism doesnt typically start showing symptoms until the age of 4 and they never make it that far.
Do some research before you blither.
2. This was simply a bit of hyperbole, Jean.
3. Autism shows up before 4, it is recognising it that doesn't always happen, and didn't happen at all years ago.
Autistic children would be though of as odd.
19. a few more things:
I claim source credit for "plague brats" feel free to use it, though.
there should be #4: you have Doc Bastard bookmarked and regularly cite his compiliations of vaccine myth debunkage.
I don't remember having chicken pox - my brain has mercifully blocked all memory except I remember that I was fucking miserable.
I know people who have had many of those old diseases.
yes, vaccines can cause side effects. but the diseases the vaccines are intended to prevent cause ALL THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS ONLY MUCH WORSE, AND AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF INCIDENCE.
20. I bet you all have PhDs in immunology and molecular biology. If you don't then shut the fuck up. You know nothing about science like I do.
1. Who even *are* you? Another "anon"? Which one of the various "anons" replying here even ARE you?
You can hide behind anonimity or you can stand up, proclaim your views and professed experience, and take the blows, like DocBastard does (using a steady alias for years is NOT the same as anonimity). You don't get to do both.
If you ARE the same "anon" that has been peppering this place with stupid bullshit, I've just fed a troll. Ah well. Trolls are a good thing. They're the things we point at children and say "See, if you don't analyze data objectively, learn to think for yourself, and aren't respectful of other people's views and/or creeds, you're going to grow up to be an asshole like this." So feeding them occasionally is good.
2. google U is not an accredited medical school.
3. Oh i do have a phd in immunology. Ive dated supermodels and personally know a nobel prize winner.
2 are lies only 1 is truth. Guess which one is the truth?
Its easy to claim you have any sort of experience or training. You havent even given us any evidence you have even the slightest idea what any of this means. Much less have a PHD
4. No suchthing as PHD moron.
5. "I bet you all have PhDs in immunology and molecular biology."
As a matter of fact, I do. Well, close enough.
21. Typo: In 29, "availability" should be "available"
22. I wonder if i were to hand a antivaxxer a pistol with the safety on and tell them to put the gun up to their head and pull the trigger, but there was a 5% chance the safety wouldnt work, if they would turn off the safety and do it anyways?
1. Big pharma is already doing that to children.
2. Really? Do tell, Anon. Come on, don’t leave us shivering with antici...pation.
3. I see what you did, there.
4. Lol DocBastard never took you as as a fan.. I laughed out loud and that's been very hard to do lately..
5. I don't know about that analogy.
- The risks of death from vaccines is faaaar less than 5%
- When you put the gun to your head, you don't expect an added benefit far outweigthing the risks (like protection against diseases).
6. LouVeha i dont know about you, but death im pretty sure is the Best protection against diseases. Just ask the antivaxxers about how not sick their dead kids are!
23. Sunscreen doesn't cause cancer? No issue with people thinking since they have sunscreen on it's safe and thus incurring more sun exposure than they otherwise would?
1. that argument holds as much water as claiming spring break causes alcohol poisoning.
2. Actually, the concern is that too much sunscreen too often blocks the formation of Vitamin D which protects against skin cancer.
3. da google says this: "Background. Vitamin D is formed in the skin at exposure to the sun. The body also obtains vitamin D through foods and dietary supplements. Some studies suggest that vitamin D may help prevent certain types of cancer, but it is not clear whether it may help prevent skin cancer."
in addition, most modern people get their vitamin D from milk or other upplements. and the most common trigger for skin cancer is exposure to the sun with inadequate sunscreen.
24. I was vaccinated in the 70s 1 dose MMR and was unfortunate the have both the mumps, and the measles, both suck and why anyone would want someone to suffer through either is beyond me. I love my children, they are both fully vaccinated. Great article.
25. the only memory I have of mumps is my doctor telling my mother I had it. I trust my lack of memory to tell me I was miserable.
26. Thank you, fellow Doc, for a damn good post!
27. "I got the flu shot and I still got the flu!"
What the hell do you think the shot does? It doesn't put an impenetrable force field around your body that prevents the virus getting in. Nothing can stop it getting into your body. But if and when it does get in, a flu shot will have prepared your immune system so that the symptoms are reduced, the length of time is reduced, and therefore the risk of transmission is reduced. And if you had a nasty flu, just think about how much worse it would have been with an unprepared immune system.
Dave Bailey, aka The Rat
28. Love you!!! This is so hilarious and so accurate it must be so painful for those less endowed in the brain area (ie anti-vaxxers). For your safety I am so glad you’re anonymous!
29. Tetanus boosters hurt like hell, only time whining was permitted in my house for two days straight by everyone. All mine whined, husband, adult brother, adult daughter, my two youngest, and myself.
My daughter had a reaction to her DPT and they had to break it apart and give her two shots in one leg and the other in the other leg to narrow down which one caused the first reaction.. She had swelling of the thigh, inflammation and hardening of the surrounding area we had to have her leg ice/heat pack rotated for a week.. Second dose gave them an idea what was going on.. I would rather have a minor owie than a dead daughter watching her suffer from a preventable possible death sentence..
30. I had an antvaxxer send me a couple of videos and an article about herd immunity after I posted the Burkina Faso study on her stupid “herd immunity is a myth” meme. The videos and article claim that our society has never actually reached the required thresholds for herd immunity (90-95% for measles) because many adults have not kept up with boosters. A CDC study was quoted that we’ve only reached about 60% ever. How do you respond to that? Thanks for the information.
1. "people not getting vaccinated won't fix that problem."
2. I think if all society had reached actual herd immunity levels, several of these diseases would have gone the way of smallpox. I do still have hope.
However, with this latest measles outbreak, I fear even smallpox can come back again. F*cking anti-vaxxers
4. Small pox was actually eradicated in the wild. The fear is that a similar virus will mutate back into small pox basically
31. regarding gardasil and infertility: guess what cervical cancer does to your fertility.
and then of course, thare's the chance that avoiding gardasil sticks you with these five:
Paclitaxel (Taxol®),
Gemcitabine (Gemzar®)
32. meanwhile, in the New York Orthodox Jewish Nurse community:
(it's good news, except for Anon)
33. WOW. Thankseverso for putting this together, Doc. You really outdid yourself! Now if I can just get the anti-vaxxer idiots to click the link & actually read this info.
34. Absolute BEST article I have read on this topic yet! Could actually be a book if you have the time and energy to work on it (and I hope you do). Also (not that it's necessary) but I wonder if putting in something about mumps causing male sterility might freak them out a bit? Because you know how some of those anti-vaxxers like to have loads of kids.
Anyway thank you so much for writing this amazing article and I've already posted to my professional page (I'm a doctor).
35. Our office has a few parents declining vaccines because they supposedly contain "Neanderthal DNA". Yes, I am completely serious, and yes I had to try very hard to not laugh when my coworker first told me about this.
1. The only thing funnier than that would be a claim that they contain aborted Neanderthal fetal tissue.
2. a significant part of the world population apparently contains neanerthal DNA. it doesn't make people any more likely to have a bad reaction to vaccines.
3. Hey, if the vaccines "supposedly" contain that DNA and a significant part of the world "apparently" also does, what's the compatibility problem? :)
PS - Dunno about the DNA, but too many of us sure ACT that way on a daily basis...
4. umm... I was suggesting I understood that to mean the parents contained the DNA, not the vaccines, but carry on.
5. Unless you are a native african tribesman you have some amount of neanderthal DNA. They dont as theyre ancestors never went into europe
36. One argument I keep seeing, but did not see addressed above. "Why I should I trust scientists? They lied about lead, asbestos, and tobacco. These "facts" about vaccines must be lies too."
37. Thank you so much for this superb article. I'm bookmarking it as a reference in case I have an opportunity to confront my anti-vax daughter. I almost died as a four-year old from measles. Ministers were called in to pray because they felt sure I was dying. But, here I am, and I don't use being a survivor as an argument against vaccines. Thank you again for all the work you put into this.
38. This pediatrician in Oregon thanks you VERY MUCH. This is the most comprehensive and readable refutation of antivax arguments I have ever seen! I have already shared and will keep this in my reference file for future use. Excellent!
39. Dear Doc.
I'm one of your loyal followers. First thanks for all the good work you're doing in the face of the insane conspiracy theorists and second thanks for building this valuable source of evidence. Sadly these conspiracy theorists cannot be educated out of their delusional state but at least you will be slowing the rate at which they recruit the naive and the gullible. I'm a clinical scientist and have faced similar problems fighting off the cancer quacks.
More strength to your elbow,
Mike Baum
Prof Emeritus of surgery and visiting prof of medical humanities
40. one minor correction - mutagenicity and carcinogenicity preclinical toxicology studies are rarely, if ever, done on vaccines. They are sometimes done on adjuvants that are small molecules and process residuals that haven't previously been tested, but not on the vaccines themselves.
We rarely do this testing on any large molecules because they are unlikely to interact with DNA.
Our studies of tox hyperimmunize the animals and include a ton of clinical and microscopic pathology to see tiny changes. We also do studies with pregnant animals and see how their pups develop. Fine, in case you were wondering.
WHO has a great document describing the recommended nonclinical safety testing of vaccines:
41. “No vaccine-preventable disease is anywhere close to 100% fatal“
Please add (Except rabies, that shit is almost always 100% fatal without the vaccine”.
1. Theres only ever been 2 people who were known to survive without the vaccine, and they didnt get it simply due to it being to late. Somehow the doctors managed to keep them alive and 1 made a Mostly full recovery (save some mental issues. Some, but still). Both within the past 10 years. Its actually rather interesting to read about.
42. Lots of valid points here. If this article were written in a tone that was respectful and less condescending, I might share it with my friends who are anti-vaccine. If your intention is to persuade others who think differently, this won't cut it. This will only put them on the defensive. If your intention was to mock and condescend and entertain pro-vaxxers, mission accomplished.
1. antivaxxers won't listen, anyway, so why bother pretending to care about their feelings.
2. Wow! That's quite a generalization. Then why bother going through all this trouble to write such an article? What was the intention? I ask sincerely. The only objective I can think of is to get pats on your back from the choir to whom you're preaching with no intention of making a difference.
3. because there are people coming in from the outside every year, and they need to know just how stupid the entire antivaxx movement really is, and how ridiculously false their arguments are. and further, that people are willing to call them out for the dangerous idiots they are.
it's the old equation - you will never persuade the true believers, but you can show their audience how dangerously delusional they actually are.
4. Unknown - I kinda agree with you. But, this is DocBastard's style, and its his frustration with the whole issue that's seeping through. I agree that things written in this one are more likely to piss off than educate... but you know, anti-vaxxers are doing humanity a HUGE disservice. Sweet-talking and proper attempts at educating clearly didn't work, because there are none so blind as those who decide not to see...
(I don't mean people who are confused about the whole thing because AntiV are so vocal, I mean the actual AntiV people who really believe this crazy talk)
...and given that, DocBastard's attempt is worth trying, I guess. I mean, it may even work, because those Anti-vaxxers who can still think for themselves may be so irate at the blog post that they'll actively look for ways to disprove everything DocBastard said. That may prove educational!
If you DO share this article, you probably should do so with the caveat that DocBastard is very blunt about his opinions, though he uses facts rather than conjecture to prop them up, and that there are some things he has zero pacience with. One of them is not using seatbelts or helmets, because he sees the results first-hand practically every day. The other one is anti-vaxx, which, when you think about it, is pretty much the same thing as being anti-seatbelt; just as silly, just as dangerous, just as misguided.
And this blog post is also a result of being in the middle of AntiVaxx discussions where you can BET the AntiVax party was condescending and disrespectful; the instances I find of it online are telling.
So DocBastard is giving it back. He must figure they can take it, since they dish it out so, but he actually uses facts.
TL;DR: If your friends are merely on the fence about AntiVaxx, don't show them the article but paraphrase the relevant points. If they're hell-bent on it, just link them the article, because maybe someone needs to tell it like this, considering the damage they're trying to do to humanity's health.
5. Pfff. Above was from Peter Piers. This comment section is tricky sometimes... plus the captcha is aaaaannnOOOOOOOYing...
43. Thanks for a well put together and entertaining article. There is a 4th category of readers, those seeing this thrown towards some antivax adepts (I'm being nice tonight) and deciding to check out the source, cause science can be fun :)
The article has some side effects, started reading at 1am and its now 2:30am so I think I should report sleeping disorder to the VAERS database (hey, I did get my DTP shot a few days ago so its related :) )
1. Same here. Found a link to this as a reply to some moronic argument on Facebook and lost a couple of hours. Time to pay that forward.
44. Interesting, you only have this one post in your blog. Which big pharma company is paying you?
1. that's hilarious to those of us who have been following his blog for years. the menu is on the right.
2. That's pretty much the sort of quick-reaction, instantaneous blind bias and zero research one would expect from an anti-vaxxer. Yes, the people who are advocating anti-vaxxing ARE the sort of people who fail to notice years of blog posts and immediately make accusations about Big Pharma.
Seriously. Perfect illustration right here.
4. there must be something in your anti spam/popup/virus/tracking suite that is interfering. I haven't seen the captcha in months.
5. Anon - What is truly interesting is that I have 459 published blog posts dating back to 13 October, 2011. I suppose you missed the other 458 of them.
6. I think its due to the formatting on mobile. It separated this one onto its own page for the wider list of articles for some reason. Easy to hit "next page"
45. Press on the arrow, he has years on content on here. This one is just pinned to the front
46. Docbastard, you have no background in immunology nor medical training in pathophysiology like I do I suggest you shut the fuck up.
1. You have 0 evidence you even know what any of these articles even say, much less any medical training beyond how to apply a bandaid.
2. google-U is not an accredited medical school.
3. Conner, the proper term is "adhesive bandage/dressing." Band-Aid is Johnson & Johnson's brand name for such medical adhesives.
4. common usage rules apply.
5. Anon, instead of throwing around your supposed credentials, perhaps you can try pointing out any mistakes that I made. Surely someone with extensive education and training in immunology and pathophysiology such as yourself can indicate mistakes rather than just suggesting that I shut the fuck up.
I'll wait right here.
47. Thank you for this, Doctor. Here's a 31 point AV screed that's making the rounds on twitter and (as screenshots) on FB. Posted 7:32 AM - 31 Mar 2019.
Safe & Effective
What the media doesn't want you to know about why people choose to not vaccinate their children: a thread.
1. Parents who exercise their right to refuse vaccines care deeply about their children. This decision is not made in ignorance, nor out of fear.
2. They are tired of the talking points and official pronouncements, unsupported by sound science. These parents no longer consider the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or the US Federal Drug Administration to be reliable sources of information.
3. These institutions, along with the Institute of Medicine and the WHO, are front groups, controlled by pharmaceutical companies. These institutions promote vaccination policies while presenting themselves as independent, authoritative sources on vaccine safety.
4. By controlling these institutions, the pharmaceutical industry has gained control of vaccine safety assessments and uses that power to rule out causal relationships between vaccination and serious adverse events. Further, the CDC holds over 30 patents on vaccine technology.
5. While it takes more than a single patent to have the right to manufacture a vaccine, the CDC has an undeniable conflict of interest with regard to vaccine safety.
6. Parents for vaccine choice know that vaccine manufacturers and government agencies do not perform long-term safety studies. They know that industry studies are terminated after a few days or few weeks, long before chronic illness manifests in a child.
7. They know that vaccine studies have rarely used an inert placebo, and instead use an aluminum injection or another vaccine as the control. This ensures that any new adverse events are similar to the placebo.
8. These parents don’t want to inject their children with aluminum adjuvants, some of which were created in manufacturing errors that weren’t discovered for 2 decades. Independent research has discovered alarming amounts of viral, animal, and human DNA contamination in vaccines.
9. Vaccine choice parents know that the large meta-analysis autism studies that declare vaccines to be safe have been seriously compromised. The children who are labeled “unvaccinated” in these studies are not actually unvaccinated.
10. Thousands of children who would be expected to have autism diagnoses are mysteriously, and inexplicably, missing from their numbers. User bias is ignored, where parents of medically fragile children opt not to vaccinate.
1. 11. These studies use baseless, and often fraudulent, confounding factors to eliminate healthy children from consideration and influence their final statistical outcomes.
12. Parents who have opted not to vaccinate report that their children have far lower incidences of asthma, anaphylactic food allergies, Type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, and neurological disorders such as autism.
13. These parents have waited decades for the government to perform a true comparison of the long-term health of vaccinated children against unvaccinated, but the study never comes.
14. They say it would be unethical to perform such a study that would deprive infants of life-saving vaccines. This claim ignores the health records of hundreds of thousands of unvaccinated children in state healthcare and insurance databases across America, available for study.
15. Americans do not have the “right” to live in a germ-free environment beyond what they can create on their own property. There is no “right” to be free from diseases that vaccines claim, but often fail, to prevent.
16. Nowhere on a vaccine insert does it say that the vaccine will not work unless 95% of the surrounding population also takes the vaccine.
17. The theory of herd immunity is not nearly as solid as public health officials would have you believe. The idea was put forward in 1933 when a researcher observed that measles outbreaks temporarily decreased after 68% of children contracted the measles virus.
18. This is why measles outbreaks historically appeared in 3 to 4-year cycles.
19. This phenomenon was unrelated to the measles vaccine, which wasn’t invented at the time. 7% of people don’t create antibodies after measles vaccination, and another 25% lose their antibodies after 15 years.
20. 39% of all measles cases in the US in 2015 were caused by the MMR vaccine, including 25% of the Disneyland outbreak, but the CDC never published their data.
2. 21. Vaccines for pertussis, diphtheria, and polio are symptom-reducing vaccines and not designed to stop transmission of infection to another person. Tetanus is not contagious. Hepatitis B is a blood-borne virus, highly unlikely to spread in a community setting.
22. Use of the Hib vaccine has led to infections with a bacterial strain we don’t vaccinate for. The CDC knew in 2013 that the pertussis bacteria mutated and isn’t a match for the vaccine, but didn’t tell the public until this year.
23. The CDC has also known that using the pertussis vaccine makes people more likely to become infected with the mutated pertussis bacteria.
24. Mumps outbreaks in 100% vaccinated groups, like a navy ship out to sea, are most likely due to vaccine adverse events and fraudulent efficacy claims.
25. Children vaccinated for these diseases don’t contribute to “herd immunity.” It is baseless to conflate naturally-acquired lifelong immunity with vaccine-induced antibody production.
26. We hear that “all children must be vaccinated in order to protect the children who can’t be vaccinated.” This is a strawman argument. There is no condition for which the CDC declares that a child cannot receive a whooping cough vaccine.
27. Children undergoing chemo can receive every vaccine but the MMR and chickenpox, which they receive when they are in remission. Children who receive transplanted organs must be fully vaccinated in order to be waitlisted.
28. No one has an obligation to vaccinate their children in order to protect the most medically vulnerable among us.
29. Congress removed civil liability for death and injury from vaccine manufacturers in 1986 and created the court where parents must chase financial compensation for their injured children. Congress did this while deeming vaccines to be “unavoidably unsafe.”
30. This phrase means that it is not possible to make vaccines any less dangerous than they were in 1986, even if they are properly manufactured and come with proper warnings.
31. It is unconscionable for lawmakers, doctors, schools, or the general public to expect parents to vaccinate their children with an unavoidably unsafe product in a scientifically unfounded attempt to protect someone else’s child.
.
/End/
3. 1: yes, they are made out of ignorance and fear.
2-31: see 1.
4. I believe that Liz Ditz is proof that failing to vaccinate shrinks the brain!
5. Anon - Liz is an extremely vocal advocate in favour of vaccines. She was merely listing the complaints she saw on Twitter and Facebook. I believe I have addressed all of them except the "unavoidably unsafe" one, which I will have to add.
6. you know what else is unavoidably unsafe? life.
7. "28. No one has an obligation to vaccinate their children in order to protect the most medically vulnerable among us." This one is exceptionally cold-blooded.
48. Thank you Doc!! This is a perfect summary to go with your Gish Gallop articles. I now have two links saved: one for disputing the "research" proving their opinion, and one for responding to the massive disinformation (with no supplied evidence).
While i can see a "niceified" version of this as useful, I personally prefer your style. Might have something to do with why I keep reading! Keep up the good work; maybe this stupidity will fall by the wayside in my lifetime...
49. I heard a new one today, similar to #21 on Liz Ditz's list.
Apparently, you can be over-vaccinated. Booster shots just mask the disease, and you continue to shed the disease, increasing the chance of infection.
1. That's a new one. I've never seen that claim.
50. Add me to the list of people vividly remembering chicken pox - I even have a distinct scar on my temple to remind me because I DID scratch. I was told not to, of course, but I just couldn't Not Scratch. It was horrible, I am very glad there is now a vaccine, and if I ever end up having kids, I'll make sure they get that shot instead of the pox.
Yeah, needles are scary, but they hurt way less and leave much smaller scars, if any.
I myself am fully up to date on my shots. I'm almost never truly ill, and if I do catch something I recover extremly fast.
Though in all fairness I do have to admit I suffer from allergies and high-functional autism. Gotta say though, being autistic wouldn't actually be a bad thing at all if people were more accepting of it - I'm not sick or underdeveloped, I just have a different skillset than most people.
1. I've had the "this is what you don't do to a person on the autism spectrum who is in crisis" training. the basics of acceptance aren't that hard to understand, and it actually makes good sense to apply some of the "don't overwhelm them with stimuli" concepts to anybody in crisis.
2. I'm Autistic as well, as is my son, neither of us had MMR vaccine, too old, I agree, we are both nice enough people, it's a pity that some people just cannot accept differences in others.
51. DocBastard, thank you for this fabulous compilation and illustration of characteristic anti-vaccine "logic." While I greatly admire your sense of humor and your ability to cut through obfuscation and lay bare the misunderstanding or hypocrisy at the center of each anti-vaccine argument, I find your criticisms of Rudolf Steiner, and to a lesser extent anthroposophic medicine, to be weak and uninformed. (These criticisms occur under "53) Measles protects against cancer" and are incidental to your rebuttal of that myth.)
Your first claim has no citation and seems dubious — for all of Steiner’s far-out ideas, he had scientific training and tended to keep up with and respect contemporary scientific findings (as far as they went), while also believing that the scientific method was usually applied in a needlessly restricted way and could be extended through rigorous meditative work. Whether and to what extent these latter beliefs may have merit is a question still being debated by, among others, those philosophers and scholars of esotericism who have lately begun to take a serious interest in this long-neglected work. Speculation by non-experts in these matters is about as unreliable as lay speculation about toxicology, immunology, and epidemiology. Dunning-Kruger applies to all of us.
Your second claim has a citation, but you don't bother even trying to rebut the cited argument for an alternative model of blood circulation and heart function which, while unconventional, may sound plausible to a lay person (especially if they peruse the article rather than just chuckling at the term “biological momentum”). One of the article’s authors, Branko Furst, is an anesthesiologist who has written an academic book on the subject — The Heart and Circulation: An Integrative Model (Springer, 2014) — and whose review of circulation models and their respective histories and limitations seems to have contributed to a lively discussion on these topics, evidenced in PubMed. I’m personally unqualified to evaluate these arguments, but to blithely dismiss them as stemming from Steiner’s purported inability to “understand concepts as (relatively) simple as…the circulatory system” is not very convincing.
[...continued below...]
52. [...continued from above...]
Of anthroposophic medicine in general, you state “[AM is] an alternative practice based on occult bullshit, risible bullshit, homeopathic bullshit, and other assorted bullshit.” While partially true, this is misleading first because AM “practitioners,” as you prefer to call them, are in fact conventionally-licensed doctors with conventional training and conventional practices, which are not based on but supplemented with the things you call bullshit. It is also misleading because it conflates AM’s epistemological foundations with its tradition. A recent academic work which tries to clarify the former, while not defending the latter (which I would agree contains bullshit), is Anthroposophy and Science: An Introduction by Peter Heusser (Peter Lang, 2016). Steiner began his career as a philosopher, and in his later lectures frequently referenced his early epistemological writings, which most of his followers even then neglected, and which Steiner himself predicted would outlast all his other works. Steiner also, as Heusser emphasizes, expected his recommendations to be scientifically tested (and modified or rejected as necessary), not accepted or defended on faith.
Why do I care whether your “Busting Vaccine Myths” article misrepresents the apparently tangential topics of anthroposophic medicine and Rudolf Steiner? Because, as I’m sure you know, Steiner/Waldorf schools and communities have become a haven for vaccine-preventable diseases and their allies, humans who embrace “bullshit argument[s] about vaccines”: the #3 audience you identify at the top of your article. And if your calculation of “at least a 99.21% chance…that [those readers] haven't even read this far” is even a little bit off, there’s a good chance some Steiner-admiring folks, misinformed about vaccines (as many of them are), are going to encounter your article. Among this group, those who are are able and willing to think clearly and to change their minds in light of new evidence and convincing arguments may read all the way to Myth #53, at which point they may find your criticisms of anthroposophic medicine and Steiner to be weak and uninformed, and on that basis question your credibility and the reliability of your pro-vaccine arguments. (“Steiner said X, Y, and Z about vaccines, and you’ve shown you don’t understand Steiner — heck, you can’t even acknowledge the possibility that the heart might be more than just a mechanical pump — so why should I take you seriously? I’m going to continue assuming that Steiner may have been right about vaccines, even though we can’t yet prove it. Scientists can be so rude and closed-minded!” I can just hear the rationalizations clicking.)
2. As for the first claim, it comes from Jean-Marie Abgrall's "Steiner's Heirs".
As for the heart not being a pump, I have seen it pump. And when it stops pumping, the blood stops circulating. There is no "biological momentum".
And as for anthroposophic medicine being an extension of conventional medicine, so is "integrative" medicine, which adds bullshit to conventional medicine.
The bottom line is that the study has never been replicated, so taking a quetionable conclusion from an unreplicated study done by questionable practitioners is simply ludicrous.
3. Thanks for providing that citation. Unfortunately, Abgrall himself provides only one, possibly relevant, secondary citation (in French) for that claim (and all his other claims) about Steiner and anthroposophic medicine (_Healing or Stealing?_, chapter 6):
So I still find that claim questionable (and unrepresentative), I still find your consideration of the heart-model discussion half-hearted (at best) and your "bullshit" broad-brush only partially justified, I still think these weaknesses may harm your credibility among the vaccine hesitant in the Steiner/Waldorf movement, and I still agree with your bottom line about the study and its conclusion.
53. You rocked it, DocB!
Actually, where I work we do keep lab log books in addition to all the digital back-ups. Plus when you're doing WGTA work, that's all on paper with the exception of digital recordings. I still use paper though (in addition to digital). Paper may crumble to dust after many years (if it doesn't get wet or worse), but digital stuff has to be backed up and updated and it can get lost too. So we cover our asses and protect the public's investment in our research by writing a lot of stuff down too.
54. Sheeples who can't think for themselves.
1. you mean the antivaxxers whose blathering is so predictable, of course.
2. You're a YES man. You just have to agree with everything he posts on this site, it's laughable.
3. No its called agreeing with scientific evidence and facts versus fearmongering neanderthals like yourself.
Wait, no sorry neanderthals were actually considered intelligent.
You are more like an amoeba. Mindless, small insignificant but dangerous to peoples health
4. you call that scientific evidence? bahahaha
5. and you're a knee jerk dumbfuck.
6. Anon,
Yeeeeessss. How do you want to call it? Humor us with an "enlightened" answer and then, we'll discuss :D
7. Well, according to Harvard, the interstellar rock Omuamua that has been in orbit around earth is also a spacecraft. Bahahahaha.
8. Ummm...according to Harvard? Right.
According to Harvard, you failed your IQ test and furthermore, you seem to be proud of that.
I'll give you another try :D
9. Those are the scientific evidence that you speak of...sheeples! Bahahahaha. Oh, boy! Too funny! Omuamua is a traveling spacecraft! Bahahahaha! Scientific evidence! Bahahaha.
10. so did you have anything worth taking seriously, or are you just going to babble like a two year old?
11. Omuamua is an alien spacecraft. - Harvard Scientists. Bahahahaha.
12. Anon - which article that I cited do you have a problem with? Please list it along with your specific criticism. Thanks.
55. I got Chicken Pox in the ‘90s, shortly before the vaccine became available. I remember the itching and the oatmeal baths and the general misery.
The virus also reactivated in my nerves this past December and I got to celebrate Christmas and my birthday with shingles. Three months later I still get the occasional pain through my arm.
I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Plus you can get shingles more than once! But there’s a vaccine for shingles too now.
56. Great read. Just one question. Since vaccines are injected into the muscle how is the liver able to help filter out toxins? Or does it all just accumulate? Thanks for your time.
1. Forgot to "check notify me"
2. there's this juice in your body called "blood"...
3. Lol. I know. And the lymphatic system. But it still seems like it bypasses the filtration system. I read the whole thing waiting for the injection vs ingestion explanation.
4. your digestive system doesn't go through your liver or kidneys, yet alcohol you drink affects both.
5. is that a medical opinion? bahahahaah
6. nope, it's a long form eyeroll.
7. Brit - first of all, there are no toxins in vaccines. Second, everything that gets into your body that doesn't enter the bloodstream is absorbed via lymphatics which then empties via the thoracic duct into the bloodstream. Nothing is bypassed ever.
57. Thank you! Great read and a fantastic resource. I've bookmarked it ready to deploy on people who will refuse to read it and/or try to understand it.
58. best. fucking. source. ever.
59. Don't confuse correlation with causation. In this case, rather than failure to vaccinate causing brain shrinkage, it's probably more likely brain shrinkage that causes a failure to vaccinate.
60. It can be argued effectively that we know autism existed prior to 1848, in approximately the same ratio that it exists today.
Estimate in this article puts the number at 1,200, and that only includes probably 1 in 3 cases(since the vast majority still went undetected then), and that's in Massachusetts alone. Cross reference that with U.S. Census numbers for Massachusetts population for 1840 and 1850.
1848 predates all modern vaccines. The only one in use at the time was smallpox, which is just a prick of the skin with a little trident shaped needle, which has been previously dipped in cowpox, essentially. It contains no adjuvants, and is not injected.
Autism most certainly is not caused by vaccines.
61. Awesome! Thanks so much for all this work, and for sharing.
Could you do two more please? One about flat earth, and one about debunking majijuana myths :)
1. Two issues that I see: a. Flat Earth is not a medical issue. Doc tends to write regarding the (mostly) medical issues he encounters or cares about. b. Medical marijuana research has found reproducible effects for a few specific conditions. Though there are a ton of anecdotal reports, very little reproducible work has been done.
62. When I was very young, I had an older sister who was 11 years my senior. She had some serious health issues, and they didn't quite pin point what exactly was wrong. She had horrible rashes that they treated with tar and plastic bags on her arms and legs. This was back in the 60's. When the schools were vaccinating against small pox, me and siblings could not have that vaccine. The doctors had told my parents that the small pox vaccine could possibly kill my sister and even the scab from that vaccine on one of us, would also endanger her health. I don't know how true that would prove out to be, I just know we siblings could not have that vaccine.
63. Er... As a member of a Dutch Reformed variant church, I've never even heard of the divine providence objection. And I vaccinate my kids.
64. AGREE with your stance, as it of course the only logical one. We have some famous boxer here in Australia today saying vaccines are unsafe, it just beggars belief.
BTW - I have spent the past month reading your blog from the beginning. Very entertaining reading.
1. Well janney, welcome to the docbastard health ward whatever we would call ourselves
65. You should add the Bullshit the Anti Vaxxers have been spewing about Stanley Plotkin and how he recused himself from a trial and apparently wasn't able to cite any safety (which is a lie )and this proves he's "covering " something up .
66. To your quote about the ethics of vaccine vs non vaccine studies generally the Anti Vaxers will counter with
1. "It's more unethical to use untested vaccines " showing their warped morality and hypocrisy .
2. "Just used already unvaccinated children" i think this explains itself
67. What you have written about the safety of aluminum is in direct contradiction to the reply o have received from the European Medicine Agency.
They confirmed that no toxicokinetic studies have ever been done to access the safety of injectable aluminum in humans.
They assume aluminum is safe because it has been used for 6 decades.
1. Fascinating. Please send their response. Otherwise I can reasonably exclude your claim as unsubstantiated bullshit.
68. As the Brady Bunch demonstrated, America saw the measles as a minor childhood annoyance, not the existential threat vaccine groupies imagine it to be.
COVID-19 Mythbusting (clean)
Due to popular demand (well, two polite requests, actually), I have decided to create a clean version of my post about COVID-19 myths . If... | <urn:uuid:975cbf13-b6b0-4b2a-9792-45e6509f718e> | http://www.docbastard.net/2019/03/busting-vaccine-myths.html?showComment=1553972106279 | en | 0.96976 | 0.43977 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Official Rating Scales
The WineWalkabout official
Restaurant, Hotel and Travel Rating Scale
Must Do / Go
Good, Would Go Back
Yeah it's OK
Probably not - If they ask us back we would give them a second chance (sometimes stuff happens)
Moving on / Don’t stop
The Official Wine Rating Scale
1- down the drain.
2- send it to the in-laws, they drink anything (they put ice in their wine)
3- pour for drunk friends (don’t waste good wine on drunks)
4- take it to other people’s BBQ parties (it’s OK wine, you will drink it rather than share your good stuff, plonk)
5- spaghetti wine, good every day wine that you choose to drink, usually great value
6- good wine, week night home special meal (cooking good meat)
7- great drop, fine dinner wine (take to restaurant with friends)
8- excellent, very special occasion (share with wine friends)
9- awesome, dam near perfect
10- brilliant, perfect (rare find indeed)
11- a religious experience. (you make noises as you drink and you don’t care)
$0 - $25 ****
$26 - $50 ***
$51 - $100 **
$101 - $200 *
$201 < no stars for you!
1. Excellent wine rating scale!
2. Finally a wine rating scale I can get behind!
3. You guys crack me up. NO STARS FOR YOU! ha ha ha too funny
4. Seems legit fellas.
5. I see what you did there 'no stars for you' love it. Probably should be at $100 though 👍🍷
We are always on a WineWalkabout looking for a good drop. Please comment and ask questions about the things you like or would like to read and see. Don't drink without pants on! | <urn:uuid:d4ed626c-91c5-4a4d-a426-0b913c77d639> | http://www.winewalkabout.net/p/official-kiwi-koala-rating-scales.html | en | 0.905452 | 0.028498 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Hot Milk Cake
This old-fashioned recipe for classic vanilla cake makes a velvety smooth, delicious classic vanilla cake. Top it with whipped cream and fruit and it’s the perfect summer dessert!
*Lots of cake science in this post!*
Hot Milk Cake
The one thing that I am a sucker for is cake fresh out of the oven. Especially if it’s a sheet cake. Then you can nibble at the edges and take tiny slices while it’s cooling and nobody will notice. And that’s just what I did. This cake was so fantastic right out of the oven.
It was even more delicious after it cooled and I topped it with a generous portion of homemade whipping cream. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, the science!
Hot Milk Cake
This cake is a science nerd’s dream! Why? Because of mixing methods, of course! What is a mixing method? A mixing method is how you mix your cake, and depending on how do that can really affect that texture and final product of your cake. There are three major mixing methods that I’ve experimented with:
1. The traditional creaming method. You cream together the butter and the sugar for as long as seven minutes in order to produce lots of air bubbles. Because baking soda and baking powder do not create their own air bubbles but rather expand already existing bubbles, lots of creaming of the butter and sugar can yield a really fluffy cake.
2. My preferred mixing method is the reverse creaming method. Rather than creaming the butter and sugar together, you add all of the dry ingredients and then mix in the fat. The fat (cubed butter or oil) coats the flour particles and prevent it from forming lots of gluten networks. This results in a more dense, velvety crumb.
3. The final method is the muffin method. This is rarely used in cakes because it yields a large crumb and lots of open holes. You mix all of the dry ingredients in one bowl and all of the wet ingredients in the other. Then you combine them only until they’re just incorporated. Because you’re directly incorporating all of the wet ingredients into the flour, over mixing will result in formation of gluten networks. The longer you mix flour exposed to a liquid, the more gluten will form and that leads to tough, icky baked goods.
But this cake used an entirely different mixing method. And it is beautiful and science-y. Instead of creaming the butter and sugar, you cream the eggs and sugar. Then you add the dry ingredients and finally, you add the melted butter and hot milk. Normally in a cake recipe, you add the fat early on during the mixing process. Here it is quite the opposite. What makes this cake fluffy if you’re not creaming the butter and sugar? It all begins in step one when you beat the eggs. You must beat the eggs for at least five minutes. At this point, you are incorporating tons of air bubbles into the eggs, which the baking powder will act on while the cake is baking. Once again, baking powder does not create its own air bubbles, but rather expands pre-existing air bubbles. The more air bubbles you beat in, the lighter your cake will be. When you add the sugar, continue beating until light and fluffy. Once again, you’re incorporating more air bubbles.
Hot Milk Cake
What the eggs will look like after you beat them for five minutes.
Hot Milk Cake
What the cake mix will look like after you add the sugar and beat until fluffy.
Why did I use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour? Cake flour has lower protein content, which is ideal in a cake recipe in which you could over mix. Flour forms gluten networks when water (or any liquid for that matter) is added to it. Because you add the majority of the wet ingredients last to the flour, which has already been mixed with the eggs and sugar, there is a chance that you could over mix and start forming gluten networks, which you don’t want in tender cakes. Because cake flour has lower protein content, it reduces that risk. Thus, when you add the hot milk and melted butter, mix it in slowly and a little at a time and only mix until the melted butter and hot milk are just incorporated. Hot Milk Cake How does melting the butter affect the cake? When you melt butter, you break the bonds in the butter and leads to the loss of the emulsion. Even if you put the butter back in the fridge, you cannot repair the broken bonds. In some situations, that’s really bad. For example, in the traditional creaming method, the lift comes from beating the sugar and butter together. If the butter has been melted, it can form the same type of lift. Thankfully, in this recipe, you use the eggs to create lift. The melted butter efficiently coats all of the flour molecules when it’s added to the mixture and will leads to a soft, velvety, evenly-crumbed cake. Just make sure you don’t over mix! Hot Milk Cake Hot Milk Cake My tips in an abbreviated list:
• Make sure to beat the eggs for five minutes!
• When you add the milk and butter to the mixture, only mix until just incorporated.
• Use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour to prevent gluten formation; however, you certainly can use all-purpose flour!
• If you’d like to halve the recipe, you’re welcome to do so! Simply halve the recipe and use an 8 by 8 pan rather than a 9 by 13 pan.
Now, go make this cake! And buy some fresh summer fruits and eat this cake with those fruits and some fresh whipped cream. Seriously, you won’t regret it.
Hot Milk Cake
Hot Milk Cake
Recipe Type: Cake
Author: Taste of Home
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 50 mins
Serves: 12-16
This old-fashioned recipe for classic vanilla cake makes a velvety, smooth, and quite delicious classic vanilla cake. Top it with whipped cream and fruit and it’s the perfect summer dessert.
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups cake flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 and 1/4 cups whole milk (or any kind of milk)
• 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 by 13 pan and set aside. I also lined the pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs for five minutes or until they are lemon yellow and very thick.
3. Gradually add the sugar one cup at a time and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add to the egg/sugar mixture on low speed and until just smooth. Do not over mix.
5. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter just until the butter is melted. Gradually add to the batter. Beat until just combined. Do NOT over mix.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared 9 by 13 pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick in the center of the cake comes out clean.
1. I am sure going to try this. Its making me hungry just writing down the recipe. Sounds delish
will be giving four stars to the recipe and will most probably increase to five once I taste it lol
2. Hello Brita,
Your hot milk cake looks wonderful! I would love to try this out. Can you tell me what is the baking science behind using hot milk? Will it make a difference if the milk is cold or room temperature? Thank you very much!
• Hi Justina! I think the hot milk is important because when you’re baking the cake, it comes to temperature much faster because the milk is already hot. However, cold milk will most likely work!
• I remember reading that the scalding allows the liquid to get slurped up by the starch first, leaving less to activate the gluten, resulting in a more tender final product. Granted, this was for a bread recipe, but I wonder if that’s the case here?
(PS. I was actually looking for a sciencey explanation for hot milk cake when I came across your blog, Brita, so from one nerdy baker to another, thank you!!)
3. I am from Nairobi and this is the best vanilla cake i have ever tasted. Its supper moist and i made two 8 inch cakes with it.I decided to reduce the butter to 100g then added 40ml of oil.I also used buttermilk instead of whole milk. the cake is so nice and moist. Thank you for the recipe
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